If the usual rag newspapers are to be believed, it seems our move to sign Sam Johnstone permanently has been massively undermined by Middlesbrough putting a £2.5 million bid in, topped up with add-ons that might run out at £5 million.
This is obviously bad news for Villa on the face of it, as it would seem that if we want to retain the goalie’s services, we’re going to have to get involved in a bidding war; which ultimately Boro would probably win, with them having a nice fat chunk of Premier league money, even though they were relegated.
But I’m not convinced Boro will win out here.
I’d have thought we have probably already matched that sort of bid, as after all, £2.5 mill isn’t a large amount to pay upfront.
Well, yes it is, to most clubs, but it’s not beyond the Villa, even if we add FFP into it, is my point.
So my opinion says it’s more likely to come down to the package that we offer the player.
And we all know that we’re very willing to pay over the odds if we want someone.
I have to be honest and say that while I see promise in Johnstone, I can’t say he massively convinced me of anything.
I personally believe that his record for us as regards clean sheets etc, improved because the defence got better overall.
Of course, you could say that a better goalie inspired the defence to get more confident and hence perform better. But I don’t believe that to be the case and think it was very much the other way round.
Suffice to say, I’d like to keep Johnstone.
But if we can’t do it at the right money, I certainly don’t want to see us go out on a limb at the cost of say, the midfield.
We also have another plus point in our favour.
No disrespect to Boro, but as bleak as people might see Birmingham, I’d suggest it isn’t as bad as Middlesbrough, even if you throw the trendy end that is Yarm, into account.
As per usual it’s all about the money and if Johnstone prefers to go elsewhere, fair enough.
I can’t say I’ll be sorry.
He either buys the Villa story, or he doesn’t.
Keep him or not, I’m not fussed.
The worry is, who else is out there?
OLL, any thoughts?
Good points Badger – I, for one, would like to keep him as I reckon he’s one for the future andwe need some younger players. How old is Pickford and what did he cost – £30m? On that basis Johnstone is the bargain of the century – snap him up Villa
I’m with Badger on this I don’t rate him at all. I’m hoping we do lose him. He is no better than Gollini imo
No. Unfortunately. There is a dearth of goalkeeping talent around in England with four not very good keepers still holding down a job in the Prem. Gomes and Boruc to name two. So Leeds, Spurs Res, and Millwall had GKs who caught my eye last season – but that is about it.
No, there is a dearth of goalkeeping talent in the top 2 divisions. Boruc Gomes, and 2 others in the Prem are substandard. Leeds, Millwall and Spurs res had keepers that caught my eye. Nobody else, that might considera move to Villa as promotion.
I’m with OLL on this – Oohah doesn’t rate him but Doesn’t suggest a replacement so Oohah – Gollini back then or perhaps we should stick with Bunn?
I actually think Gollini was slightly better tbh. I can’t think of anyone but there must be a few about
Good thing Bunn is off to Northampton.
But Johnstone is average at best. So any one else we get should be at least the same standard
I’ll take Chile’s goalkeeper, He’ll do for me.
Can we have Jimmy Rimmer back please?
It’s seems Villa and Birmingham have offered Terry managerial job if he signs, Bruce as intermated he could replace him, Harry done the same .Terry is or has his coaching badge and interested in being a manager, another player to chance his arm at Villas essence .
Spot on use us as a stepping stone stuff that. If he manages us that’s the end for me. Shows that club is still a small time joke even though Lerner has gone
Exspence.
See we’re being linked with Snodgrass again – appears Bilic no longer wants him but could we afford him and would he come – unlikely on both counts but would Defoe like him at Villa.
They won’t get £10m for him tbh. Probably lose around £3m as he’s 30 in September. Assuming he’s £7m we could offer £7m giving them £3m now and then £4m if we get promoted. If we don’t get promoted we could take him on loan or offer a £2m extra. Assuming we’d want him
Duh *definately not Defoe!
My man: ‘Johnstone deal is still alive, issue is family related and absolutely NOTHING to do with money’
Good news that imho Langford although family issues can be a showstopper; thanks for the update
That’s a shame
If it’s Johnstone or some other keeper lined up I don’t mind. Johnstone was okay, won’t be too fussed if we lost him to Boro. What would bother me is if he’s our only target for this position and we have nothing else lined up, can’t have a promotion hopeful season with no undisputed number 1 for me.
Wouldn’t put it past us to re sign Guzan again. Just the sort of stupid thing this club does
The press say;
Aston Villa have asserted that John Terry could take over from Steve Bruce as manager.
I say;
What an absolute load of footballs.
I could see Terry getting some sort of coaching role, but there’s no way Xia will get his fingers burnt again, the way he did with RDM, imo.
That said, the word is that RDM was a lazy scrote, who never turned up.
I doubt you’d have that problem with Terry.
Still utter rubbish though.
Hope ur right it would be a disaster if he was our manager. I for one would never get behind him and I doubt most of team would either
Agreed, mine as well sign Mellberg as manager.
