So those of you who have been reading/contributing or whatever for a while will know that I’m not a fan of speculation because 95% of it is typically absolutely rubbish. But at the same time, I know some of you love it and given that I’ve just realised I haven’t written anything for over a fortnight and tomorrow is the start of the transfer window, it seems a good time to start this thread.
As per usual, we’re selling most of the team and buying a whole new premier league for our squad. Hmm.
It does seem though, that if you try and read in between the lines a couple of possible moves might prove to be reality. First is Douglas Luiz to leave at £50 million or whatever. While this is miles lower than the £80-100 million that has been talked about I think this might be a good deal for us.
I haven’t previously wanted him to go, but I now have a sneaky feeling that his agent and him have been trying to engineer a move. I know some have said his form dropped in the last couple of months, but I think it’s more than that. I think there’s been something very strange in his attitude and it was demonstrated by his sudden terrible disciplinary record. I’m going to go so far as to say that was some small form of a protest and demonstrative that he quite simply wants out.
I don’t think it’s a money thing. He wants a new challenge and his agent thinks Juventus is the place. Good. If you want to go that much, clear off. With my blessing. The club is bigger than you. I can’t say I’m particularly interested in Winston McKennie and the other lad coming our way, but we do need numbers in.
Second, is Jhon Duran to Chelsea for £50 million. That’s frankly laughable and half of that would be a good deal. I’m convinced the lad has a serious attitude problem, as much as I believe he actually has a somewhat valid reason for having it. The fact is Emery doesn’t yet deem him to be good enough to outdo Watkins and it’s as simple as that. And if he doesn’t have the patience to listen to the manager he can go. Particularly if he’s giving the manager a problem, which I think he is.
Having had another glance at the news, it appears Chelsea have agreed a £42 million fee. I’m inclined to think he could be a bargain signing for them, but if it isn’t working for him at the Villa, that’s a lovely amount of money in the pot to stave off this PSR rubbish.
Then, there’s Matty Cash. We’ve apparently slapped a £30 million price on his head. Where do these stories come from? I’d take half that if we have a replacement lined up.
And finally (although I’m sure there’s plenty of other stories) there’s Diegos Carlos, who cost us a fortune, given his age. I liked the look of him early on, but wouldn’t miss him now. That said, we need better defenders and I’m not convinced Mings is ever going to get back to where he was. Maybe we might do better keeping Carlos as a back up? No doubt he’s on big wages though, so I’ll trust the club’s judgement on that one.
Anyway, this is just a starting point. I’m sure many of you will be more interested in the speculation and chat about other rumours.
Me, I’m only interested in deals inked, whether in or out.
Another Southgate masterclass in how to get the worst out of a decent England side.
We’ll be torn apart by sides like France, Spain, Germany, Italy and Portugal.
At least it should see the end of Southgate and not a moment too soon imo.
Abysmal performance.
Southgate go now. Get the late El Tel back in…
Micah Richards hair is remarkable though. It looks like a hat!
One positive tonight at least.
I’m honestly hoping we don’t qualify, as we need to sack this utter clown.
We constantly played in front of their defence and just sat back too deep.
While this might suit Kane being in the setup, it doesn’t suit the rest of our attack that relies on pace.
I’d go so far as to say Southgate is a dinosaur, because we basically played the game how Steve Bruce would have.
FGS, get rid of the utter clown, scaredy cat FA yes man and stop making us a laughing stock against the most average team, in Denmark.
You might be able to tell I’m fuming.
Why don’t we see the clown driving his players forward, like the likes of Pep, Klopp and even Emery do?
Because he doesn’t want them to drive, is the answer.
We have some of the paciest players in the game and he refuses to use our biggest asset.
Even our goal came from Walker’s pace that caught the defender out. You’d think he’d see from that, that his approach is wrong.
I’m sick of saying we’ll win nothing under him.
The only good thing to come out of that game is that even the pundits seem to be turning on him now, because they’re obviously sick of the same old crap too.
Complete garbage. I actually wanted Denmark to win the game so we accelerate Southgate’s sacking. I think Bruce might have been more adventurous than this clown. They will fall back on the excuse that they didn’t lose and top the group. The reality is that when we do get drawn against a top team in the knockout stage, we will go out. Only then can we say good riddance horse face and can start planning for the World Cup.
Looks like Tim deal is done at £9M.
I can’t say I’m happy at that price, but it would have been a lot less a few years back;
https://tbrfootball.com/fabrizio-romano-says-aston-villa-golden-boy-is-set-to-join-premier-league-rivals/
TV just showing Ollie, getting in behind and dragging defenders around, making them immediately play deeper defensively and taking the pressure off us.
It really isn’t rocket science is it?
So why doesn’t the clown see it?
What sums it all up is that the commentator said what a hard watch that was.
