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.
Southgate’s a lucky f*****
Yep – totally Holte.
I just can’t get excited about watching England these days!
We never go for the jugular do we?
Awful 4 games. Slovakia deserved that game. Southgate OUT!
Come on Georgia 🇬🇪…
Guys, what do we make of the two lads coming in from Juve? Anyone watched any YouTube compilations yet? I’m still waiting for Marcus Helenius to play like Pele for the Villa after watching his highlight real… 🤣
From what I’ve seen, the Argentine lad looks like a ‘spoiler’ – lots of tackling and cutting out attacks in front of the defence. So looks like Bouba’s replacement for the first few months. While Jr looks like a raw Bert Traore – leggy and tricky on the left wing with lots of crosses and the odd goal. They’re the right age. Let’s hope Unai gets them ticking…
Oh and Maarsen seems a fantastic coup. He was named in the CL team of the year at LB and has that critical CL experience going into the season. Hard to upgrade at LB but I think the club has done it…
UTV!
Random prediction: Jude Bellingham to be sent off before the end of England’s tournament. Just a hunch.
Random footnote: Portugal drew their 3 group games in 2016 and got out of the group in 3rd place, having played, well, shite. They went on to win it.
Ross Barkley confirmed! I have to say, I’m extremely impressed with the club’s efficiency in getting deals done. 👏👏👏
I’m now thinking Barkley doing Dougies number 8 role, which is ideally suited to his game, with Enzo next to him holding like Bouba does. So with gaps now plugged and the reshuffle complete, should we expect a couple of biggies before opening day?
We need a few big signings BFR. Now we are in another financial year with the Champions League funds, we need to bolster the squad with experienced top drawer signings. With Ramsey, Mings and Buendia coming back to fitness and Kamara for the second half of the season, we have more options. I still think we need a defensive midfielder an upgrade on Cash and competition for Ollie. The two newbies from Juventus I think are squad fillers. Emery might get a tune out of them but they are inexperienced and probably will get minutes in less important situations when we are winning comfortably or domestic cup games. Barkley probably comes in for Dougie and Maatsen for Digne who I still think will be off possibly to Saudi for a big payday. That leaves Moreno as backup. I get the feeling Olsen isn’t going anywhere so Gauci needs to be number 2 ASAP! I would welcome a better RCB to cover Konsa than Carlos if we could offload him.
It’s weird to think that we have our first preseason friendly in just over two weeks time. Proper football rather than Southgate’s shit show.
Hadn’t realised that Iling-Junior is still only 20. It seems clear that we are focusing on younger players with potential to improve both on the field and in terms of value; now I’m not suggesting this a new edition of ‘moneyball’ but Edens will be well versed on it from his American Sports teams.
Balancing it is Barkley who brings a wealth of experience to central midfield; if he can find his best form under Emery, £5m will be a steal.
Will we see a lot more outs and ins over the rest of the window?
Watching Turkey v Austria – exciting game of real football. Not like the boring rubbish served up by Southgate!
Great wasn’t it! Stunning save at the end! Ralf was right, better than the snoozefest Southgate has served up…
Anyway, any thoughts on one or two serious money signings and who they may be? Especially now we’ve allegedly balance the books?
Fantastic save – not sure it was quite up to Bank’s save against Pele in the World Cup but it was definitely up there with the best.
Tbh no idea Bum Bum on incomings. Birmingham Live ran a piece with a long list of players likely to leave (or Villa would like to leave). Some obvious names like Coutinho, Dendonker and Chambers but also Carlos and either Moreno or Digne. Carlos and Digne both high earners (this seems to be typical of Gerrard’s transfer activity!) Also Archer, who we have to buy back following Sheff U’s relegation, and Cash. According to Brum Live, Villa want to keep him but if the right offer comes in (£30m suggested) then every player has his price!
Incomings may well depend on how successful Villa are in moving players on but it could be a busy window.
Emi Martinez has now faced 24 penalties for Argentina and has conceded just 12 with nine saves and three off-target misses. His latest episode includes two saves in a shoot out with Ecuador and no he could not resist winding up the Ecuador fans. We are blessed in some ways.
