Summer 2016: Transfer rumours and suggestions

[old man villa fan]

Two things are already annoying me about next season, in terms of stuff posted on here.

1. This conviction that the way to respond to being in the Championship is to sell what quality we have and buy a load of championship level players. That's not how you get out of the Championship, that's how you stay in it. The way to get out is to keep as many of the players you already have who are good enough to win that league (and believe me, we really do have quite a few of those), not to start signing the sort of shit that plays for the likes of Leeds these days.

2. This utter bollocks about how we should be looking at the likes of Mick McCarthy or Neil Warnock as they "know" the Championship and are British. Like that's the only way you ever get out of that league.

It's almost as if lots of our fans have some sort of footballing Stockholm Syndrome going on where the way we react to being in the Championship is to start to act like we're going to be in it for ages rather than aiming at bouncing straight back, which is what we should be doing (no matter how shit we've been this year).

Agree with all of that.

I would also add that they must have the right attitude next season.  If there are players there that think the Club is too good be in the Championship, we will stay in the Championship.  Leicester have proved that if you are united as a team, you can achieve the impossible.  The good thing for us is that we will not have to do the impossible.

[claretandbeer]

Two things are already annoying me about next season, in terms of stuff posted on here.

1. This conviction that the way to respond to being in the Championship is to sell what quality we have and buy a load of championship level players. That's not how you get out of the Championship, that's how you stay in it. The way to get out is to keep as many of the players you already have who are good enough to win that league (and believe me, we really do have quite a few of those), not to start signing the sort of shit that plays for the likes of Leeds these days.

2. This utter bollocks about how we should be looking at the likes of Mick McCarthy or Neil Warnock as they "know" the Championship and are British. Like that's the only way you ever get out of that league

It's almost as if lots of our fans have some sort of footballing Stockholm Syndrome going on where the way we react to being in the Championship is to start to act like we're going to be in it for ages rather than aiming at bouncing straight back, which is what we should be doing (no matter how shit we've been this year).

So right.Our problem,however,will be retaining our better players.

[curiousorange]

The players we keep, and who will have our support, will be invaluable. Our next manager will have had loads of time to see who is going to make that cut.

[Des Little]

The players we keep, and who will have our support, will be invaluable. Our next manager will have had loads of time to see who is going to make that cut.

That cut could be made by watching 10 minutes of any game this season.

[Ian.]

I like Veretout but maybe he was at the wrong club at the wrong time, a bit like Remi.
It would be great to see him progress and fulfil his potential but I think he'll be off this summer.

The Championship is the ideal place for Veretout to gain confidence and develop.  He needs to play week in week out.

Yep I agree, I hope he sticks around. It would be great to keep him, Ayew and Amavi.

We need a new keeper, a strong decent leader in the back four and better player than either Westwood or Sanchez. Add some width, speed and flair and those 3 will flourish in that league.

[curiousorange]

I think it's partnerships that's key, really. Two centre backs that complement each other, a rock solid midfield two, a provider and a striker...

One thing that really needs to happen though is that if we unearth a gem, they stay because they're convinced we're going places. Not that I'm a huge fan, but Wolves' season just died when they flogged Afobe, as did Blackburn when they sold Rhodes (although they're solely responsible for the Lambert Drag Factor). Let's act like a bloody Premier League side, which is what we are. We just fancied a change.

[David_Nab]

On the face of it we need a new defence ,but do we ?

Are they really all that bad or just badly managed / coached ...

The right manager and I think if we can keep most of decent players then we won't have to invest too much.Burnely for example kept most of squad and made a few additions

As mentioned Lowton went up with Burnely and Bannan was in championship team of season and could be promoted 2 players who were deemed not good enough for us.So I think some of out current lot will do well in the lower league.

Exploiting the loan market will be important as well ,the main aim is to get promoted at first attempt so we will need to take some short term options like loans and experienced pro's
Iike  the Bartons of the world on to achieve that goal.

[tomd2103]

Two things are already annoying me about next season, in terms of stuff posted on here.

1. This conviction that the way to respond to being in the Championship is to sell what quality we have and buy a load of championship level players. That's not how you get out of the Championship, that's how you stay in it. The way to get out is to keep as many of the players you already have who are good enough to win that league (and believe me, we really do have quite a few of those), not to start signing the sort of shit that plays for the likes of Leeds these days.

