Summer transfer madness thread

[Tuscans]

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfers-elmohamady-closing-13292789

[Hairbandinho]

Surely right side is the one side we are relatively well stocked up. That said the one thing we have lacked is pace so maybe that's why he is an option.

[oldtimernow]

John Percy (who's usually very reliable) is reporting that Jonathan Walters is on the verge of joining Burnley, so we can chalk that one off.

Phew, close call that one...

[tomd2103]

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfers-elmohamady-closing-13292789

Don't get this one unless he is going to play as a wide midfielder or we will be reverting to 3 at the back.

[Damo70]

I thought Elmohamady looked decent in the PL so he should piss it in the Championship. Plus Bruce obviously knows and likes his character.

[paul_e]

I thought Elmohamady looked decent in the PL so he should piss it in the Championship. Plus Bruce obviously knows and likes his character.

The problem is regardless of his character we just don't need to be adding another right-back/right wing-back to the squad, we have 4/5 players for that spot already and he's not a huge improvement on them, he's just ok.

We really need to get away from signing players because we can and focus on what we need and work to a plan.  If he, or any of the right backs we have, could play on the left it's still be unnecessary but you could justify it but this just smacks of adding to the squad for no benefit.

[PeterWithesShin]

Unless we have plans to sell a couple of the players already here it does seem a bit of a strange signing.

[brontebilly]

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfers-elmohamady-closing-13292789

Don't get this one unless he is going to play as a wide midfielder or we will be reverting to 3 at the back.

Proven at this level but we shouldn't attempt to play with 3 at the back again

[cheltenhamlion]

I am not sure there is anything in that rumour. Maybe a bit of truth in the Joe Hart one though.

[Clampy]

I haven't seen much of him but to me it's a player Bruce obviously trusts and it's common for manager's to go back and sign players they've worked with before. It is another right sided player though which is the one downside.

[paul_e]

I haven't seen much of him but to me it's a player Bruce obviously trusts and it's common for manager's to go back and sign players they've worked with before. It is another right sided player though which is the one downside.

It's the only downside but it's one that can't be ignored.  Bree, Hutton, De Laet, Bacuna and Richards are all best in that role, even if you write of the last 2 to be sold you've still got 3 options who are all similar quality to elmo.  If you're selling Hutton/RDL as well then it becomes acceptable but is a lot of effort for very little improvement to the squad when there are other areas where we clearly need to improve our options (left wing being top of the list).

[ozzjim]

More convinced that he might play Bree on the right of a back 3 all the time. We need pace in the back 3 if we play it, and Bree could step out too into midfield. Not sure he's been signed as a right back long term.

[ozzjim]

Elmo can cross a ball from memory.

[LeeB]

More convinced that he might play Bree on the right of a back 3 all the time. We need pace in the back 3 if we play it, and Bree could step out too into midfield. Not sure he's been signed as a right back long term.

I think De Laet can play centre half too.

[cdbearsfan]

Stop signing defenders you boring bastards... we can't score!