Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[Matt Collins]

Can't say I'm excited about cole but given the complete lack of any ball playing penetration and creativity in the final third it's still an improvement

[Chris Smith]

The whole Cole signing is laughable to me. He doesn't assist or score many these days so i can't see any logical reason for signing him.

I don't think playing for Fat Sam was ever going to work for Cole so difficult to judge him on recent form. I agree it is a gamble but one that if it comes off will give us a good player in a position that we are sorely lacking.

[brian green]

Problem with Cole, apart from his porcelain constitution is that he will need some protection in midfield and Delph has enough on his plate most of the time.

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

Problem with Cole, apart from his porcelain constitution is that he will need some protection in midfield and Delph has enough on his plate most of the time.

anymore protection than what was already there? no

will him improve our midfield if he plays? yes

is it a gamble? yes

[PaulWinch again]

Don't really have a problem signing Cole provided we sign someone else in his position as well.

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

Holtby is a good player. Really energetic too from what I've seen of him. I'd like it a lot if he signed.

Not much difference between Dawson and Vlaar to be honest.

I have a feeling Southampton might get desperate and offer us 10m for Vlaar if they sell Lovren. I'd take that and run.

£10m for the best centre back in the World Cup?  Are we so desperate? Surely not! Holtby yes at the right price but Dawson never in a month of 6 Sundays! He is overrated because he plays for Spurs. He was useless for England.

Best centre back at the World Cup? I can only assume you didn't actually watch it, as Mats Hummels was easily the best CB there.

Vlaar had a few good games, but he looked like his usual self for the rest. I particularly remember one game against the footballing powerhouse that is Australia and he was struggling massively.

[Dave]

If we revise his statement to "one of the three or four best centre-backs at the World Cup" it doesn't really change his point though, does it?

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

If we revise his statement to "one of the three or four best centre-backs at the World Cup" it doesn't really change his point though, does it?

It doesn't, but he said "the best centre back", which is the point I'm challenging at the moment.

[Clampy]

I thought he had a great World Cup and deserved the plaudits he got for his performances.

[RussellC]

Best centre back at the World Cup? I can only assume you didn't actually watch it, as Mats Hummels was easily the best CB there.

I thought Hummels looked a bit suspect in the final, and Messi exposed his lack of pace a couple of times. Compared to how Vlaar handled him in the semi-finals I wouldn't say there was much, if anything, between them.

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

Best centre back at the World Cup? I can only assume you didn't actually watch it, as Mats Hummels was easily the best CB there.

I thought Hummels looked a bit suspect in the final, and Messi exposed his lack of pace a couple of times. Compared to how Vlaar handled him in the semi-finals I wouldn't say there was much, if anything, between them.

That's just one game. Hummels had a better tournament than Vlaar.

[PaulWinch again]

I thought Hummels was suspect in the final as well, everyone has bad games. Vlaar was outstanding at the World Cup overall.

[Toronto Villa]

Best centre back at the World Cup? I can only assume you didn't actually watch it, as Mats Hummels was easily the best CB there.

I thought Hummels looked a bit suspect in the final, and Messi exposed his lack of pace a couple of times. Compared to how Vlaar handled him in the semi-finals I wouldn't say there was much, if anything, between them.

That's just one game. Hummels had a better tournament than Vlaar.

I wonder if you would be saying that if he wasn't a Villa player? For some people nowadays it has become quite fashionable to find new ways to bash our own.

[Damo70]

I like Vlaar. I think he is a good player and he seems like a good bloke. He has been handicapped since he joined us by having to play with central defensive partners who are not actually very good. But some of the plaudits that are being thrown at him for his World Cup performances are OTT in my opinion. I honestly don't think he was as good as some people are saying.

[Chris Jameson]

Rio Ferdinand who knows a thing or two about centre backs thought he was the best of the tournament.