Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[ozzjim]

The hope it gives me is that someone like Barry on a free or even Lescott too are not beyond us and it heralds a bit of a policy shift

I'll show my arse on the Holte pub corner if either of those turn up over the summer

I think you will be safe.

[Steve R]

I think I have been beaten into submission by last season. A year ago I would not have pissed on Barry if he were on fire. Now I am of the opnion that we would be very lucky to get him.

I can't see what use Ferdinand would have been. Had he been capable of playing a full season he would have done so last time out.

[Pete3206]

Steve Sidwell has been released by Fulham and is available on a free transfer.
He was pretty anonymous for us first time round but has just had a good season for Fulham.
Worth a punt?

No

[adrenachrome]

Steve Sidwell has been released by Fulham and is available on a free transfer.
He was pretty anonymous for us first time round but has just had a good season for Fulham.
Worth a punt?

No

He might be good as a coach specialising in throw-ins.

[*shellac*]

Would love Barry and Lescott on frees and a marquee loan signing like Lukaka

That's very Everton and won't happen.

[supertom]

Steve Sidwell has been released by Fulham and is available on a free transfer.
He was pretty anonymous for us first time round but has just had a good season for Fulham.
Worth a punt?

Currently? Yes. 1-2 year deal. Sensible wage. Vast improvement over KEA and can score goals from midfield. He was anonymous first time round, but to be fair to him, he wasn't one Ofice O Neill's first choice 11, he barely got a look in, barring injuries. Our best run of form for O Neill actually came when he was in the side (when we had Gab up top on his own). Of course that may have been in spite of Sidwell, rather than because of him.

Beggars can't be choosers really. He's good at disrupting the opposition and he'll make his presence felt. That can't always be said of Westwood and KEA who often disappear completely.

Vast improvement over KEA ?  Are you having a laugh
I can't remember one decent game Sidwell had for Villa, whereas KEA had been effective at times

I can remember a couple of decent games Sidwell had, particularly during the unbeaten run we had with him in the side, and of course Everton away, and we're talking about 5 years ago now. KEA is fresher in the memory but aside from a handful of average turnouts, I genuinely can't remember much. He's been played more consistently but has been totally anonymous.
That Sidwell couldn't standout in a midfield including players like Stan, Barry, Young, etc is more acceptable than KEA, who is effectively a first choice player.
Say what you will about Sidwell though, he was raised by Arsenal, has played in the Premier League for the last 7-8 years. So you can at least safely call him Premiership standard. KEA? Not sure on that one. He should go back to being average in the Dutch league to be honest. I'd honestly have Coker back over KEA too, he'd at least remind us he's playing every now and again, even if it were purely by doing his bull in a China shop routine. The Great El Ahmadlios disappearing trick is getting tiresome. We've seen it too often.

That said, we do need better players than Sidwell but if I'm asked whether I think it's more likely we'll re-sign Barry, or re-sign Sidwell, I'd say Sidwell (or that ilk) is more likely...sadly.

[SoccerHQ]

Sidwell was just incredibly average for us in his time here, he did actually play a fair bit in the first half of 09/10 ahead of NRC and before we moved Milner into central midfield.

He was comfortably the weakest link in that team, just average at passing, tackling and generally everything else bar a couple of goals and getting forward.

[DrGonzo]

And he was prone to being mugged in defence, or letting stray passes go without any seeming thought.  I can recall at least 2 unforgivable lapses  around the penalty area that lead to goals against in his last season.  That said he scored more goals than the rest of our midfield combined last season, so what does that say??

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

I think I have been beaten into submission by last season. A year ago I would not have pissed on Barry if he were on fire. Now I am of the opnion that we would be very lucky to get him

Barry had a very good season. Guessing he proved a lot of people wrong, perhaps you were one of them?

I'd love him to come back. In his current role, he's a bit like Westwood but actually good.

[SoccerHQ]

He's a class act and would be that steadying influence just infront of the back 4 we've missed since Stan's sad demise.

To me our midfield is incredibly average against most teams we play in the league but partly because we have no decent attacking midfielder and our balance is wrong.

Stick Barry at the base, have Westwood as an inbetween to keep the passing ticking over (as he doesn't track runners enough which cost us a few goals last year) and Delph getting forward and suddenly you have a more balanced and competitive middle even if it still lacks a bit of creativity.

Barry is a competent set piece taker aswell so would imagine we'd score a few more from corners and free kicks.

[supertom]

He's a class act and would be that steadying influence just infront of the back 4 we've missed since Stan's sad demise.

To me our midfield is incredibly average against most teams we play in the league but partly because we have no decent attacking midfielder and our balance is wrong.

Stick Barry at the base, have Westwood as an inbetween to keep the passing ticking over (as he doesn't track runners enough which cost us a few goals last year) and Delph getting forward and suddenly you have a more balanced and competitive middle even if it still lacks a bit of creativity.

Barry is a competent set piece taker aswell so would imagine we'd score a few more from corners and free kicks.

Set pieces is also something we've persistently struggled with since Young left. Even in AY last couple of seasons his delivery was becoming erratic. But for a couple of seasons with Young delivering from one side, and Barry from another, we were really good with set pieces.

It's been ages since we've really had anyone who could take a half decent corner.

[supertom]

And he was prone to being mugged in defence, or letting stray passes go without any seeming thought.  I can recall at least 2 unforgivable lapses  around the penalty area that lead to goals against in his last season.  That said he scored more goals than the rest of our midfield combined last season, so what does that say??

Sidders has also been generally pretty solid for Fulham in the last couple of years, not just last season, so I'd say he's fefound the consistency that deserted him from Reading. To be honest with us he was punching above his weight (never mind being well out of his depth at Chelsea). Never, ever a top 6 quality player.

At his best a reasonable mid-table player.

And that makes him good enough for our first 11 now.
 

[peter w]

I can see the sense in Ferdinand if it is a player-prospective coach position.  He was a very good centre-half at the peak of his powers and baker/Clark and whoever could learn a lot from him. Plus if we went into the season with Okore, Vlaar, Senderos, Ferdinand added to Lowton, Baker, Clark, Bennett, Luna (probably be sold or loaned back to Spain) then straight away we're stronger than last season. That's a mid-table back 4 and more importantly gives us some depth when the inevitable injuries strike.

Anyway be in touch with his agent means very little:

"Hello this is Aston Villa. Would Rio fancy coming here and what kind of money is he looking ofr?

"Well he would if the package was there. He'd be willing to take a drop in wages to around £60 000 per week"

"Would he take 40"?

"Yes, with at least another 20 000 on top"

"We'd like him to coach the kids also"

"That's 70 000 then"

[pauliewalnuts]

Sidwell is the player in recent years I've most forgotten was even on the pitch.

[Toronto Villa]

Sidwell is the player in recent years I've most forgotten was even on the pitch.

he will be forever known for two things; that goal at Everton, the ball boy act vs Hull. That is it.