Summer 2024 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[Dave]

Probably shouldn’t have posted this….. looks half decent but we do t do half decent anymore.

Presumably very useful for the home-grown figures though?

[Ian.]

My opinions on O'Neill have mellowed over the years.

I now just think he's a pube-headed fucking wanker who deserves to roast in hell for all eternity, the c***.

Likewise, but I definitely agree with your last statement!

I can’t believe I believed the charade that came along with him. I thought we had this Clough like coach, I fell hook line and sinker for it. At the time, It took me much longer than most to realise he was a fraud.

[pauliewalnuts]

I have a problem with them having the mentality that being able to buy lots of nice things means they've "succeeded" in their chosen career.  There are plenty of multi-millionaire ex-footballers without a single trophy to their names. I don't think we want players who will retire with a nice property portfolio, but an empty trophy cabinet, and be comfortable with it.

For years I've felt that too many Villa players just became 'comfortable' playing for us. Obviously much comes from the expectations by the club and even the fans but we've also had too many managers over the years, appointed way above their capability who seemed happy to live in a pressure free environment.

As if to prove your point...
https://twitter.com/PeterCrouchPod/status/1784987015915646984

A mate sent me that the other day and my blood pressure has just about returned to normal. I nearly resurrected an old MON thread to moan about him again but I’ve decided life’s too short.

Jesus. How weak was MON to allow that?

To be fair to MON, that was what he did.  He wasn't a hands on coach. The players barely saw him in the week.  If they came in a the weekend and performed, he was happy.  The polar opposite of what we have now..

The problem was that MON wasn’t a hands on coach but neither were his two lieutenants, Robertson and Walford, to the extent that the players used to call them “Bibs and Cones” in honour of what they did on the training pitch.

MON didn’t just not do training, he also didn’t do tactics. We played the exact same way every match regardless of the opposition.

And then another thing he didn’t do - substitutions, other than Sidwell on 75 minutes and occasionally something weird involving the right back.

[Flamingo Lane]

Callum O'hare is said (by the Guardian) to be of interest to West Ham, and I'm more surprised to read that he is only 25 years old. I'd have thought he was much older than that. Really good player, and well worth a punt for some or other Premier League side, preferably a decent one.

[London Villan]

Imagine if that squad had bothered about fitness and conditioning, perhaps they wouldn't have been burnt out by the end of March.

[Paul.S]

I have a problem with them having the mentality that being able to buy lots of nice things means they've "succeeded" in their chosen career.  There are plenty of multi-millionaire ex-footballers without a single trophy to their names. I don't think we want players who will retire with a nice property portfolio, but an empty trophy cabinet, and be comfortable with it.

For years I've felt that too many Villa players just became 'comfortable' playing for us. Obviously much comes from the expectations by the club and even the fans but we've also had too many managers over the years, appointed way above their capability who seemed happy to live in a pressure free environment.

As if to prove your point...
https://twitter.com/PeterCrouchPod/status/1784987015915646984

I don't know why but I genuinely despise Sidwell.

I think it was him that showed how we were devolving as a squad as the better players were being sold & replaced with dog-shit like him.

And his best contribution to the Villa cause was as a ball-boy.

Twat.

I want none of those players ever to set foot in Villa Park, sure heard Gobby slagging off Salah for his attitude the other day , thought yea mate you f ING hypocrite

Exactly what went through my mind as well.

[VILLA MOLE]

They did just enough to get by without having to push themselves to be elite .  Hence a 4 day holly in Vegas ,  Now they are all proud of it

[Rudy Can't Fail]

The problem was that MON wasn’t a hands on coach but neither were his two lieutenants, Robertson and Walford, to the extent that the players used to call them “Bibs and Cones” in honour of what they did on the training pitch.

MON didn’t just not do training, he also didn’t do tactics. We played the exact same way every match regardless of the opposition.

And then another thing he didn’t do - substitutions, other than Sidwell on 75 minutes and occasionally something weird involving the right back.

Absolutely! The difference between our current manager* and MON is night and day.


*Their names should never be mentioned in the same sentence.

[Sexual Ealing]

@villareport
🚨💣 Unai Emery wants to sign Álex Baena — Villa have been working to sign him since 2023. He would be happy to work with Emery again!
@sanchis14
@relevo
 #avfc

[Rudy Can't Fail]

The only way I see that happening without paying €60m (he was quoted at €30m a few weeks ago) is if we give Villareal a decent sized percentage on any future sale. Barca want him but can't afford him right now.

[Hookeysmith]

Rashford anyone? 

Are you on drugs?

Not one player from them would I want any where near our squad. Billy Big bollocks all of them

[OCD]

Earlier in the season, Sky had MON as a guest for one of our games and he was introduced to SUE. Emery's reaction was noticeably different to when he was introduced to Deano in a similar situation. He knows his stuff.

[Steve67]

MON was a lazy bully. 

[ChicagoLion]

Rashford anyone? 

Are you on drugs?

Not one player from them would I want any where near our squad. Billy Big bollocks all of them

I would take McTominay at he right price.

[brontebilly]

MON was a lazy bully.

Got results though. We probably saw some of the best of him. He was dreadful at Sunderland. Just didn't adapt with the times at all, complete ego maniac.

He's some bitter pr*ck too, he's still going on about getting sacked from the Ireland job.