Summer transfer, gossip, speculation and the usual butter ollocks thread

[Brazilian Villain]

I may be in a minority here but I don't want to see a load of new players arrive this summer. It takes time to build a quality squad and the majority of the players bought last summer will be all the better for year's Premier League experience. A midfield player and three forwards with pace and finishing ability, assuming we buy quality to replace who we have in those positions already, will transform our results.
We can then look to strengthen the defensive positions next summer.

Quality, not quantity in the next month please Villa. Oh, and of course retain the quality we already have, Jack in particular.

Agree with this.

[PaulWinch again]

I may be in a minority here but I don't want to see a load of new players arrive this summer. It takes time to build a quality squad and the majority of the players bought last summer will be all the better for year's Premier League experience. A midfield player and three forwards with pace and finishing ability, assuming we buy quality to replace who we have in those positions already, will transform our results.
We can then look to strengthen the defensive positions next summer.

Quality, not quantity in the next month please Villa. Oh, and of course retain the quality we already have, Jack in particular.

A numbers of players in the first eleven or bench aren't good enough though. As demonstrated by a woeful points total and goals conceded total last season. I really don't get the point that our defence doesn't need strengthening.

Some players may improve (Luiz, McGinn) but I'd be very suspect of how much improvement is in a number of others (Targett, Samatta, Wesley). Plus the likes of Taylor, Lansbury, Jota, Nyland who are nowhere near good enough for this level still here as squad filler.

We can't be expecting Grealish, if he stays, to carry the team singlehandedly like he did for most of last season. I'd be of the view we need urgent surgery (LB, CM, RW, CF) to that squad to avoid another long relegation battle. Hence I'm more than a little worried that we have started pre season without a single signing and all kinds of speculation about whether our best player is staying or going.

Don’t really get the improvement argument. Why is Wesley less likely to improve than McGinn (for example)?

[Toronto Villa]

I don’t know who Weston McKennie is but he sounds ace. We need to buy him.

[SoccerHQ]

Feels a bit like the end of the first Lambert season.

People thought likes of Clark, Baker, Westwood, El-Ahamdi and Bennett would all magically improve but they didn't and some of them got worse. Also Weimann was one of the best performances from January in that season and he never hit the same heights again.

From our present crop Luiz certainly improved and will be a key player next season and Konsa was looking better in the run in. However can't see anything but another relegation scrap if Hause, Hourihane and Trez are all starting 20 + games next season. We need to sign well in those areas that means they only start 5-10 games. That's how you improve the squad.

[john2710]

We need first choice box to box midfielder, winger & centre forward.
Ideally we need a keeper, right-back & centre half (as cover).

We also need to move on:
Lansbury, Jota, Bree, Nyland, Kalanic, El Ghazi, Davies (loan).

It would be nice if everything was in place before the start but it's not critical.

Does anyone see any of the U23s making a step up?

[LeeB]

I don’t know who Weston McKennie is but he sounds ace. We need to buy him.

He sound like he should be on Stax, touring with Booker T and the MG's.

[PaulWinch again]

I’d be looking for an additional LB before RB.

[rob_bridge]

I’d be looking for an additional LB before RB.

Agree - don't mind Targett as back up. Don't want to see Taylor here as either main or back up.

[themossman]

I agree to a point about not having too much churn in the first team. But we absolutely, completely need a striker and winger in, fully settled before the season starts. Those positions are effectively vacant.

[Brazilian Villain]

I don’t know who Weston McKennie is but he sounds ace. We need to buy him.

With Smith and Weston we'll be firing on all cylinders in no time.

[ASHTONVILLA]

I may be in a minority here but I don't want to see a load of new players arrive this summer. It takes time to build a quality squad and the majority of the players bought last summer will be all the better for year's Premier League experience. A midfield player and three forwards with pace and finishing ability, assuming we buy quality to replace who we have in those positions already, will transform our results.
We can then look to strengthen the defensive positions next summer.

Quality, not quantity in the next month please Villa. Oh, and of course retain the quality we already have, Jack in particular.

A numbers of players in the first eleven or bench aren't good enough though. As demonstrated by a woeful points total and goals conceded total last season. I really don't get the point that our defence doesn't need strengthening.

