Ryan Bertrand

[Richard E]

I think some are jumping the gun a little. He had a good game yesterday but we ought to appraise him over a few more games before talking of a permanent signing.

Yes this is true. We have a history of players who look great on their debuts/early games and then they decline badly.

You only have to look at our last left back to see this.

I remember thinking Carlton Cole was going to be brilliant.

He was, for that first game against Southampton, and then it turned out it was just that Southampton were cack.

[cheltenhamlion]

I remember the game. I too strolled away impressed with Cole. I was also of a view that there was not a chance that Steve Wigley's Saints would survive.

I got one correct.

[Matt Collins]

I agree we shouldn't get carried away. But I don't recall Carlton cole playing in a champions league final. He's way better than luna or Bennett at least

[ChicagoLion]

Just saw this from 'The Shed End' forum

"Happy for Bertrand, happy its not Liverpool, but he is a better standard than Aston Villa."

Who the fuck do they think they are, short of lottery winners, to think their cast offs deserve better than us.  If I ever needed any more reason to hate that club and/or their fans.

I read a few of their forums about Bertrand this morning and saw lots of that.

The c***s.

They're a club with absolute no redeeming features. None. I hate Man United but I can think of the odd positive about them, they're away support is impressive, they've stuck with one manager to build a dynasty, they've managed to keep on winning despite shit owners.

Liverpool, who i've hated even longer than Man United, I can think of the odd redeeming feature for them, too.

Chelsea, though? Not one single thing, absolutely nothing, there is not a single reason to respect, like or accept Chelsea. Everything about them is revolting.

blue shirts too....

I feel exactly the same, Chavski are the most vile bunch of ****s in football.

[adrenachrome]

Birmingham Mail

Ryan Bertrand: It’s important, first and foremost, that my performances are good enough.

Aston Villa: Ryan Bertrand won't rule out a permanent switch to Villa Park from Chelsea

Ryan Bertrand is refusing to rule out joining Villa permanently in the summer when his loan from Chelsea expires.

But manager Paul Lambert insists he is yet to discuss the left-back’s valuation with the Stamford Bridge club.

Bertrand is set for his home debut in tomorrow’s Villa Park derby against West Brom after an impressive bow in the draw at Liverpool.

The 24-year-old is at Villa until the end of the season after Ashley Cole and Cezar Azpilicueta blocked his first-team path at Chelsea.

He has just under two-and-a-half years left on his contract with Jose Mourinho’s team and Villa are not thought to have an option to buy written into his temporary deal.

But it is a situation all parties may be tempted to revisit in the summer, depending on how he gets on during the next four months.

Asked if he would be receptive to joining the claret and blues on a longer basis, Bertrand replied: “I’m just here to concentrate on each game as it comes and to get back playing regularly.

“I’ll leave all that stuff until the end of the season.

“You can’t rule anything out. It’s important, first and foremost, that my performances are good enough.

“I need to concentrate on each game.

“It was a frustrating start to the season so it was a bit of a release to get on the grass again.

“I’ve settled in quite easily. It’s fortunate, to be fair, because I know half the team through England at younger ages. It has been good.

“It was easy, a no-brainer. I’ve personally been impressed with Villa in recent years whenever I have seen them.

“They like to play, the manager is really positive, it is a club with a great history.

“It’s great to be involved in a derby for my first home game.’’

Lambert admits Bertrand “won’t come cheap” if Villa try to sign him permanently to challenge Joe Bennett and Antonio Luna for the left-back role.

“He’s only been here one game,” said Lambert.

“He’s Chelsea’s player and we’re thankful to them for letting him come here. What Ryan’s value is I haven’t a clue. He’s played in the biggest club competition and won it so he knows how to do it.

“That’s the main thing, the value of him. If you are buying him you’re not buying a novice, you’re buying someone who has won the European Cup and I’m pretty sure they won’t come cheap.”

Lambert insists giving Bertrand regular football and improving Villa’s left-back area is more important than worrying too much about the player’s long-term future just yet.

“I thought he came in and was excellent against Liverpool,” he said.

“He hadn’t played for a long time. I thought he was terrific. The lad’s played at the highest level in the game, won the biggest club competition going so he can handle big games.

“He’s been at a massive club at Chelsea, played with big players. I think for his own career, to play regular football, it’s been great. He’s fitted in great.

“There are not many people who have won the European Cup and find themselves in reserve football.”

Villa’s trip to mid-table rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford has been brought forward from 3pm to 12.45pm on Saturday, March 29, for live television coverage on BT Sport.

[paul_e]

How below the belt is that dig at Man Utd at the end, it's not even subtle, brilliant.

[Bully2345]

"mid-table rivals Manchester United"

I laughed

[dekko]

If he plays well and settles in it'd be good if he could stay permanently.  I watched the press conference on pravda, and he seems like a fairly level headed and professional-sounding bloke, so you'd think he'd be the sort of player Lambert likes to have about.

Money, again, seems to be the stumbling block, plus even squad players at Chelsea are on enourmous wages, so chances are he'd have to make some kind of pay cut to come here (unless Lambert deems him worthy of an exception).

[jeowje]

Strange that Lambert has opted to talk up the potential value of the player, and play down any expectations of us signing him. To suggest that chelsea winning the champions league last year somehow catapults him into some higher price bracket seems strange.

[supertom]

Strange that Lambert has opted to talk up the potential value of the player, and play down any expectations of us signing him. To suggest that chelsea winning the champions league last year somehow catapults him into some higher price bracket seems strange.

I couldn't see him costing any more than 5 mill to be honest. He's only played 56 games in all competitions for Chelsea, at 24 years of age and he's their current third choice left back.
We shall see anyway. Of course he might do well with us and Cashley's getting on a bit, so Jose may decide Bertrands worth a more substantial role next season, but honestly I think it's unlikely. They'll spend big on a replacement for Cole.

[Dante Lavelli]

Strange that Lambert has opted to talk up the potential value of the player, and play down any expectations of us signing him. To suggest that chelsea winning the champions league last year somehow catapults him into some higher price bracket seems strange.

I couldn't see him costing any more than 5 mill to be honest. He's only played 56 games in all competitions for Chelsea, at 24 years of age and he's their current third choice left back.
We shall see anyway. Of course he might do well with us and Cashley's getting on a bit, so Jose may decide Bertrands worth a more substantial role next season, but honestly I think it's unlikely. They'll spend big on a replacement for Cole.

Possibly this is Lambert's poker face where he wants to look uninterested.

[paul_e]

Chelsea haven't exactly been subtle in their approach for Shaw, I'm pretty sure that story was the catalyst for Bertrand coming to us and then mentioning that he'd be happy to join long term.

[cheltenhamlion]

For all the stick he may get at times, one thing I know has taken aback and impressed the powers that be in B6, is Lambert's bloody mindedness but, most particularly skill, in working transfer negotiations.

You might not always like the players or philosophy but, by buggery, he drives a hard bargain and generally wins.

Means nowt in the grand scheme of winning things but was fascinated to hear it.

[Mazrim]

Yes, I just wish he wouldn't stick to his guns to the point we don't get the players we desperately need. Namely, the playmaker we've needed for several years.

[N'ZMAV]

And a defensive midfielder with a bit of quality. Sylla works hard but is quite average.