Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[pauliewalnuts]

Southampton are in the process of selling their best players, having lost their manager and QPR got relegated the year before last. I hardly think either are that much better off than us.

That's totally not the point.

The point is that we are now in a situation to consider it even remotely viable that players playing for us might want to leave and join the likes of Southampton or QPR. We look and smell like a club with no real ambition - and that's because that is what we are.

We have no ambition beyond staying up while Lerner attempts to sell us. That's really pretty clear. That's why we've signed Joe Cole, Philip Senderos and Kieran Richardson, and done nothing for three years to suggest we're even trying to achieve anything.

Really, how are we any different from the likes of Southampton or QPR? We're not. We've got a nice ground and a great history, but in terms of ambitions, we're no different.

[brontebilly]

Southampton are in the process of selling their best players, having lost their manager and QPR got relegated the year before last. I hardly think either are that much better off than us.

Southampton are miles better than us. With the amount of cash they have at their disposal, they should have no trouble buying sufficient quality for a comfortable mid table finish. The fees they got for Shaw and Lallana are utterly ridiculous.

QPR's chance of staying up depend on who Redknapp can convince Fernandez to lose his shirt on all over again. Will be interesting to see how Charlie Austin gets on in the top division.

[kippaxvilla2]

You only have to look at Smethwick being prepared to better our offer of wages to sign Lescott to measure how far down the relevance or ambition order we have fallen.  This 'we're Aston Villa stuff' simply cuts no ice any more.

[ozzjim]

We are not. But I fancy if Vlaar does go, it will be to a bigger club. Southampton are not and never will be. Vlaar if available will go to a top side. I hope.

[pauliewalnuts]

You only have to look at Smethwick being prepared to better our offer of wages to sign Lescott to measure how far down the relevance or ambition order we have fallen.  This 'we're Aston Villa stuff' simply cuts no ice any more.

It was bad enough when we couldn't match Albion's wages to take Lukaku on loan. We've suspected Lerner had lost interest for 2 or 3 years, and his statement has just made it clear. He'll now use that as the excuse to not invest.

The sooner he sells up to someone who cares, the better.

I just don't see how anyone can think we have any ambition at all at the moment.

[ozzjim]

You only have to look at Smethwick being prepared to better our offer of wages to sign Lescott to measure how far down the relevance or ambition order we have fallen.  This 'we're Aston Villa stuff' simply cuts no ice any more.

It was bad enough when we couldn't match Albion's wages to take Lukaku on loan. We've suspected Lerner had lost interest for 2 or 3 years, and his statement has just made it clear. He'll now use that as the excuse to not invest.

The sooner he sells up to someone who cares, the better.

I just don't see how anyone can think we have any ambition at all at the moment.

The lack of any even rumoured interest is so depressing.

[Des Little]

Peanuts. Monkeys.

[kippaxvilla2]

I actually am trying to see the positives for this season.  I am trying to believe that Bent's brace against Mansfield is the beginning of him bagging 20 for us this season.  I am trying to believe that Hutton will be a good right back.  I am trying to believe that Joe Cole will have his best season ever and will be the defence splitting passer we have so badly missed.  I am trying to believe that Philip Senderos will defy the mockers and will stand tall and make us a rock at the back.  I am trying to believe that Ron Vlaar will repay our loyality in taking a chance on him despite his injury record, and our continued loyalty during his lengthy injury spells.  I am trying to believe that we will tie Fabian down on a lengthy new contract..................but it is just so damn hard to believe....................

Let's finish this off with another comment on the bomb squad fiasco.  No one really knows what went on there.  There were hints about it being down to wages but we simple folk think that players are paid the same whether or not they play.  So what we had was innuendo and hints here and there which made the situation worse.  Why not simply come out and say we cannot afford to play these players because of the structure of their contracts. 

[supertom]

I could be wrong. I could be misjudging Ron's character, but at this stage I just don't see him leaving us for a Soton or QPR just for money. Having come within sniffing distance of the World Cup, I think if he does fancy a move, he'll only do so to a club capable of challenging for a trophy. If Utd make us a suitable offer he'd go.
I think Ron, at this stage of his career would take winning things over simply going to a nothing club just to rake in the cash. If he wants to move just for money he's better off seeing out his final year and moving on a free. Minus a fee he's bound to tack on an extra chunk of cash by going on a bosman, maybe even a hearty signing on bonus.

[olaftab]

I don't agree with this at all. It's his career and besides, it would be nicer if he turned down other clubs to join us.

