I’m sure most of you know I don’t go a bundle on speculation, as it’s mostly rubbish, but there’s nothing happening unless you want to see lots of pictures of players running about in training.
I’m not into that either, because as some of you might know, my opinion says we looked total junk in the pre-season training I saw at Bodymoor Heath, just before we last won the league.
Come to think of it, that’s what probably makes me so cynical about all this type of stuff; all that matters is how we perform on the pitch and the results we get, come actual match days, in my opinion.
That said, I know some of you love the speculation stuff, so I’ll go with it for once.
Just don’t expect it too often;
First off, as some of you have already discussed, it seems Marseilles might have triggered a release clause for Idrissa Gueye.
Now for some reason, I normally had a very good memory for fees and wages supposedly paid by the Villa, but sadly that’s beginning to fade these days.
I do though have an inkling that we paid around 9 million Euros for the Senegalise, but I remember there was confusion which led to suggestions that it was actually £££’s.
If the fee was indeed in Euros, it’s hardly a loss, as 9 million Euros wasn’t far off £7 million then.
And if the truth be told, I don’t think his leaving will be that big a loss either.
I know. He was actually one of our better players last season. But that’s not saying much, is it?
I just feel that while he performed well at times and his figures look good, he was just too anonymous for too many games.
Then again, I’d be happy if he stays. He’s one of the more gritty players that will be needed this season.
The same article also mentions that Celtic might make another bid for Sinclair, but here’s another link which suggests it’ll be £3 mill, after the previous supposed bid of £2 mill.
Which part of “Villa want £6 mill” doesn’t Rodgers understand?
Of course, there will probably be a compromise and the article seems to suggest that RDM is keen to get rid/cut wages.
Regardless, £3 mill seems somewhat cheap to me, although the winger is rumoured to be on £50k+ a week.
Add it up and it’s a lot of expense for a Championship player, even though I’d suggest he’s a good option and another who could really light up our season in a lesser league than the Prem.
This might be an interesting one, as if RDM does sell him, might it be a clue that the manager doesn’t want to play specifically wide men?
Another player leaving might be Micah Richards, if HITC are correct.
£5 mill for a player who had such a poor season and is on wages of somewhere around £55-60k a week?
I’m sorry to disappoint you, but you’ve got to be kidding me and the Villa just aren’t ever that lucky.
While Sam Allardyce isn’t afraid of pushing the boat out, surely he isn’t going to fall for that one. Is he?
Incoming-wise, the Birmingham Mail suggests we might be in for Bristol City striker Jonathan Kodjia at £6.5 mill.
The article suggests that he might replace Ayew, if he leaves.
And he is French, which might make sense too.
We’ll see, but I’m not convinced, although it also makes perfect sense that RDM will indeed be after another striker, given that he’s signed a new goalie, central defender and a central midfielder.
I like that it seems to suggest he’s thinking “if the side has no bottle, get a new spine”.
Still, I’m not convinced by any of the media rattle, until it starts saying “it’s in the bag”.
It’s the cynic in me.
I would love it if Sunderland buy Richards! I wouldnt put it past Allardyce though! Hopefully we can start shifting some of the other dead wood too. I would let Sinclair go for 3m, just because of the wages he is on. Way too inconsistent for us. Hopefully Gabby and Lescott are on top of RDM’s ‘to go’ list.
We definitely need another proven goalscorer, although how good would it be if Ayew ends up staying. We actually might have a decent side.
Mail reports that we paid £9m for Gana and £7m represents a big loss but then that’s what makes it a story! Interesting that, on the other hand, they don’t bother to report that selling Richards for £5m (please yes) represents a healthy profit as if I recall correctly he signed on a free
I think that Gana would be a loss but I’d sooner see him go if he doesn’t want to be a Villa player. We’ve had enough of players not committing fully to the cause.
As for Richards I’d bite their hands off if they offered us £5 never mind £5 million!
I guess Gana was bought in Euros using Pounds exchanged at the rate then. Given the devaluation in sterling since Brexit it will probably raise less pounds if we sell him to a European club using Euros to buy him. So he might be exactly the same price in Euros to buy now as back then, but it would be less pounds so we would make a loss.
DSV – I think that’s the wrong way around?
If the purchase and sale price in Euros is fixed [say at 9m Euros], then as the pound has fallen against the Euro since he was bought, Villa will get more £’s for him than when they bought him…
Oops. Normally my maths is OK but obviously not after a bottle of wine.
You might still have been correct – depends on whether the prices were fixed in £’s or Euro’s…
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/07/12/tony-xia-suggests-two-incoming-additions-are-close-at-aston-vill/
Suggestion of another midfielder and striker coming to ‘complete the spine’ within a fortnight. More communication from our new owner in five weeks than from Lerner in five years!
Good news Hitch, if true? Seats flying out the door 2 more players things are looking up.we now could be up for a very interesting season, Villa fans will be a lot happy if we get certain player’s out that door for putting fans in agony over 5 years of dire football.:-)
I taught Gana was to light weight and the EPL was to fast for him. He was one of those players on the field going through the motions. Saying that the whole team where just going through the motions except one or two due to bad management from top to bottom.
Do we not need cover for the RB position or will Richard ‘s be moved over if he doesn’t go.
marseille couldnt afford gana so now after sanchez. well i am much happier with this. i do like sanchez but english football doesn’t suit his laid back game. where as i prefer to keep gana because he does have a style more suited to the english game.
Which just goes to show what a load of bollox the story was in the first place, which is why I don’t really go for speculation.
