Well, it’s nice to post something extremely positive for once, in that we’ve signed a player that the team has been craving for, for years.
While I’m very minded to say “it’s about time”, I won’t dwell on that, as it’s simply a big boost that the club and it’s supporters needed just before the season kicks off.
I would imagine Sanchez will get the biggest cheer by a mile tomorrow (if I read correctly that he’s eligible to play, that is), but we should be careful in not placing too much expectation on his shoulders in my opinion.
I’d suggest he’s going to take maybe a bit of time to settle and I for one am certainly going to give him a while before I judge him.
If he’s half as good as Claude Makelele, who he tries to model himself on, we’ll have a very decent player.
So the deal’s done and I’ll quite simply link to what has been written on the OS, as it’s actually a decent article, with something of substance for once;
http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~4076148,00.html
Booooooom La Roca crunch well done to Lambert n co.
Yep, I’ll hold my hands up and say it would appear Lambert has done ok with this one.
Carlos Sanchez: Colombia midfielder has signed for Aston VIlla
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Aston Villa have completed the signing of Colombian defensive midfielder Carlos Sanchez from Elche.
Sanchez has joined, subject to international clearance, for a fee believed to be in the region of £4.7m on a four-year deal.
The 28-year-old, nicknamed “The Rock”, made four appearances for his country at this summer’s World Cup in Brazil.
“We’ve beaten other teams to bring him here to Villa and I’m delighted as we needed someone of his ilk to come in. He’ll be an excellent player for the club.”
Paul Lambert
Sanchez is Paul Lambert’s fifth signing of the summer but is not expected to play against Stoke City on Saturday as he is yet to train with his new team-mates.
Lambert said: “Carlos is a very experienced professional who played a prominent role in a Colombian team which captured everyone’s imagination at this summer’s World Cup in Brazil. He’s a great coup for Villa.
“He does the simple things really well and he’s excellent at spotting the danger, dealing with it and keeping it simple.
“His physical strength, too, is something we will benefit from in the middle of the pitch and his role will be a really important one for the team.
“We’ve beaten other teams to bring him here to Villa and I’m delighted as we needed someone of his ilk to come in. He’ll be an excellent player for the club.”
Sanchez played for Valenciennes in France for six years before moving to Spanish outfit Elche last summer, but has always wanted to ply his trade in England.
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“I’m delighted to be here, it’s something I have always dreamed of and it is very important for me to be here at Aston Villa, not only for me but for my family as well,” Sanchez said.
“It was always my aim to play in this country and in this league and I know Villa well as Juan Pablo (Angel, his compatriot) also played here.
“I began to watch Villa games when he came in 2001. He was a goalscorer who was very important to this club and I followed his time here because he was always scoring goals.
“Since I was a boy I have always followed English football, particularly teams where Colombians have played.
“When I had the chance to come to this club I had no doubts because I know this is a big club in the Premier League.”
How very generous of you….NOT. Whenever Lambert has payed ‘half decent’ money then his buys have been very good! I have argued this point numerous times!
Benteke
Vlaar
Kozak
Okore
And….hopefully….Cissokho, Sanchez
FFS…give the bloke some credit. Stop being ‘Lambert negative’ continously.
The above 6 cost approx 22 mil. MON would have paid in excess of 50 mil for those 6. Moreover, Benteke and Vlaar alone are worth over the 30 mil mark.
The negativity is tedious. FFS….lets start the season on a positive note.
Top 10 here we come!
Hey I said he was a good signing. How often do I say that!!
How do you work that one out as you said you have never seen him on the previous post?
Just from what iv heard or read. I did say he sounds good never said he was. Plz read my comments properly
‘Please read my comments properly!! LOL
This is you comment…..’hey I said he was a good signing’….see above
Previous post…..’I have never heard of him’
I’ll let you choose which one of your comments you stand by……clearly, both your comments CANT be right!!
I havnt heard of him and like I say from what iv read and heard from people who do no about him he sounds good. This dosnt mean he will be it means I think he will be. Next time il explain it as if your a 2 year old!!
We have to give credit where credits due. Well done Roy Keane!!
lmao pitty he had a brain freeze as ipswich boss how he wasted their money was pathetic
“we needed someone of his ilk to come in”
Tell me (and everyone else) about it!
