The January New Manager Warchest Transfer Thread

[VILLA MOLE]

I really really hope he is still good

[Hookeysmith]

I have wanted a signature signing and this is huge.
A brilliant coup if we can pull it off

[mrfuse]

I really really hope he is still good

That's the gamble if we knew for sure we wouldn't be getting him.

I think its obvious that its not the position we desperately need to fill. But if a player like that becomes available and we have a chance to get him we would be silly not to try.

Hopefully its not at the cost of getting a deal for a holding midfielder and an offensive left wingback.

[Brazilian Villain]

I really really hope he is still good

You'd have to believe Gerrard is pretty sure he is. If a statement (and expensive) signing like this flops 2 months into his reign as manager then it's going to be very difficult for him to recover from it.

[Beard82]

I really really hope he is still good

That's the gamble if we knew for sure we wouldn't be getting him.

I think its obvious that its not the position we desperately need to fill. But if a player like that becomes available and we have a chance to get him we would be silly not to try.

Hopefully its not at the cost of getting a deal for a holding midfielder and an offensive left wingback.

I dont think it would be.  I think this is a "we're massive" signing.  I like to think behind the more sensible deals are being done

[charleeco7]

If we get him then we become a massive draw to other plays we want to sign. He is such a marquee signing that it shows real intent and other players will want to come to play with him.

[Somniloquism]

I remember when we were after him and then he buggered off to Liverpool. So I now expect him to be at Newcastle for the end of the transfer window.

[TonyD]

I remember when we were after him and then he buggered off to Liverpool. So I now expect him to be at Newcastle for the end of the transfer window.

That’s my worry as well.  Money talks. 

[LeonW]

I really really hope he is still good

That's the gamble if we knew for sure we wouldn't be getting him.

Exactly this. I'm still dubious about it but also excited at the same time to see what happens.

[villadelph]

18 month loan?

[brontebilly]

I really really hope he is still good

That's the gamble if we knew for sure we wouldn't be getting him.

I think its obvious that its not the position we desperately need to fill. But if a player like that becomes available and we have a chance to get him we would be silly not to try.

Hopefully its not at the cost of getting a deal for a holding midfielder and an offensive left wingback.

That's the kind of logic that saw us sign Ings let's be honest. Obviously hope Coutinho works out, if it does will be brilliant for player, coach and the profile of the club. But he's isn't remotely the same player or athlete he was when at Liverpool. It's surely going to take him a number of games mid season to get up to the speed of the EPL compared to his bit part role at Barca.

The club has already invested hugely in the last 18 months in the likes of Traore, Sanson, Ings, Watkins, Bailey and Buendia with mixed enough results on how to fit them in.

As with you, I think like last summer investment should be prioritised in the areas of the team that badly need it first rather than another number 10.

[Drummond]

I really really hope he is still good

That's the gamble if we knew for sure we wouldn't be getting him.

I think its obvious that its not the position we desperately need to fill. But if a player like that becomes available and we have a chance to get him we would be silly not to try.

Hopefully its not at the cost of getting a deal for a holding midfielder and an offensive left wingback.

That's the kind of logic that saw us sign Ings let's be honest. Obviously hope Coutinho works out, if it does will be brilliant for player, coach and the profile of the club. But he's isn't remotely the same player or athlete he was when at Liverpool. It's surely going to take him a number of games mid season to get up to the speed of the EPL compared to his bit part role at Barca.

The club has already invested hugely in the last 18 months in the likes of Traore, Sanson, Ings, Watkins, Bailey and Buendia with mixed enough results on how to fit them in.

As with you, I think like last summer investment should be prioritised in the areas of the team that badly need it first rather than another number 10.

Coutinho or AEG?
Coutinho or Trezeguet?
Coutinho or Traore?
Coutinho or Davis?
Coutinho or Luiz?
Coutinho or McGinn?
Coutinho or Ramsey?

I'd say the first 4 are easy. Then it gets a bit harder but there's an argument for Coutinho for every one. And that's the reason to go for him.

[Drummond]

Balague on BBC Sport.

"He is demanding to play, which he will not have the opportunity to do at Barcelona with a view to the Qatar World Cup," said Balague.

"Aston Villa are ahead of the lot and Barcelona are negotiating with them but Coutinho is waiting to see who else wants to be in the auction.

"He is hoping for Arsenal and Spurs but they have not done so and Aston Villa is the level he is at - I don't think he's a top four or five player anymore.

"He had a very good first six months [at Barcelona], when he arrived inside the club they thought he was a replacement for Andres Iniesta but he isn't.

"He drives with the ball, but not even fast, and the tricks he had were found out and his confidence suffered. Barcelona got completely the wrong player.

"To go into the Premier League, with the pace and intensity - something he has been missing with his lack of playing time - I don't see him succeeding."

[kippaxvilla2]

https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/how-steven-gerrards-ties-with-philippe-coutinho-make-aston-villas-potential-loan-a-gamble-worth-taking/

[Monty]

Balague is fine, but he's more than a bit of a Big Dos lickspittle. It's not like Coutinho hasn't succeeded in the Premier League before. Definitely, definitely worth a shot.