January 2023 Transfer Rumours, Discussions and Done Deals Thread

[Lastfootstamper]

So long as there is a plan I can see why we are sorting the squad out now. We aren’t going down or qualifying for Europe. So why wait til end of season?

Because:

- We can still qualify for Europe, we're only 5 points off Brighton in 7th, and 6 points off Fulham in 6th, and Fulham have played a game more.
- We need to show players like Martinez that we mean business
- Winning becomes a habit, as Newcastle have demonstrated
- Finishing 6th or finishing 10th is a difference of about £20m in prize money
- If we finish in a disappointing lower table position again we'll struggle to get decent recruits in the summer

I wasn’t saying it was giving up, just looking long term….should we qualify for Europe do we have a squad to be able to deal with that

We cross that bridge when we come to it. The sooner the better. I can't see how we'd be better off by not qualifying for Europe.

[paul_e]

I think there's truth on both sides here. Right now we have 3-4 players who don't really add anything to the  team but are part of the squad as cover. If they go then we get injuries it's a risk but we'd go into the summer with a squad ready for 2-3 big additions to push on.

[pauliewalnuts]

So long as there is a plan I can see why we are sorting the squad out now. We aren’t going down or qualifying for Europe. So why wait til end of season?

Because:

- We can still qualify for Europe, we're only 5 points off Brighton in 7th, and 6 points off Fulham in 6th, and Fulham have played a game more.
- We need to show players like Martinez that we mean business
- Winning becomes a habit, as Newcastle have demonstrated
- Finishing 6th or finishing 10th is a difference of about £20m in prize money
- If we finish in a disappointing lower table position again we'll struggle to get decent recruits in the summer

Absolutely agree with all these points.

Fuck this surrendering and giving up nonsense, we want 50,000 people every other week watching top level players, we're going to need to start to stop this meek writing off of seasons at the slightest excuse.

If we want to keep our best players and attract better ones in other positions, even if we do not qualify for Europe, there's a big, big difference in how others perceive the club between finishing 7th and 14th. Not to mention the prize money, too.

[Toronto Villa]

We are one of the most in form teams, with 19 games to go, we are 5 points back of Brighton in a Conference League position. 6 points back of Fulham in a Europa League spot. How on earth can anyone make the assessment we cannot qualify for Europe? Fuck we are 13 points back of Newcaetlt in 4th. Ok...I know that's a massive stretch. But we should be getting in players to get us into Europe. There is still a good way to go in the window. No reason we cannot get in a few players to help get us into one of those European spots.

[LeonW]

So long as there is a plan I can see why we are sorting the squad out now. We aren’t going down or qualifying for Europe. So why wait til end of season?

Because:

- We can still qualify for Europe, we're only 5 points off Brighton in 7th, and 6 points off Fulham in 6th, and Fulham have played a game more.
- We need to show players like Martinez that we mean business
- Winning becomes a habit, as Newcastle have demonstrated
- Finishing 6th or finishing 10th is a difference of about £20m in prize money
- If we finish in a disappointing lower table position again we'll struggle to get decent recruits in the summer

I wasn’t saying it was giving up, just looking long term….should we qualify for Europe do we have a squad to be able to deal with that

It has to be a combination of both long term planning and short term achievements. Successful clubs manage the balance. Our better players will undoubtably walk without things like European football. Playing European football gives more opportunities with regards budget, playing time (and thus attractiveness in players joining), profile, even wining a trophy. If we struggle initially with the balance then that’s what has to happen in order to progress. If we’re worried about dealing with playing more games in a season, we may as well give up now.

[SamTheMouse]

On Guendouzi scouting duty tonight.

[IFWaters]

Apart from dembele any other realistic suggestions for ings replacement? I'd love a Carew style battering ram up there.

[PaulWinch again]

Trimming the squad is one thing, having one senior striker is another. Let’s hope we have something sorted quick, because whichever way you look at it if we leave January without another forward in it’s poor decision making. Hopefully that won’t be the case.

[pablo_picasso]

I think we should get in that 18 year old from Sheff Utd. Jebbison. 6'3". A fair bit of first team experiences. A lot of pace. Very raw, but all the mouldings for a big fast number 9 in the future. Just a thought..l

[coreyfeldman]

Given his versatility, I'd rather have Chambers than Konsa at the moment. Especially once Carlos is back next month.

11 days to go, no game next weekend, plenty of time to get shit done.  Seems a lot rests on whether Sanson stays or goes though.

