Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[PaulWinch again]

I doubt he's that gutted if the £35K a week offer elsewhere is true.

[RussellC]

Albrighton was okay but that was about it.

We have bigger issues than letting him go and if Leicester is his next move then that probably tells you how good he actually is.

Completely agree, he was one-footed and was very limited (in terms of skill) for a winger. His game was based around trying to get around the outside of the full-back and get a cross in. If the full-back had the beating of him he was completely neutralised as there was absolutely nothing else to his game. Yes, he'd track back a lot, but he was defensively hopeless and tended to do more harm than good when he was in our half. The fact that he was Villa through-and-through is the only thing that sets him apart from Brett Holman as a former Villa player.

[LeeB]

Albrighton was okay but that was about it.

We have bigger issues than letting him go and if Leicester is his next move then that probably tells you how good he actually is.

Completely agree, he was one-footed and was very limited (in terms of skill) for a winger. His game was based around trying to get around the outside of the full-back and get a cross in. If the full-back had the beating of him he was completely neutralised as there was absolutely nothing else to his game. Yes, he'd track back a lot, but he was defensively hopeless and tended to do more harm than good when he was in our half. The fact that he was Villa through-and-through is the only thing that sets him apart from Brett Holman as a former Villa player.

That as I see it too.

[not3bad]

And now the Bomb Squad are all welcome back into the squad: Hutton, N'Zogbia and Bent, says Mat Kendrick. For the good of our mental health, I suggest that we all look away now, until someone spreads word that we have a new owner and manager.

What about Given, Herd and Stevens

Given's on the coaching staff, Herd appears to have just gone (has his contract been cancelled I wonder), and Steven is indeed a further bomb squad member.

[LeeB]

And now the Bomb Squad are all welcome back into the squad: Hutton, N'Zogbia and Bent, says Mat Kendrick. For the good of our mental health, I suggest that we all look away now, until someone spreads word that we have a new owner and manager.

What about Given, Herd and Stevens

Given's on the coaching staff, Herd appears to have just gone (has his contract been cancelled I wonder), and Steven is indeed a further bomb squad member.

Wasn't Stevens sent back from somewhere shit on loan because he was too shit?

[eamonn]

Albrighton was okay but that was about it.

We have bigger issues than letting him go and if Leicester is his next move then that probably tells you how good he actually is.

Completely agree, he was one-footed and was very limited (in terms of skill) for a winger. His game was based around trying to get around the outside of the full-back and get a cross in. If the full-back had the beating of him he was completely neutralised as there was absolutely nothing else to his game. Yes, he'd track back a lot, but he was defensively hopeless and tended to do more harm than good when he was in our half. The fact that he was Villa through-and-through is the only thing that sets him apart from Brett Holman as a former Villa player.

Extremely harsh. He showed there's a lot more to his game in the last few months than trying to get past a full back and whipping a ball in. He took the game by the scruff of the neck against West Ham, roving inside constantly, was our only bright spark against Southampton and set-up the winner against Chelsea and was involved in two of the goals against Hull. He's one of the few players we had/have to understand the concept of pass and move.

[not3bad]

Several Premier League teams chasing Albrighton:

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11661/9320110?

Leicester, Sunderland and Everton I think. If I was Alby I'd go with Everton as Martinez might get him performing back to the standard he was when he first broke into the Villa team.

[RussellC]

Albrighton was okay but that was about it.

We have bigger issues than letting him go and if Leicester is his next move then that probably tells you how good he actually is.

Completely agree, he was one-footed and was very limited (in terms of skill) for a winger. His game was based around trying to get around the outside of the full-back and get a cross in. If the full-back had the beating of him he was completely neutralised as there was absolutely nothing else to his game. Yes, he'd track back a lot, but he was defensively hopeless and tended to do more harm than good when he was in our half. The fact that he was Villa through-and-through is the only thing that sets him apart from Brett Holman as a former Villa player.

Extremely harsh. He showed there's a lot more to his game in the last few months than trying to get past a full back and whipping a ball in. He took the game by the scruff of the neck against West Ham, roving inside constantly, was our only bright spark against Southampton and set-up the winner against Chelsea and was involved in two of the goals against Hull. He's one of the few players we had/have to understand the concept of pass and move.

I'm not sure you can attribute much credit for "setting-up the winner against Chelsea" as he played the ball behind Delph, forcing him to flick it through his legs. As for "involved with two of the goals against Hull", I can honestly say that I don't recall any even-remotely-significant contribution to any of them, besides perhaps taking the corner that lead to the 2nd..?

[Phil from the upper holte]

regarding Albrighton, my mate's made a good point. We've let him go for nothing and now were probably going to spend a couple of mil of a sub standard replacement

[mr underhill]

more likely a free or loan I think.

[PeterWithe]

I wish Albrighton the best of luck, especially if he really has been offered £30k a week elsewhere, we really aren't in a position where we can pay that kind of money to someone who isn't a nailed on starter. And he isn't, and never will be.

[Bully2345]

Albrighton was okay but that was about it.

We have bigger issues than letting him go and if Leicester is his next move then that probably tells you how good he actually is.

Completely agree, he was one-footed and was very limited (in terms of skill) for a winger. His game was based around trying to get around the outside of the full-back and get a cross in. If the full-back had the beating of him he was completely neutralised as there was absolutely nothing else to his game. Yes, he'd track back a lot, but he was defensively hopeless and tended to do more harm than good when he was in our half. The fact that he was Villa through-and-through is the only thing that sets him apart from Brett Holman as a former Villa player.

Extremely harsh. He showed there's a lot more to his game in the last few months than trying to get past a full back and whipping a ball in. He took the game by the scruff of the neck against West Ham, roving inside constantly, was our only bright spark against Southampton and set-up the winner against Chelsea and was involved in two of the goals against Hull. He's one of the few players we had/have to understand the concept of pass and move.

I'm not sure you can attribute much credit for "setting-up the winner against Chelsea" as he played the ball behind Delph, forcing him to flick it through his legs. As for "involved with two of the goals against Hull", I can honestly say that I don't recall any even-remotely-significant contribution to any of them, besides perhaps taking the corner that lead to the 2nd..?

His air shot led to his "assist" for the first goal against Hull. Sexy football, as Gullit would say

[paulcomben]

regarding Albrighton, my mate's made a good point. We've let him go for nothing and now were probably going to spend a couple of mil of a sub standard replacement

Not as I expect Grealish to be regarded as the Lerner solution there.

[paulcomben]

Opening match line up predictions?

No new owner: Guzan - Lowton, Vlaar, Okore, Bennett - Bacuna, Delph, Westwood, Gabby - Weimann, Bent. Subs: Steer, Hutton, Baker, N'Zogbia, Kozac, Robinson, Grealish.

New owner: Guzan - Richards, Lescott, Vlaar, Buttner - Milner, Barry, Westwood, Cole - Hernandez, Kozak. Subs: Ruddy, Hoolahan, Caulker, Lowton, Bennett, Gabby, Weimann.

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

Buttner? I honestly think I'd rather have Joe Bennett.