Fans Worried Over Villa Future

[peter w]

A better standard of debate. And yet we are still repeatedly overlooked on this thread. What gives?

[peter w]

MON has got a reputation of not buying his players until the 11th hour. Did it re-Petrov - albeit a different set of circumstances, and |maloney also. It was what was his reputation at Celtic.

A leopard doesn't change his spots. He'll be out to provr that he is a take it or leave it manager. You don't sign, you stay where you are. If we have to wait until August 31st its not ideal but there you go. We'll only be 2 weeks into the season, and any new players will have ghad the pre-season with their current clubs.

A rabbit or two will be pulled out of the hat.

[claretandblue barmy]

fcuk me pete...first Marlon HAREwood...now a rabbit or two... what next a Gerbil for right back

[themossman]

It's all about leopards and rabbits. You got that right sister.

[peter w]

It  put a spring right  back in my step

[D.boy]

Its a 5 year plan so I'm not worried. Good things come to those that wait. We will be fine and I can't wait for the season to start.

[peter w]

I'm looking forward to the start of the season. I will admit to being a tad disappointed that we haven't got more in but it is only 20th July. I suspect the majority of Premiership transfers are still to happen. There is not a whisper about anything from the club. Which means its a hive of activity.

[Dazvillain]

fcuk me pete...first Marlon HAREwood...now a rabbit or two... what next a Gerbil for right back

I thought Gerbil Cisse had signed for somone else ? !!

[peter w]

Is Ricky Otter available?

[ROBBO]

I get annoyed when positive posters come on here even peter w has occassional periods of euphoria, as yet i can see no reason for optimism.

[Smithy]

I don't have the facts to hand, but I would put money on there being more transfers in the last two weeks of the window than in the rest of it combined (not a lot of money, admittedly).

I would liken it to a housing chain.  A lot of deals are 'lined up', of that I am sure, but clubs will be seeking replacements before finalising sales, or waiting for funds from sales before making purchases.  Unfortunately that's just the way it is.

We are not yet a Tier One club (i.e. a club that most players would instantly sign for if there was interest, Man Ure, Chelski, Arse, Red Scouse), so we must wait.   I don't like it, and would love it if we had our new squad in place for the first day of pre-season, but I accept the reality of the situation.

If the window closes and we haven't bought the players we need, then I'll be pissed off.  Not now.

[brian green]

Or any number from Gay Meadow   (Moderators please note this is not a politically incorrect homophobic reference)   They are all Shrews.

On the serious question of whether MON has been too slow and circumspect in his dealings during the summer or whether it is a cards-close-to-chest strategy which will suddenly bear fruit before kick off time I am afraid I have to reluctantly accept that it is the former.

However, with two months of last season still to play, my faith in MON started to waver and the strength of our run in proved him right and me wrong so I am probably wrong again.

I still regard him as the best manager in the Premiership but even the best in any field make mistakes.   His natural style is to be cautious and patient.   I imagine he knows very clearly who he wants and will stalk that player until he gets him.   This close season however has been very different from anything we have ever seen and I think it has mitigated against MON's way of doing things.   The Prem is doubly awash with money from the new Sky deal and from new mega rich club owners.   There are too few quality players to meet demand and the clubs who got them were always going to be the ones quickest into the market and the most decisive.   I suspect that within a week MON will have decided to wing it until Christmas with what he has got then spend in January.

I hope I am wrong but the most I expect before the new season is a couple of squad player signings.

[JD]

I'm not worried about the signing of Harewood, with JPA and Sutton leaving I see him as the back up to Big John. If Luke Moore can finally reach his potential and Gabby has another good season then we do have great competition up front (I for one would rather see Carew/Moore than Carew/Defoe).

Get us in a decent right ack and another decent midfield player and we will have the makings of a very decent team.

I am not too worried yet, but I will be if we don't sign anyone else before the transfer window ends.

Still then again there's always Mark Delaney. Remember him?

[pauliewalnuts]

Given the worry exhibited on the other threads on this board, I can barely begin to imagine how worrisome this thread must be.

[JD]

It's terrible isn't it? People are worried all over the place. This is the place to bring your worries to though. Bring it on...