Fine you don't have to agree and Ki can roll his career into a ball and shove it up his arse. As soon as a player starts to rethink he is not for us. Yes it would be nicer if he turned away from Barca but it's likely to be Crystal Palace!

[villan from luton]

I would be well pist off of if he goes to the likes of Southampton or QPR, not at him, but at the club that they are offering him more. Shows how low we have gone. Maybe Man Ure and have to say I would not blame him at that choice, especially when he hasnt been offered a new contract it seems 

[olaftab]

kippaxvilla2=Dr Martin Luther King.

[adrenachrome]

I actually am trying to see the positives for this season.  I am trying to believe that Bent's brace against Mansfield is the beginning of him bagging 20 for us this season.  I am trying to believe that Hutton will be a good right back.  I am trying to believe that Joe Cole will have his best season ever and will be the defence splitting passer we have so badly missed.  I am trying to believe that Philip Senderos will defy the mockers and will stand tall and make us a rock at the back.  I am trying to believe that Ron Vlaar will repay our loyality in taking a chance on him despite his injury record, and our continued loyalty during his lengthy injury spells.  I am trying to believe that we will tie Fabian down on a lengthy new contract..................but it is just so damn hard to believe....................

Let's finish this off with another comment on the bomb squad fiasco.  No one really knows what went on there.  There were hints about it being down to wages but we simple folk think that players are paid the same whether or not they play.  So what we had was innuendo and hints here and there which made the situation worse.  Why not simply come out and say we cannot afford to play these players because of the structure of their contracts. 

That is a good point you make in the last sentence. The fact that the players in question were and are on high wages is not a direct causal explanation for their being ostracised, athough it is clearly a factor.

Possible reasons:
1. We want to encourage them to leave and this will send the message.
2. We cannot afford clauses in their contracts based on appearances and performance and so on.
3. Team morale. We cannot build a young hungry team when a few players are earning several times more than most of the team.

I have seen reason three once in all of the press releases. The club obviously are of the opinion that we do not need to know. They are not alone in this: most football clubs do the same.

My own view, which is probably a minority one, is that I think the players concerned would indeed have had an adverse effect on the project/experiment underway.

Whatever the ultimate cause, it is a clusterfuck of epic proportions.

 

[Toronto Villa]

Southampton are in the process of selling their best players, having lost their manager and QPR got relegated the year before last. I hardly think either are that much better off than us.

That's totally not the point.

The point is that we are now in a situation to consider it even remotely viable that players playing for us might want to leave and join the likes of Southampton or QPR. We look and smell like a club with no real ambition - and that's because that is what we are.

We have no ambition beyond staying up while Lerner attempts to sell us. That's really pretty clear. That's why we've signed Joe Cole, Philip Senderos and Kieran Richardson, and done nothing for three years to suggest we're even trying to achieve anything.

Really, how are we any different from the likes of Southampton or QPR? We're not. We've got a nice ground and a great history, but in terms of ambitions, we're no different.

Your last couple of sentences backs up the entire point I'm making. Southampton are every bit like us at the moment. They've sold their best players and allowed their highly rated manager to walk out. Where is their ambition, and why on earth would Ron Vlaar, captain of our club, 29 years old, one of the top defenders at the WC leave one unsettled situation for another? That's precisely the point I am making. I'm not saying he won't leave. I'm saying if he does it will be a team much better off than the likes of Southampton or QPR.

[tomd2103]

Southampton are in the process of selling their best players, having lost their manager and QPR got relegated the year before last. I hardly think either are that much better off than us.

That's totally not the point.

The point is that we are now in a situation to consider it even remotely viable that players playing for us might want to leave and join the likes of Southampton or QPR. We look and smell like a club with no real ambition - and that's because that is what we are.

We have no ambition beyond staying up while Lerner attempts to sell us. That's really pretty clear. That's why we've signed Joe Cole, Philip Senderos and Kieran Richardson, and done nothing for three years to suggest we're even trying to achieve anything.

Really, how are we any different from the likes of Southampton or QPR? We're not. We've got a nice ground and a great history, but in terms of ambitions, we're no different.

Your last couple of sentences backs up the entire point I'm making. Southampton are every bit like us at the moment. They've sold their best players and allowed their highly rated manager to walk out. Where is there ambition, and why on earth would Ron Vlaar, captain of our club, 29 years old, one of the top defenders at the WC leave one unsettled situation for another? That's precisely the point I am making. I'm not saying he won't leave. I'm saying if he does it will be a team much better off than the likes of Southampton or QPR.

The only possible reason I could see him choosing Southampton would be to play for the manager there.