Given he’s supposed to be totally neutral, that’s saying something.
Southgate playing his buddies while leaving exciting new talent on the bench.
Dinosaur is a very apt description – Southgate’s been past his sell by dates for some time.
A young kid from Everton seems to be coming our way;
https://www.goodisonnews.com/2024/06/19/aston-villa-in-positive-talks-to-sign-everton-ace-lewis-dobbin-as-goodison-exit-also-in-pipeline/
Even that article suggests that it’s basically swapping, just to suit the PSR books.
If this is how it’s going to be, it shows how pathetic the rules are and seemingly so easy to get around. They’ll probably swap them back for free next season 🙂
What does the EPL expect?
If they create a slanted financial system to protect the wealthiest expect those with money, but outside the inner circle, to exploit it.
About time this financial farce was ended and real competition reinstated – but then EUFA have created a similar financial system to protect the wealthiest clubs in Europe.
Appointing a football regulator in England plays into the hands of EUFA and will achieve nothing positive. The reality is that EUFA are going to create a European Super League and take the money anyway and UK clubs will be given the time and space to take part.
You’re either in the club or outside it and, whilst as a Villa fan with our owners I’m sure they will be looking to be in the club, football overall will be the loser.
The American style closed shop franchise system is where football is headed but at a European level.
RIP football as we know it.
I suspect you’re totally correct, Hitch 🙁
In the France v Netherlands game the longest VAR decision by miles and, guess what, after all that time they still got it wrong. And who was it? Ref Anthony Taylor and Stuart ‘Doesn’t know his arse from his elbow’ Attwell.
Frankly, they’re a disgrace and an embarrassment and it demonstrates just how shit our refs are compared to those abroad. Can we please import a few European refs into the PL for next season?
Just learning that the deal with Juve would see Luiz go one way and Iling Jr and Enzo Barrenechea go the other which makes more sense. Enzo is a 23 year old Argentinian who plays as a central or defensive midfielder. He was on loan at Frosinone last season who got relegated.
If true, then there must be something about him that Emery likes. We shall see soon enough…
Connor Gallacher in a swap for Duran?
I’d take that!
https://www.footballinsider247.com/conor-gallagher-wyness-cant-believe-huge-chelsea-blunder-as-deal-agreed/
Mat Law -Daily Telegraph breaking the story that Omar’s Kellyman is on his way to Chelsea for £19-20m. If true then we should be well on the way meeting PSR before the deadline next weekend.
It really looks like the approach our owners have towards the academy is worth its weight in gold to us. I think the following shows it’s worth I. The last 4 years:
Grealish £100m – legacy existing set up
Chukwuemeka – £20m
Ramsey – £14m
Archer – £18m – bought back but will sell again
Philogene – £5m
Aziz -£2m
Iroegbunam – £9m
The Chelsea / Man City model of having youngsters, loaning them out and increasing their value is a pathway we are now becoming more proficient at. As the quality of our first team improves the value of our youngsters will increase as we will be able to attract a higher quality to start their apprenticeship with us or poach those in the pathway.
Emery is very clear that he wants new players to add value from the getgo. He will then develop them further. I think Morgan Rogers developed quicker than Emery anticipated.
In the meantime is Emery buying youngsters who will significantly increase in value to be sold on rather than become first team fixtures.
Lino Sousa – free from Arsenal – left back
Kosta Nedeljkovic -£6m from Red Star- right back
Looks like:
Lewis Dobbin – overpay for short term PSR benefit- winger
Interesting days ahead.
Kellyman to Chelsea for £19m on a six year contract.
Maatson to Villa also said to be a six year contract.
Now, my understanding is that the ‘new’ financial rules limits the amortisation of players transfer ‘cost’ (does that include agents fees?) to 5 years so why the six year contracts. I can’t remember the details but I’m wondering if this limit doesn’t take effect until after 1st July?
So, the new academy strategy (not limited to Villa) is sell your ‘starlets’ to other clubs to meet PSR rules having ‘stolen’ them cheaply from other clubs? We got Iroegbunam from our ‘feeder club’ Albion and Kellyman from Derby!
Unintended consequences of a ‘not fit for purpose’ set of rules.
So £29m for Iroegbunam and Kellyman plus £25m for Luiz (plus two players) – PSR done and dusted then!
I was pretty optimistic about both Kellyman and Iroegbunam. It will be interesting to see how they get on.
FFP is a nonsense at times
Apparently Forest have enquired about Bogarde rated at £4m. We really are selling off the academy.
Then again, if it means to meet these stupid PSR rules the only regular starter to be sold is Dougie, then that is not so bad. Further, it appears he was not going to sign a new contract, therefore selling him is a purely logical decision. Especially when you think that if Villa sold all 30,000 season tickets at £900 each, that raises £27m and the value of his transfer is nearly double that!
Another £30m in the bank!