The Sanchez story will probably prove rubbish too.
And I wouldn’t like to lose him at all.
Although I agree, he’s a bit too laid back for the Prem, he’s a good player in a very decent international side and that shouldn’t be dismissed so quickly.
That’s the trouble with a lot of current Villa players imo. Put quite a few of them in a decent performing side and I’m convinced they’d look a lot better, even the biggest culprits, who most fans want gone.
Which all leads to me thinking that it was more about the whole club setup being wrong, as opposed to the players themselves.
Just my twopence worth.
In general, I agree with your last point Badger although there are one or two that don’t really deserve a second chance – Flabby being the prime culprit because he hasn’t delivered for a number of years now.
There’s a couple of players back from loans – Joe Bennet for one – who I think can do a real job for us this season. I’ve always thought Bennet would convert to a winger or (in old fashion parlance) a wing back to good effect. Bennett playing in front of Amavi on the left might prove to be special – only my opinion of course.
That could actually work very well, good shout!
I don’t think we need Sanchez if gana is gonna stay, plus with the new signing and gardener I think we’re fine in the middle now!
That argument falls down when players like Downing and Benteke did nothing at Liverpool who have a better team than us. They were better players in a crap team
I think you mean they are good players not playing to their strengths. Benteke will score goals in any team that plays to his strengths. Liverpool didn’the.
It’seems called coaching and tactics.
I just read an article saying Benteke only featured 42 mins last season – what a pipe dream he was sold. Even if CP cough up the money for him this summer it will be a long time before he gets back to his best again – if at all due to injury.
Exactly, players can hide in a team , take Eder, rejected at Swansea yet motm for Portugal, we’ve had to many players not playing for the shirt but can show eagerness when in the lime light . We not only need skilled players but players that play for he club, that’s now up to the managers to find out who is who. I do like Gana, Sanchez, but not showing dedication for me enough.
Has anyone any idea what sort of team team RDM will be putting out this Saturday against Worcester city???the match is only a couple of miles away from me.they’ve also got a fixture at Telford earlier in the day just wondering which one he’d prioritise.
Am Just after reading the team will be split.
Anyone know if they’re showing the friendlies on AVTV?
I don’t know Pat, they usually do show the friendlies.
nothing much happened in last 24 hours or longer, is it the the calm before the storm.i very much expect it is. sanchez and maybe sinclair will be the first two, exiting the building.within the next 48 hours i reckon, RDM will try to get the best for them without looking desperate as he must be to offload um.
while sanchez does look a fine player while playing international for columbia, i know cos i was very impressed with him and the team before he signed. he hasnt been able to play to the same standards at villa. you can blame others around him all you want. but he is unable to play 90minutes without messing up in dangerous areas. if i was manager (evil laughs) and it was sanchez and gana i would have gana every time. we might even lose both
Could try playing both. Sanchez as the destroyer, Gana as box to box. But I agree somewhat, I think Sanchez is more suited for a technical league, like La Liga or Serie A, maybe even Ligue 1. More time to think, more time to play. Like he gets with Colombia.
He defiantly needs to be in a slower league, that way he he won’t make so many bad mistakes!
I like the thought of Tshibola & Gana in the middle, think we will be solid!
Gana box to box? Have you ever seen him play? He can’t hit a barn door, absolutely useless in attack. Defensive mid is and should stay his only position. Personally I’d rather see Gary Gardner as the box to box.
I see that the ticket prices have been lowered …well for these anyway.
Middlesbrough, Sat July 30, KO 3pm [friendly]
Rotherham United, Sat Aug 13, KO 3pm
Huddersfield Town, Tue Aug 16, KO 7.45pm
Boro…10 quid
Other two are from 20 quid.
now i don’t want to blow my own trumpet, god forbid, but i do recall saying that jordon ibe was worth a punt, after his loan with the scum in blue. i think he was a low risk gamble and a type of player we needed at the time.
i see in papers today he was sold for 15 million to bournemouth, transfer are going crazy he has potential but never worth that = also if we don’t get back into the big time after this season.we might be light years behind the top teams in terms of finances. who would have thought Bournemouth and Leicesters splashing more cash than the mighty villa.
thanks for everything lerner 😛
whats wrong with the EPL to much money. Average players on super star wages and big transfer fees. Sky destroying football . Come on the Villa
Looks like the live streams for both games are on YouTube –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPuryoCaTl4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGCaKbFR8Ko
Hope this is true and it works. I’ll let you know in 12 minutes or so 🙂
Looks like the live stream for Telford game is on YouTube –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPuryoCaTl4
Hope this is true and it works. I’ll let you know in 10 minutes or so
Why isn’t it on AVTV though? Can’t find it anywhere on their site
Unfortunately not working, probably a scam to get clicks so they can earn money (sigh)
Telford 1 VILLA 2 ayew & cissoko
What do you call it? You know when you score more goals than the other team?
It’s been so long I’ve bloody forgotten!
Flukey??????
Have read an article saying Newcastle are interested in Sinclair. Now I’m not fused in him being sold but surely not to 1 of our promotional rivals 😡 I think not!!!!!
What’s people’s thinking of a centre back pairing of Elphick & Richards for next season. Richards weren’t bad in that position the problem was its not his natural 1,so for him to be captain and try an organise every 1 to it broke down and he was out of position on acations. If Elphick is beside him telling him and the rest what to do I think we could be on to a winner imo anyway 😄
Stan the Man is on! Fingers and toes crossed that he does well.