2. This utter bollocks about how we should be looking at the likes of Mick McCarthy or Neil Warnock as they "know" the Championship and are British. Like that's the only way you ever get out of that league.

It's almost as if lots of our fans have some sort of footballing Stockholm Syndrome going on where the way we react to being in the Championship is to start to act like we're going to be in it for ages rather than aiming at bouncing straight back, which is what we should be doing (no matter how shit we've been this year).

The problem is though, at the minute we are basket case that I would have thought players can't wait to leave.  If there is a takeover, and a good manager comes in, clears the deadwood and can convince the remaining players to buy into what is happening at the club then we might have a chance. 

[curiousorange]

I'd pay a hefty transfer fee for a genuinely world class defensive coach. I can't recall a more barren spell for our back line.

[edgysatsuma89]

The jingoistic nature of many british pundits (and fans) really gets on my classic 'best in the world' british jugs.

[tomd2103]

I'd pay a hefty transfer fee for a genuinely world class defensive coach. I can't recall a more barren spell for our back line.

The constant chopping and changing back there doesn't help.  It is easy now to say look at Leicester, but it's been pretty much the same back four and keeper throughout the season for them.  We need some consistency back there.

[Monty]

Two things are already annoying me about next season, in terms of stuff posted on here.

1. This conviction that the way to respond to being in the Championship is to sell what quality we have and buy a load of championship level players. That's not how you get out of the Championship, that's how you stay in it. The way to get out is to keep as many of the players you already have who are good enough to win that league (and believe me, we really do have quite a few of those), not to start signing the sort of shit that plays for the likes of Leeds these days.

2. This utter bollocks about how we should be looking at the likes of Mick McCarthy or Neil Warnock as they "know" the Championship and are British. Like that's the only way you ever get out of that league.

It's almost as if lots of our fans have some sort of footballing Stockholm Syndrome going on where the way we react to being in the Championship is to start to act like we're going to be in it for ages rather than aiming at bouncing straight back, which is what we should be doing (no matter how shit we've been this year).

On bloody point, Paulie. I've thought for a while that the main reason these managers 'know the Championship' so well is that their not sodding good enough to manage at a higher level. We don't want to fit in in this division, we want to stand out; not to be good enough for it, but to be too good. Christ almighty, is it too much to ask to have some ambition in the Second Division? We're Aston twatting Villa, for god's sake - time to start acting like it.

[ozzjim]

I agree, but it depends how many we can keep. We need 3-4 leaders whether they are championship or premier league players. Basically a big, strong spine of a side that will come in and sort the dressing room.

[oswald funkletrumpet]

for me our problems run much deeper than our players

what the fuck goes on at bodymoor heath all week?

gabby blatently overweight so what are the fitness coaches doing? add to that most of our players looking fucking every game, look at leicesters fitness levels they run their bollocks off every game and then do it again in the next

westwood being shit at corners but he takes them for 3 seasons

really basic stuff like bringing every player back to defend a corner giving us no out ball - that is under 11's stuff

none of our players seem to improve over time in fact they seem to regress

the whole of our backroom staff need to be fucked off before we can move forward

[brian green]

These last half dozen posts are all entirely correct.  The ultimate question is one of money.  Everything now hinges on what Steve Hollis (or his replacement) is allowed to do and possibly more importantly what he sees as his duty to do.

If we are being sold on like a second car, knocked about but plenty good enough to take the kids to school and the odd run down to the garden centre.  Seen better days but well worth the money.  Bit of T Cut on the rust and four remould tyres and you have yourself a snip.

Or total overhaul, this one is a classic and we are going to turn some heads again.

A bit flowery for a Tuesday morning but makes my point I think.

If the incoming owners are prepared to pay the money to terminate the contracts of the trouble makers and to retain the better players while actually adding a quality player or two we will smash the Championship to smithereens.  If the beans continue to be counted and the new owners encouraged to congratulate themselves on their parsimony it will be very much harder and longer and ultimately much worse business because the wealth of the Premiership will slip further from our grasp.