Summer 2015 - Transfer Rumours, Speculation & Suggestions

[Louzie0]

A couple of years ago another poster wanted us to sign N'Zonzi and everyone said how shit he is.

That was me!

Edit: I didn't have the balls to have conviction with the suggestion though. I kind of knew it would get panned.

Natty dresser though.

Edgy has always kept up the sartorial standards for Villa fans.


Edit...

Reading through the thread, I thought this was a comment about edgy satsuma and only just realised it was a reference to N'zog's totally frightening suit, picked up in Dubai market.

I stand by my comment re. Edgy, though.
Even though I've never met him. He posts like a well turned out member of the Villa fraternity.

[UK Redsox]

It would be great to see Villa sign a midfielder with a physical presence, even if not as a starter. The current squad lacks that option.

Hitz in his early days when he just shot on sight and kicked people should be the type of player to look for

[Louzie0]

Yes, UKRedsox, I'd rather like us to sign one of those exciting players this time round as well.

One you keep shouting, 'shooooot' to would be great!

[brontebilly]

Why is Richards signing adding to  The "retirement home feel" of the squad. He's 26 and with a little bit of luck has his best years (performance wise) right ahead of him. It's not like we've gone and signed Wes Brown on free😜

19 league games in 3 years maybe suggests he isnt as bothered about his career as he should be, file under Sinclair, Scott...

think there is far more of a chance of his contract being an expensive liability than an asset for us

hope to be proven wrong of course

[Walmley_Villa]

Yes please to Nzonzi

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Why is Richards signing adding to  The "retirement home feel" of the squad. He's 26 and with a little bit of luck has his best years (performance wise) right ahead of him. It's not like we've gone and signed Wes Brown on free😜

19 league games in 3 years maybe suggests he isnt as bothered about his career as he should be, file under Sinclair, Scott...

think there is far more of a chance of his contract being an expensive liability than an asset for us

hope to be proven wrong of course

I think you might be on this one, Bronty, at least in terms of his attitude. From everything I've read about him he lives, breathes and farts football.

I worry far more about Sinclair who I think will get very frustrated when he's not even making the bench next season despite all the chances he's given.

[edgysatsuma89]

A couple of years ago another poster wanted us to sign N'Zonzi and everyone said how shit he is.

That was me!

Edit: I didn't have the balls to have conviction with the suggestion though. I kind of knew it would get panned.

Natty dresser though.

Edgy has always kept up the sartorial standards for Villa fans.


Edit...

Reading through the thread, I thought this was a comment about edgy satsuma and only just realised it was a reference to N'zog's totally frightening suit, picked up in Dubai market.

I stand by my comment re. Edgy, though.
Even though I've never met him. He posts like a well turned out member of the Villa fraternity.

Thank you Louzie. It depends when you catch me. I range from the dapper, to the tramp. I'm not dressing up to go to me nans!

I agree about the Zog. No idea if he's arrogant but he's definitely half-arsed.

[Villa in Denmark]

Why is Richards signing adding to  The "retirement home feel" of the squad. He's 26 and with a little bit of luck has his best years (performance wise) right ahead of him. It's not like we've gone and signed Wes Brown on free😜

19 league games in 3 years maybe suggests he isnt as bothered about his career as he should be, file under Sinclair, Scott...

think there is far more of a chance of his contract being an expensive liability than an asset for us

hope to be proven wrong of course

Apart from the fact that he went to Italy to play for a season to get game time, only to find that Fiorentina switched from 433 to 352 just after he'd arrived and found himself pretty much surplus to requirements apart from playing on the right of the 3 in Europa league games and covering for injuries.

My biggest concern is he's not proven his fitness since injury, but it's no disgrace being kept out of the team by Zabaleta, and especially the first year back after his knee injury, it's understandable he'd want to try and fight for his place.

When this was floated as a suggestion on this thread, way before the end of last season, I was, at best, sceptical because:
1. At the time I thought he was closer to 30, given how long he's been around
2. The pattern of lack of games over the period suggesting either a) can't be bothered or b) not over knee injury.

The more I've thought about it the more I'm coming around to it as
1. At 26 he should still have his best years ahead of him if he can find any semblance of the fitness and form he showed as a youngster
2. Looking at the actual pattern of what he's been through the last three years
2012/13 season.  Started as first choice. Injured in autumn - Lost place to Zabaleta
2013/14 season. Found himself behind Zabaleta and couldn't win place back
2014/15 season Chose to go on loan to Fiorentina when obvious he was going to be behind both Zabaleta and Sagna.

Particularly last season to me says not someone who's happy to just sit back and pick up the wages.

Not really his fault they changes their system to 3 at the back after a handful of games, and he's no wing-back.

[manic-road]

N'zonzi would be a great signing and someone TS would be interested in.
Honestly cannot see him wanting to come, he isn't happy with stokes ambitions, can see him looking for some Europa action.

How do you know TS would be interested in him? Has he publicly stated that?

[dekko]

Why is Richards signing adding to  The "retirement home feel" of the squad. He's 26 and with a little bit of luck has his best years (performance wise) right ahead of him. It's not like we've gone and signed Wes Brown on free😜

19 league games in 3 years maybe suggests he isnt as bothered about his career as he should be, file under Sinclair, Scott...

think there is far more of a chance of his contract being an expensive liability than an asset for us

hope to be proven wrong of course

Villa in Denmark already beat me to it but I'd like to add that Richards also turned down an offer of a new contract (with pay rise) last season so I'm really not seeing how this is remotely similar to Scott Sinclair's situation.

