Summer 2015 - Transfer Rumours, Speculation & Suggestions

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I also have to say, Townsend as well as Richards would suggest we're looking at cornering that "loads of energy but a bit brainless with the ball, loads of passion English player" area of the market.

Which suggests not having learned the lessons of years gone by.

I think that's a bit harsh Paulie, considering Richards was one of Man City's better players the year they won the title.

If we signed Townsend as well, it would suggest a few things; 1. that there is a bit more freedom for us to spend and 2. that we've learnt the lesson's of the past four years, that we need better players if the summit of our ambition extends beyond the bottom 6.

[footyskillz]

Carlos Gill is better and was only 3.25 mil! Imagine a swap deal plus cash for Townsend . That's some perspective. I wouldn't pay more than £6 mil for Townsend. Maybe add ons up to 2mil so max is 8mil. But! As stated before we have gill and really hope Sherwood uses him the coming season.

Spuds aren't going to sell an established Premier League English international for £6-8m so you'd best get back to your scouting mission please footyskilz...stop slacking off!

Ha. Okay sure. But what of gill! And also I get that Townsend current international but he's not a starter at spurs bit like weimann not being fancied. Poch and levy clearly want lamela to deliver goods and with goal scorers eriksen and chadli in the team Townsend doesn't fit ad first choice. Does the dross want first team action or be left for just Europa games. The 2016 euro year coming up I think a loan with a view to buy could suit all parties. I just feel 12 mil is steep

[footyskillz]

I also have to say, Townsend as well as Richards would suggest we're looking at cornering that "loads of energy but a bit brainless with the ball, loads of passion English player" area of the market.

Which suggests not having learned the lessons of years gone by.

I think that's a bit harsh Paulie, considering Richards was one of Man City's better players the year they won the title.

If we signed Townsend as well, it would suggest a few things; 1. that there is a bit more freedom for us to spend and 2. that we've learnt the lesson's of the past four years, that we need better players if the summit of our ambition extends beyond the bottom 6.

I think what is being suggested and what I believe of Sherwood is that he has a type of player and character and unfortunate its not foreign ones . I also think Sherwood uses what he can work with and is therefor limited if anything Sherwood has the energy but lacks the brains .

[badluckeric(gates)]

He changed the mentality of the team in a short space of time, got Benteke firing again and kept us up (albeit just), think I may give him the benefit of the doubt on who he fancies and who he doesn't.
for now anyway......

[Concrete John]

I think if you rate Townsend then £12m for a player from a Europa side that's in the England side is at least the going rate.  If you don't, then obviously it isn't.

Personally I'd be ok with it if we have enough left for other areas.  However, it would make me worry about Benteke as it slightly reminds me of the way Spurs spent the Bale money before they sold him.

[RussellC]

I’m very surprised that people are so anti the idea of spending £12million on a 23-year old England International. We know that there’s always a premium involved in buying English, but when you do so you eliminate the vast majority of risk of whether or not the player will adapt to the country and the pace of the league. The comparisons to the fee paid for Scott Sinclair, a player who was completely surplus to requirements at his previous club with a contract running down and hardly kicking a ball in anger, are completely irrelevant. So are the comparisons to similar players in inferior foreign leagues. We all know that better value can be found abroad, but we also know that it’s much more of a risk. If we want to be moving away from yet another relegation battle, we need to making signings that are as guaranteed as possible to deliver. Paying £12m for Andros Townsend ticks every box, as far as I’m concerned.

As for the stats comparison to Andi Weimann, I’d love to see a direct comparison with how frequently both give the ball away over an average 90 minute period, or fail to control a simple pass from a team-mate. Townsend is a much, much better player than Weimann and I can’t believe anyone would try to argue otherwise.

[Phil from the upper holte]

Also we've just signed Sinclair, what's the point in signing Townsend?

[Clampy]

Well with Weimann gone and Bent (even though he didn't figure anyway), he may well bring in a new forward. I'd try and get Joel Campbell in. He looked great at the World Cup and Arsenal don't seem in a hurry to play him.

[passitsideways]

I’m very surprised that people are so anti the idea of spending £12million on a 23-year old England International. We know that there’s always a premium involved in buying English, but when you do so you eliminate the vast majority of risk of whether or not the player will adapt to the country and the pace of the league. The comparisons to the fee paid for Scott Sinclair, a player who was completely surplus to requirements at his previous club with a contract running down and hardly kicking a ball in anger, are completely irrelevant. So are the comparisons to similar players in inferior foreign leagues. We all know that better value can be found abroad, but we also know that it’s much more of a risk. If we want to be moving away from yet another relegation battle, we need to making signings that are as guaranteed as possible to deliver. Paying £12m for Andros Townsend ticks every box, as far as I’m concerned.

As for the stats comparison to Andi Weimann, I’d love to see a direct comparison with how frequently both give the ball away over an average 90 minute period, or fail to control a simple pass from a team-mate. Townsend is a much, much better player than Weimann and I can’t believe anyone would try to argue otherwise.

It depends on how much you think Townsend can improve. With the previous English wingers we've bought for that amount, Downing had an extended record of supplying goals for Middlesbrough; while you could still dream on Young and Milner developing. Townsend's never managed more than 2 goals or assists in a league season - granted, he hasn't played all that much at Spurs, but it's concerning when you're allegedly spending 12 million on him as a supposed guarantee.

[Boz]

I doubt Townsend wants to come to B6 anyway, he reported as saying he'd sooner stay at WHL.

IMO although in Woy's squad, (and he's better than Villa have), but he's not worth £12m and his main tactic is to cut inside and shoot, but most defenders know this and play him accordingly.

Must be better value elsewhere.

[RussellC]

Must be better value elsewhere.

True, but you could apply that to literally every signing we make. And, as others have stated, the search for value for money carries a certain amount of risk. In my opinion, this transfer window needs to be concentrated on bringing in payers who will almost certainly ensure that we're not involved in another relegation battle. If that means spending over the odds, then so be it. I'd much rather us doing that than following the Tonev/Helenius  route again.

[Clark W Griswold]

Townsend would be an excellent signing even at £12m.

A midfield of Sinclair, Townsend, Delph sand Sanchez (if playing at their full potential) would be at least a mid table midfield.

[footyskillz]

I do feel its narrow and limiting only to buy English or uk players.Southampton are bringing I some potential cracking players to add to the unknown untried to English fans including mane from austria who is far better than Townsend.. I believe its a balance and overseas players should not be discounted there's a risk with any footballer but its not as if players aren't scouted and dilgently examined before coming to prem. Yes agents tout players all night long but a player like bojan, cambiasso, are gems worth considering. I get there's only a third of English players in premier but its a global game and global market as well as global world. I prefer best 11 players representing villa.

[passitsideways]

I think people vastly overestimate the ability to obtain something close to certainty through purchasing EPL players.

Look at QPR: last season, they brought in Ferdinand, Caulker, Fer and Sandro, who, on paper at the time, would have represented "proven" EPL players apparently capable of keeping you away from relegation, each of whom would've cost a bundle. A load of fucking good that did them.

[andyh]

I'd rather have Phillips fro QPR than Townsend