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

[jwarry]

Konsa is interesting, a lot of us had him down as limited with the ball but there's signs that he's throwing off the shackles and looking like he fancies himself as a player

Bit like Ben White

[paul_e]

Emery seems to be focusing on having a lot of our players being capable of playing in 2-3 different positions, either temporarily for moments in games or to start as a bit of a wildcard. Over the season I think we'll see some pretty odd looking line-ups as he brings people in to do a very specific job where he's identified a mismatch he can create. Cash on Sunday felt very much like that because, whilst they were listed as a 442 what was actually happening is their left back was tucked in trying to follow Diaby which put them into more of a 523 and the guy left playing as a wing back had no idea how to handle Cash running in behind him.

[paul_e]

It's not greedy to say the squad is quite thin for a 55+ game season, with 2 players out for the season. Lenglet is a decent signing as cover in defence, allowing Konsa to very much be defecto reserve right back. Hopefully a forward of some description can be found in the coming days to round off the squad a bit, especially if Coutinho leaves.

We've done this before, our squad for Europe is going to be limited to 22 players because we can't fill 3 of the homegrown(club) spots (we can fill in with players like Revan, Kellyman, etc but we don't need to name anyone who's under 21).

Right now we have 21 players who would need to be named in that 22 and we have a clear gap to fill in defence (which may be filled with Langlet) so, without anyone else being sold who are you going to leave out of the European squad to bring in another striker?

I've already said that if anyone leaves they'd need to be replaced so if Coutinho goes he needs replacing but it's still 1in, 1out not increasing the size of the squad.

We have. We also have 3 other competitions.

That doesn't answer my question, which of our senior players do you take European football away from?

[LeeB]

Emery seems to be focusing on having a lot of our players being capable of playing in 2-3 different positions, either temporarily for moments in games or to start as a bit of a wildcard. Over the season I think we'll see some pretty odd looking line-ups as he brings people in to do a very specific job where he's identified a mismatch he can create. Cash on Sunday felt very much like that because, whilst they were listed as a 442 what was actually happening is their left back was tucked in trying to follow Diaby which put them into more of a 523 and the guy left playing as a wing back had no idea how to handle Cash running in behind him.

You've underlined an unexpected extra joy for me from watching us under the Don, the sight of hapless opponents arguing with each other and pointing with fustration at the area from which we've just cut them to pieces.

[jwarry]

Emery seems to be focusing on having a lot of our players being capable of playing in 2-3 different positions, either temporarily for moments in games or to start as a bit of a wildcard. Over the season I think we'll see some pretty odd looking line-ups as he brings people in to do a very specific job where he's identified a mismatch he can create. Cash on Sunday felt very much like that because, whilst they were listed as a 442 what was actually happening is their left back was tucked in trying to follow Diaby which put them into more of a 523 and the guy left playing as a wing back had no idea how to handle Cash running in behind him.

You've underlined an unexpected extra joy for me from watching us under the Don, the sight of hapless opponents arguing with each other and pointing with fustration at the area from which we've just cut them to pieces.

You see it’s now a game of fine margins and you need an edge.  You can no longer keep playing the same team every week just because you won a game, you have to keep the opponent guessing and Emery is the master.  Having said that De Zerbi is doing something different again and all teams are struggling to work him out because his players are not necessarily better than others

[ASHTONVILLA]

It's not greedy to say the squad is quite thin for a 55+ game season, with 2 players out for the season. Lenglet is a decent signing as cover in defence, allowing Konsa to very much be defecto reserve right back. Hopefully a forward of some description can be found in the coming days to round off the squad a bit, especially if Coutinho leaves.

We've done this before, our squad for Europe is going to be limited to 22 players because we can't fill 3 of the homegrown(club) spots (we can fill in with players like Revan, Kellyman, etc but we don't need to name anyone who's under 21).

Right now we have 21 players who would need to be named in that 22 and we have a clear gap to fill in defence (which may be filled with Langlet) so, without anyone else being sold who are you going to leave out of the European squad to bring in another striker?

I've already said that if anyone leaves they'd need to be replaced so if Coutinho goes he needs replacing but it's still 1in, 1out not increasing the size of the squad.

We have. We also have 3 other competitions.

That doesn't answer my question, which of our senior players do you take European football away from?

Mings and Buendia as they wont be available (assuming they were in the list). After that then Chambers if we bring in a defender, Traore if we bring in a winger, and Duran if we bring in a striker.

[Toronto Villa]

also as good as Diego has looked early he's been thrown into due to Mings' injury. He's coming off a year out himself. Great to have international level players coming in to provide incredible depth at that position.

[pauliewalnuts]

I guess Lenglet increasing the CB pool makes Konsa being used at right back more doable. So this will be the answer to “we need another right back”, which makes sense.

On top of that I’d like to see another option up front and maybe a “didn’t see that coming”’ style signing of a creative player and then that’s that.

[pauliewalnuts]

It's not greedy to say the squad is quite thin for a 55+ game season, with 2 players out for the season. Lenglet is a decent signing as cover in defence, allowing Konsa to very much be defecto reserve right back. Hopefully a forward of some description can be found in the coming days to round off the squad a bit, especially if Coutinho leaves.

We've done this before, our squad for Europe is going to be limited to 22 players because we can't fill 3 of the homegrown(club) spots (we can fill in with players like Revan, Kellyman, etc but we don't need to name anyone who's under 21).

Right now we have 21 players who would need to be named in that 22 and we have a clear gap to fill in defence (which may be filled with Langlet) so, without anyone else being sold who are you going to leave out of the European squad to bring in another striker?

I've already said that if anyone leaves they'd need to be replaced so if Coutinho goes he needs replacing but it's still 1in, 1out not increasing the size of the squad.

We have. We also have 3 other competitions.

That doesn't answer my question, which of our senior players do you take European football away from?

Mings and Buendia as they wont be available (assuming they were in the list). After that then Chambers if we bring in a defender, Traore if we bring in a winger, and Duran if we bring in a striker.

Yes, Chambers on the list would be pretty much inconceivable. I agree with you on the others too.

[pauliewalnuts]

Nuno Tavares has just signed for Forest.

[Astral Weeks]

Nuno Tavares has just signed for Forest.

Well, it only takes a minute.

[Olneythelonely]

Thought we were in for him. Was that just an illusion?

[AV84]

I do wonder are we actually interested in some of the players we're linked with or are we, or more precisely Emery, at a level where a players value increases just by association with us. "Oh Villa are interested in this guy, you'll have to give us 5 million extra and quickly or he'll be off to Birmingham" kind of thing.

[Goldenballs]

Romano

Aston Villa and Barcelona in talks over Clement Lenglet deal, as revealed earlier today — negotiations on. 🟣🔵🔛

https://twitter.com/KeslerSZN/status/1696499397205401954?t=1X3StYTAjLYqrm4ztgZYzw&s=19

He can pass the ball fairly well.

[SamTheMouse]

Emery does like his centre halves to be cultured, doesn't he? If they can defend, well that's a bonus.