Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[andyh]

I class Malen as a failure for example, for the money we paid 7 league starts in a year is shit. And it's why he's no longer a Villa player. Many would class him as ok as he did contribute off the bench and we got our money back, but we didn't sign him to be a bench player for 12 months.

Doesn't mean he's a bad player, but signing him didn't work out how we wanted. And that's how most transfers go.

That’s exactly what I said.
Surely when you sign a player you hope they will be good enough to be a starter, not a perpetual substitute.

[Dave]

I class Malen as a failure for example, for the money we paid 7 league starts in a year is shit. And it's why he's no longer a Villa player. Many would class him as ok as he did contribute off the bench and we got our money back, but we didn't sign him to be a bench player for 12 months.

Doesn't mean he's a bad player, but signing him didn't work out how we wanted. And that's how most transfers go.

That’s exactly what I said.
Surely when you sign a player you hope they will be good enough to be a starter, not a perpetual substitute.

Depends on the player. I don't think we signed Malen expecting him to push Watkins to the bench with any regularity. I don't think we signed Lindelof expecting him to push Pau or Konsa out. I don't think we signed Barkley...etc.

[ChicagoLion]

I class Malen as a failure for example, for the money we paid 7 league starts in a year is shit. And it's why he's no longer a Villa player. Many would class him as ok as he did contribute off the bench and we got our money back, but we didn't sign him to be a bench player for 12 months.

Doesn't mean he's a bad player, but signing him didn't work out how we wanted. And that's how most transfers go.

That’s exactly what I said.
Surely when you sign a player you hope they will be good enough to be a starter, not a perpetual substitute.

Depends on the player. I don't think we signed Malen expecting him to push Watkins to the bench with any regularity. I don't think we signed Lindelof expecting him to push Pau or Konsa out. I don't think we signed Barkley...etc.

Yes because it would mean setting up very differently if the team was geared to Malen starting.
It looks like he has fulfilled the role pretty successfully particularly in comparison to Guessand.

[PeterWithesShin]

Lindy would currently be a success as he's doing what we signed him to do, and doing it very well. But I have no doubt we expected more than 12 months and 7 league starts from Donny.

[ozzjim]

I think he has been decent. Not a roaring success, not a massive failure. He did what was asked and gave enough of an option to be very useful as an impact player, and we have got our money back with a bit if change. Guessand has started more, but had way less impact, so I would put him firmly in the fail category at the moment.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Lindy would currently be a success as he's doing what we signed him to do, and doing it very well. But I have no doubt we expected more than 12 months and 7 league starts from Donny.

Poor numbers especially when Watkins was shit yet Unai kept playing him. Still The Don's 7 goals this season helped us out when we were failing up front.

[andyh]

Lindelof has been magnificent. He has played a crucial role filling in for injured players and his integration has been seamless.

Had Ollie been injured for 7 or 8 games, I honestly don’t think that Malen would have filled in for him to the same level.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Lindelof has been magnificent. He has played a crucial role filling in for injured players and his integration has been seamless.

Where was he for the Forest goal? Other than that his calmness, confidence and experience has been generally appreciated.

[eamonn]

I think Tielemans was slow to track MGW for the Forest goal. Lindelof was left stuck in two minds, chose the wrong option though, I guess.

[brontebilly]

I think Tielemans was slow to track MGW for the Forest goal. Lindelof was left stuck in two minds, chose the wrong option though, I guess.

That was the way I saw it too. If caught out like that, no issue body checking the forward and taking a yellow in that situation. We miss some of that cynical play at times, McGinn aside.

[olaftab]

Lindelof has been magnificent. He has played a crucial role filling in for injured players and his integration has been seamless.

Where was he for the Forest goal? Other than that his calmness, confidence and experience has been generally appreciated.

And he was timid in providing any pressure on Cunha for the manu goal however he's been OK, just like Lenglet when we needed them.

[andyh]

Lindelof has been magnificent. He has played a crucial role filling in for injured players and his integration has been seamless.

Where was he for the Forest goal? Other than that his calmness, confidence and experience has been generally appreciated.

And he was timid in providing any pressure on Cunha for the manu goal however he's been OK, just like Lenglet when we needed them.

Hmmm, I thought that cash fucked up for that one. Rewriting history if Lindy takes any flak for that particular goal.

[andyh]

Forest sniffing round Tammy Abraham - apparently

[PaulWinch again]

If Kamara is injured, he’s basically irreplaceable in terms of his ability, but we will need another body in midfield.

[Mister E]

The majority of signings fail and have done so for decades. And will continue to do so for years to come.

If the majority of signings fail, I would have thought more clubs would be investing even more in their academy and bringing players through.
I suppose it depends what you mean by 'fail'.