Summer Transfer Thread and Gustavo Cisneros Type Rumours.

[algy]

Gary Cahill on a 12 month deal as backup for Konsa worth a look?

Deffo if he's still up to it.

Would make sense, but would probably prefer a young player with potential who can be brought on gradually.

Yeah, same for me.  Engels didn't feature last season, and Hause only played 4 games.  I just don't see a 4th choice defender as being one that'll play a huge role, so to be honest I think I'd be happy with a player from the youth team, or bringing in someone who's maybe in the 18-21 age range who'll be happy with having limited involvement.

[Damo70]

Gary Cahill to Rangers and Wilfred Zaha to Everton are the latest rumours.

Will the last player to leave Crystal Palace please switch off the lights 

[OCD]

An older player can be used as a stop gap while the kids develop out on loan.

Ideally we would get Bailey and Alvarez instead of Cantwell.

It sounds like there's doubts about Wesley's fitness levels too so I wouldn't be against loaning him and Davis out for the season and bringing in Abraham if he's available on a season's loan with the option to buy next summer as has been suggested are the terms that Arsenal are interested in. Giving us the choice of Watkins and Abraham while also denying Arsenal would be a smart move.

Having the options of Watkins and Abraham and then behind them having Grealish, Bailey, Buendia, Alvarez and Toure would be some serious firepower. Add a really good defensive midfielder in front of the back 5 and we could be challenging for a Champions League place rather than Europa League.

[darren woolley]

Bailey looks a great player from what I have seen of him.

[algy]

An older player can be used as a stop gap while the kids develop out on loan.

Ideally we would get Bailey and Alvarez instead of Cantwell.

It sounds like there's doubts about Wesley's fitness levels too so I wouldn't be against loaning him and Davis out for the season and bringing in Abraham if he's available on a season's loan with the option to buy next summer as has been suggested are the terms that Arsenal are interested in. Giving us the choice of Watkins and Abraham while also denying Arsenal would be a smart move.

Having the options of Watkins and Abraham and then behind them having Grealish, Bailey, Buendia, Alvarez and Toure would be some serious firepower. Add a really good defensive midfielder in front of the back 5 and we could be challenging for a Champions League place rather than Europa League.

Defensive midfielders are boring.  Just play lone striker, a 10 behind them, then 4 wingers (any 4 from Grealish/Bailey/Buendia/Cash/Young/Targett*), and a couple of '8's in Luiz & McGinn.  Then, like, 2 defenders and Emi in goal.  Win every game by a cricket score.  Job's a good 'un.

* honourary winger

[OCD]

'Arsenal out of the race for Bailey because of attitude problems'. Read 'Arsenal can't compete with Villa'.

[sickbeggar]

Gary Cahill on a 12 month deal as backup for Konsa worth a look?

Deffo if he's still up to it.

Would make sense, but would probably prefer a young player with potential who can be brought on gradually.

To be honest I don't know what is stopping us looking at defenders in the Konsa bracket. Surely a 1st team championship defender would see coming to us as a step-up even if it meant he was 3rd choice.  What you'd lose in squad status would be made up by the potential of being an injury away from being a premiership 1st teamer. And the money of course.. Not knowing the budget or the targets its hard to judge what market we're dealing in for a reserve

[pauliewalnuts]

'Arsenal out of the race for Bailey because of attitude problems'.

They clearly do have attitude problems, the rancid self-entitled Tarquins.

[eamonn]

Did Cahill and Ashley Young ever play in the same Villa team ?

[Exeter 77]

Did Cahill and Ashley Young ever play in the same Villa team ?

Cahill was in the team at Newcastle when Young made his Villa debut.
https://www.11v11.com/matches/newcastle-united-v-aston-villa-31-january-2007-276750/

[Monty]

'Arsenal out of the race for Bailey because of attitude problems'.

They clearly do have attitude problems, the rancid self-entitled Tarquins.

It has always amused me that the name 'Tarquin' became popular enough among those frilly-brained north London bourgeois types to become something of a meme, when it's most notably the name of history's most famous rapist.

[Footy-Vill]

Something that concerns me as Villa continue to grow the squad and raise the level of playing quality is the way Smith will handle rotation and use of the squad  And how the players adapt to being part of a more competitive squad.
This is majorly intriguing to me.

To me Man City and Chelsea have the best squads in the league. And they won the 2 biggest competitions
Man City win the league cup like every year these days because of their squad.

Leicester City beat Chelsea and is mentioned as a positive example to emulate won the FA cup without arguably their best performing player Harvey Barnes injured and quality of James Madison on the bench. They also cake almighty close to champions League placing.

Bringing in further quality to strengthen and compete with existing players would be most beneficial. It gives the quality options throughout the team. But it's how Smith handles that squad be most keen to observe.

Love Deano great coach literally only worry I have is him dealing with the squad aspect in regards to alternating.

I feel that was Liverpool downfall for the league last season as Klopp continued to play the same players and the injuries suffered didn't have the quality in the squad to compete for the league.
The season before they had a core spin of the team but things have to be refreshed and improved upon

We are certainly moving upward curve and bringing in quality like Young and Buendia who could start matches are good beginning of the window.
 

[Lastfootstamper]

Gary Cahill on a 12 month deal as backup for Konsa worth a look?

Deffo if he's still up to it.

Would make sense, but would probably prefer a young player with potential who can be brought on gradually.

To be honest I don't know what is stopping us looking at defenders in the Konsa bracket. Surely a 1st team championship defender would see coming to us as a step-up even if it meant he was 3rd choice.  What you'd lose in squad status would be made up by the potential of being an injury away from being a premiership 1st teamer. And the money of course.. Not knowing the budget or the targets its hard to judge what market we're dealing in for a reserve

Toughie. I'd suggest Konsa has only got anywhere near as good as he is now by playing week after week.

I like the way we're doing business now, either starter material or improvable youngster. It feels like we've got a proper thought through plan, but I do think that also means that there'll be times around the next few windows at least when we simply have to let the chips fall where they may and go with what we've got. I'm expecting world domination, but I can wait a season or two. So, no to Cahill.

[Footy-Vill]

Gary Cahill on a 12 month deal as backup for Konsa worth a look?

The solution to the centre back , free kicks and defensive midfield people all banging on about  all rolled into one.
David Luiz as a statement signing.
He's a very Dean Smith type player.

And with Luiz you would have the versatility , quality ,experience and a great off field person who is a committed Christian.
Culturally as a player some here in UK misunderstood him but I think Dean Smith and JT could do worse than bringing him in on a free because at the end of the day he's a quality footballer and one of the best direct free kick takers I've ever seen in recent times. Certainly the best centre back one!

[Gerrin]

Having just watched Todd Cantwell’s ‘amazing goals, skills and assists’. Well there’s not many goals or assists in there but a lot of being shoved over and a lot more misses. His hair’s nice though.

Leon Bailey looks a level up.

That's my impression of him. Looks good flouncing around in a poor relegated/Championship team, but pretty underwhelmed otherwise. Am I missing something?

These are the sort of things people used to say about Grealish.

Now he's obviously nowhere near Grealish's level, but I reckon he's a lot better than people give him credit for.

He's got an annoying OTT goal celebration too.