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

[kippaxvilla2]

It can’t be happening.......can it?!

[OCD]

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

Brentford want £30m for Benhrama. Much better value to be had in Europe. Newcastle got Saint-Maximin for £16m last year which looks a bargain now.

[KevinGage]

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

Draper was excellent that first season.

Had a bit of everything.

[ADVILLAFAN]

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

Is Rob Dorsett usually reliable?

[Sexual Ealing]

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

I don't have Sky, but from reading his tweet it suggests that he's basically a transfer rumour column that's been near a League Cup?

[SoccerHQ]

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

Brentford want £30m for Benhrama. Much better value to be had in Europe. Newcastle got Saint-Maximin for £16m last year which looks a bargain now.

Yep, I thought the Rashica deal was dead but fair play to us for plugging away. Certainly good value for a player with good stats in a major european league, we don't often sign those types these days.

[PaulWinch again]

I’d still be surprised if Rashica joins, but here’s hoping.

[Ian.]

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.

It may happen again, this summers signing seem very exciting, especially on top of keeping Jack and Dougie

[Monty]

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

Weathercock Rob as I call him !

This nearly made me spit out my drink. So funny. I know nothing about him, but now whenever I hear the name Rob Dorsett I will always think 'that weathercock'.

[Steve67]

So Martinez, Rashica next week then.  Just a central midfielder to come and we are set.

[darren woolley]

So Martinez, Rashica next week then.  Just a central midfielder to come and we are set.

I would be a happy man if we bring those in.

[Jimsta]

It be a interesting day to see who are in the teams and who are left.
I be keeping a eye on Brentford's Said Benrahma if left out then i say 100% he be on the move.

[Percy McCarthy]

I’m writing a Russian gangster who speaks in broken English. H&V is becoming an invaluable resource.

[Big Ming]

So Martinez, Rashica next week then.  Just a central midfielder to come and we are set.

Perhaps an Ampadu type who can play as as central defender or defensive mid allowing Luiz to move forward.

I still worry about the open door at left back.

[Mister E]

So Martinez, Rashica next week then.  Just a central midfielder to come and we are set.

Brighton are supposedly in for Martinez, according to the Grauniad website this morning.
And, if we go into this season with only 3 CB (Engels being on the bullet-list) we're at risk.