Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[Damo70]

I thought Collins was our player of the season in his first year at Villa. The following season he was a lot less impressive and the third season he was even worse. He appears to have been hit and miss at West Ham. Vlaar had a ropey first few months at Villa in my opinion but has been quality for the last twelve months.

[Dave Cooper please]

Benteke's class but Bacuna's nothing special, and Vlaar has hardly set the world alight since coming here. You're very easily pleased.

Vlaar has been outstanding this season. Bacuna has scored 5 goals in 26 appearances, mostly from full back.  They have been excellent signings. A couple more like them and we'd be a lot better off.

Vlaar's been decent, nothing more - the best of a bad bunch. Not one of our players can be described as having an "outstanding" season this year, not one of them. This season has been appalling, just like last season and the season before that etc.

Everything's black and white in your world isn't it?

No, just black.

[Mazrim]

A few good players would make such a difference to this team.

Sign Bertrand,  sign a playmaker, a physical box to box to box midfielder and centre half who can play right back or vice versa. Then we're talking.

After that, a clever forward and a cheap experienced backup keeper would do nicely.

Basically, we need players that will give us more than one way of playing. Options.

[brian green]

I watched NRC play for the White Caps on BT Sport last night.   I shall always think that there was a great Villa player in him which we never managed to coax out.   I suppose the midfield box to box runner we need should be in the mould of George Boateng, another one we lost without achieving what he promised initially.

[Toronto Villa]

I watched NRC play for the White Caps on BT Sport last night.   I shall always think that there was a great Villa player in him which we never managed to coax out.   I suppose the midfield box to box runner we need should be in the mould of George Boateng, another one we lost without achieving what he promised initially.

NRC has found his level in the MLS which is lower PL at the very highest point and really Championship standard. I watched the game the other night vs Montreal and there were plenty of classic NRC moments. Like a break down the right side with a 3 on 2 situation and he managed not to find a teammate. You just knew it was going to happen.

[Mazrim]

No more one dimensional players. We need players who are good on the ball as well as offer something else.

[Isa]

Sign Bertrand,  sign a playmaker, a physical box to box to box midfielder and centre half who can play right back or vice versa. Then we're talking.

Not sure we'll find a midfielder good enough to locate a third box!

[adrenachrome]

Sign Bertrand,  sign a playmaker, a physical box to box to box midfielder and centre half who can play right back or vice versa. Then we're talking.

Not sure we'll find a midfielder good enough to locate a third box!

No more fanny danglers. We need players adept at boxing clever and not falling for the sucker punch.

[Mazrim]

Sign Bertrand,  sign a playmaker, a physical box to box to box midfielder and centre half who can play right back or vice versa. Then we're talking.

Not sure we'll find a midfielder good enough to locate a third box!

But we must try.

[peter w]

Not sure we failed to coax more than we could out of NRC. He had all the attributes but when in possession he struggled to pass the ball more than 3 yards. Many a brerak faltered because of sloppy NRC pass. I think we got as good as we could have got from him. I also don't think he was as good as some make out because of that serious flaw in his game.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Not sure we failed to coax more than we could out of NRC. He had all the attributes but when in possession he struggled to pass the ball more than 3 yards. Many a brerak faltered because of sloppy NRC pass. I think we got as good as we could have got from him. I also don't think he was as good as some make out because of that serious flaw in his game.

Agreed. If anything I think he over performed vs his ability level with us.

[Glenn Peen]

West Ham fans will tell you Collins has been brilliant for them. He was before we signed him, too. Maybe we just has two bad years, after a good first? Whatever, the fact is that West Ham's upturn in form has coincided with Collins' return. And that isn't, err, a coincidence.

[Dr Butler]

West Ham fans will tell you Collins has been brilliant for them. He was before we signed him, too. Maybe we just has two bad years, after a good first? Whatever, the fact is that West Ham's upturn in form has coincided with Collins' return. And that isn't, err, a coincidence.

not really, my neighbours are West Ham season ticket holders and they groan like fuck about Collins, Nolan scoring some goals is their upturn.

[Glenn Peen]

As are mine - and they rave about him. When they didn't have a defence, they lost repeatedly. Opinions, eh? Like poo holes - we've all got 'em!

[paul_e]

James Collins is fine if your game plan for a centre half is for him to throw himself at everything and kick the ball up the pitch as soon as possible for someone to chase/flick on.  That suited MON and it suits Fat Sam.  Someone earlier likened him to Baker and I agree totally, brave, good in the air, decent tackler but iffy positioning and terrible distribution.