January Transfer Window Rumours/Suggestions/Hearsay/Heresy/Horseplay

[Pete]

I'd try and get one of Jack Cork/Henri Lansbury/Jake Livermore probably. We need something better in there.

Striker is a priority, Rhodes on loan would be ideal for me and have Kodj playing off him.

Talk of two loan signings 'verbally agreed' - assuming they're Johnstone and Jenkinson.

Gesdtede has been linked with Middlesbrough with Rhodes mentioned as possible part exchange. He'd do nicely, his record's better than a goal every other game at this level and still only 26.

[godzvilla]

Hope this is the right thread ....One piece of good news re RHM ,according to the Meaning Evil he is about to sign a 3 year deal .....Godzvilla!
Breaking: New deal for Hepburn-Murphy

It’s understood that Rushian Hepburn Murphy is set to sign a new three year deal with the club. More to follow.

[tomd2103]

Everyone seems to think that we need a new striker, but where is he going to play? We currently have last years player of the year plus 3 other strikers who have scored 20+ goals at this level, plus Adomah and Grealish as extra wide options. McCormack and Gestede may not have scored a hatful this season but they have been in and out of the team and had very little supply. And that's what we need, supply and energy from midfield to create and support the strikers. A goalkeeper and stand in centre back would be a big plus as well.

While I accept the fact that Gestede had one great goalscoring season at this level for Blackburn, I have seen absolutely nothing to suggest he will get close to doing it again for us. Furthermore I'm struggling to think of a worse centre forward to have led the line for Villa since 1970.

I agree. But I will raise you a John Fashanu.

Tony Cascarino, Gary Penrice, Carlton Cole, Bosco Balaban....?

To be fair, I understand Gestede is not everyone's cup of tea, technique and team play are certainly not his forte but at this level and with the right supply he is still a threat in the air. Even taking him out of it, we still don't need a striker, money should be spent elsewhere.

Get a decent left winger who can cross a ball and a decent right back who can cross a ball, play 442 and have wingers and fullbacks working together on both sides to get crosses in between the keeper and defence, get 7-8 decent crosses into that area per game and Gestede could get you 20-30 in a season at this level because he comes onto the ball with so much strength and power that he's almost unstoppable.  Teams would learn quickly that you have to shut down our wide players but that would also create space for Kodjia/Ayew/Ross to find pockets around the box where they can be dangerous as well.

I'm not a big fan of 442 I think it leaves you far too rigid against better sides but with our forward options it's probably the simplest way to get out of this league.

Only problem we have at the minute playing 4-4-2 is that Jedinak, Gardner and Westwood are nowhere near mobile enough to play in a midfield two.  I mentioned it in another thread but we need to find a formation that allows us to play three in midfield and two up front.  Kodjia looked a lot better with someone up there with him.

[paul_e]

I think Kodjia just needs to have defensive responsibility taken away from him, as soon as he can play right up top and not have to worry too much about tracking back he looks a great player.

A better midfielder to partner with Jedinak is a must regardless.

[villadelph]

I can't believe all the Premier League interest in Gestede.

[garyshawsknee]

I can't believe all the Premier League interest in Gestede.

I can't believe its actually true !!

[Dave]

I can't believe all the Premier League interest in Gestede.

Boro seem strangely keen to reassemble our terrible relegation side

[peter w]

Everyone seems to think that we need a new striker, but where is he going to play? We currently have last years player of the year plus 3 other strikers who have scored 20+ goals at this level, plus Adomah and Grealish as extra wide options. McCormack and Gestede may not have scored a hatful this season but they have been in and out of the team and had very little supply. And that's what we need, supply and energy from midfield to create and support the strikers. A goalkeeper and stand in centre back would be a big plus as well.

While I accept the fact that Gestede had one great goalscoring season at this level for Blackburn, I have seen absolutely nothing to suggest he will get close to doing it again for us. Furthermore I'm struggling to think of a worse centre forward to have led the line for Villa since 1970.

To be fair Gilles De Bilde was pretty shit.

[Matt Collins]

Everyone seems to think that we need a new striker, but where is he going to play? We currently have last years player of the year plus 3 other strikers who have scored 20+ goals at this level, plus Adomah and Grealish as extra wide options. McCormack and Gestede may not have scored a hatful this season but they have been in and out of the team and had very little supply. And that's what we need, supply and energy from midfield to create and support the strikers. A goalkeeper and stand in centre back would be a big plus as well.

While I accept the fact that Gestede had one great goalscoring season at this level for Blackburn, I have seen absolutely nothing to suggest he will get close to doing it again for us. Furthermore I'm struggling to think of a worse centre forward to have led the line for Villa since 1970.

