Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[Jarpie]

The absolute top priority should be these three players: experienced leader in the midfield (Barry/Petrov mold) and two creative attacking mids - wide player and number 10. Weimann has shown that he can't play on the wing, and we -desperately- lack leader in the midfield and creative midfielder to break up the opposition.

After those three are sorted, we need left back, right back and experienced central defender. Hopefully we can get Bertrand from Chelsea.

[brontebilly]

I would agree there isn't a lot there to get over excited about but on the Norwich bench I would look at Redmond and Hooper

  he is like a younger fatter Grant Holt

[PaulWinch again]

The first thing that needs sorting is who the owner and manger are going to be, and then we build the squad from there.

[ciggiesnbeer]

There are players amongst the relegated teams that are better than what we have.

Oh I agree but as I mentioned they have to be better than what we have AND better than the bottom five. That chops the list down to a far smaller number imho.

Also I want our team to add winners not players who are used to losing. I know that sounds harsh but I think it is true.

[silhillvilla]

Perhaps we can loan Lukaku for a year if Moanrihnio don't fancy him again

[N'Zimidy]

 I think Caulker is a bit overrated.Every time i see Cardiff, there defence is all over the place.I think hes ok, but not worth £8m imho.

no way at that price, Id avoid Caulker like the plague this summer to be honest. Dawson at half the price would be better. For 8m we should be getting an established European international defender not Caulker.

Raphael Varane signed for Real for about 6m stg. Pique cost Barcelona 5m. The days of clubs like ours overpaying for average British players like Caulker is surely over.

Signing him for that price would bring back memories of signing Curtis Davies with arguably the same net result imo.

Come on now, you can't point out those two signings and act like that is the going rate on centre backs. Varane (who was £9m) was only that cheap because he was running out his contract and was only ever going to sign for Real Madrid. Pique was a flop at United and he too was only interested in going back to Barca. Both revelations but Villa could never have signed them.

When it comes to Caulker, he's 22, an England international, captained Cardiff and is a menace at corners. I don't think you can get any better for £8-10m, especially for a centre half under 25.

[Tuscans]

 I think Caulker is a bit overrated.Every time i see Cardiff, there defence is all over the place.I think hes ok, but not worth £8m imho.

no way at that price, Id avoid Caulker like the plague this summer to be honest. Dawson at half the price would be better. For 8m we should be getting an established European international defender not Caulker.

Raphael Varane signed for Real for about 6m stg. Pique cost Barcelona 5m. The days of clubs like ours overpaying for average British players like Caulker is surely over.

Signing him for that price would bring back memories of signing Curtis Davies with arguably the same net result imo.

Come on now, you can't point out those two signings and act like that is the going rate on centre backs. Varane (who was £9m) was only that cheap because he was running out his contract and was only ever going to sign for Real Madrid. Pique was a flop at United and he too was only interested in going back to Barca. Both revelations but Villa could never have signed them.

When it comes to Caulker, he's 22, an England international, captained Cardiff and is a menace at corners. I don't think you can get any better for £8-10m, especially for a centre half under 25.

I can't stand the phrase, "he is an England International" intending he's class. He has 1 cap and England are a poor team. Being English and under 25 means absolutely nothing....its mentality and technical ability for me which a lot of English footballers don't have, let alone both.

Why are we suggesting Caulker anyway...is Vlaar now not good enough and has Okore been forgotten?

[N'Zimidy]

 I think Caulker is a bit overrated.Every time i see Cardiff, there defence is all over the place.I think hes ok, but not worth £8m imho.

no way at that price, Id avoid Caulker like the plague this summer to be honest. Dawson at half the price would be better. For 8m we should be getting an established European international defender not Caulker.

Raphael Varane signed for Real for about 6m stg. Pique cost Barcelona 5m. The days of clubs like ours overpaying for average British players like Caulker is surely over.

Signing him for that price would bring back memories of signing Curtis Davies with arguably the same net result imo.

Come on now, you can't point out those two signings and act like that is the going rate on centre backs. Varane (who was £9m) was only that cheap because he was running out his contract and was only ever going to sign for Real Madrid. Pique was a flop at United and he too was only interested in going back to Barca. Both revelations but Villa could never have signed them.

When it comes to Caulker, he's 22, an England international, captained Cardiff and is a menace at corners. I don't think you can get any better for £8-10m, especially for a centre half under 25.

I can't stand the phrase, "he is an England International" intending he's class. He has 1 cap and England are a poor team. Being English and under 25 means absolutely nothing....its mentality and technical ability for me which a lot of English footballers don't have, let alone both.

Why are we suggesting Caulker anyway...is Vlaar now not good enough and has Okore been forgotten?

Vlaar is crocked for about 10 games a season and Okore is coming back from a horrendous injury. We need a centre half, without a shadow of a doubt. We can't have Baker starting 20 games next season.