It does make me wonder who suddenly saw the light here, Lambert or Lerner?
Probably Keane 🙂
Who saw the light WTF does that mean?….is Lerner now doubling up as our chief scout?…why do you find it so difficult to credit Lambert with ANYTHING? I will say again that I am NOT a Lambert fan but FFS its so childish and petty not to credit him with anything. Your losing credibility at an alarming pace!
Langford, we’ve been crying out for a decent DM for how long, exactly?
Why have we now suddenly got one?
If it was Lambert, what took him so long, when it was a priority that anyone could see?
He seemed to think LB was more important and look who got signed there; total crap.
No, I’m not convinced by his whole way of playing (brings Bent back but removed the best crosser we had smacks me in the face like Henry’s Hammer) and still think he’ll be gone by Xmas, but that’s another debate.
Anyway, what more do you want?
I’ve said it’s a good signing.
The fact that a ten yo could see it was the top priority, well……
It isn’t a masterstroke by Lambert, imo.
I think the club had to do something fans are revolting in droves. I personally think if okore fulfils potential, with Sanchez and Benteke the club will for the first time in donkey’s years have a strong spine down the middle. This is crucial in building a team look at Chelsea for example over the years with terry, Lampard/essian and drogba. That was a solid base for whole team. For the first time in a king time I can actually see us getting into top 10 bar injuries of course.
Badger, get real mate.”Lambert was given a pittance and STILL kept us up.
What do the following have in common?
Cardiff
Fulham
Norwich
Correct…they all spent FAR MORE money than Villa
they ALL changed their manager
they ALL went down, yes, relegated
As for LBs….fully agree on that one!
Overall, Lambert has worked miracles with very little in terms of financial help. Vent your anger at Lerner. Moreover, we are now more financially stable than we have been for years. This can only be good in terms if finding a buyer. Lambert MUST be given credit for keeping us up and for doing it whilst under considerable financial constraints. As a consequence, our beloved club is in a healthier state now than it as been for years!
Me and badger have said he is a good signing what else is there to say
i think ur missing the point oohahahahah ~~~~langford is pointing out that credit sometimes is deserved and lambert has kept villa ticking over on league 1 budgets, hes ridiculed constantly when truth be known, hes been given a crap hand dealt by lerner.
this season he has more of a experienced squad 2 work with,than the previous 2, were lerner forced him 2 scale down expenditure to bare minimum, which created the bomb squad and the young and hungry phase
so this season you can judge lambert tactical skills as their no excuses, as for players hes bought, i think u will find his record is far better than previous managers by a long way
Exactly what I’ve said below Nath.
sanchez was apart of a top team in the w/c the Colombians were one of my favorite teams on the eye 2 watch, along with the Mexicans. sanchez played a deep role filling in for the midfielders and fulbacks that went forward, hes wot aston villa lacked for years. westwood tries 2 play this role but he lacks the same presence . this guy maybe the missing link i really hope so HATS of to lambert and who ever identified this player as a possible 🙂
how do we think the midfield will shape up now guys ???? i think the diamond which worked against the best team last year in pool will be the shape, sanchez playing the sitting role
He Shoukd be captain imo
Badger…thats aimed at you. FFS…Cheer up 🙂
I haven’t reached a verdict on Kozak yet; too early imo.
But I’ll concede the rest are ok.
Still VERY dubious about the whole set up Langford and while not wanting to put this bloke down, I’d guess he’s going to be our flagship signing this window.
We’ve spent a massive 5Mill or so.
Let’s keep things in perspective, eh?
Badger are you getting a touch of oohaitis,hope it’s not catching mate.
Badger…are you a MP as you duck ALL the yes and no answers?
Replied above mate.
4.7 for a DM is not peanuts also Sanchez is a solid player.I think we will see things a bit different now we have sm1 to Torsten Frings it
I hope he has the impact we are all wishing for. He needs to stay fit as well as there is no other player in the squad to properly cover.
I have to agree with Langford. The players who have cost reasonable sums have either come good or look likely to. Credit to Lambert for that. Let’s see if coaching changes will lead to better football, particularly if the key squad members can stay clear of serious injury this season.
