Summer transfer, gossip, speculation thread

[Risso]

I fully appreciate a tiny piece me accepts this might all blow up on us (we are Aston Villa after all) but fuck me, I have never wanted a season to stray as much as this. Three years in the wilderness and almost out of business to how £100m spent and more to come. Amazing

Totally agree.  I'm veering wildly between believing that we're going to smash Spurs 4-0 on the way to being top of the table by Christmas, to then having having the whipped dog Villa fan in me think we'll have 0 points after 6 games.  Either way, can't bloody wait.

[paul_e]

I fully appreciate a tiny piece me accepts this might all blow up on us (we are Aston Villa after all) but fuck me, I have never wanted a season to stray as much as this. Three years in the wilderness and almost out of business to how £100m spent and more to come. Amazing

Totally agree.  I'm veering wildly between believing that we're going to smash Spurs 4-0 on the way to being top of the table by Christmas, to then having having the whipped dog Villa fan in me think we'll have 0 points after 6 games.  Either way, can't bloody wait.

I wish I were doing the same but I'm expecting 7-8 points from the first 6 and for us to plod along in mid-table all season.

[AsTallAsLions]

I fully appreciate a tiny piece me accepts this might all blow up on us (we are Aston Villa after all) but fuck me, I have never wanted a season to stray as much as this. Three years in the wilderness and almost out of business to how £100m spent and more to come. Amazing

Totally agree.  I'm veering wildly between believing that we're going to smash Spurs 4-0 on the way to being top of the table by Christmas, to then having having the whipped dog Villa fan in me think we'll have 0 points after 6 games.  Either way, can't bloody wait.

I wish I were doing the same but I'm expecting 7-8 points from the first 6 and for us to plod along in mid-table all season.

I would happily take that for a first season back in the top flight.

[Risso]

I honestly do think we'll surprise a few people this season.

[nigel]

I fully appreciate a tiny piece me accepts this might all blow up on us (we are Aston Villa after all) but fuck me, I have never wanted a season to stray as much as this. Three years in the wilderness and almost out of business to how £100m spent and more to come. Amazing

Indeed it is, but we are Villans and still want more!

I thought we are Lions

Aston Villa F.C.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Full name   Aston Villa Football Club
Nickname(s)   Villans, The Villa, The Lions, The Claret & Blue Army
Short name   Villa, AVFC
Founded   21 November 1874; 144 years ago
Aston Villa Football Club (nicknamed Villa, The Villa, The Villans and The Lions)

Slightly incorrect as nickname is Villains.
We, as supporters, are Villans

[Axl Rose]

I honestly do think we'll surprise a few people this season.

Me too, Risso.

[ajmant]

Rarely hear the ‘come on you lions’ cry anymore. :-( . In fact can’t remember the last time I heard it apart from in my head!

[Toronto Villa]

What I absolutely know is that we will go into every game looking to win. Something that could almost never be said for a Steve Bruce team and for every manager we had post MON. And even with MON it frustrated me no end when he used to say “we’re going to give it a right go” or words to that affect. I don’t want roll up our sleeves. I don’t want us pulling up our fucking socks, or we will give it our best shot. I want tactics. I want a plan. And more than all of it I want a desire to win the game every time we play.

And if you want to know about desire, there is a bit in August’s Four Four Two about the influence of John Terry in the Chelsea dressing room. Not to be fucked with. I imagine he brings a bit of that to our club now.

[Gareth]

Luiz (or alternative if can’t get work permit etc) & a goalkeeper are the essentials for me - would like another striker also but that is would like not must have.

I just don’t see how you would buy a new defence for 50 odd million and put Jed behind them, need a big, strong keeper who makes good decisions - Jed is IMHO a v good shot stopper but defending set pieces he’s largely anonymous and Is not convincing when leaving his area

[cdbearsfan]

Another striker is a must have for me. All our cover players are injury prone and I would rather send Davis and Hepburn Murphy on loan to see what they can do than have to rely on them.

I could live without another goalkeeper. Steer is fine, and has proven himself a good penalty stopper, too, which is likely to be very important in the first VAR season.

[Drummond]

I honestly do think we'll surprise a few people this season.

Please don't be disappointed when we lose. It's bound to happen, and not because we're shit but because the opposition are just better.

[Toronto Villa]

I fully expect to be disappointed when we lose. It’s part and parcel of being a fan. Even if we are playing Liverpool or Man City.

[pauliewalnuts]

I think the one important thing is that, however we do, it is not going to be boring.

My overriding memory of everything from 2012 to last year was of being bored.

The main reason I ditched my ST for a couple of years was because i had had enough of been bored shitless and watching us circle the plug hole for years before inevitably going down the hole. I found myself grasping at reasons not to bother going to matches, despite having paid to see them all up front, it was so grimly austere.

[Toronto Villa]

I think the one important thing is that, however we do, it is not going to be boring.

My overriding memory of everything from 2012 to last year was of being bored.

The main reason I ditched my ST for a couple of years was because i had had enough of been bored shitless and watching us circle the plug hole for years before inevitably going down the hole. I found myself grasping at reasons not to bother going to matches, despite having paid to see them all up front, it was so grimly austere.

We went into most games with a white flag and an attitude that we would sneak a win. It generally leads to boring, grind out, turgid football.

But I will never have a problem if we try to score goals and win games. We don’t need to be Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle with zero discipline. You can attack while being disciplined and try to keep the ball and dominate possession. We won’t be scared of anyone. I love that about Dean Smith.

[brontebilly]

I think we're fine (assuming Luiz signs). A forward if the right one is available or the Maupay price drops sufficiently but we can make do until January if not.

Welbeck might not be a bad shout on the right contract. The closer it gets to the start of August the more reasonable his contract might be.

I've always loved Sturridge's style and but football isn't his main passion, he rarely declares himself fit and he's not been consistent for a long time.

Rhian Brewster on loan might be an option too.

Wellbeck is injury prone and very very average. 29 later this year and has never got 10 league goals in a single season. The most he scored for Arsenal in a single season was 5 league goals! One for Bruce I expect.

I'm glad we are away from taking a punt on broken down average players like Sturridge or Wellbeck.