2023 Summer transfer window - hopes, needs, expectations and rumours.

[chrisw1]

Listening to Gregg Evans on the 1874 podcast, he seems to think that we are going to have to sell a few before we can buy again due to  FFP

He’s massively wrong. The Jack/Carny and Ings sales have given huge ffp wiggle room. Our big spending window has also fallen off the accounting period.

I don't know where Greg was coming from at all.  The most simple fag packet maths must show we're in a good position FFP wise.  Of course, the wages may be getting a bit uncomfortable so we will need to do some trimming, but I don't think it's even close to one in one out yet.

[Sexual Ealing]

Listening to Gregg Evans on the 1874 podcast, he seems to think that we are going to have to sell a few before we can buy again due to  FFP

I heard it too, and felt he was exaggerating a bit, like you’d expect a Stripey to. Dan Bardell (whoever the fuck he is) didn’t agree.

I listened to it too. He definitely didn’t say we need to sell before we can buy again this summer (he even clarified this towards the end).

He was though incredibly negative about pretty much everything Villa related, to the point where Bardell (politely) pulled him up on it.

Everyone knows he’s a Bitter Baggie but when it shines through it makes you think there could be someone better covering Villa.

I heard it too, and it sounded like he was talking about the medium-long term rather than this summer. He did sound very negative though. That said, one of the few things I can get on board with about Greg(g) Evans covering us is that he isn't a Villa fan, so he can look at things in a clear-eyed way without sentiment.

If he could just write there'd be no stopping him.

[Dave]

I’m in no way knocking the signing of Pau Torres but in my mind it’s not one that would make other players think, fuck me I want to join Villa now.

But do you know a lot about him? Not a criticism, as im not expert, but seems to me Bayern were interested and Emery loves, suggests he’s a top player. We weren’t signing players like Torres and Tielemans a year ago, so signing players we couldnt before is bound to get noticed, by yet more players.

I wasn’t aware of him being linked to Bayern or Juve as was previously mentioned, not sure why he never moved to a bigger club than Villareal before now. I don’t disagree that the calibre of our signings is greatly improving and it bodes well for the forward positions that need competition.

I think Bayern wanted him.  I strongly suspect we offered to pay him more.

I think he was their back-up if Kim Min-Jae moved to Man Utd as was mooted. When he agreed to join Bayern, it left us a free run at Torres.

[aj2k77]

Nah he talks shite about the Villa. The inner bitter bird in him tries to break free constantly but he knows we're the only reason he's remotely relevant and if he had to make a career writing about the bitters then he'd be living on cupasoups for the rest of his life.

[OCD]

His articles in the Athletic are much better than when he wrote for the Mail. More thoughtful, analytical and I've not detected any anti-Villa sentiment.

[FatSam]

I just think that he tries to hedge his bets by basically sitting on the fence about everything, because he doesn’t have any particular insider knowledge, or insight for that matter.

[OzVilla]

I think the most pressing question is how the fuck have we ended up with Gregg Evans as the Athletics Villa reporter?

[chrisw1]

I've been critical of Greg Evans in the past, but I think he's pretty objective about the Villa and does want to see us do well - even if it's only to give him stuff to write about.

He writing has really improved and in particular, he's very good at background / fluff pieces.  Where I feel he lacks is detailed tactical knowledge and analysis and also inside info, but I think everyone struggles with that for Villa.  I do read / listen to other clubs reporters with a bit of envy at times.

But his neutrality is sometimes helpful when people are getting carried away, although I think he's wrong in this instance re FFP.

[Dave]

I've been critical of Greg Evans in the past, but I think he's pretty objective about the Villa and does want to see us do well - even if it's only to give him stuff to write about.

He writing has really improved and in particular, he's very good at background / fluff pieces.  Where I feel he lacks is detailed tactical knowledge and analysis and also inside info, but I think everyone struggles with that for Villa.  I do read / listen to other clubs reporters with a bit of envy at times.

But his neutrality is sometimes helpful when people are getting carried away, although I think he's wrong in this instance re FFP.

I agree. I'd much rather having someone reporting on us who isn't an uncritical cheerleader.

I remember for example some people on here getting really cross with him when he was suggesting that maybe Tony Xia might not actually be the answer to all our prayers when he first took over.

[rob_bridge]

I can see Coutinho going to Saudi

We neee him to. 8m off wage bill.

Same reason we sold Inge. Silly wages.

Same with Digne. Silly wages.

On face of it they cast 70m reality is total cost is 40mx 4 years.

[OCD]

Ferran Torres quoted as saying, "“Today, I am at Barça, but football takes many turns. I have the phone on airplane mode, on July 10th, I will open it."

[Dogtanian]

Ferran Torres quoted as saying, "“Today, I am at Barça, but football takes many turns. I have the phone on airplane mode, on July 10th, I will open it."

That's one hell of a plane trip.

[villadelph]

Ferran Torres quoted as saying, "“Today, I am at Barça, but football takes many turns. I have the phone on airplane mode, on July 10th, I will open it."

No 23 year old can survive 11 days with their phone in airplane mode.

[TonyD]

You wait for one Torres and then……..

[Smirker]

Romano has said the Ferran Torres links to Villa are real.

Looks like Barca want him out.

This would be another very juicy signing.