Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

I still think for finding that extra bit of consistency, we need a good creative midfielder and a center half in. Players who will be ready to step in and dominate now rather than in 1-2-3 years time.

We have played generally quite well in the first 3 games. There has been a marked improvement and defensively we're not as bad as last term, but the fact is we've had two games we could rightfully have claimed points and got 0. I'd rather play shit and win than play well and lose.

We'll have games where our attack doesn't quite click. Some games we'll need to grind out. I don't think we have that ability right now. We still lack a Merson type figure in midfield who'll find that special pass, or someone who'll deliver a first rate set piece.

At the back we still lack that strong figurehead who'll keep everyone on the ball. We've had 3 games and conceded 3 fairly sloppy early goals. Vlaar needed to be doing better in those occasions too. He has been fairly good otherwise, but for me, we need someone better. Okore looks very promising but he's still very much one for the future.

I think if we're serious about top 8 and really pushing Everton, Liverpool and basically the best of the rest, then we're two quality signings short. Otherwise I expect a similar level of inconsistency as the tail end of last year. It won't be as bad as over xmas time when we were wretched, but we'll finish bottom half. Unless we have that extra solidity in the middle of our backline and that extra bit of creative spark and guile in midfield, then we won't win more games than we lose. If we want to finish top 8, we'll have to do that.

Supertom I salute you. I have been saying similar for ages. A dominant CB (Okore is going to be a revelation) Vlaar and Baker can be used when needed. And a cheaper version of someone like Cazorla-Silva and we could make top 8 this season instead of 2-3yrs time. I hope PL has got the same vision ......

[Dante Lavelli]

It's not that visionary though is it? Signing better and more players    will improve the squad but it does need to be balanced by trying to get the most if the players we already have. If we don't their talent will not materialise and we'll have no room/money to expand in the next window or next summer.

[ozzjim]

I think Victor Moses would be a nice addition for the attacking play

Rumoured to be going on loan for the season to Klanfield.

Would Chelsea really loan a player to Liverpool?

They sold Sturridge to them. Might be wrong, but I don't think they see them as rival, and Moses would fit into the Rodgers way quite well.

I can see the want of a centre half, and think a defender covering there and right back might be nice, but if you look at Bacuna playing right back on Sunday, I don't think another defender will be anywhere near the radar. Clark played well at Arse, Okore in the second half and the whole game against Liverpool, Vlaar is looking better and we know Baker is a decent defender if a little insane that ends up with him getting injured. Another one while nice, is down the list now having seen them play in the first 3 games. I would add that I don't think Okore looks one for the future. Sometimes players are ready younger when they are really talented, and I think he sits in that bracket with Benteke.

I do like what I have read about the lad Barryleftfoot suggests. Only seen the youtube clips but looks a good player. 

[pauliewalnuts]

I think Victor Moses would be a nice addition for the attacking play

Rumoured to be going on loan for the season to Klanfield.

Would Chelsea really loan a player to Liverpool?

They sold Sturridge to them. Might be wrong, but I don't think they see them as rival, and Moses would fit into the Rodgers way quite well.

Selling them a player is one thing, but lending them one? I'd have thought the concerns about strengthening a rival would be stronger re loans than sales.

Oh well, maybe I am being overly suspicious, but it'd strike me as odd if that deal went through.

[ozzjim]

Might be an early sweetener for the arm muncher to go to Chelsea next summer.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

It's not that visionary though is it? Signing better and more players    will improve the squad but it does need to be balanced by trying to get the most if the players we already have. If we don't their talent will not materialise and we'll have no room/money to expand in the next window or next summer.

The vision is relative to how quickly the player PL has plucked out adapts. Lowton-Westwood- Benteke even Guzan have stepped up and produced. Vlaar looked better Saturday I admit, but struggles generally. For the money PL is buying players it has to be worth the gamble. Ireland is supposed to be a "better" player and look how that has turned out ....

[tomd2103]

I think we need creativity and guile rather than energy.

Agree.  Was listening to Talksport earlier and they were talking about the possibility of Mata leaving Chelsea and him not really being too mobile but making up for it with his quality on the ball.  I don't think players really need to be very mobile and athletic to play in the "number 10 role", but vision ad quality on the ball are musts. 

Obviously we won't be in the market for Mata, but we could do with finding a young up and coming version of him.   

[eamonn]

Was watching the ManUre-Chelsea game bored rigid thinking how on earth a player with the class of Mata can't get a game ahead of that German Shirley bloke and the other new lad who looks about 14.

[ozzjim]

Was watching the ManUre-Chelsea game bored rigid thinking how on earth a player with the class of Mata can't get a game ahead of that German Shirley bloke and the other new lad who looks about 14.

I kept thinkin how one footed Hazard looked for such a talented player, and that Schurle is a new rival for the ugliest player in the league.

[Salsa Party Animal]

Chelsea sell Struddige as Rafa had connections to Liverpool in the past. If Chelsea think selling good players to the like of Liverpool, Aston Villa and so on they will be stronger and beat their rivals and it might help to win the title easier instead of needing 94 points of winning the title when 86 might be enough.

We should contact Chelsea to see we can get Mata on loan.
 

[eastie]

Chelsea sell Struddige as Rafa had connections to Liverpool in the past. If Chelsea think selling good players to the like of Liverpool, Aston Villa and so on they will be stronger and beat their rivals and it might help to win the title easier instead of needing 94 points of winning the title when 86 might be enough.

We should contact Chelsea to see we can get Mata on loan.
 

Not a cat in hells chance of us getting mata on loan .
If Moses did go to Liverpool on loan i guess the face Rodgers and mourinho are old pals will have helped them swing the deal.

[supertom]

It's strange that Jose doesn't rate Mata. He was one of the best players in the league last year and their player of the year. They do seem to lack a certain bit of guile when he's not playing.
I'd absolutely love to have Mata on loan but there's no chance whatsoever. Maybe when he's 35. He'll get sold back to Spain, or Italy or somewhere. Utd could do far worse than working him into any Rooney deal.

[edgysatsuma89]

If I was united I'd have him as part of a deal. He's shown over the past 2 years he's better than Rooney.

[Dave]

I kept thinkin how one footed Hazard looked for such a talented player, and that Schurle is a new rival for the ugliest player in the league.

I can't see where his £18m price tag has come from. His record and age seems very similar to Weimann over the last couple of seasons.

And with the best will in the world I can't imagine Chelsea wanting to start Weimann on his own up front on a trip to ManYoo.

[Concrete John]

I think we need creativity and guile rather than energy.

Agree.  Was listening to Talksport earlier and they were talking about the possibility of Mata leaving Chelsea and him not really being too mobile but making up for it with his quality on the ball.  I don't think players really need to be very mobile and athletic to play in the "number 10 role", but vision ad quality on the ball are musts. 

Obviously we won't be in the market for Mata, but we could do with finding a young up and coming version of him.   

I'm not entirely sure I agree. 

Our style is a high tempo/in your face brand of football where everyone puts in a real shift each game.  It was mentioned on some radio station I had on over the weekend that this might be one reason for having such a young side - so they have the energy to do this for 90 minutes.  We also seem to have a good team spirit.

The question is, does either get harmed by what you're suggesting?  If we've got a weak link in the closing down, that lessens us a lot.  And what happens to the team spirit if one player isn't pulling their weight?

I have no doubt that Lambert would love that extra quality in there, but I think he'd only take it with a player who also gets about the pitch as much as everyone else.  Think of a Stephen Gerrard more than a Juan Mata.