Sam Johnstone - now retired

[Steve67]

What's all the fuss about.  An average keeper replaces another average keeper at West Brom?  So what? 

[brentastonb6]

Has any Villa player ever been a success for our much smaller neighbours after moving there from us ?

[Mister E]

We need to get shot of Bunn and give Steer and Sarkic a chance of regular first-team action.

[darren woolley]

If he would have gone to a Premier League team I could understand but that lot the Tesco Bags I'm less than happy.

[robbo1874]

Disappointed with this, would’ve liked to have kept him- probably not for 5-6.5m though. Aside from his strengths and weaknesses others have already mentioned, he seemed to have a pretty good understanding and relationship with the rest of the defence. I’d have liked to have retained him for that as much as his other attributes. Money talks though- we clearly haven’t got 6.5m to retain a GK right now.

[AsTallAsLions]

Poor move for him unless they go straight back up, which I honestly can't see happening.

[Clark W Griswold]

I think considering his age he's absolute quality, the price is a good deal for the buying club. Quite how that has ending up being Olbyun is anyone's guess, he should have gone to the premier league as he's a premier league keeper.

[tomd2103]

We need to get shot of Bunn and give Steer and Sarkic a chance of regular first-team action.

As I said in an earlier post, I wouldn't be adverse to Bunn getting another year if Steer is going to be first choice as we could probably do with a back up option with a bit of experience.  I would have a look at Sarkic next season and if he is ready to step up, we could move Bunn on at the end of the season. 

[sirlordbaltimore]

Money talks though- we clearly haven’t got 6.5m to retain a GK right now.

We haven't got 6.5m to spend on the entire squad.

[old man villa fan]

I would say that £6.5m is a lot at this stage of his development. It could go two ways for him. He could develop further over the next season or two and develop into a £10-15m player or he could stand still and lose value quite quickly.

Having said that, I think he has done the best thing for his development by staying in the Championship. Sitting on the bench in the PL next season would hinder any potential development.

I liked him, although he had some raw edges that need working on.

[PeterWithesShin]

It's not 6.5m either, there's another potential 3.5m in add-ons.

[andyh]

The fact that our first choice goalie for the last 1.5 seasons was available for a permanent move and we could do anything about, worries the shit out of me.

If there were some sort of takeover or money coming into the club, surely he would have been tipped off and told to sit tight, and surely he would have waited for us?

The fact that he jumped at those bunch of fuckers down the road seems to indicate there ain’t anything going on at the Villa that is going to make things better anytime  soon.

[chrisw1]

The fact that our first choice goalie for the last 1.5 seasons was available for a permanent move and we could do anything about, worries the shit out of me.

If there were some sort of takeover or money coming into the club, surely he would have been tipped off and told to sit tight, and surely he would have waited for us?

The fact that he jumped at those bunch of fuckers down the road seems to indicate there ain’t anything going on at the Villa that is going to make things better anytime  soon.

I think even if there was a takeover in the offing with FFP issues we wouldn't have been in the market for a 6.5m goalkeeper.

[mr underhill]

He isn't worth £6.5m. He might go on to great things, but having watched nearly all the home games he played with us, I was never convinced he was that much of an upgrade on Gollini.

[oldtimernow]

I thought his distribution was a poor feature of his ability.

Give Steer a chance, Sarkic as back up will do for me.