I am now moderately optimistic about this season. The game plan must be about staying in the Premiership whilst securing a new owner. With the recent purchases, return of long term injured and new romance with the bomb squad we should avoid relegation. If we are lucky, we might even see some attractive football.
Who knows, Lambert might even make a footballing case to remain in charge through improved team performance.
Agree I think this guy could be the best thing that’s happened to us for awhile. I’m surprised tge sky bore havnt tried to sign him tbh
Chuffed with this signing. Still think top 10 might be a bit optimistic though!!!
Langford; just back from a beer (OK make that several beers!) and a Balti I totally agree with your comments regarding PL’s transfer dealings and Randy’s big hand in a lot of what’s transpired over the last couple of seasons. It seems Pullis walked under very similar circumstances of an interfering chairman. Looking forward to seeing what the new Villa site can produce.
Err ‘side’ even !
Hitchens LOL….great feeling after a few beers mate. Really hopeful for a better season. Keep drinking the vino and I’ll see you in rehab 🙂
You’re on mate !!
Good signing, once he finds his feet will strengthen up our midfield. Would like to see us still bring a proper number 10 to play in front of Delph/Sanchez and provide the ammo for Benteke/Kozak when they are fit again.
I would like to see us use Nzogbia and Grealish as wide players as the season moves on and really attack teams. Playing Weimann and Gabby out wide is a waste of time.
It appears we now for the first time in a few years have a real spine to the team.
Vlaar
Okore
Sanchez
Benteke
(All Lamberts signings)
Feeling slightly more optimistic now. But we now need what lambert calls a number 10 . Could this be next before deadline.
TEKKERS…well said mate ‘all Lamberts signings’. He will never get any credit on here though!
Langford, how many of those would get near a top 6 side?
Vlaar, maybe for Man U, but only as back-up, imo.
Okore, hardly played a game in the prem.
Sanchez, never played a game in the Prem.
Benteke, maybe (and probably imo).
With that, it does LOOK a decent spine of a team.
I’m sorry, but I’m just not going over the top on a £4.5 mill player, as much as you might want me to.
With that I’ll butt out for now, as I’ve just got far too many things to do.
We are a million miles away from being a top 6 team badger. That’s not entirely Lambert’s fault given cash restrictions. That’s not to ignore his faults BTW. With a bit of luck with injuries we may stay out of trouble this year provided we don’t get off to a terrible start and that Benteke and Kozak get back and up to speed sooner rather than later
Let me make this clear lamberk is NOT good manager. He got lucky with Benteke who spends more time injured and trying to leave than playing, Vlaar is not a good player yes he had a good WC but is still too error prone and again he is injury prone at crucial times. Okore has potential and is injury prone so jury still out though I think he could be ok, and now Sanchez who sounds promising. The rest of his signings are a complete joke and an insult to all villa fans.the lamberk apologists who say he has no money are talking bollocks he still had an average of 20-25m to spend, which us more than a lot of managers. And as for sidelining bent etc he is the one to blame for that. He is a fuckin useless manager who has given us the most unwanted records In our history. U will probably find this signing who is a bit in the keane mould is his idea lambert has known for ages we need a DM but didn’t want to know. lamberk out!
So Lambert is a lucky manager. Please tell me whats wrong with ‘being lucky’? Are you saying that you would rather have an unlucky manager? FFS, are you an adult? Dont you want to be lucky with Saturday’s lottery numbers. Yes, Lambert as bought a few crap players (all cheap BTW), but he has NOT wasted millions like MON. He has stabilised the club financially and kept us up and for that I am grateful. MON nearly bankrupted us. Would you rather have him back?
Lambert is not a lucky manager he was lucky with Benteke signing. He would have wasted money like MON if he had it. We will see but lamberk is not right for villa and Shoukd of been sacked ages ago
Hahaha. Not been here for few weeks but I see the records not changed. “Lambert apologists” ahahahaha, you miserableist
DsVilla, the terrible start is what worries me. Look at the fixtures.
My Derby mate reckons we’ll be rooted at the bottom before Xmas and that’s a neutral view.
