Ryan Bertrand

[Stu]

Get this twat signed permanently. Now.

This made me giggle for a good couple of minutes. Awesome stuff!

[ciggiesnbeer]

Pat Murphy mentioned on 5 Live that there is an option to buy him at the end of the loan and that Bertrand is open to the move.

On Twitter he has said that a move at the end of the season is an option, which is not quite the same thing. Did he say something more specific on the radio?   

Yeah, I would love there to be an option to buy but I will wait until a reliable source says it. Not Pat Murphy.

[Steve R]

Just hope that Chelsea don't offer Bertrand as part of any deal for Luke Shaw.

If Pat Murphy is correct and there is a purchase clause then we have the right to exercise it before anyone else gets an opportunity? I imagine we are paying them a loan fee also so on top of some or all of his wages so that might come off the price of the player should we buy him outright. I would certainly hope that if nothing else he has gone a long way to prove what a solid permanent purchase he will be for the club.

That's a big 'if'. It might just as easily be a straight forward loan for a fee until the end of the season and then see where we are.

But that wouldn't be an 'option to buy'. The big 'if' is whether Murphy is talking out of his arse possibly without knowing it.

If it is there, we would not have negotiated for it if we weren't prepared to exercise it if things worked out. Equally Chelsea would not have ceded their right to say 'no' if they saw a future for Bertrand at Stamford Bridge.

For all he played in the EC cup final, Bertrand only had 28 top flight games to his name when he came here. The same as Gary Cahill when he departed for Bolton. The price tag should be reasonable.

[Dave]

Pat Murphy mentioned on 5 Live that there is an option to buy him at the end of the loan and that Bertrand is open to the move.

On Twitter he has said that a move at the end of the season is an option, which is not quite the same thing. Did he say something more specific on the radio?   

Mark Chapman asked "do you know if there is an option for Villa to buy him when the loan runs out" and Murphy replied "there is, and based on an interview that I did with the player last week he's very open to joining permanently". Then a load of stuff about how he's a sensible bloke, knows about Villa's history, doesn't seem to someone who has just turned up and doesn't really care...

He certainly wouldn't be the first journalist to misinterpret something, but I'm not sure why he'd bother lying about it.

[Mazrim]

I really hope we can make that happen. He'd be great here. We haven't had a top left back in quite some time.

[Toronto Villa]

He'll be the first proper LB we've had at the club in a good while. Just so competent in so many areas. Does the simple things well and you can see he's played with quality players by his touch and confidence. I'm not giving up on Lowton either. He's clearly got some ability going forward and needs to work out some off the field stuff to clear his head and work on his craft. He'll be wise to have a chat with Ryan and get some pointers on improving his positioning and footwork.

[Mazrim]

Lowton is having a bit of a nightmare in defence but I haven't written him off yet. Last season he turned him some fantastic performances. Against Sunderland at home it was one of the best fullback performances I've seen in years. It's there somewhere, he just needs time. Or, it was a purple patch and he's not up to it long term. I think it wouldn't hurt to bring a serious contender for him at right back. See also: Westwood.

[Steve R]

Lowton is having a bit of a nightmare in defence but I haven't written him off yet. Last season he turned him some fantastic performances. Against Sunderland at home it was one of the best fullback performances I've seen in years. It's there somewhere, he just needs time. Or, it was a purple patch and he's not up to it long term. I think it wouldn't hurt to bring a serious contender for him at right back. See also: Westwood.

Wouldn't surprise me if Lambert moved Lowton on in the summer with all the living up north thing. Either way we do need another RB

[dcdavecollett]

Wildin looks a really good player in the youth team. Signing Bertrand would give Wildin plenty of time to develop.

[Irish villain]

Hope we sign him up at the summer.

[OCD]

I wouldn't be surprised if Luna's gone in the summer too. I don't know where Bennett's been this season. At least he looked good going forward and could be better used as either a wide left midfielder or as an attacking full-back in games where teams come and get behind the ball. He's young enough to have defensive attributes coached into him too whereas Luna might have too many to learn.

[Ads]

He is a quality player. Somebody of his ilk screening the back four and supplying the forwards and we're a very good side indeed.

[PeterWithesShin]

I wouldn't be surprised if Luna's gone in the summer too. I don't know where Bennett's been this season. At least he looked good going forward and could be better used as either a wide left midfielder or as an attacking full-back in games where teams come and get behind the ball. He's young enough to have defensive attributes coached into him too whereas Luna might have too many to learn.

Injured.

[eastie]

He is a quality player. Somebody of his ilk screening the back four and supplying the forwards and we're a very good side indeed.

Wouldn't come cheap but worth pushing the boat out for - a class act.

[OCD]

I wouldn't be surprised if Luna's gone in the summer too. I don't know where Bennett's been this season. At least he looked good going forward and could be better used as either a wide left midfielder or as an attacking full-back in games where teams come and get behind the ball. He's young enough to have defensive attributes coached into him too whereas Luna might have too many to learn.

Injured.

That much I know but I don't know what the injury is, whether it's been just one or multiple injuries, a re-occurrence etc. I think he was nearing fitness at least once.