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

[Risso]

Yeah, agree.

I had a slight feeling last night when we were talking about the possible line-ups if we sign the players we've  been linked with of that magic week under Brian Little, when every time I got back home and switched on Ceefax we were linked with another exciting player and (I think - my memory might be playing tricks) signed Southgate, Draper and Savo in quick succession. Players who excite us and make us wonder just what we can achieve, not players who have had their best days already and see us as a step down.

Draper was a bit of a coup at the time.  He was highly regarded and Man U were heavily linked with him.  Southgate was a middling midfielder who Sir Brian turned into a top defender, but I don't think there was much excitement around the signing.  I reckon literally nobody had heard of Savo, but he seemed quite exotic and foreign at the time with his bandana wearing!

[SheffieldVillain]

Yeah, agree.

I had a slight feeling last night when we were talking about the possible line-ups if we sign the players we've  been linked with of that magic week under Brian Little, when every time I got back home and switched on Ceefax we were linked with another exciting player and (I think - my memory might be playing tricks) signed Southgate, Draper and Savo in quick succession. Players who excite us and make us wonder just what we can achieve, not players who have had their best days already and see us as a step down.

Draper was a bit of a coup at the time.  He was highly regarded and Man U were heavily linked with him.  Southgate was a middling midfielder who Sir Brian turned into a top defender, but I don't think there was much excitement around the signing.  I reckon literally nobody had heard of Savo, but he seemed quite exotic and foreign at the time with his bandana wearing!

I think it was exactly that with Savo, yes. Also, didn't each transfer in turn break our transfer record two or three times that summer? That probably would have impressed the 12 year old me, regardless of who we were signing.

[hilts_coolerking]

No to Mata and Ozil.  But Draxler's only 27.

[Risso]

I wouldn't say no to Mata on a free.

[Sexual Ealing]

I wonder who this "number 8" Gregg Evans thinks Smith is bringing in - a big name apparently?

I thought that came for Ashley Preece not Evans? That is the big question still though.

Imagine if we got Draxler !
From the Prem Mata or Ozil would be the big stage names but don't see them fitting

I'd rather not with those, a past-it player from the top clubs isn't the right choice for us.

Also totally agree. We need players desperate to get to the top at this stage, not those on their way back down.

[LeeB]

I wouldn't say no to Mata on a free.

Me either, top professional, if you're going to get experience in that's the kind of character you want .

[rob_bridge]

I wouldn't say no to Mata on a free.

Absolutely

[Brazilian Villain]

I wouldn't say no to Mata on a free.

I really don't want to do any transfer dealings with them this summer in case they pull a "whilst we have you on the line, about Jack..".

[RamboandBruno]

Yeah, agree.

I had a slight feeling last night when we were talking about the possible line-ups if we sign the players we've  been linked with of that magic week under Brian Little, when every time I got back home and switched on Ceefax we were linked with another exciting player and (I think - my memory might be playing tricks) signed Southgate, Draper and Savo in quick succession. Players who excite us and make us wonder just what we can achieve, not players who have had their best days already and see us as a step down.

Draper was a bit of a coup at the time.  He was highly regarded and Man U were heavily linked with him.  Southgate was a middling midfielder who Sir Brian turned into a top defender, but I don't think there was much excitement around the signing.  I reckon literally nobody had heard of Savo, but he seemed quite exotic and foreign at the time with his bandana wearing!

I think it was exactly that with Savo, yes. Also, didn't each transfer in turn break our transfer record two or three times that summer? That probably would have impressed the 12 year old me, regardless of who we were signing.

I was enjoying your comments until you said you were 12 at the time! I was working in a factory in smethwick on my summer holidays about to start my 2nd year at uni, I’m old. But 95-96 was the last really really good season we’ve had.

[SheffieldVillain]

Yeah, agree.

I had a slight feeling last night when we were talking about the possible line-ups if we sign the players we've  been linked with of that magic week under Brian Little, when every time I got back home and switched on Ceefax we were linked with another exciting player and (I think - my memory might be playing tricks) signed Southgate, Draper and Savo in quick succession. Players who excite us and make us wonder just what we can achieve, not players who have had their best days already and see us as a step down.

Draper was a bit of a coup at the time.  He was highly regarded and Man U were heavily linked with him.  Southgate was a middling midfielder who Sir Brian turned into a top defender, but I don't think there was much excitement around the signing.  I reckon literally nobody had heard of Savo, but he seemed quite exotic and foreign at the time with his bandana wearing!

I think it was exactly that with Savo, yes. Also, didn't each transfer in turn break our transfer record two or three times that summer? That probably would have impressed the 12 year old me, regardless of who we were signing.

I was enjoying your comments until you said you were 12 at the time! I was working in a factory in smethwick on my summer holidays about to start my 2nd year at uni, I’m old. But 95-96 was the last really really good season we’ve had.

I loved those Villa years- 93-97ish from Big Ron into Brian's team. I can't see anything overtaking it as my favourite era. Unless Jack and Deano bring home the F.A. Cup of course, then they might have a chance.

[LeeB]

No Hughes , Sarr, Gray, Wellbeck, Or Deeney in that Watford squad and team tonight!
Guess they may all be off!

Hughes and Sarr yes please for Villa . No for rest

No Hughes, Sarr, Gray, no Troy Deeney
No Wellbeck thanks, no guarantee.

[rob_bridge]

1995

We had survived after a bizzarre topsy turvey season.

Southgate was meh signing but we had lost Richardson Parker and Houghton so need to strengthen the midfield and he played in defence. Then Draper who I was genuinely excited about - Gascoginesque at times. And Savo was pretty exotic by our standards.

Didn't think we had made near enough but it was a fine season

[RamboandBruno]

Yeah, agree.

I had a slight feeling last night when we were talking about the possible line-ups if we sign the players we've  been linked with of that magic week under Brian Little, when every time I got back home and switched on Ceefax we were linked with another exciting player and (I think - my memory might be playing tricks) signed Southgate, Draper and Savo in quick succession. Players who excite us and make us wonder just what we can achieve, not players who have had their best days already and see us as a step down.

Draper was a bit of a coup at the time.  He was highly regarded and Man U were heavily linked with him.  Southgate was a middling midfielder who Sir Brian turned into a top defender, but I don't think there was much excitement around the signing.  I reckon literally nobody had heard of Savo, but he seemed quite exotic and foreign at the time with his bandana wearing!

I think it was exactly that with Savo, yes. Also, didn't each transfer in turn break our transfer record two or three times that summer? That probably would have impressed the 12 year old me, regardless of who we were signing.

I was enjoying your comments until you said you were 12 at the time! I was working in a factory in smethwick on my summer holidays about to start my 2nd year at uni, I’m old. But 95-96 was the last really really good season we’ve had.

I loved those Villa years- 93-97ish from Big Ron into Brian's team. I can't see anything overtaking it as my favourite era. Unless Jack and Deano bring home the F.A. Cup of course, then they might have a chance.

Great days really from SGT onwards till about 97ish with the odd blip season (Venglos). Pity is for me, in my early 20s partying and all that, I realised McGrath was majestic and yorke was really talented and that we had a good team, but was too distracted by life to realise that it was a bit of a golden period in villas history relatively. Hindsight and all that.
A cup run with jack and Deano, that would be special

[paul_e]

I like Mata but given his age I'm worried that he's effectively had the last 6months off (played about 20 minutes after restart). Almost all players need a bit of time to get up to speed after a long break but players in their 30s find it much harder.

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Rob Dorsett reporting on Rashica to us now, likely £18.5m.