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

[Brazilian Villain]

he just comes across as a bloated, lumbering, arrogant mess. 

Shall we mark you down as undecided?

I thought Chris was being overly kind to him.

[Villatillidie25]

Players with different attributes that are hard to compare. Dougie brings a metronomic quality to the midfield passing, creating time and space (and with it, control). Tielemans brings more vertical penetration in his passing. Neither can tackle.

Tielemans can't run either. The world's oldest 26 year old I recall a poster calling him, well into last season too. I remember him playing next to Luiz, Kamara must have been injured, at Bournemouth back in December. We might aswell have had a traffic cone in midfield next to Luiz. When he played in the Ramsey role on the left, he was a disaster too. Emery eventually found him a role up next to Watkins and that's fine when we have lots of possession. But out of possession even there he was a liability, struggles to press from the front. A good option to have further up the pitch, don't get me wrong, but replacing Luiz as a second 6, no chance for me.

Im really struggling to see how any combination of our new midfield options replaces the quality and stability Luiz/Kamara brought to our midfield. Barkley, given his history with us alone, must be our strangest signing since maybe Heskey? It's going to be some jump from starting with Luton, under little pressure as they were expected to be relegated anyway, to playing PL and CL football with us. Every performance scrutinised, dealing with rotation, he couldn't cope with it before. If Emery can get Barkley performing to the level Luiz was, football coaching is wasted on him, it's in the UN he should be.

So you’re optimistic about the season then?

[Toronto Villa]

I’m very optimistic. Pre season isn’t an indicator of anything.

[PeterWithe]

I must say I like Tielemans on the ball, he picks a fine pass but, without it, his athleticism bares room for improvement.

[VILLA MOLE]

I’m very optimistic. Pre season isn’t an indicator of anything.

Absolutely,  was it the preseason when we had Savo Stan and Yorke upfront under Sir Brian when we were flying , then didn’t win until October

[brontebilly]

Always hopeful, the squad composition still likely to change a lot by the end of the month. Loads to look forward to. Rogers progression, Ramsey/Mings/Buendia hopefully like three new signings. Bailey kicking on further. Luiz is a huge loss though and I thought Diaby had a lot more to show us too.

I was certainly surprised Emery brought in competition for Mings and Luiz last summer with Torres and Tielemans and thought other positions should have been prioritised (GK, RB, LM), worked out ok!

[VillaTim]

The squad is stronger. The midfield is stronger. Tielemans is a higher pedigree player than Luiz . Onwards and Upwards.

[Brazilian Villain]

I’m very optimistic. Pre season isn’t an indicator of anything.

Agreed, but I might get a little concerned if we get battered by Dortmund.

[Dante Lavelli]

I must say I like Tielemans on the ball, he picks a fine pass but, without it, his athleticism bares room for improvement.

I also don’t think he’s brave enough to take the ball off the defence, especially whilst under pressure.  That’s a pretty integral part of Emery’s masterplan so I trust he has it in hand, probably barkley.

[PeterWithe]

Barkley was gash last night, hope he’s getting his bad games out the system now.

[VillaTim]

Barkley was gash last night, hope he’s getting his bad games out the system now.

High risk signing .

[Toronto Villa]

Barkley was gash last night, hope he’s getting his bad games out the system now.

High risk signing .

£5m at PL level is a very low risk signing

[VillaTim]

Barkley was gash last night, hope he’s getting his bad games out the system now.

High risk signing .

£5m at PL level is a very low risk signing

He's taken up a squad place though . I hope he delivers but after his last stint here i have serious doubts , as a peripheral player i think he's going to lose interest fast in the footballing side . Hope he proves us wrong.

[pauliewalnuts]

I’m very optimistic. Pre season isn’t an indicator of anything.

I agree.

Except for when they go well. In those circumstances, they're a great indicator.

[cdbearsfan]

Is Diego Carlos throwing a Duran-style strop now n all?