Grant Holt - confirmed on loan

[Monty]

The way I see it, it's a poor signing, I can't see what the bloke sees in him, he's clearly past it, and is brought in to fill a position we don't really need to fill. I appreciate he's going to be "a proper man" behind the scenes and what not, but I'm not too sure if that justifies the fact we'll be paying his wages.

That "proper man" stuff is really annoying. It's painfully close to John Terry and the "man-up" school. I know it's just a turn of phrase and I'm not going to go all Andrea Dworkin here, but this old-school blokiness (and the old-school Britisher football associated) is a bit irking.

[PeterWithe]

The way I see it, it's a poor signing, I can't see what the bloke sees in him, he's clearly past it, and is brought in to fill a position we don't really need to fill. I appreciate he's going to be "a proper man" behind the scenes and what not, but I'm not too sure if that justifies the fact we'll be paying his wages.

Having said that, he's here now, so there's not much point moaning about it.

The main issue now is that we address the gigantic, glaring deficiencies in the team in the next two weeks. Let's see what he does about those.

If we are still as short of money as we appear to be he's one hell of an expensive cheerleader.

I'll turn it in at that now.

[ozzjim]

It may well be, but you do get the impression without Vlaar about, most of our side need someone to tell them just that. I hate it too, but in this context, with this squad, Holt may well be useful to have about. Just a shame he is so far out of his peak and seems to have consumed much of Wigan. Dave Whelan is going to crawl out of his mouth half way through his debut and exclaim I was only saying goodbye Grant, not snack on me for lunch!

[Monty]

I see what you mean, but there's a difference between strong characters and being generally tough, which is all fine by me, and that blokey air. I don't know, I can't articulate it that well at the moment, but it doesn't sit easy.

Incidentally, the shape issue is definitely pressing. I don't know if Villa have shirts stretchy enough to contain him.

[PeterWithe]

It may well be, but you do get the impression without Vlaar about, most of our side need someone to tell them just that. I hate it too, but in this context, with this squad, Holt may well be useful to have about. Just a shame he is so far out of his peak and seems to have consumed much of Wigan. Dave Whelan is going to crawl out of his mouth half way through his debut and exclaim I was only saying goodbye Grant, not snack on me for lunch!

It seems financial suicide that we can't find a coach or sports psychologist to do the job for less than 28k  a week.

[pauliewalnuts]

It may well be, but you do get the impression without Vlaar about, most of our side need someone to tell them just that. I hate it too, but in this context, with this squad, Holt may well be useful to have about. Just a shame he is so far out of his peak and seems to have consumed much of Wigan. Dave Whelan is going to crawl out of his mouth half way through his debut and exclaim I was only saying goodbye Grant, not snack on me for lunch!

It seems financial suicide that we can't find a coach or sports psychologist to do the job for less than 28k  a week.

Big Ron just used to get Stan Boardman in to tell a few racist jokes.

[oldhill_avfc]

Those of us with long memories can remember us signing a forward for about 1/2 million and thinking why?  He's been no good at his other clubs. He's too old. He's not good enough.

Are you thinking of that chap who'd got a league championship medal and had been consistently scoring a goal every 3 games for the previous 4 years before joining us?

Yes i agree the similarities with Holt are remarkable.

[JUAN PABLO]

Those of us with long memories can remember us signing a forward for about 1/2 million and thinking why?  He's been no good at his other clubs. He's too old. He's not good enough. But he did have experience and could wind up defenders.

He went on to score that goal in Rotterdam.

The thing is thou , he had 10 other bloody good players with him


we havent today

[Jim Shoes]

Very unimpressed with this signing, even on loan. However I guess now he's here we should give him a chance.

Can he be any worse than Heskey or Harwood? I certainly don't feel the same sinking gutted feeling as I was when those 2 useless players signed although maybe it's because it's a loan.

The real issue (for me anyway) is what message this sends out, if he ends up being the only player this window and our home form continues to be so poor then the writing will be on the wall for Lambert. If Lamberts signs a decent CH and AM and we improve then Holt's sign will not matter to anyone.

[OzVilla]

Those of us with long memories can remember us signing a forward for about 1/2 million and thinking why?  He's been no good at his other clubs. He's too old. He's not good enough.

Are you thinking of that chap who'd got a league championship medal and had been consistently scoring a goal every 3 games for the previous 4 years before joining us?

Yes i agree the similarities with Holt are remarkable.

Yes, the same one whose career had nosedived and was playing in the 2nd tier of English football - that'd be the one.

[JUAN PABLO]

This is a signing so bad I suppose the positive spin is, at the very least Holt will deliver what we expect, and he won't have to do much to exceed our expectations.
Good luck to him. If he's bagged a couple of winning goals between now and the end of the season I'll send him a good quality pie, from M&S or something. It might get mullered in the post, but he'd still eat it.

Lamberts rapidly losing the plot, if he ever bloody found it. He's now got to shift his bloody arse and sign a couple of good midfielders and some good defensive cover. If we're left with just Holt having come in by the close of the window on the 31st he'll have a hell of a task winning back round even his most ardent supporters.

its odd that PL was actually a midfielder but he hasnt got a clue when it comes to midfield at villa

[Hillbilly]

This is Lambert admitting he has screwed up.

Oh come off it. How is it?

Young and hungry, young and hungry, young and hungry, young and hungry, young and hungry. Then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, old and clearly very well fed. And not a twilight-of-a-great-career-and-fancies-a-go-somewhere-different, could-be-an-inspiration-to-the-younger-players Zola, Raul, del Piero, Larsson. Grant bloody Holt. Do you see what I'm getting at? This is desperate stuff.

[willywombat]

It's a short term loan, it's cover for Kozac, he's a leader and he won't cost much. I don't understand why some people think it's the end of the world

It's not Willy if he signs other players in positions we desperately need. Is it hot enough for you this week?


That's a given mate, I'll be joining the ranks of the despondent if it's the only deal we do and yes, it's bloody roasting at the moment

[SheffieldVillain]

This is Lambert admitting he has screwed up.

Oh come off it. How is it?

Young and hungry, young and hungry, young and hungry, young and hungry, young and hungry. Then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, old and clearly very well fed. And not a twilight-of-a-great-career-and-fancies-a-go-somewhere-different, could-be-an-inspiration-to-the-younger-players Zola, Raul, del Piero, Larsson. Grant bloody Holt. Do you see what I'm getting at? This is desperate stuff.

Or, he brought in a specific type of player to cover a specific short-term need which arose through a player breaking his leg in training. A player breaking his leg is surely always 'out-of-nowhere'.

[OzVilla]

I really think some people are using the fact that we've signed some cover for a player that was injured in training last week as a reason to attack PL.

Fine is we sign no one else, BUT as cover for Kozak (and considering the financial constraints at the Club) I don't see a problem.