Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[supertom]

I'm not going to get too worried yet. It'll be August time where we'll see (hopefully) the more ambitious signings. A couple of freebies in June doesn't necessarily set the tone for the window to come. We know our budget is tight. We know at some point we need to get a few out the door still too, but I think we'll see a couple of slightly more enticing signings coming our way.

If Lambert really does want us to play football, he knows we need new players. He's seriously got to address our midfield and also our fullbacks. Joe Cole's signing, whilst not earth shatteringly exciting, at least shows an intent to change our set up to a more modern way of playing and less airborne way of playing.

[LeeB]

Nick Mashiter from the E&S

Nick Mashiter ‏@nmashiter_star  32m
#avfc unable/unwilling to offer wages Lescott wanted, which weren't astronomical.

Nick Mashiter ‏@nmashiter_star  31m
But #avfc couldn't match #wba for wages for Lukaku loan two years ago so certainly wouldn't be able to beat them now.

And that says it all, really.

Well, yes, but it could also be that we weren't willing to pay those wages for those two players because we didn't have the pressing need for them that Albiloan have.

Don't forget, instead of paying Lukaku's wages and loan fee, we signed Benteke.

[pauliewalnuts]

Nick Mashiter from the E&S

Nick Mashiter ‏@nmashiter_star  32m
#avfc unable/unwilling to offer wages Lescott wanted, which weren't astronomical.

Nick Mashiter ‏@nmashiter_star  31m
But #avfc couldn't match #wba for wages for Lukaku loan two years ago so certainly wouldn't be able to beat them now.

And that says it all, really.

Well, yes, but it could also be that we weren't willing to pay those wages for those two players because we didn't have the pressing need for them that Albiloan have.

Don't forget, instead of paying Lukaku's wages and loan fee, we signed Benteke.

Lambert said he wanted to sign them both, mind.

It'd be nice to see a sign of some ambition some time this summer, though. It can't just drag on like the last few years forever.

Can it?

[dave.woodhall]

Lescott - and I wouldn't have minded him - strikes me as the sort of signing Doug would have made, namely a past-it big name on the cheap as a way of proving to the revolting peasants that we've got ambition.   

[LeeB]

Don't hold your breath.

[Stu]

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Senderos and Cole are the lot for this summer.

We can't afford/won't pay the wages for any sort of ambitious signing.

[Clampy]

I'd have liked Lescott actually. It's a decent signing for them in fairness and i'm not sure he's past it quite yet.

[pauliewalnuts]

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Senderos and Cole are the lot for this summer.

If that were the case, I'd be down my local bookmaker with a sizeable sum of money on us to go down.

[Walmley_Villa]

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Senderos and Cole are the lot for this summer.

If that were the case, I'd be down my local bookmaker with a sizeable sum of money on us to go down.

I think it will be too - maybe a loan. I would expect Lambert has been told he has £75-£100k a week to offer in wages in total. Cole and Senderos will have taken up half of that.

[RussellC]

If Lescott hadn't spent the last twelve months warming the bench then I have no doubt he's be in Brazil now. Credit to the Albion on this one, good signing. Did we need him? Not if Okore is fit to start the season imo.

If Lescott was that great he probably wouldn't have spent the last twelve months warming the bench.

As opposed to what Senderos has been doing...?

Fair point. But I'm not really saying that Senderos is a marquee signing, just that I can't get too worked up about the fact that we haven't signed Lescott.

Same here. Had it been that he had the choice between us and them and chose them, then that'd be worth the ire.

For me it's more about the fact that we had the choice between Senderos and Lescott and went for Senderos!

[*shellac*]

You can't guarantee Lescott will be a good signing for them (or for us, if we sign him). 

Hope he becomes their Winston Bogarde.

[RussellC]

In my opinion the point about Lescott is this; people keep saying that our midfield was our weak-spot last season. it wasn't, it was the centre-half position. Namely that we had to spend the majority of the season with either Baker or Clark inadequately playing in the left centre-back position.

So, at the end of the season, a player becomes available on a free transfer (and a boyhood Villa fan no-less) who plays in EXACTLY the same position and is SIGNIFICANTLY better. Requires no scouting. Absolutely no worry that he won't settle in the area.

I genuinely can't think of one signing or potential signing in recent history that's been more of a no-brainer than this, given our current predicament.

To bring Senderos in and "allow" (because as far as I'm concerned that's exactly what we've done) him to go to Albion is more frustrating than I can actually put into words.

[RussellC]

You can't guarantee Lescott will be a good signing for them (or for us, if we sign him). 

Hope he becomes their Winston Bogarde.

Of course it can't be guaranteed, but it's extremely likely that he'll be better than Clark, Baker and Senderos next season.

[glasses]

Lescott - and I wouldn't have minded him - strikes me as the sort of signing Doug would have made, namely a past-it big name on the cheap as a way of proving to the revolting peasants that we've got ambition.   

You mean like Joe Cole?

[dave.woodhall]

Lescott - and I wouldn't have minded him - strikes me as the sort of signing Doug would have made, namely a past-it big name on the cheap as a way of proving to the revolting peasants that we've got ambition.   

You mean like Joe Cole?

I was thinking more Schmeichel and Ginola. I'd never call Joe Cole a big name.