Summer 2025 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

I wouldn't be including academy/youth players as our worst ever players - they're just kids who didn't make it with us.

Our worst players are the ones who cost us a lot of money and didn't live up to it or were actively harmful to us - Micah Richards, Joleon Lescott, Tony Cascarino,Ross McCormack, nearly every signing in that post-MON pre-Bruce era.

[PeterWithesShin]

I do think the main ire should aimed at those that had the ability but not the attitude. Taking Bowery for example, who can blame him for joining us when we bid for him. That he wasn't good enough for the top flight isn't his fault.

[Rigadon]

I do think the main ire should aimed at those that had the ability but not the attitude. Taking Bowery for example, who can blame him for joining us when we bid for him. That he wasn't good enough for the top flight isn't his fault.

Absolutely.  Generally, fans will get behind a player who gives everything but has limited ability.

[cdbearsfan]

Yeah, that's why I dislike someone like Ireland far more. He clearly had loads of ability, but gave off the impression of thinking we were beneath him pretty much from day one, and mostly played like it. I'd imagine Bowery has worked hard to achieve the career he has, over 500 league appearances, and good luck to him.

[Rigadon]

Hence why I used Charles N'Zogbia as my own example - he had bags of ability, but basically retired after we signed him.  Ireland would be next on my list.  That period (post MON to Dean Smith) was so, utterly shit in nearly every way wasn't it.

[OCD]

Didn't Ireland later admit that he simply didn't like the career of a footballer and wouldn't have done it if he had his time over? Same with David Bentley at Tottenham. Talented players who didn't make the most of their talents because they didn't enjoy the lifestyle.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Hence why I used Charles N'Zogbia as my own example - he had bags of ability, but basically retired after we signed him.  Ireland would be next on my list.  That period (post MON to Dean Smith) was so, utterly shit in nearly every way wasn't it.

With you 100% with those two feckers!

[eamonn]

Didn't Ireland later admit that he simply didn't like the career of a footballer and wouldn't have done it if he had his time over? Same with David Bentley at Tottenham. Talented players who didn't make the most of their talents because they didn't enjoy the lifestyle.

I think they loved the lifestyle it gave them, it was the work that they weren't keen on!

[edgysatsuma89]

Yeah, 'lifestyle' is definitely the wrong word. 'Work ethic to be a top footballer' was the issue.

[VillaTim]

bought his mrs a pink Range Rover , wore a syrup for a while and had a massive fish tank under his kitchen floor

[brontebilly]

Didn't Ireland later admit that he simply didn't like the career of a footballer and wouldn't have done it if he had his time over? Same with David Bentley at Tottenham. Talented players who didn't make the most of their talents because they didn't enjoy the lifestyle.

I think they loved the lifestyle it gave them, it was the work that they weren't keen on!

Neither of them had any heart either. When the going got tough they got hiding. I thought both were decent signings at the time. Nzogbia from memory had started against us for Wigan, maybe towards the end of the MON reign? Ireland had lost his way a bit at Man City but had huge potential as a young player, well able to get a goal for club and country briefly. But we signed Ireland from memory when we didn't have a manager, which was a terrible decision really. Houllier bombed him out quickly. As replacements for Milner and Downing it couldn't have gone any worse really.

I still wouldn't put either in the unholy trinity of Richards, Lescott and McCormack.

[KevinGage]

I wouldn't be including academy/youth players as our worst ever players - they're just kids who didn't make it with us.

Our worst players are the ones who cost us a lot of money and didn't live up to it or were actively harmful to us - Micah Richards, Joleon Lescott, Tony Cascarino,Ross McCormack, nearly every signing in that post-MON pre-Bruce era.

A fine collection of shitbags.

I have it on reasonable authority that Micah Richards is still nervous to this day when a Villa fan approaches him and wants to talk football.

He's not nervous enough.

[Tuscans]

🚨 Aston Villa like Juventus centre-back Federico Gatti.
@DiMarzio
 

[pauliewalnuts]

🚨 Aston Villa like Juventus centre-back Federico Gatti.
@DiMarzio

I wonder if this still be part of the latest mutually PSR convenient shuffling of players with Juventus.

Which is in no way connected to Nas being on the board of the Agnelli family trust. Oh no.

[CT Villan]

...and I would add the last few years of Agbonlahor to the list of wasters. I suppose he at least gave us some good times earlier in his career, but he eventually gave up and was a wanker in the dressing-room.