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

[SoccerHQ]

We need to sort out the final third before we spend big money on full backs. Our best LB in last 15 years was Bouma and he only started showing decent form when we signed Ashley Young which was 18 months after Bouma signed.

We just need better options to stretch opposition more on counter attack and generally mean the FBs do less defending, Targett would certainly appreciate a wide player who could cut inside and give him more space for the overlap run which he's decent at.

[brontebilly]

We need to sort out the final third before we spend big money on full backs. Our best LB in last 15 years was Bouma and he only started showing decent form when we signed Ashley Young which was 18 months after Bouma signed.

We just need better options to stretch opposition more on counter attack and generally mean the FBs do less defending, Targett would certainly appreciate a wide player who could cut inside and give him more space for the overlap run which he's decent at.

Better than Grealish? Are you Gareth Southgate?? 🤪

[TonyD]

Would you do a swap with Barcelona.  Not going to happen but a teaser.

Messi for Jack?

[hilts_coolerking]

Would you do a swap with Barcelona.  Not going to happen but a teaser.

Messi for Jack?

Fuck yeah!

[Dinas_Caerdydd]

Would you do a swap with Barcelona.  Not going to happen but a teaser.

Messi for Jack?

hope messi joins someone like B Munich would be a perfect fit for him .

[SoccerHQ]

Talk Everton want another right back. Wonder if Seamus Coleman would be available. Thought he was back to his best last season and would give us that much needed experience and quality at the back. Probably a good test of how far off world domination we are if he'd rather stay as back up at Everton than come here as first choice.

[robbo1874]

To be clear, I'm not in favour of sacking Smith, he has fulfilled his brief. I just don't really think I've ever been convinced he's got what it takes to make the club leap forward in the Premier League, as I don't think we've ever really looked like a team with a coherent plan or style or anything really.

i don’t think the club’s philosophy is about leaping forward, more one of steady sustainable progression. Probably the next step will be consolidating our position and finishing higher up the league. And then when the Academy starts to bear fruit, pushing on to challenge at the top end.

Tenth would be a good target to aim for, but until we see which signings come in, I’d say maybe between 15th and 10th would be a more realistic aim. If I’m honest I’d be happy with a comfortable 15th without a nerve-jangling relegation scrap this season

[TonyD]

Would you do a swap with Barcelona.  Not going to happen but a teaser.

Messi for Jack?

Fuck yeah!

Really?  Commercially it would be incredible but on the pitch I’m not sure Messi would do well in the PL.  He would get slaughtered by much more organised and fitter defenders than in Spain where he has only 3/4 good sides a season to play against. He is also on the wane where the only way is up for supa Jack.

[hilts_coolerking]

Really?  Commercially it would be incredible but on the pitch I’m not sure Messi would do well in the PL.  He would get slaughtered by much more organised and fitter defenders than in Spain where he has only 3/4 good sides a season to play against. He is also on the wane where the only way is up for supa Jack.

Of course.  Jack's a top player and he's Villa through and through but Messi is one of the game's all time legends - maybe even the greatest ever.  It's not as if there are many more than 3 or 4 good sides in the PL either and the standard of defending here is mediocre.  Now, while we're dreaming, if Barca would take Hogan instead we could play Messi and Jack together.

[TonyD]

Really?  Commercially it would be incredible but on the pitch I’m not sure Messi would do well in the PL.  He would get slaughtered by much more organised and fitter defenders than in Spain where he has only 3/4 good sides a season to play against. He is also on the wane where the only way is up for supa Jack.

Of course.  Jack's a top player and he's Villa through and through but Messi is one of the game's all time legends - maybe even the greatest ever.  It's not as if there are many more than 3 or 4 good sides in the PL either and the standard of defending here is mediocre.  Now, while we're dreaming, if Barca would take Hogan instead we could play Messi and Jack together.

No that would be a big headache.  How would we decide which one started and which one came on a half time?  Far too much hassle.  And do we know if Hogan even likes tapas?

[Sexual Ealing]

Would you do a swap with Barcelona.  Not going to happen but a teaser.

Messi for Jack?

Absolutely not.

[Shrek]

I think our problem is everyone knows we need a new front 3, Watkins looks likely, so we either need 2 wide players or one wide and a striker.
IMO if we sign Watkins, it’s as a striker, so 2 wide players the priority now.

I cannot see Jack starting wide left if he stays, he will be all but demanding he plays in midfield with McGinn and Luiz.

[Ian.]

It seems Matty Cash could be the first in, he seems decent and well thought of with Forest.
Hopefully the first of many to follow. Really need that edge up front but after hearing recent interviews with Smith we will not be going into the new season unprepared as we did last year. Just have to be a bit patient.

[aev]

I am less bothered than some about buying Championship players instead of those with Premier experience.

I think the issue last season was too many players coming in that were inexperienced with the intensity of English football, but a season on they know now what to expect. Adding players from the league below we believe could step up I think would work.

[Big Ming]

I know it's not for this thread, but I can't somewhere better so...

The Premier League is having a re-vote on the five substitutes rule next Thursday.

Why?

It's already been voted down by a majority of clubs who can see the advantage to the Sky 6.