I agree. But I will raise you a John Fashanu.

Tony Cascarino, Gary Penrice, Carlton Cole, Bosco Balaban....?

To be fair, I understand Gestede is not everyone's cup of tea, technique and team play are certainly not his forte but at this level and with the right supply he is still a threat in the air. Even taking him out of it, we still don't need a striker, money should be spent elsewhere.

Get a decent left winger who can cross a ball and a decent right back who can cross a ball, play 442 and have wingers and fullbacks working together on both sides to get crosses in between the keeper and defence, get 7-8 decent crosses into that area per game and Gestede could get you 20-30 in a season at this level because he comes onto the ball with so much strength and power that he's almost unstoppable.  Teams would learn quickly that you have to shut down our wide players but that would also create space for Kodjia/Ayew/Ross to find pockets around the box where they can be dangerous as well.

I'm not a big fan of 442 I think it leaves you far too rigid against better sides but with our forward options it's probably the simplest way to get out of this league.

Only problem we have at the minute playing 4-4-2 is that Jedinak, Gardner and Westwood are nowhere near mobile enough to play in a midfield two.  I mentioned it in another thread but we need to find a formation that allows us to play three in midfield and two up front.  Kodjia looked a lot better with someone up there with him.

Well there's only two ways to do that: 352 or diamond. No adomah with either

I would like to see the diamond tried

[AGRIPPA]

Everyone seems to think that we need a new striker, but where is he going to play? We currently have last years player of the year plus 3 other strikers who have scored 20+ goals at this level, plus Adomah and Grealish as extra wide options. McCormack and Gestede may not have scored a hatful this season but they have been in and out of the team and had very little supply. And that's what we need, supply and energy from midfield to create and support the strikers. A goalkeeper and stand in centre back would be a big plus as well.

While I accept the fact that Gestede had one great goalscoring season at this level for Blackburn, I have seen absolutely nothing to suggest he will get close to doing it again for us. Furthermore I'm struggling to think of a worse centre forward to have led the line for Villa since 1970.

To be fair Gilles De Bilde was pretty shit.

Grant holt??

[old man villa fan]

Everyone seems to think that we need a new striker, but where is he going to play? We currently have last years player of the year plus 3 other strikers who have scored 20+ goals at this level, plus Adomah and Grealish as extra wide options. McCormack and Gestede may not have scored a hatful this season but they have been in and out of the team and had very little supply. And that's what we need, supply and energy from midfield to create and support the strikers. A goalkeeper and stand in centre back would be a big plus as well.

While I accept the fact that Gestede had one great goalscoring season at this level for Blackburn, I have seen absolutely nothing to suggest he will get close to doing it again for us. Furthermore I'm struggling to think of a worse centre forward to have led the line for Villa since 1970.

I agree. But I will raise you a John Fashanu.

Tony Cascarino, Gary Penrice, Carlton Cole, Bosco Balaban....?

To be fair, I understand Gestede is not everyone's cup of tea, technique and team play are certainly not his forte but at this level and with the right supply he is still a threat in the air. Even taking him out of it, we still don't need a striker, money should be spent elsewhere.

Get a decent left winger who can cross a ball and a decent right back who can cross a ball, play 442 and have wingers and fullbacks working together on both sides to get crosses in between the keeper and defence, get 7-8 decent crosses into that area per game and Gestede could get you 20-30 in a season at this level because he comes onto the ball with so much strength and power that he's almost unstoppable.  Teams would learn quickly that you have to shut down our wide players but that would also create space for Kodjia/Ayew/Ross to find pockets around the box where they can be dangerous as well.

I'm not a big fan of 442 I think it leaves you far too rigid against better sides but with our forward options it's probably the simplest way to get out of this league.

It's not just a matter of getting crosses into him.  Players have to get to the byeline and pull the ball back for him or level with him and curl the ball back so that he is running on to it.  He is not strong enough to hold off challenges when players are tight on him.

[KevinGage]

I can't believe all the Premier League interest in Gestede.

Palace, I get, to an extent. Two wingers who provide consistent deliveries from out wide = he might look more useful than a coat hanger.

[Steve67]

If Villa bring in players who can cross the ball consistently, we may decide to keep him. He's done it with Blackburn, why not with Villa?

[Toronto Villa]

The Doc just blew any rumours of Amavi leaving out of the water.

[passitsideways]

If Villa bring in players who can cross the ball consistently, we may decide to keep him. He's done it with Blackburn, why not with Villa?

It's not that he's unable to do so, it's far more to do with whether it would really help us that much to try and get the most out of him, compared to, say, getting players who would maximise Kodjia's strengths, or whatever.