Summer 2015 - Transfer Rumours, Speculation & Suggestions

[PaulWinch again]

Reports are now that we have actually made a bid for Begovic. Now you can argue all day about our priorities but he is a step up from what we have. It appears given the majority of the early player links that Sherwood has identified the defence as being a major part of our problems. Adding Begovic and Richards and losing Guzan and Vlaar is a step in the right direction overall. We desperately need a solid starting LB and then look to the midfield and forwards.

Reports where? I'd be delighted if we signed Begovic. I like Brad and he's been good for us, but I think Begovic is a better keeper all round.

[cdbearsfan]

Sky Sports say we've bid... and it's been rejected.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11701/9895568/aston-villas-bid-for-asmir-begovic-turned-down-by-stoke

[PaulWinch again]

Well hopefully we'll go back with a bigger bid.

[dave.woodhall]

I'd rather have Butland for twelve months to see how Brad goes.

[Brend'Watkins]

I just get the feeling that Sherwood has made his mind up on Guzan and isn't going to change it.

[rob_bridge]

I just get the feeling that Sherwood has made his mind up on Guzan and isn't going to change it.

I think it is madness. We have at least seven other positions of priority. Guzan is a fine keeper, who experienced a wobble.

[silhillvilla]

I just get the feeling that Sherwood has made his mind up on Guzan and isn't going to change it.

Which is fair enough.
He needs to build his own team and live or die by it.

[VILLA MOLE]

Sky Sports say we've bid... and it's been rejected.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11701/9895568/aston-villas-bid-for-asmir-begovic-turned-down-by-stoke


Bloody Sky Sports sources drive me mad , they are so busy !!!

[KevinEaton]

Last seasons Premier League goalkeepers. Where would you rate Brad?

Thibaut Courtois
Joe Hart
David Ospina
David DeGea
Hugo Lloris
Simon Mignolet
Fraser Forster
Lukasz Fabianski
Asmir Begovic
Julian Speroni
Tim Howard
Adrian
Ben Foster
Kasper Schmeichal
Tom Krul
Costel Pantilmon
Brad Guzan
Allan McGregor
Tom Heaton
Robert Green

For me, he's about where we finished as a team and thats 17th. That says to me, we can do better.

[supertom]

Last seasons Premier League goalkeepers. Where would you rate Brad?

Thibaut Courtois
Joe Hart
David Ospina
David DeGea
Hugo Lloris
Simon Mignolet
Fraser Forster
Lukasz Fabianski
Asmir Begovic
Julian Speroni
Tim Howard
Adrian
Ben Foster
Kasper Schmeichal
Tom Krul
Costel Pantilmon
Brad Guzan
Allan McGregor
Tom Heaton
Robert Green

For me, he's about where we finished as a team and thats 17th. That says to me, we can do better.

At his best I'd rank him top half comfortably.

[Dave]

Last seasons Premier League goalkeepers. Where would you rate Brad?

Thibaut Courtois
Joe Hart
David Ospina
David DeGea
Hugo Lloris
Simon Mignolet
Fraser Forster
Lukasz Fabianski
Asmir Begovic
Julian Speroni
Tim Howard
Adrian
Ben Foster
Kasper Schmeichal
Tom Krul
Costel Pantilmon
Brad Guzan
Allan McGregor
Tom Heaton
Robert Green

For me, he's about where we finished as a team and thats 17th. That says to me, we can do better.

I'd take him over Mignolet, Speroni, Green, Heaton, McGregor, Pantilimon, Schmeichel, Foster and Howard.

Fabianski and Adrian are probably a flip of a coin.

[ozzjim]

About the same. And Begovic no more than maybe 3 higher.

[rob_bridge]

Thibaut Courtois
Joe Hart
David Ospina
David DeGea
Hugo Lloris
Simon Mignolet
Fraser Forster
Lukasz Fabianski
Asmir Begovic
Julian Speroni
Tim Howard
Adrian
Ben Foster
Kasper Schmeichal
Tom Krul
Costel Pantilmon
Brad Guzan
Allan McGregor
Tom Heaton
Robert Green

===

Courtois, DeGea and Lloris are best 3 for me.

I'd say Guzan is better than the following:


Simon Mignolet
Lukasz Fabianski
Julian Speroni
Tim Howard
Adrian
Ben Foster
Kasper Schmeichal
Costel Pantilmon
Allan McGregor
Tom Heaton
Robert Green

and roughly equal with the remainder

[Matt C]

Guzan hasn't done much wrong. However, there's an undeniable stench of failure around Villa Park that needs clearing out and the likes of Guzan, while hardly to blame personally, have been so engrained in the culture of failure around the place in recent years - namely they've become a bit too used to playing in a losing Villa side - it may be we need to move a few such players on for their good and ours. For similar reasons I don't think it will be a bad thing in the long term if Vlaar moves on too.

[paul_e]

Outside of De Gea, Courtois, Cech (I know he's on the bench but still) and maybe Lloris and Hart there's little to pick between the rest in the league.  All of them (even the ones above) make mistakes which usually lead to goals and all of them are capable of having days where they look superb.  The real difference isn't in the mistakes, it's in the number of days where they're brilliant, de Gea sums it up superbly, if he doesn't do something stupid in a game he is generally excellent, someone like Guzan or Begovic in that situation and he's generally decent and occasionally excellent.

Begovic is probably a small upgrade but it's not a big difference for me.

All that said like Matt C above, if TS feels this is the right move to make this 'his squad' and change the dressing room then I'm ok with it.