Some players may improve (Luiz, McGinn) but I'd be very suspect of how much improvement is in a number of others (Targett, Samatta, Wesley). Plus the likes of Taylor, Lansbury, Jota, Nyland who are nowhere near good enough for this level still here as squad filler.

We can't be expecting Grealish, if he stays, to carry the team singlehandedly like he did for most of last season. I'd be of the view we need urgent surgery (LB, CM, RW, CF) to that squad to avoid another long relegation battle. Hence I'm more than a little worried that we have started pre season without a single signing and all kinds of speculation about whether our best player is staying or going.

Don’t really get the improvement argument. Why is Wesley less likely to improve than McGinn (for example)?

Because Wesley is currently operating at the level of a Donkey on Blackpool beach, and McGinn is already pretty good. One improving means we  have a very good payer, the other improving the same amount still leaves us with someone not good enough to play for Blues.

[Nii Lamptey]

I’d be looking for an additional LB before RB.

Agree - don't mind Targett as back up. Don't want to see Taylor here as either main or back up.

Agreed. I don't see the issue with RB - Fred is the best fullback we have at the club and should start next season, with Elmo as backup. LB on the other hand....
I don't rate Targett at all. He's ok in the attacking sense, but non-existent when we need to roll up our sleeves and defend. Southampton were laughing all the way to the bank with that one imo.

My shopping list would be:

2 x Strikers - Ideally Tammy, but almost certainly not going to happen, so I'd definitely go in for Watkins and the lad from Celtic
2 x Wingers - Benrahma and Rashica
1 x Box to box midfielder in the Ian Taylor mould
1 x Left back

I'd leave the keeper position till next season - Give Steer a run to see what he's made of until Heaton is ready for a return.

[SoccerHQ]

Harry Wilson being linked now for 20m.

Started off last season well but ended it as a bench player for a relegated club.

If we're seriously in for him suggests Rashica deal is dead.

[ASHTONVILLA]

I’d be looking for an additional LB before RB.

Agree - don't mind Targett as back up. Don't want to see Taylor here as either main or back up.

Agreed. I don't see the issue with RB - Fred is the best fullback we have at the club and should start next season, with Elmo as backup. LB on the other hand....
I don't rate Targett at all. He's ok in the attacking sense, but non-existent when we need to roll up our sleeves and defend. Southampton were laughing all the way to the bank with that one imo.

My shopping list would be:

2 x Strikers - Ideally Tammy, but almost certainly not going to happen, so I'd definitely go in for Watkins and the lad from Celtic
2 x Wingers - Benrahma and Rashica
1 x Box to box midfielder in the Ian Taylor mould
1 x Left back

I'd leave the keeper position till next season - Give Steer a run to see what he's made of until Heaton is ready for a return.

Would be similar to my list, but would take Cantwell and Buendia over Benrahma and Rashica.

[PaulWinch again]

I may be in a minority here but I don't want to see a load of new players arrive this summer. It takes time to build a quality squad and the majority of the players bought last summer will be all the better for year's Premier League experience. A midfield player and three forwards with pace and finishing ability, assuming we buy quality to replace who we have in those positions already, will transform our results.
We can then look to strengthen the defensive positions next summer.

Quality, not quantity in the next month please Villa. Oh, and of course retain the quality we already have, Jack in particular.

A numbers of players in the first eleven or bench aren't good enough though. As demonstrated by a woeful points total and goals conceded total last season. I really don't get the point that our defence doesn't need strengthening.

Some players may improve (Luiz, McGinn) but I'd be very suspect of how much improvement is in a number of others (Targett, Samatta, Wesley). Plus the likes of Taylor, Lansbury, Jota, Nyland who are nowhere near good enough for this level still here as squad filler.

We can't be expecting Grealish, if he stays, to carry the team singlehandedly like he did for most of last season. I'd be of the view we need urgent surgery (LB, CM, RW, CF) to that squad to avoid another long relegation battle. Hence I'm more than a little worried that we have started pre season without a single signing and all kinds of speculation about whether our best player is staying or going.

Don’t really get the improvement argument. Why is Wesley less likely to improve than McGinn (for example)?

Because Wesley is currently operating at the level of a Donkey on Blackpool beach, and McGinn is already pretty good. One improving means we  have a very good payer, the other improving the same amount still leaves us with someone not good enough to play for Blues.

Well that’s a different point. This about whether players can improve, not what level they improve to. In any case I wouldn’t write Wesley off yet.