2024 January transfer window - hopes, needs, expectations and rumours.

[AV84]

I think if we're being honest, none of the lads we sold over the summer have shown anything to make us regret selling them. If we miss out on CL this season we won't be thinking if only we hadn't sold Aaron Ramsey, or we'll do better next season when Cameron Archer comes back. It's never a bad idea to put in some sort of buy back clause, but unless they're mandatory, like the Archer one seems to be, I don't think we'll be seeing any of them back at Villa Park anytime soon.

[paul_e]

I could see Philogene coming back. Emery seemed to really like him in the summer but let him go out because he couldn't guarantee the gametime. I know there's the clause Hull have talked about but I suspect there's more to it and he'll be back either this summer or next, so long as we still want him.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

If we buy archer back this summer it will be only to sell him on again

You could have posted that earlier today rather than have to read so much nonsense and post nonsense in reply. Archer's dead to me now.

Out of interest, do you think we'll ever see Emery try and develop any of our youth players or are they purely there for FFP?*




*Please ignore at least until late Friday evening and only if Cole Palmer scores at hattrick.

[brontebilly]

I think if we're being honest, none of the lads we sold over the summer have shown anything to make us regret selling them. If we miss out on CL this season we won't be thinking if only we hadn't sold Aaron Ramsey, or we'll do better next season when Cameron Archer comes back. It's never a bad idea to put in some sort of buy back clause, but unless they're mandatory, like the Archer one seems to be, I don't think we'll be seeing any of them back at Villa Park anytime soon.

Aaron Ramsey and Archer joined two dreadful teams, very hard to stand out in the circumstances. They haven't shown it consistently yet but then again neither have the likes of Duran and Zaniolo either in a far better team.

There was a lot of hype about Kompany and Burnley last summer but that "identity" and "patterns of play" will be heading straight back to the championship without a serious rethink.. Mowbrays West Brom comes to mind or if we are honest our first season up under Smith at times. Players, especially young players need direction, Ramsey is getting none of that.

Sheffield United looked doomed after a few games. Some posters here will obviously be closer to the specifics but it looks like Archer was horribly advised going there. Wilder's kick and rush will hardly suit him now either. Maybe character building for him in the long run.

[PaulWinch again]

I hope Ramsey, Archer, and Philogene make it and develop into top players - but as a test I sort it look at it and go without the Villa connection would I be particularly excited if we were linked with any of them? Probably not, that’s not to say they can’t or won’t kick on but I’ve not really seen anything yet that makes them stand out. I think we need better, but good luck to them and I hope they end up being great.

[coreyfeldman]

I think if we're being honest, none of the lads we sold over the summer have shown anything to make us regret selling them. If we miss out on CL this season we won't be thinking if only we hadn't sold Aaron Ramsey, or we'll do better next season when Cameron Archer comes back. It's never a bad idea to put in some sort of buy back clause, but unless they're mandatory, like the Archer one seems to be, I don't think we'll be seeing any of them back at Villa Park anytime soon.

Aaron Ramsey and Archer joined two dreadful teams, very hard to stand out in the circumstances. They haven't shown it consistently yet but then again neither have the likes of Duran and Zaniolo either in a far better team.

There was a lot of hype about Kompany and Burnley last summer but that "identity" and "patterns of play" will be heading straight back to the championship without a serious rethink.. Mowbrays West Brom comes to mind or if we are honest our first season up under Smith at times. Players, especially young players need direction, Ramsey is getting none of that.

Sheffield United looked doomed after a few games. Some posters here will obviously be closer to the specifics but it looks like Archer was horribly advised going there. Wilder's kick and rush will hardly suit him now either. Maybe character building for him in the long run.

The majority of loaned players go to either lower league teams or newly promoted teams, this isn't a surprise. It's not expected that loan players will join elite coaches in excellent teams, that's why they are on loan. Minutes in the Premier league, regardless of the team and style are invaluable to a player. People are going bloody mental over all this

[AV84]

I think if we're being honest, none of the lads we sold over the summer have shown anything to make us regret selling them. If we miss out on CL this season we won't be thinking if only we hadn't sold Aaron Ramsey, or we'll do better next season when Cameron Archer comes back. It's never a bad idea to put in some sort of buy back clause, but unless they're mandatory, like the Archer one seems to be, I don't think we'll be seeing any of them back at Villa Park anytime soon.