The Joao Felix rumour mill has begun yet again 🥱
Probably not true but I do think NSWE are not messing about.
Having sorted the PSR nonsense (it seems the EPL are only interested in penalising clubs rather like VAR’s obsession with disallowing goals) Emery supported by NSWE will be looking to strengthen the squad using the increased revenue expected this coming season from the Champions League and additional TV money.
We do have to make sure, however, that we now qualify for Europe on a regular basis.
As an aside, it was rather annoying to read the BBC article about Dibu’s latest penalty exploits describing him as ‘the former Arsenal goalkeeper’! Don’t the media realise that Britain consists of more than London and Manchester?
He can’t take penalties so I hope they don’t want him for that. While I’m here, how shit are France? And we think England are shit; at least they’ve scored some goals from open play. Imagine Le ‘Bleurgh’ winning it without scoring a single goal. It’s possible.
Anyway, come on 🏴!
Kane playing Well (Not) get him off he’s doing walking football . Glad to see Konza fitting in at defensive roll .
Kane is contributing absolutely nothing; Konsa playing well.
Side’s unbalanced, nothing going down the left.
Why is Bellingham playing so deep?
Switzerland the better side
Someone had to say it but 5 totally professional players . Never a doubt
I now suspect we might actually win this tournament.
Despite southgate, not because of him.
Meanwhile, I’m trying to see something to write about re the Villa.
Seriously struggling, tbh.
Oh my days just how shite is Phil (fucked up fringe) Foden?
If Cole Palmer isn’t a better player than that absolute waste of space then I don’t have an hole in my arse.
And the BBC punditry, Foden playing at no 10, such a revelation blah blah blah. What a load of old bollox. This Foden love in is absolute horse shit, the geezer lacks pace, touch, vision and ability, he just happens to be not Jack Grealish but plays for Peps Globetrotters.
If he’d have come through Darlingtons youth system you have never of heard of him.
So you’re not a fan then, RSS? 😂
Whatever makes you come to that conclusion BFR? 😊
No BFR, I really really don’t get the geezer and all the fuss.
Emperor’s New Clothes me thinks
Haven’t been on here in ages, but the business seems okay. What are everyone’s thoughts on it? How is everyone and how is everyone finding the England? (Not villa related I know, apologies)
England are rubbish, but might well win the tournament.
It matters not to me, this is the first Euros where I really couldn’t care less, thanks to Southgate.
Business is ok, as you say, but it seems everyone is waiting for a headline signing.
If we get it, I might have something to write about.
Otherwise, it’s all Hmm, isn’t it?
Martinez was apparently close to moving to Man U, according to his agent.
Crap story and I won’t even link to it, as it’s cleverly been taken out of context.
The reality is the media thought it was on at the time, whereas it really wasn’t.
And wouldn’t it have been a poor decision, if he did go?
More absolute crap speculation, which is why I dislike it so much.
Stay under the radar with signings.
E.g Barkley is going to have a wonderful season mark my words.
I’ve never been less enthusiastic about England in a tournament than this Euros. I couldn’t bring myself to cheer when we won the penalty shootout. Southgate over the last few years beginning with the Grealish situation when he was still at Villa, when he was practically saying move to City or your England chances are limited. Plus the dire football served up against mediocre teams. All this has made me want him gone in the same way I wanted Gerrard gone. Somehow by luck rather than genius we have progressed to the semi finals. If we beat the Netherlands, it won’t be convincing with us dominating and creating chance after chance. It probably will be an own goal off one of their defenders arse.
A week on Wednesday we can switch our attentions to the Villa again with our first friendly at Walsall. I think it will be interesting to see if Mings, Buendia or Ramsey take part. I hope we can bag a couple of quality signings before season starts although the Euros probably makes it difficult to get players in.
All very quiet at Villa – not even a worthwhile rumour – even the usual suspects Football Insider et al can only come up with the old Joa Felix rumours 🙂
Jaden Philogene-Bidace has clubs chasing him for around £15 mill.
We had first option on him at that price, but only if Hull were promoted.
I wonder if we had a sell-on percentage clause?