So just a few days until the window opens and what do you think could happen.
There is a lot that could happen this window, whether the speculation is true or not I do expect a few outgoings and incomings. Before I ask where I will first state a couple of principles I believe we should adhere to
In this debate we have to think of the wages when discussing what could happen and this is what I will frame the discussion with. To start with what do we need. Well actually in my mind with the squad we have we only need one player, a young energetic box to box midfielder.
So if not for any departures I would say it would be a very quiet window. So what does worry me is that the links I have seen seem to be short term replacements for departures. No one can say that the likes of Boumsong and Boyd should ever come to Villa even on short term deals. So I have to query who will be leaving us and that is what I will concentrate on and who
James Collins – Been linked to moves to of course Sunderland. Many fans would be happy to see him go but we would need cover for him but only as 4th choice so why not go for a young prospect and not an has been ? Surely we could replace Collins for the same money we would sell him for (approx £4M).
Carlos Cuellar – With his contract up we would probably except any bid for him if he is not prepared to stay and lower his wages, does Mcleish even rate him, the replacement as per Collins.
Stillyan Petrov – Let me declare an interest. I met Petrov a few years for a charity draw and he is a very pleasant and talkable player so I have always liked him. He gets so much unjust stick I think it has been wrong. This season in a more advanced role he has been for me the player of the season so far. However he is on very high wages and this is a key factor if as we expect MON could look at and bid for. Massive mistake to let him go and certainly not replaceable by the likes of Steve Davis or Josh McEachran (see my loan point).
Darren Bent – What can I say that has not been said the past couple of weeks. Was he missing last night due to already going to Liverpool or wherever ? I am sure that for £20M any club can buy him and he would go. So the question is if he is sold how do we use the money and how do we replace him ? I am fearful that losing Bent would give out such a negative signal that any replacement will not be good enough.
As you may have guessed, I am actually hoping for a quiet window, with few moves but by the end of it, in terms of wages any moves will lower the total bill and no extra money spent other than what comes in. Anyone looking beyond this scenario will be very disappointed come February 1st.
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I agree loan deals are no good to us really only in the short term and we need to be looking at the bigger picture. To be honest if what Randy Lerner is saying is true and we have to sell to buy I am unsure one who will want to buy our players and two who will can hope to attract.Boumsong is not good enough for this league. I don’t want us to sell Petrov or Darren Bent Petrov works very hard for the team ok he isn’t the greatest midfielder in the game, but he gives it his best and we will need his experience. Darren Bent is a great finisher I know just recently he hasn’t been hitting the target, but form is temporary and class is permanent and he will get goals. Midfield is the main area of concern because in terms of ball retention we don’t look great.We may have to look to some of the lower english divisions or abroad to some of the european leagues.However like most of you I hope for not too much activity both in terms of what comes in and out, particluarly going out because the sqaud is looking thin.
Hopefully the rumours of Boumsongs arrival in January are wide of the mark.
For Christ’s sake he’s a poor mans Zat Knight. Its your worst nightmare seeing either Clarke or Cueller sat on the bench kept out by bloody Boumsong. Get a grip Eck!
I dont think we are getting Boumsong, rumours today say Bolton are interested in Dunne
When we have the wages bill to the level RL wants it, what kind of Villa will we have? If our top rate is 50000 pw for example what standard of player are we looking at?. Certainly no AY or DB so who in the PL is on the above salary or less. I know most fans want Villa to enter the transfer market and buy top players but that’s not going to happen. Are we heading for a decade of mid table or are we ahead of most other clubs. Almost all clubs will be reducing their cost’s in the future. We can see attendances at games are dropping, I see on TV empty seats at games you would have had to buy black market ticket’s for some years ago. I also expect a number of teams to enter administration next year. So has RL tightened the purse strings or is he positioning Villa to withstand the double dip recession which is almost certain in GB. One thing is certain the football landscape will be very different in the next decade than it is today, Let’s hope Villa are one of the survivors.
Good thing is Villa have one of the best Youth acadamy in the PL, which will hopefully keep us going without using the cheque book.. i now give up on Big future signings cos this will not happen full stop.
UTV!
Ian how about this for a post, instead of one of your irrelevant nonsensical ones?
HYPOCRITS, YOU LERNER FANS STOP CRYING, SHOUTING, TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY. YOU SUPPORTED LERNER, STILL DO, REFUESD TO ACCEPT WHAT HE WAS DOING. NOW OUR CLUB IS BEING DESTROYED YOU LOOK TO BLAME SOMEONE, LOOK AT YOURSELF, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY YOU LERNER FANS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS.
Ian you and the other LERNER sycophants are hypocrits you moan complain yet supported and in some cases still do LERNERS destruction of our club.
I do not see the hardened LERNER fans from a year or two years ago writing in apologising saying they were wrong. NO insteead like you they look for others to blame.
YOU ARE PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, YOU ALLOWED LERNER TO THINK HE HAD THE SUPPORT.
Even now despite you atricle depicting the last 12 months you refuse to call for LERNER AND AM to leave.
Hypocritical please explain without removingt both how or club can improve.
You keep saying nothing better but refuse to explain. You arguement is waek and hypocritical.
LERNER AM OUT.