Being under 25 is a massive factor in the sense that he has a lot of development still to come and we can always sell him for a profit in the future. Its been the clubs aim over the past two years to buy younger players and improve them and Caulker fits right in that bracket.

[Tuscans]

 I think Caulker is a bit overrated.Every time i see Cardiff, there defence is all over the place.I think hes ok, but not worth £8m imho.

no way at that price, Id avoid Caulker like the plague this summer to be honest. Dawson at half the price would be better. For 8m we should be getting an established European international defender not Caulker.

Raphael Varane signed for Real for about 6m stg. Pique cost Barcelona 5m. The days of clubs like ours overpaying for average British players like Caulker is surely over.

Signing him for that price would bring back memories of signing Curtis Davies with arguably the same net result imo.

Come on now, you can't point out those two signings and act like that is the going rate on centre backs. Varane (who was £9m) was only that cheap because he was running out his contract and was only ever going to sign for Real Madrid. Pique was a flop at United and he too was only interested in going back to Barca. Both revelations but Villa could never have signed them.

When it comes to Caulker, he's 22, an England international, captained Cardiff and is a menace at corners. I don't think you can get any better for £8-10m, especially for a centre half under 25.

I can't stand the phrase, "he is an England International" intending he's class. He has 1 cap and England are a poor team. Being English and under 25 means absolutely nothing....its mentality and technical ability for me which a lot of English footballers don't have, let alone both.

Why are we suggesting Caulker anyway...is Vlaar now not good enough and has Okore been forgotten?

Vlaar is crocked for about 10 games a season and Okore is coming back from a horrendous injury. We need a centre half, without a shadow of a doubt. We can't have Baker starting 20 games next season.

Being under 25 is a massive factor in the sense that he has a lot of development still to come and we can always sell him for a profit in the future. Its been the clubs aim over the past two years to buy younger players and improve them and Caulker fits right in that bracket.

Maybe you're right, but if you have seen any Cardiff games then he hasn't really been all that and I can't justify spending that kind of cash on him when you suggest development is a key factor and we don't know how Baker & Clark will develop under the right coaching and guidance.

[enigma]

Cardiff starting XI yesterday....

01 Marshall
35 Fabio
42 John
18 Mutch
04 Caulker
06 Turner
36 Zaha
07 Whittingham
10 Campbell
17 Gunnarsson
13 Kim

Fulham....

13 Stockdale
33 Burn
03 Riise
09 Diarra
04 Heitinga
05 Hangeland
10 Holtby
28 Parker
39 Bent
07 Sidwell
15 Richardson

Norwich today....

01 Ruddy
02 Martin
03 Whittaker
04 Johnson
24 R Bennett
06 Turner
07 Snodgrass
27 Tettey
16 Elmander
08 Howson
23 Olsson

Just my opinion but I don't see anything from that lot that's going to take Villa up the table.

Edited....I might take a Right Back....I think that is one of our weakest positions as for me Okore will fill the Centre Back position well next season.

From those three clubs I'd take any of Caulker, Turner, Hangeland, Holtby and Snodgrass. They'd all improve us quite easily.

[barrysleftfoot]

 I think Caulker falls asleep and loses his man.Look at Noocastles 1st goal yday, completely lost his man in probably their most important game of the year.Not sure Caulker is much better than Baker tbh.

 

[Mister E]

Caulker is vastly overrated and needs 2-3 more seasons in development (and I believe that the Spudds fans were happy to see the back of him?). Can we afford for someone to come and learn at Villa (exhibit A: Baker); we need an additional reliable performer at CB; someone who can bring experience and technical capability.
I don't think any of the Fulham or Cardiff players are worth investing in (Dejagah possibly). Haangeland would be interesting but will probalby go elsewhere.
At Norwich, Tetty and possibly Olsson (at leftback) might be worth a shout; and Hoolahan of course!

[enigma]

Nobody is saying Caulker is world class but he's vastly better than Baker and Clark.

That said, I'd take Curtis Davis back ahead of any of them. He's improved beyond all recognition to the player we once had.

[john2710]

Whilst Okore looks a prospect, it's very risky counting on him being consistently good enough, especially after his injury. Plus Vlar will always miss games. In either case we could end up with Baker or Clarke playing 20-30 games a season. I'm happy to risk another season with one of them but not both, in my opinion we need to replace Baker with another experienced centre half. I suspect we will see a lot more of a 3-5-2 formation next season, as it allows us to play with 2 up front.

[walsall villain]

Nobody is saying Caulker is world class but he's vastly better than Baker and Clark.

That said, I'd take Curtis Davis back ahead of any of them. He's improved beyond all recognition to the player we once had.

I thought he was quite poor yesterday, only one game I know, did you see him?