Summer Transfer Thread and Gustavo Cisneros Type Rumours.

[Brazilian Villain]

Grealish, Buendia and Traore in the same team is gonna be football porn.

That's why Norwich sold him so quickly, they don't want to be associated with 'adult content'. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57388632

[Holy Trinity]

I’m not sure why people are worried about us losing our prized assets.
We all know the owners want to take the club onwards and upwards. We all know they are prepared to fund the manager and the club. We know they recognise the quality and value of the players we already have.
We do not need to sell players and players are not asking to leave.

I am sure any players that do leave will be surplus to requirements.

Those who stay will be on the journey onwards and upwards and will be the draw for better players coming in.

Relax and enjoy the ride, most clubs would give their eye teeth to be where we are right now.

Well the worrying thing about Dougie is we have absolutely zero choice if city want him back and his buy back clause hasn't expired. Yes we have the money to replace him but will we find another incredibly promising cdm who plays for one of the best country sides in the world and still has bags of potential and  who will adapt to the English game straight away for the same 27 million city's buy back clause is? My thoughts are not an fing chance.

The Athletic ran a piece on Luiz back in January, and they seemed to believe it would expire on the 5th. I'm not sure of their source, but if somebody with a subscription or a spare pound wants to have a look-see...
https://theathletic.co.uk/2329572/2021/01/19/douglas-luiz-football-soccer/

I hope its true. Fingers crossed

[OCD]

I think a replacement for Barkley was our most urgent requirement. Buendia would fit that bill, if not directly then through a small tweak in set-up.

having read a bit more about Buendia, he is definitely a right sided attacker rather than a Ten.  Next season, I can see us playing a 433 with three number 8s, rather than a DMC and a Ten. 

433 arguably suits the players we have (incl Sansom) and also the link to Ward Prowse.  The Barkley experiment with a Ten meant the defensive burden on Luiz and SJM was often too great so this could make us more solid and also mean we need to sign less players.

We played Jack as a 10 in the last 2 games. That points to next season, if not all the time then for when we've come up against teams looking to stifle us. Because even if you're right about us looking to play 4-3-3 a lot of the time, Smith will still want to have the option to change it when he needs to.

[London Villan]

If he does play wide right it frees bert up to be an impact sub/ollie’s cover.

[john e]

Because we’ve never been in this position before as in having Loadsamoney

which means you can buy players and compete on a higher level
But just as important it also means you don’t have to sell your best players
It just gives you more overall control

I never really appreciated that until recently, In fact I think that’s what makes the biggest difference

[Steve67]

If he does play wide right it frees bert up to be an impact sub/ollie’s cover.

Bert could also move to the left. or watch the three of them interchange throughout the game.  That would be a nightmare for opponents.

[paul_e]

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-news-sarr-20762234

Mail are running a story that we're interested in Pape Sarr. I've only seen highlights but he's 18, very highly rated and looks like the sort of player that would look good anywhere between the centre backs and the strikers. His youtube highlights almost look like it's 2-3 different players, sometimes sitting deep, winning the ball and playing it short, other times leading a high press and winning ball in the opposition half yet more of him picking the ball and driving through to shoot from distance.

Has anyone seen anything more than highlights of him because right now he looks like exactly the player I've wanted for midfield in this window.

[brontebilly]

If he does play wide right it frees bert up to be an impact sub/ollie’s cover.

McGinn is likely to play a lot further forward next season too. 4231 still is our best formation with Jack I think. Going to be very competitive with Buendia, McGinn, Sanson and Traore competing for two spots. I don't think Luiz is mature enough yet to be a single holding midfielder in a 433/4141 set up. Another midfielder next to him is essential for me. 

[sickbeggar]

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-news-sarr-20762234

Mail are running a story that we're interested in Pape Sarr. I've only seen highlights but he's 18, very highly rated and looks like the sort of player that would look good anywhere between the centre backs and the strikers. His youtube highlights almost look like it's 2-3 different players, sometimes sitting deep, winning the ball and playing it short, other times leading a high press and winning ball in the opposition half yet more of him picking the ball and driving through to shoot from distance.

Has anyone seen anything more than highlights of him because right now he looks like exactly the player I've wanted for midfield in this window.

At that age he'd be one for the future i'd presume rather than the 1st team, though he's doing well if he has a youtube highlights video after 18 games.

[jwarry]

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-news-sarr-20762234

Mail are running a story that we're interested in Pape Sarr. I've only seen highlights but he's 18, very highly rated and looks like the sort of player that would look good anywhere between the centre backs and the strikers. His youtube highlights almost look like it's 2-3 different players, sometimes sitting deep, winning the ball and playing it short, other times leading a high press and winning ball in the opposition half yet more of him picking the ball and driving through to shoot from distance.

Has anyone seen anything more than highlights of him because right now he looks like exactly the player I've wanted for midfield in this window.

At that age he'd be one for the future i'd presume rather than the 1st team, though he's doing well if he has a youtube highlights video after 18 games.

He has a touch of Kante about him but bigger, get him in!

[ROBBO]

His highlights weren't that impressive but he does look promising. That said we have kids of our own that will be looking to challenge so if it's for big money i would pass.

[sickbeggar]

yeah 27m does seem a little pricey 

[paul_e]

Depends really, he looks very, very good for his age (based on youtube highlights and every review I can find) so chances are he'd only go up in value and is potentially the world class DM we could really do with.

I would really like to know the opinion of anyone who's actually seen him in more than highlights.

[Mister E]

If he does play wide right it frees bert up to be an impact sub/ollie’s cover.

McGinn is likely to play a lot further forward next season too. 4231 still is our best formation with Jack I think. Going to be very competitive with Buendia, McGinn, Sanson and Traore competing for two spots. I don't think Luiz is mature enough yet to be a single holding midfielder in a 433/4141 set up. Another midfielder next to him is essential for me. 

Which is why a 4-3-3 would work better, as long as a JWP type were to come in.
The first choice MF 3 would be Luiz, McGinn and JWP but there'd also be Sanson, Nakamba, Ramsey and Chuk (and Lindlay, perhaps, in 6-12 months' time) to weave into the mix as required / necessary.
That first-choice selection would be energetic, combative, skillful and equally at ease defending and supporting the attack.


If we bring in a DMF, then we could play 4-2-3-1 and we'd have good players competing for the 2 slots you referred to.

[cdbearsfan]

His highlights weren't that impressive but he does look promising. That said we have kids of our own that will be looking to challenge so if it's for big money i would pass.

Nah, get him in. Continue the policy of buying excellent players for today and the best players for the future. The more the merrier. And, realistically, we will be lucky if three or four of our Youth Cup heroes break through.