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

[SoccerHQ]

I’d be surprised if Watkins wasn’t earmarked for the central role. You don’t score 26 in a season and then move for £28m to play on the wing.

Yeah he'll start v Sheffield United upfront for sure.

Would still like a decent back up just in case he doesen't hit the ground running which everyone will expect now because of the fee.

Can send Davis on loan if that happens which he desperately needs.

[Holy Trinity]

Don't give too  much info about your contact Holy, it can't be that hard for someone to work it out who knows the personnel at the club.  Maybe edit the above down a bit?

Good point and I've edited the tell tale bits out

[simboy]

I’d be surprised if Watkins wasn’t earmarked for the central role. You don’t score 26 in a season and then move for £28m to play on the wing.

Smith played him on the wing to start with at Brentford - I wasn't really thinking of a winger, I was thinking more a right sided Grealish than, say a Zaha. 

[paul_e]

Long term I'd like to see Villa play with 2 wide forwards (so positioned between the centre half and full back on either side) and a withdrawn central striker. I think Jack in the central role could be superb and and Watkins, Davis, AEG, Trez and Wesley would all be better in the wide forward roles than as out and out wingers or lone strikers.

[Sexual Ealing]

One of my favourite football quotes ever, despite it being a shit, arrogant thing to say, said by a dickhead, is: “I’m Craig Bellamy. I don’t play for shit foootball clubs.”
I can’t remember why I enjoyed it so much...

If that’s true about Cantwell,he can stay at Norwich.

[KevinGage]

Never trust Greg Evans. Albion fan and gets more wrong than right about Villa. Awful "jounalist".

Oh really ?
Ok just found he broke this Watkins story via athletic and Birmingham Mail days had an inside ear to the villa goings on.
Ok

It was the BBC bloke who first reported the breakthrough in negotiations with Brentford yesterday. Our interest goes back to the end of the play-offs and has been speculated about everywhere.

Evans is -as best - a news aggregator (aggravator?) / minesweeper when it comes to that sort of thing.

[danno]

One of my favourite football quotes ever, despite it being a shit, arrogant thing to say, said by a dickhead, is: “I’m Craig Bellamy. I don’t play for shit foootball clubs.”
I can’t remember why I enjoyed it so much...

If that’s true about Cantwell,he can stay at Norwich.

Was he playing for Norwich Coventry Newcastle or West Ham at the time?

(Although in fairness Newcastle were fairly good whilst he was there)

[Sexual Ealing]

 No idea. I know who he was talking about though!

[danno]

No idea. I know who he was talking about though!

Haha it's coming back to me now!  Mcleish must have tried to sign him at Blues?

[Sexual Ealing]

It may have been. Him or Bruce anyway.

[chrisw1]

One of my favourite football quotes ever, despite it being a shit, arrogant thing to say, said by a dickhead, is: “I’m Craig Bellamy. I don’t play for shit foootball clubs.”
I can’t remember why I enjoyed it so much...

If that’s true about Cantwell,he can stay at Norwich.

I don't think Cantwell would even be on our radar. at the moment.  But I'm not going to dismiss the kid for having a bit of confidence and arrogance (and a hearsay quote about the Villa).  We see all the stupid hatred for Jack because of his talent and how he looks and I see similarities in Cantwell.  As a player he's got some real quality and there'll be plenty of players higher up my 'dislike' list until he does something to deserve it.     

[LeeB]

No idea. I know who he was talking about though!

Haha it's coming back to me now!  Mcleish must have tried to sign him at Blues?

It was indeed the rags he was talking about.

[ozzjim]

I think Phil McNulty from the BBC broke the story yesterday, and David Ornstein is at The Athletic and appears to have the inside track from a Brentford/ Watkins side of it. Evans is along for the ride. As ever.

[danno]

It may have been. Him or Bruce anyway.

Had a look, Bruce tried to sign him twice in 2005. He ended up joining Blackburn.

[ozzjim]

Apparently he text Shepherd when they tried to sell him to Blues with that infamous line. He also text Shearer something fairly amusing.