Aaron Ramsey and Archer joined two dreadful teams, very hard to stand out in the circumstances. They haven't shown it consistently yet but then again neither have the likes of Duran and Zaniolo either in a far better team.

I get your point but also people were excited about Ramsey and Archer doing well on loan last season at a team that didn't make it out of the Championship. Likewise when some on here were interested in the idea of Tammy Abrahams coming back to us others dismissed it immediately because he played well in the Championship for us and we've moved beyond that level now.

Another point I'd make is that when the 3 sides last season were relegated there was a list of players from all 3 that bigger clubs were in for straight away. Arguably better teams than the ones down there this year but it shows you can stand out as a player even when your team is shit.

[Smithy]

I could see Philogene coming back. Emery seemed to really like him in the summer but let him go out because he couldn't guarantee the gametime. I know there's the clause Hull have talked about but I suspect there's more to it and he'll be back either this summer or next, so long as we still want him.

He could certainly take Bert's place in the squad next season.

[Smithy]

I think if we're being honest, none of the lads we sold over the summer have shown anything to make us regret selling them. If we miss out on CL this season we won't be thinking if only we hadn't sold Aaron Ramsey, or we'll do better next season when Cameron Archer comes back. It's never a bad idea to put in some sort of buy back clause, but unless they're mandatory, like the Archer one seems to be, I don't think we'll be seeing any of them back at Villa Park anytime soon.

Aaron Ramsey and Archer joined two dreadful teams, very hard to stand out in the circumstances. They haven't shown it consistently yet but then again neither have the likes of Duran and Zaniolo either in a far better team.

I get your point but also people were excited about Ramsey and Archer doing well on loan last season at a team that didn't make it out of the Championship. Likewise when some on here were interested in the idea of Tammy Abrahams coming back to us others dismissed it immediately because he played well in the Championship for us and we've moved beyond that level now.

Another point I'd make is that when the 3 sides last season were relegated there was a list of players from all 3 that bigger clubs were in for straight away. Arguably better teams than the ones down there this year but it shows you can stand out as a player even when your team is shit.

I get your point about players from last year's relegated sides "standing out" so much they were in demand, but we're talking about established premier league players, not youngsters with only one year in the premier league.  The only one who comes close to fitting that profile is Livramento, and he was good the year before they were relegated.

I'm not sure we'll bring any of them back (if it's our choice), but I don't hold the fact that they didn't pull up trees in a relegation side against them.  20-year-old Jack Grealish didn't do a huge deal for us in our relegation season, and only generated a derisory Spurs bid.  It's hard to stand out if you're breaking into a truly crap team.

[Steve67]

If we were to purchase any of the players that we sold last summer, they have to be better than what we have got, otherwise we are moving backwards. It isn’t going to happen.

[pauliewalnuts]

If we were to purchase any of the players that we sold last summer, they have to be better than what we have got, otherwise we are moving backwards. It isn’t going to happen.

Yes. Absolutely this.

Moving to the next level and being sentimental about players we already decided aren’t good enough for where we are now absolutely do not go together.

[Dogtanian]

If we were to purchase any of the players that we sold last summer, they have to be better than what we have got, otherwise we are moving backwards. It isn’t going to happen.

The one I could see would be Philogene, but it depends how long our buyback / first refusal lasts for. By all accounts, we wanted him in the squad, but he was adamant he wanted to go where he would play regularly. And you can't blame him, he's really developing. But it will take longer than this season for him to be ready to get the game time he'd want, by which time our deal will probably be up.

[Percy McCarthy]

If we were to purchase any of the players that we sold last summer, they have to be better than what we have got, otherwise we are moving backwards. It isn’t going to happen.

There’s that, and there’s reneging on contractual obligations.

[Percy McCarthy]

Look like that keeper we bid for is signing for Brentford.

[PaulWinch again]

Would make sense, much clearer path to first team.