Chris Samba - SIGNED

[Clark W Griswold]

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has confirmed that former Blackburn Rovers defender Chris Samba is training with the club.

However, while the manager admitted the Congolese central defender is looking to earn a contract, he refused to refer to Samba’s Bodymoor Heath involvement as a trial.


The defender worked under Bruce’s good pal, Sam Allardyce, at Blackburn and the Villa boss has had a word with the now-Crystal Palace boss about him.

Speaking at his pre-Derby County press conference, Bruce said: “We’ve known Chris and everybody knows him. He’s back in the country and wanted to come and train.

“I spoke to Big Sam who had him at Blackburn. We are delighted that he’s here. I think it would be wrong to say it’s a trial.

“He wants to earn a contract with us and he’s been here for the past week.”

Training with us and wants to earn a contract but it isnt a trial?

I read that as Samba seeing as a trial but Bruce seeing it as Villa doing Samba a favour to allow him to get fit.

I see it more as him saying that we know he's got the ability and experience, he's 32 and played well in his time at Blackburn, so calling it a trial sounds like something you would say of a 17 year old unknown. The trying to earn a contract bit means if he shows the desire and right attitude generally as well as a level of fitness he'll probably get one.

 Which is fair enough. I'm not overly optimistic but if it did come off he could be immense for us. Literally.

[oswald funkletrumpet]

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has confirmed that former Blackburn Rovers defender Chris Samba is training with the club.

However, while the manager admitted the Congolese central defender is looking to earn a contract, he refused to refer to Samba’s Bodymoor Heath involvement as a trial.


The defender worked under Bruce’s good pal, Sam Allardyce, at Blackburn and the Villa boss has had a word with the now-Crystal Palace boss about him.

Speaking at his pre-Derby County press conference, Bruce said: “We’ve known Chris and everybody knows him. He’s back in the country and wanted to come and train.

“I spoke to Big Sam who had him at Blackburn. We are delighted that he’s here. I think it would be wrong to say it’s a trial.

“He wants to earn a contract with us and he’s been here for the past week.”

Training with us and wants to earn a contract but it isnt a trial?

I read that as Samba seeing as a trial but Bruce seeing it as Villa doing Samba a favour to allow him to get fit.

I see it more as him saying that we know he's got the ability and experience, he's 32 and played well in his time at Blackburn, so calling it a trial sounds like something you would say of a 17 year old unknown. The trying to earn a contract bit means if he shows the desire and right attitude generally as well as a level of fitness he'll probably get one.

 Which is fair enough. I'm not overly optimistic but if it did come off he could be immense for us. Literally.

So a trial then

[tomd2103]

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has confirmed that former Blackburn Rovers defender Chris Samba is training with the club.

However, while the manager admitted the Congolese central defender is looking to earn a contract, he refused to refer to Samba’s Bodymoor Heath involvement as a trial.


The defender worked under Bruce’s good pal, Sam Allardyce, at Blackburn and the Villa boss has had a word with the now-Crystal Palace boss about him.

Speaking at his pre-Derby County press conference, Bruce said: “We’ve known Chris and everybody knows him. He’s back in the country and wanted to come and train.

“I spoke to Big Sam who had him at Blackburn. We are delighted that he’s here. I think it would be wrong to say it’s a trial.

“He wants to earn a contract with us and he’s been here for the past week.”

Training with us and wants to earn a contract but it isnt a trial?

I read that as Samba seeing as a trial but Bruce seeing it as Villa doing Samba a favour to allow him to get fit.

I see it more as him saying that we know he's got the ability and experience, he's 32 and played well in his time at Blackburn, so calling it a trial sounds like something you would say of a 17 year old unknown. The trying to earn a contract bit means if he shows the desire and right attitude generally as well as a level of fitness he'll probably get one.

 Which is fair enough. I'm not overly optimistic but if it did come off he could be immense for us. Literally.

This.  Heard a manager (can't quite remember who) say before in an interview that is was a bit disrespectful to refer to a seasoned pro as a trialist or say they were on trial.  Even though they effectively are. 

[chrisw1]

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has confirmed that former Blackburn Rovers defender Chris Samba is training with the club.

However, while the manager admitted the Congolese central defender is looking to earn a contract, he refused to refer to Samba’s Bodymoor Heath involvement as a trial.