Problem is, I think Bruce could talk Xia into taking him on. He seems a big fan of Bruce’s, and Wyness could also have a hand in talking him into making Terry a manager. Be a big mistake, but one I think Xia would make.
Oh, fwiw, I had a red scouse telling me what a stunning signing Terry would be, today.
I threw the “do you think he’d work as hard for another club?” line at him.
“Yep, no problem whatsoever. He’s that sort, isn’t he?.
He’ll love the challenge, and let’s face it, you’re big favourites to go up”
was the reply, along with some really nice sentiments that it was bad when we went down.
I bet if Liverpool were signing him his attitude would be different.
Well yeah, if we were a top 4 contending side with CL football and a crap ton of money to spend, Terry would be an awful signing. I’m still not a fan of the signing but we’re miles away from Liverpool.
True but a fully fit Terry this season in a decent Liverpool team would add to it imo. He would be a great squads player for them
Would he be willing to be a squad player? I don’t think so. I think he’s leaving so he can start one more season while getting his badges.
Agree. I can’t for the life of me figure out why we want Terry. Seriously what’s the point. This has to be the worst bit of business ever done at Villa imo
It’s all pie in the sky at the minute, we still have the same bloody team as last year, think we’re getting carried away in hope, there’s nobody more than me wants action from our club but up till now we are Villa 2016-17. Who’s coming I want to know from the club not the papers.
Remember Bruce’s line, Bill.
There’ll be nothing done in June!
No need to worry mate.
The first of July might be a different matter though, as that’s when many contracts expire.
We don’t really need anyone Bill if we can’t go back up with the team we’ve got something is seriously wrong. We should at the very worst be challenging top 6
Everyone wants to know who’s coming to Villa, but it’s also about who’s leaving. We haven’t sold anyone bar Sanchez, and Bunn left on a free.
Press speculation over JT – both arriving at VP (with due respect to Langford’s excellent source) and his future elevation to manager!
I suspect more likely (in the event he joins us) that he’s been offered a one year contract followed by a coaching role as he’s made it clear he won’t play for another Prem side (fair play to him on that) – that would be a sensible arrangement imho. Would apply even if we don’t get promotion with a player / coaching role being a possibility.
But then my speculation is no better than that of the media – except I’m not paid! 🙂
http://www.myoldmansaid.com/the-vtid-column-bruces-dilemma-goal-drought-beyond-dr-tonys-wallet/
Again apologies for posting from another forum but this is a brutally honest assessment of Villa last season. Bill, I think you are right to be seriously concerned.
Now where did I put my rose coloured glasses!
Good article but only telling us what we already know. The best point was that Bruce isn’t utilising players properly especially Hogan. This is one of my concerns how these players do well elsewhere and become crap overnight when they put s Villa short on. Of course that could be because they are adjusting to a bigger club with higher expectations but I think it’s mainly down to Bruce and his tactics. Also despite the quality we have in the team we are still reliant on set pieces to score especially away. We rarely score in open play. A lot of work needs to be done or it’s midtabke again next season
Thanks Hitch, just read that article you posted, its as Oohah saying we can all see the problems but not being assured by our club on them obvious concerns, something is going wrong in our coaching and management side, 35 million and we dish up that football, we can only wait to see if things change in the club, players have to take responsibility for failures in the next few months.
As for Johnstone, being overrated by the English media and basically any fan not of Villa’s who will basically blame everyone but him for any loss we had. Average at best Championship goal keeper who will likely be a lower-end Premier League keeper just because of the hype given, kinda like Foster, Green, etc, etc.
My man: ‘JT medical booked’
UTV
If further prove is needed then check out skybet …..JT now 1/20 to sign for us!
Well done my man again!
UTV
My man: ‘slight chance of JT done for tomorrow’s kit launch, but more likely early next week’
I’m sure JT will be a good signing for merchandising.
Giddy, I think he will add money to ticket sales, merchandising, to the profile of the club in Asia and TV exposure all round. If you look beyond his contribution on the field, his signing makes huge commercial sense – so to that extent it isn’t a gamble.
But schmiecal was just as big as name and Roy Keane. They did nothing for us commercially
Firstly Roy Keane wasn’t a player at the club & Secondly PS was a goalie so unless you want to buy a goalie shirt with his name on the back to attend games which you don’t see a lot of do you??
He was still a great goalie though from Utd
One thing I’ll concede Oohah – you can always find a negative response whatever the subject – that takes some doing 🙂
Just to add to Giddy’s comment – RK was here under the Lerner debacle and PS really predates the explosion of football into Asia and China so in neither case were the club that savvy commercially. The combination of Dr. T, Wyness and the new Commercial Director (ex F1 and Wasps) is a whole new ballgame in promoting and selling the club.
Lol 😁 hitch you put it better than me hopefully ooha will understand lol 😁
I’m sure there is a backhanded compliment in there somewhere 😄
Could probably add in that ROBBIE Keane was only on loan, in the middle of a pretty average season, so hardly going to excite the masses
Langford my very best mate, does your man predict pools or lotto results? only need him the once please.