[brontebilly]

Why is Richards signing adding to  The "retirement home feel" of the squad. He's 26 and with a little bit of luck has his best years (performance wise) right ahead of him. It's not like we've gone and signed Wes Brown on free😜

19 league games in 3 years maybe suggests he isnt as bothered about his career as he should be, file under Sinclair, Scott...

think there is far more of a chance of his contract being an expensive liability than an asset for us

hope to be proven wrong of course

Apart from the fact that he went to Italy to play for a season to get game time, only to find that Fiorentina switched from 433 to 352 just after he'd arrived and found himself pretty much surplus to requirements apart from playing on the right of the 3 in Europa league games and covering for injuries.

My biggest concern is he's not proven his fitness since injury, but it's no disgrace being kept out of the team by Zabaleta, and especially the first year back after his knee injury, it's understandable he'd want to try and fight for his place.

When this was floated as a suggestion on this thread, way before the end of last season, I was, at best, sceptical because:
1. At the time I thought he was closer to 30, given how long he's been around
2. The pattern of lack of games over the period suggesting either a) can't be bothered or b) not over knee injury.

The more I've thought about it the more I'm coming around to it as
1. At 26 he should still have his best years ahead of him if he can find any semblance of the fitness and form he showed as a youngster
2. Looking at the actual pattern of what he's been through the last three years
2012/13 season.  Started as first choice. Injured in autumn - Lost place to Zabaleta
2013/14 season. Found himself behind Zabaleta and couldn't win place back
2014/15 season Chose to go on loan to Fiorentina when obvious he was going to be behind both Zabaleta and Sagna.

Particularly last season to me says not someone who's happy to just sit back and pick up the wages.

Not really his fault they changes their system to 3 at the back after a handful of games, and he's no wing-back.

I suspect our Tim is looking to go three at the back next season, certainly Richards seems to have been told he will be at centre back. Why wouldnt wing back suit him, at his best surely he would be ideally suited to such a role? Fiorentina are no world beaters either lets be honest. The last few times I saw him play for City he was laughably bad and looked like he was on the same diet as Gabby.

We seem to have got rid of Vlaar off the books. We still have the likes of Senderos and Baker who are injured more often than they are fit. The last thing we should be doing is handing out four year contracts for the reported wages to the likes of Micah Richards. A player who hasnt played at centre half in a number of years dont forget. This has disaster spelled all over it imo.

[Ads]

Richards: goes to Italy to try and play first team football "interested in sitting on his arse".

Dunne: Has a "poorly shoulder" *wink wink* for twelve months, not lifting a chubby finger but to count his kings ransom? Gets defended to the hilt.

[footyskillz]

N'ZONZI REJECTS STOKE DEAL

Steven N'Zonzi has turned down Stoke's offer of a new deal and because he wants to quit the Britannia, according to the Daily Mirror.

N'Zonzi has just one year left on his current deal and the Potters are keen to tie him to a longer contract but the midfielder is keen to move away in order to enhance his chances of playing for France at next year’s European Championships.

Now that would be an upgrade imho. Whether he'd want to come is moot, but you never know.

Exactly what I suggested nzonzi in the eleven I was forthcoming with. Good to others rate him too. I like his physicality and energy sco?resca cheeky goal oir two. Improved his discpiline. I was aware of his contract so that's can do suggesting him

[Steve R]

NZogbia is Clouseau to my Inspector Dreyfus. Every time he goes near the ball my eye twitches and I start thinking ray guns.

[Villa in Denmark]

I'll skip the quotathon

Why do you think we'll go 3 at the back next season? Nothing Sherwood did with us, or with Spurs hinted at 3 at the back being a long term option as far as I can recall.
Wing back wouldn't suit him as there (if done properly) the onus is on attacking and tracking back when needed.  Richards is first and foremost a defender, albeit from the responses on the Blue Moon board, okayish going forwards, but relying more on speed and physique than technique.

Fiorentina - can't comment.  Saw a few minutes of their Europa League games, but wasn't really paying attention.

Senderos & Baker - agree.

Wages for Richards - we've spent the last 9 years being notoriously difficult for journalists to get any contract information out of us and the last 5 being notoriously tight. Why should we suddenly believe that we've pretty much shattered our wage structure now? Alternatively the brave new world of the new TV deal means that we can afford to start paying these wages to players we believe are worth it, and if he can get back to 75% of what he was pre-injury he'll be the best right back we've had in more years than I care to remember, Mark Delaney?

And again.  Why has he got to be playing centre half.  His best performances have come at full back. He won the League and FA cup playing full back, he played for England at full back.  People have kittens about Okore at centre half being a shade over 6'.  Why should we now play someone who's 5'11" there?

If I was to guess, I'd say that the starting back 4 (assuming no more signings other than maybe a left back) will be

Richards - Okore - Clark - A.N.Other (Possibly Bennett)

Hutton will be first cover for Richards
Baker will be first cover Clark
Senderos will be first cover for Okore

If necessary Richards can cover for Okore