Grant Holt - confirmed on loan

[Damo70]

It does your head in when the opposition do it but I think all the more successful Villa sides had players who liked to chip away at the ref whilst not being angels in their own actions. I'm thinking Withe and Evans, Mountfield and Platt, Teale, Richardson and Saunders and in more recent times Mellberg and NRC.

[SX150]

One would hope Bent, Burke and Delfouneso would have recall terms but this is the Villa so probably not.

It's not beyond the wit of a half-decent manager to construct a team with two or even one striker so there's three bites of the cherry with Benteke, Agbonlahor and Weimann. I don't buy the "Helenius is not ready" thing - top player in the Danish league and capped by Denmark. Bowery I'll give you.

Even if it is about an emergency forward (and I don't think it is), there have got to be better options than Holt.

If a fee has been paid for a loan I don't think they can be recalled, so you can forget Bent for a start. If you're seriously suggesting Burke or Delfouneso as decent options for the rest of this season, you must have seen something in them no-one else has.

You're missing the point. Yes, an attack could be constructed with Benteke, Agbonlahor and Weimann. And very easily next week Benteke could take a boot in the knee and miss the next two months.

Frankly the idea that it isn't about an emergency forward and Holt has been brought in as part of a long term plan is just plain daft. For a start, if that was the case, why not buy him outright rather than on loan?

What I'm saying is that he's not an emergency forward because there's no forward emergency. Or at least there wouldn't be if Lambert had a clue. And it's becoming apparent that he doesn't and the signing of Holt seems to confirm this. We have three decent forwards and a couple of spares and none of them are scoring despite showing previously that they are perfectly capable of doing so at this level. It's like seeing a Reliant Robin next to a Ferrari and concluding that the Robin will go faster if you strap on an extra wheel. The problem is not the number of wheels, it's the engine and the transmission.

The word 'emergency' is overly emotive really. Kozak, our reserve central striker is injured. That has nothing to do with Lambert having a clue or not. I'm sure you wouldn't say that Gabby or Weimann are the same kind of striker? Holt is just an option. Nothing more, nothing less.

He may not even figure above one or two sub appearances. It really doesn't matter. But if we suddenly pick up one or two knocks and are down to Weimann, Bowery and Helenius to lead the line, then at least we have an option there. A fairly crap option maybe, but an option all the same.

It's not about strapping on an extra wheel, to use your analogy but rather having a spare tyre in the boot in case of a breakdown. Because a car with one wheel missing is going nowhere.

Hence the spare tyre we have signed.

[PaulWinch again]

What has made me warm a bit towards Holt is the enthusiasm he showed in his interview. I know you'd expect that, but in fairness to him he spoke well.

[SX150]

Not read all this thread but all the analysis is out the window for me at the moment. Grant Fuckin Holt, it makes me wanna cry. Someone tell Lambert this is "Aston Villa".

[Ads]

Will you sit on your hands when he scores because "this is Aston Villa"?

[Ron Manager]

Its only a loan to cover Benteke as Kozak is out for some time. He will be gone in May .

Im not that bothered. Might even score a goal or two.

Do not want him here next season under any circumstances.

[SX150]

Will you sit on your hands when he scores because "this is Aston Villa"?

Its not my loyalty in question here. Although we may not be able to shop in Marks & Spencers we are not quite at the Pound Shop level yet. Surely Lamberts judgement is in question here. Who's reserve team have we plucked Holt from?

[SX150]

I fully understand we could do with cover for Benteke. I just think Lamberts lost the plot.

[KevinGage]

The cover thing is fine. 

But say Benteke has a recurrence of his injury next game and an out of sorts and overweight Holt actually has to get a run of games.  How do we feel then? 

There was a link in the Italian papers with Miroslav Klose yesterday. Clearly nonsense, or an agent drumming up interest. But a player like that on a short term deal would be far better for us.

Anyway, welcome Grant Honeymonster.   Prove us all wrong.

[Dr Butler]

What has made me warm a bit towards Holt is the enthusiasm he showed in his interview. I know you'd expect that, but in fairness to him he spoke well.

maybe he realises that this is his last shot at the "big time".....welcome Grant hope you score a few.....especially vs the Stripey filth

UTV
The Doc

[Chris Smith]

Will you sit on your hands when he scores because "this is Aston Villa"?

Its not my loyalty in question here. Although we may not be able to shop in Marks & Spencers we are not quite at the Pound Shop level yet. Surely Lamberts judgement is in question here. Who's reserve team have we plucked Holt from?

The point is that when you're looking for cover for a relatively short period then your options are limited. You can get a youngster who clubs are sending out to get a bit of experience but we have plenty of those of our own, so then you go for an older head who knows the league and can do a job immediately and, just as importantly, the manager knows and trusts.

It's a no risk, short term deal and it's baffling that people are making a big deal out of it.

[pauliewalnuts]

There is no needle in our side or squad whatsoever. Look at Monday's game. Arsenal spent more time rolling around and moaning to the referee than they did anything else.

That's true, but what I don't get is why, if we want a player to provide that, we opt to sign one who is almost certainly not going to be playing for us much (see comments about him being back up to  Benteke)

That where I don't get it. Surely if we wanted a player for experience and ability to give as good as he gets on the pitch, it would have made more sense to get one who will actually be on the pitch in the first place?

I appreciate he'll be around training and the dressing room, too, but if that's the intention, it seems a curious way to spend wages money.

Oh well, let's see.

[KevinGage]

Aye, a centre half who has prem experience but whose career is on the wane.  A Matthew Upson or similar. 

That would make more sense from an experience point of view.

[SX150]

Will you sit on your hands when he scores because "this is Aston Villa"?

Its not my loyalty in question here. Although we may not be able to shop in Marks & Spencers we are not quite at the Pound Shop level yet. Surely Lamberts judgement is in question here. Who's reserve team have we plucked Holt from?

The point is that when you're looking for cover for a relatively short period then your options are limited. You can get a youngster who clubs are sending out to get a bit of experience but we have plenty of those of our own, so then you go for an older head who knows the league and can do a job immediately and, just as importantly, the manager knows and trusts.

It's a no risk, short term deal and it's baffling that people are making a big deal out of it.

Agree with what you say but just can't get my head around Grant Holt. I guess I fall into the category who thinks Aston Villa are a big club with pride, ambition and tradition. Maybe I'm not in the real world.

[Dr Butler]

Aye, a centre half who has prem experience but whose career is on the wane.  A Matthew Upson or similar. 

That would make more sense from an experience point of view.

wash your mouth out....