The defender worked under Bruce’s good pal, Sam Allardyce, at Blackburn and the Villa boss has had a word with the now-Crystal Palace boss about him.

Speaking at his pre-Derby County press conference, Bruce said: “We’ve known Chris and everybody knows him. He’s back in the country and wanted to come and train.

“I spoke to Big Sam who had him at Blackburn. We are delighted that he’s here. I think it would be wrong to say it’s a trial.

“He wants to earn a contract with us and he’s been here for the past week.”

Training with us and wants to earn a contract but it isnt a trial?

I read that as Samba seeing as a trial but Bruce seeing it as Villa doing Samba a favour to allow him to get fit.

I see it more as him saying that we know he's got the ability and experience, he's 32 and played well in his time at Blackburn, so calling it a trial sounds like something you would say of a 17 year old unknown. The trying to earn a contract bit means if he shows the desire and right attitude generally as well as a level of fitness he'll probably get one.

 Which is fair enough. I'm not overly optimistic but if it did come off he could be immense for us. Literally.

That's exactly it.  I think Bruce was inferring it's a almost disrespectful to call it a trial.

[Pat McMahon]

I remember Cantona, an international player, having to leave France and joining Wednesday for a trial. IIRC Tricky Trev wanted to renew the trial after one week and Cantona told him to bog off. Wilkinson stepped in and lured him to Leeds, before his defection to Man U.

So if Francis hadn't been such an idiot maybe Cantona could have stayed to help Wednesday stay a top 6 club over several seasons and Man U would never have won the league in 1993...

[Clark W Griswold]

So a trial then

Not according to Bruce, you silly billy.

[mr underhill]

Samba's so fucking huge we could probably operate with just him and Kodjia

[LeeB]

Shame it's not Cherno Samba, he was ace in the early versions of Championship Manager.

Yes. Let's see if Tonton Zola Moukoko is available.



*As an aside I still play that version. There's a website dedicated to it, and they update the database after every transfer window so you can play it with today's players.

I don't suppose you have a link to that website by any chance? I have a few days off work coming up and I can't think of a better way to waste them away!

Of course mate:

http://champman0102.co.uk/

Enjoy, but remember to say goodbye to the wife.

[brian green]

We would be very scary with Samba in the line up.  Not very good but very scary.  Better than being not very good and brown trousers.

[villabear]

Have we offered Samba any kind of deal yet?

I've not seen anything about it but surely with the amount of injuries we've got a short term deal would make sense? not the David Weir style short term deal though maybe something slightly longer.

[Holtemeister]

Bump ...

Has there been any movement ... and no i dontmean Chris Samba breaking into a jog

Is he still training with us

[paul_e]

I read something about Bruce wanting him to stay and treat tis like an extended pre-season and then we'll review it in the summer.

[myf]

I remember Cantona, an international player, having to leave France and joining Wednesday for a trial. IIRC Tricky Trev wanted to renew the trial after one week and Cantona told him to bog off. Wilkinson stepped in and lured him to Leeds, before his defection to Man U.

So if Francis hadn't been such an idiot maybe Cantona could have stayed to help Wednesday stay a top 6 club over several seasons and Man U would never have won the league in 1993...

Cantona wasn't at manure that season was he? Thought it was the following one

[paul_e]

Here you go, it was in the mail; link here or copy below:

Steve Bruce is keen for Chris Samba to remain with Aston Villa until the summer and begin pre-season with the rest of the squad in preparation for next season.

Samba, 33, arrived at Bodymoor Heath almost two months ago after a spell in Greece with Panathinaikos which ended last year.

The Congolese defender has proven to be a very popular figure amongst the group and Bruce wants a prolonged stay before making a call on him ahead of next season.

“He’s still here. Nothing’s changed,” said Bruce. “I hope he stays until the end of the season and does pre-season with us.

“If he gets himself fit, and that’s what he’s here for, then that will suit him and it will suit me too.”

Samba featured in a behind closed doors friendly shortly after he arrived at Villa before taking part in a under-23s match against Wolves at Molineux in which he impressed Bruce.

The manager is in the market for a central defender with James Chester, Nathan Baker and Tommy Elphick vying for two slots, while Mile Jedinak has stepped into the heart of defence of late.

[Holtemeister]

Cheers ... I can sleep a little easier now knowing he is ok !!!