January 2016 - Transfer Rumours, Speculation & Suggestions

[OzVilla]

Agreed, no point burning cash on mercenaries in our position.

Realistically though, 99% of all professional footballers are mercenaries and the 19 teams above us in the League are packed full of them. I'd gladly see some better quality mercenaries come in this month to improve our team. in fact, I refuse to believe that we don't have options to do so. There's still half a season left and we're still in a cup competition, if nothing else.

If the club fail to do anything in the market this month they're effectively throwing the towel in. Are we to assume that ticket-prices will drop for the remainder of the season accordingly...?

By mercenaries, I mean players that come in on either loans or relegation clause signings till seasons end, get paid well over the market rate (because we're desperate), do fuck all to help us in our current position (because we're so poor Lionel Messi would struggle in our side) and then fuck off back to their parent club or next cab of the rank type club far richer whilst we've blown our cash for next season on stupid, short term panic buys/loans.

That is the absolute worst thing we could do now.

[RussellC]

Agreed, no point burning cash on mercenaries in our position.

Realistically though, 99% of all professional footballers are mercenaries and the 19 teams above us in the League are packed full of them. I'd gladly see some better quality mercenaries come in this month to improve our team. in fact, I refuse to believe that we don't have options to do so. There's still half a season left and we're still in a cup competition, if nothing else.

If the club fail to do anything in the market this month they're effectively throwing the towel in. Are we to assume that ticket-prices will drop for the remainder of the season accordingly...?

By mercenaries, I mean players that one in on loans/ relegation clause signings till seasons end, get paid well over the market rate (because we're desperate), do fuck all to help us in our current position (because we're so poor Lionel Messi would struggle in our side) and then fuck off back to their parent club richer whilst we've blown our cash for next season on stupid, short term panic buys/loans.

That is the absolute worst thing we could do now.

I agree that we don't want to be wasting money in that sense, but I refuse to believe that there aren't any other options that we could bring in, who would instantly improve us. There are plenty of players who need games before this summer's Euros who would surely come. Inler and Debuchy have been linked, there must be hundreds more across Europe. We have a transfer committee, who would surely have known for several weeks (if not months) that we'd be in this debacle. if they aren't able to do anything this month then, frankly, they're not fit for purpose.

[OzVilla]

And blow the budget for the Summer on short term contract signings that won't keep us up anyway?

Had the points difference been 5 points I might agree but not in our current state. It's gone, anyone we sign MUST be here for next season at least regardless of our division.

[ozzjim]

I think if there are any sensible deals that will bring players that would be integral to our play next season in now we should at least be looking at it.  A goalkeeper that is better than Guzan and a holding midfield player are pretty essential. Striker would be nice too.

[RussellC]

And blow the budget for the Summer on short term contract signings that won't keep us up anyway?

Had the points difference been 5 points I might agree but not in our current state. It's gone, anyone we sign MUST be here for next season at least regardless of our division.

Given our net spend in the summer I'd like to thing that we'd be able to finance a few signings this month without adversely affecting our Summer budget, regardless of whether we get relegated or not. Failing to improve this squad this month will leave us with the very real possibility of setting a new Premiership lowest points total. Are you really suggesting that's what we do? Just imagine for a second that we don't buy a keeper this month and then Guzan sustains a season-ending injury on February 1st...

[Reuben]

Debuchy mentioned on Twitter (probably mentioned here pages back so apologies)

[mr underhill]

yes - he (Garde) has been talking to Arsenal about various plays on loan

[OzVilla]

And blow the budget for the Summer on short term contract signings that won't keep us up anyway?

Had the points difference been 5 points I might agree but not in our current state. It's gone, anyone we sign MUST be here for next season at least regardless of our division.

Given our net spend in the summer I'd like to thing that we'd be able to finance a few signings this month without adversely affecting our Summer budget, regardless of whether we get relegated or not. Failing to improve this squad this month will leave us with the very real possibility of setting a new Premiership lowest points total. Are you really suggesting that's what we do? Just imagine for a second that we don't buy a keeper this month and then Guzan sustains a season-ending injury on February 1st...

I'm nt that bothered about record equalling low points totals anymore, we've had so much humiliation already.

Next season is the key for us now. If a decent keeper is available to sign and will be staying after this seasonthen yes, go for it. It's the Loic Remy's of this world on big money for 4 months work then see you later that we should forget.

[Nelly]

I thought he was something different to a traditional DOF role sorry. Even in a football role then, we essentially have a non football man. Very concerning.

Apologies if this has been covered already but this was my understanding about Alhmstadt too; that he's not a Director of Football, more the head of 'whatever needs doing'. From that Tom Fox snippet where he met supporters before a game recently, that's how it came across. So not someone who would be the head of scouting or, tasked with implementing a style or direction in terms of the football we play but rather someone who would take action to try and improve a scenario wherever it arose.

In reality though, God only knows who does what at Villa anymore.

[KevinGage]

Debuchy and players of that ilk will have better offers than us. 

If we are getting anyone from Arsenal at all, it will be rookies that need their first taste of top flight football.

[UK Redsox]

yes - he (Garde) has been talking to Arsenal about various plays on loan

Good....we'll take Cech and Ozil to start with

[RussellC]

I'm nt that bothered about record equalling low points totals anymore, we've had so much humiliation already.

Before I say this, please, please, please don't think that this is any way meant in a "better fan, worse fan" sense, because it's not, but I do suspect you'd have an entirely different perspective if you were attending games regularly and paying to do so. I live 200 miles outside of Brum these days and therefore only get to around 10-15 games a season, but still have friends who regularly go home and away and the thought of them having to do so for the remainder of the season without any genuine effort being made to improve this squad kills me.

[OzVilla]

I'm nt that bothered about record equalling low points totals anymore, we've had so much humiliation already.

Before I say this, please, please, please don't think that this is any way meant in a "better fan, worse fan" sense, because it's not, but I do suspect you'd have an entirely different perspective if you were attending games regularly and paying to do so. I live 200 miles outside of Brum these days and therefore only get to around 10-15 games a season, but still have friends who regularly go home and away and the thought of them having to do so for the remainder of the season without any genuine effort being made to improve this squad kills me.

Yep, fair comment. I think our support has been outstanding home and away over the years considering the shite that's been served up for far too long. I take my hat off to you I honestly do.

But they might be glad of such a policy this time next year, that's my hope anyway. You and they certainly deserve it.

[RussellC]

Yep, fair comment. I think our support has been outstanding home and away over the years considering the shite that's been served up for far too long. I take my hat off to you I honestly do.

But they might be glad of such a policy this time next year, that's my hope anyway. You and they certainly deserve it.

Don't get me wrong, I know it affects all fans, regardless of proximity to the club. I'm just hoping that there's a happy medium and that we can buy players who'll improve our situation in the short-term but still be assets if we do go down. Somebody like David Marshall at Cardiff for example. For me, he'd be an immediate upgrade on Guzan and would probably see Villa as a better bet to get promoted in 2 seasons than Cardiff...?

[ozzjim]

I think he is a decent shout Russell but they would likely want a decent wedge for him. There is a highly rated young centre back at Brentford that Burnley are after that would be worth going for IMO, I have only seen him a couple of times but looked decent enough.

On Burnley, what has happened to Trippier? Surely a loan bid for him with a view to permanent would be worth a look - hardly played for Spurs and would give us a proven performer there in the championship.

I think if we plan now, and draw up a core list of players that are proven to be between the top end of the championship and the lower half of the premier, and keep 3-4 of our better players we will come back up. We need some energy in the side, some work rate down the spine.