Ross Barkley

[PeterWithesShin]

If Uni wants Ross Barkley that's good enough for me..

What's he studying?

[kippaxvilla2]

Take it to the bank.  He’s coming.  Don’t cash out.

[Russ aka Big Nose]

And it is far from risk free. As mentioned previously, potential risks include:

1. A disruptive influence in a seemingly harmonious squad
2. It is a distraction to UE and the coaches as they try to make it work
3. It takes up a PL and CL squad place with a player that doesn’t make much of a contribution
4. It blocks the progress of a younger player (that will have a resale value even if they don’t cement a place in the first team)
5. The opportunity cost of what might have been possible if we, for example, brought in a younger player from a Championship side that is rated as making the step up (like Rogers)

Just to counter these potential issues:

1. He’s been here before so it would be well documented if he was a disruptive influence. There would also be noises from the Luton camp if that was the case.

2. There is no evidence to suggest that he’d be any more of a distraction than any other player. All players need coaching so I don’t see that as being any kind of distraction.

3. The same applies and can be said of any player not considered to be in the starting XI.

4. As far as I’m aware, we don’t have any younger players with sufficient game experience and ability that are ready and able to make the step up to the first team. It’s more of a case that our younger players aren’t good enough for where we are and need to be.

5. You aren’t getting a younger player of the calibre required for the money we’d be paying for Barkley. You also don’t know if they’d be ready to make that step up where as Barkley is a known PL standard player and has also played on the international stage.

Maybe. I see his mindset and outlook being key - probably more so than with other players.

Last season at Luton he was the main man, winning plaudits, and it looked like a challenge he embraced.

If he were to get a better and longer deal at Villa, does he work hard, fight for his place and really make a difference OR does he settle for taking very good money, given where his career was, and coast at our expense for a few years?

I'm not a betting man, though my quid is on the latter rather than the former and as I said, I hope we have moved past the kind of details that are predicated more on hope than expectation.

I know all deals have a degree of uncertainty, so don't (anyone) point that out to me unless it is really important to you.

[edgysatsuma89]

I completely trust Unai, but you would hardly be able to debate anything on here if everyone just said that. However much the naysayers may annoy you on here, you'd miss them if it was one big circle jerk.

[Des Little]

To be honest, if Emery wanted to sign Fred West I’d back him.

[Monty]

I completely trust Unai, but you would hardly be able to debate anything on here if everyone just said that. However much the naysayers may annoy you on here, you'd miss them if it was one big circle jerk.

Obviously this is true. It's more that some people criticise Emery as if he were just some other goober we'd got in, like he didn't have all the credit in the bank that he does.

And of course others are only happy when they're moaning. Which is a strange way to live your life, but each to their own.

[chrisw1]

To be honest, if Emery wanted to sign Fred West I’d back him.

Hmm, I’d bury that idea

[dave.woodhall]

If he was our big signing of the summer I'd be concerned. If he's a cheap squadfiller I don't see the harm.

[PeterWithesShin]

As Dave says it will depend on the other business we do. I think he'll be okay, with the potential to be very good. And if anyone is to unlock that potential you'd fancy it to be Unai.

On the flipside, when we signed Micah there were people on here saying it was a smart and low risk deal that we couldn't really lose on. So I can understand some caution.

[Villa in Denmark]

If he can come in and play 8-12 games against the bottom 5-6 and help keep Doug and SJM fresher for the CL games where's the problem?

Unless he's the only signing of the summer and half the midfield are off it's not like he's going to be asked to play as much as the two aforementioned have this season.

[Mister E]

Finding cover and competition for Kamara is arguably our most important transfer objective. If we are restricted by FFP, then I would - very reluctantly - rather we sell a real asset where we are well served or the deal makes financial sense, than 'hope' that giving a 3-year deal to Ross Barkley will work. UTV.

I don't think anyone here or on Unai's staff is expecting Barkley to play Kamara's role in next season's team.

[pauliewalnuts]

If Uni wants Ross Barkley that's good enough for me..

So long as he’s revised enough and gets the A levels he needs.

[olaftab]

If he was our big signing of the summer I'd be concerned. If he's a cheap squadfiller I don't see the harm.

Or an unnecessary liability on the wage bill.

[PaulWinch again]

He’s entirely necessary- see our midfield depth at the end of last season.

[olaftab]

He’s entirely necessary- see our midfield depth at the end of last season.

It doesn't work like that though does it? We need players of equal  superb ability so that we can interchange  game by game not just have someone who is likely to only sit on the bench and be very rusty when required.