Chambers has been absolutely woeful last 5 or 6 times he's played, Konsa gets way more stick than he deserves imo. Him and Tyrone understand each other well and have a decent partnership. Shipping out a regular starter to then have someone who never plays instead makes zero sense

That's not what I said.  I am not suggesting that we play either Chambers OR Konsa.  Carlos and Mings is the way forward, until the end of the season.  Konsa loses his marker far too often.  Neither Chambers or Konsa will take Villa into the top 8.

I know but you're saying get rid of konsa over Chambers, and I'm disagreeing with you.

He probably will be upgraded in the summer, but until then he really should stay instead of Chambers

[coreyfeldman]

We are one of the most in form teams, with 19 games to go, we are 5 points back of Brighton in a Conference League position. 6 points back of Fulham in a Europa League spot. How on earth can anyone make the assessment we cannot qualify for Europe? Fuck we are 13 points back of Newcaetlt in 4th. Ok...I know that's a massive stretch. But we should be getting in players to get us into Europe. There is still a good way to go in the window. No reason we cannot get in a few players to help get us into one of those European spots.

I think it's down to who is available and for how much. Busines is always so much more difficult in January so I don't think it's a case of deliberately waiting, just that the targets they want probably won't be gettable until summer.
I'm also sure that everyone associated with the club would want us to finish as high as possible, Europe an all

IMO I would worry about us in Europe next season as it feels too soon. Happens to a lot of clubs who get surprise European football and then have a shit league season and then the project falls apart. Happy to be proved wrong though

[paul_e]

Trimming the squad is one thing, having one senior striker is another. Let’s hope we have something sorted quick, because whichever way you look at it if we leave January without another forward in it’s poor decision making. Hopefully that won’t be the case.

Of course, but we have a third of the window still and the last few days of the Jan window normally accounts for a big chunk of the transfers so there's still loads to happen.

I'll be amazed if we don't have someone else in but it might be that it's more of a wide forward than a central striker.

[algy]

We are one of the most in form teams, with 19 games to go, we are 5 points back of Brighton in a Conference League position. 6 points back of Fulham in a Europa League spot. How on earth can anyone make the assessment we cannot qualify for Europe? Fuck we are 13 points back of Newcaetlt in 4th. Ok...I know that's a massive stretch. But we should be getting in players to get us into Europe. There is still a good way to go in the window. No reason we cannot get in a few players to help get us into one of those European spots.

I think it's down to who is available and for how much. Busines is always so much more difficult in January so I don't think it's a case of deliberately waiting, just that the targets they want probably won't be gettable until summer.
I'm also sure that everyone associated with the club would want us to finish as high as possible, Europe an all

IMO I would worry about us in Europe next season as it feels too soon. Happens to a lot of clubs who get surprise European football and then have a shit league season and then the project falls apart. Happy to be proved wrong though

I’m less concerned about that personally. We have to make that step at some stage, and I think we have a strong enough squad and canny enough manager that we’d be alright, if it were this season I could imagine playing something like

Olsen
Cash - Chambers - Mings - Digne
Nakamba - Iroegbunam
Buendia - Ramsey - Couts
Ings*


* I know he’s gone, but we’d have started the campaign at least

Obvs we’d be looking at some upgrades in the summer, but for me we’re only really 3 or 4 players off a decent Europa League squad there - not going to win it, but could realistically aim to get out of the groups. And European football would mean being able to attract better players, so you’d be looking at strengthening the first XI and then letting some of those players drop down to the ‘B’ team (with maybe the exception of Olsen, since we’re unlikely to find an upgrade on Emi1)

[Drummond]

Losing a centre half isn't a problem; we have 4 fit and one on the way back, plus we have, at a push, other players who can play there.
Losing central midfielders is necessary, because we have too many similar players and need to get rid of the bloat in the squad.
Losing a striker should create space for a new one.
We must have a couple of options lined up.

Maybe we've decided to be the first domino to get the market moving, it has to start somewhere. With regards to European qualification, if we're relying on Ings, Chambers, Sanson and Nakamba, we're not getting there are we?

[Dave]

So long as there is a plan I can see why we are sorting the squad out now. We aren’t going down or qualifying for Europe. So why wait til end of season?

Because:

- We can still qualify for Europe, we're only 5 points off Brighton in 7th, and 6 points off Fulham in 6th, and Fulham have played a game more.
- We need to show players like Martinez that we mean business
- Winning becomes a habit, as Newcastle have demonstrated
- Finishing 6th or finishing 10th is a difference of about £20m in prize money
- If we finish in a disappointing lower table position again we'll struggle to get decent recruits in the summer

And irrespective of the medium and long-term permutations, it's more fun when Villa win football matches rather than lose football matches.