My point in the post was more about Sanchez needs to be viewed as a new player in the Prem, where he’ll need time to settle, but it’s been taken as a negative view, for some reason.
I’ll say it again.
He’s a much needed recruit in a position that has been overlooked for years, for whatever reason.
And I hope he comes good for us.
Amen Badger. Fingers and everything else crossed. I might even venture down VP for the first time since McLeish season.
I agree badger except Sanchez the others are injury prone. Benteke will be away in jan fitness permitting of course, okore has potential, vlaar will never produce the form of wc for us and us injury and error prone. The rest of lamberks signings are complete shite. It’s amazing how all these lamberk apologists are having a wank fest because he either listened to keane or the fans for once. Took him long enough for penny to drop
So its all Keanes or the fans doing,I’m guessing you get this info from Keane himself ye…..or perhaps ur doing your usual 2+2=99
Badger…another silly comment as we are NOT spending top 6 money…is that Lamberts fault ah well?
Bloody hell Langford, I really am off after this (I can’t help myself in reading when I really don’t have time).
You can be satisfied with survival mate.
I’m quite simply not.
As for Fulham, Norwich and Cardiff, they shouldn’t be in the same league.
And even my Derby mate agrees with that, so they are not comparisons!
Given Lambert’s record, I credit him with nothing, up to now, the signing of Benteke apart.
With that, later mate 🙂
Belated credit to Lambert. The possession stats from the last two seasons should have pointed any manager to the weakest division of the team, the midfield. So I join with the rejoicing that he has done something about it with this Summers signings – but I also agree with the critics who say that he risked taking us down last year by doing nothing about his midfield.
For all those of you who think Villa will finish tenth may I point you towards your local betting shop before noon tomorrow. The HANDICAP coupon pays 18/1 (Hills) with 1/4 the odds for a 1,2,3 place if you bet the each way. Villa have a 45 point start over the scratch team (Chelsea or Man C). Now that 45 points equates to an expected finish 2 or 3 places above the drop and it was based on info available to bookies 2 weeks ago. So if you are confident the Summer signings will push Villa up to 10th then they are very likely winners of this handicap.
Tbf to Langford he does spout some bollocks.
Big kick off tomorrow. Excited ??????
I for one am prepared to wipe the slate clean and give All players, coaches and Lerner (I have a gut feeling sale will be announced end of September) my full support up until the end of December. 25 points on the board by then is a must for me. Now villa over to you. Give me something this season to reignite my pride in supporting the best club in the world !!!! COTV .
Away win tomorrow is a good start.
By and large I’m in Langford’s camp but that doesn’t mean I’m convinced (yet) about PL’s all round managerial skills.
We have been handed an awful fixture list for the opening 8 games or so; one that many ‘mid table’ teams would struggle with so it’s imperative we collect as many points as possible from our first three fixtures. We could well be in the bottom 3 come the end of September; for me it will be how we do from then to Christmas that will define our season.
Hope I remember I said that in few weeks time!!
Totally agree Hitchen60 , why they cannot see the turn around from three seasons ago with the policy of young players only and foreign inputs of late god knows,Lambert was lucky that other clubs where worse than us, but to me its down to Lerner that came about his tight ideas of pay and cheaper players,Learners matrimonial problems may have been why he did what he did to us fans, but who ever change stream now with Villa needs a slap on the back, I now see competitive football back for us,Oohah give it time mate stop knocking the game and put them colours back on this is going to be a better season,yes we have hard games and might be bottom for a few weeks let’s wait and see. 🙂
Morning Hitchens I bet you were regular this morning mate 😀 how long does this work permit SHITE take to sort out??will he be eligible for the stoke match????
Giddy he is eligible but not trained with the team, word has it will not play today,
Cheers mate probably makes sense.
🙂 i heard same bill he will make his debut against magpies next week 🙂 have you seen every pundit writing our season off grrrrrrr. we as villa fans can’t follow suit. we all most stand tall and back the team 🙂 VTID
Morning all!
Well said Nath…100% backing needed. Forget the past, its done and dusted. Very important season for us. We are now financially stable and still in the PL. This bides well for a prospective new owner.
UTV