Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[PaulWinch again]

I'm not saying you have to keep him, but it would be better business sense not to make it so obvious that you don't want him. If you want to sell an assett you don't want to indicate to the buyers that you place no value on it.

typically I'd say you're right but we'd be giving him away for free anyway and therefore it is his wages which will be the problem and not anything Villa can control.

I think it's more of a general thing than just Bent. We really need to stop isolating players we don't need, I think it's been proven that it doesn't help us get them off the books.

What's the alternative? I don't want to see them getting games ahead of more deserving players just to try and sell them, also we don't know what their attitudes are like in training.

We don't have to be so public about it, for example Lambert's interview today. Other sides seem to manage it.

[john e]

Don't be suprised if we actually signed Holte, Lambert likes his mates and yes men,

Out of interest, what makes you say that?

I think he likes players he knows and has worked with in the past he feels safe with them about and maybe likes the comfort zone they offer

he would have signed Holt as soon as he joined but couldn't because of Norwich, but as soon as he was available from Wigan he was in there like a shot,
same with Hoolihan, time doesn't put lambert of and I think he will sign him at the season close

there is no one on here thought he would bring in Holt, but he did because he likes him, there is no one on here thinks he might sign him up at the end of the season, but I'm saying don't be surprised if he does

I honestly believe like MON he has his favourites and is blinded by their imperfections, Holt is one of them
I bet you don't think he will be here long term, but I also bet you didn't think he would sign him from Wigan either

anything can happen

[dave.woodhall]

There's a bit of a difference between a loan in January and a permanent signing. 

[john e]

There's a bit of a difference between a loan in January and a permanent signing. 

yes, but Holt is his mate,
 he waited a year and a half for him then when Holt was playing in the premiership overweight and not many goals to his name, he still went and bought him in all be it on loan,
Why ?

if you want someone that badly when all conceivable evidence is that he isn't going to be good enough anymore, then don't put it past Lambert to sign him up on a one year contract or whatever
 

[Colhint]

Didn't he sign him on a 6 month loan because Kozak broke his leg?

[dave.woodhall]

There's a bit of a difference between a loan in January and a permanent signing. 

yes, but Holt is his mate,
 he waited a year and a half for him then when Holt was playing in the premiership overweight and not many goals to his name, he still went and bought him in all be it on loan,
Why ?

if you want someone that badly when all conceivable evidence is that he isn't going to be good enough anymore, then don't put it past Lambert to sign him up on a one year contract or whatever
 

I don't know why; maybe he wanted a bit of cover for the run-in or maybe some experience rubbing off on the training ground. Either way there isn't a scrap of proof that he'll be bought in the summer.

[Clampy]

Don't be suprised if we actually signed Holte, Lambert likes his mates and yes men,

Out of interest, what makes you say that?

I think he likes players he knows and has worked with in the past he feels safe with them about and maybe likes the comfort zone they offer

he would have signed Holt as soon as he joined but couldn't because of Norwich, but as soon as he was available from Wigan he was in there like a shot,

Do you really think he would have brought Holt in if Kozak had not got injured?

As for managers bringing in players they've worked with before, well that's hardly new is it? Allardyce has signed Kevin Nolan a few times, Crouch has played for Redknapp a couple of times, it happens and it will happen again no doubt. To me it just sounds like another stick to beat Lambert with.

[supertom]

I suppose Lambert might look at it and think that a temporary striker is in order this summer. Kozak will be coming back after a long injury. Benteke will miss pre-season you'd imagine. Bowery will probably never make it here. Helenius seems to be quietly getting pushed into the shadows and short of a strong pre-season for us may end up getting packed back off to Denmark on the cheap. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Lambert decided a one year deal for Holt would be a goer, either as another loan or a permanent.

I hope not because to be honest, much as Holt is a player Lambert knows and likes, he's also clearly over the hill and one good season at the top level proves Holt is capable at the top level in the same way that one good season proved MFH was.

But yeah, it probably won't happen, but if it did, I wouldn't be remotely surprised. A striker isn't a priority this summer, but an experienced back up might be in the back of Lamberts mind.

That said, Holts offered nothing on the pitch, and can he be offering that much off it?

[Mister E]

A striker isn't a priority this summer...

That's my view even in the light of the bad news re Benteke.
If we focus our funds on getting stronger in MF and defence at the same time as giving Weimann, Gabby, Robinson and Kozak (fit again in July hopefully) some time to sharpen their striking skills, that would be the best use of resources.
Benteke will hopefully be fit and raring to go by mid September; it'll be like a new signing.

We'll also hopefully have Carruthers and Grealish back and pushing for first team appearances.

The real killer for me is all this wasted time with Helenius: if we'd had him out on loan somewhere, scoring goals and getting some gametime, he could have come back and shored up the fading front line ... seems like a big opportunity missed.

[Toronto Villa]

Didn't he sign him on a 6 month loan because Kozak broke his leg?

If you believe some people he was brought in as a representation of the future, the dark, bleak, cold, windy future of Aston Villa. Where Lambert will sign his former players, mates of his who are all 30+ and past it. There's no way Holt was just added as a loan option to cover for injuries.

[Monty]

Didn't he sign him on a 6 month loan because Kozak broke his leg?

If you believe some people he was brought in as a representation of the future, the dark, bleak, cold, windy future of Aston Villa. Where Lambert will sign his former players, mates of his who are all 30+ and past it. There's no way Holt was just added as a loan option to cover for injuries.

Indeed, that's the only explanation for Holt's £100k pw, 6-year contract.

[Toronto Villa]

Didn't he sign him on a 6 month loan because Kozak broke his leg?

If you believe some people he was brought in as a representation of the future, the dark, bleak, cold, windy future of Aston Villa. Where Lambert will sign his former players, mates of his who are all 30+ and past it. There's no way Holt was just added as a loan option to cover for injuries.

Indeed, that's the only explanation for Holt's £100k pw, 6-year contract.

I think you are wrong Monty. I heard it is on par with Yaya, although Faulkner was going to offer him Rooney money had he not accepted because he is a moron at everything.

[DrGonzo]

I honestly believe that John has got a lot of man love for Holt...we spent 3 months listening to this same schtick the other summer, file under BS.

[Monty]

Didn't he sign him on a 6 month loan because Kozak broke his leg?

If you believe some people he was brought in as a representation of the future, the dark, bleak, cold, windy future of Aston Villa. Where Lambert will sign his former players, mates of his who are all 30+ and past it. There's no way Holt was just added as a loan option to cover for injuries.

Indeed, that's the only explanation for Holt's £100k pw, 6-year contract.

I think you are wrong Monty. I heard it is on par with Yaya, although Faulkner was going to offer him Rooney money had he not accepted because he is a moron at everything.

Holt can't actually count as high as the Rooney money, so they made do with Yaya.

[Toronto Villa]

Didn't he sign him on a 6 month loan because Kozak broke his leg?

If you believe some people he was brought in as a representation of the future, the dark, bleak, cold, windy future of Aston Villa. Where Lambert will sign his former players, mates of his who are all 30+ and past it. There's no way Holt was just added as a loan option to cover for injuries.

Indeed, that's the only explanation for Holt's £100k pw, 6-year contract.

I think you are wrong Monty. I heard it is on par with Yaya, although Faulkner was going to offer him Rooney money had he not accepted because he is a moron at everything.

Holt can't actually count as high as the Rooney money, so they made do with Yaya.

Now that I believe