So the final transfer window day turned out to be a bit of a damp squib in a sense.
We signed Joleon Lescott on a two-year deal, but we all knew that one was happening, didn’t we?
There was one highlight, where we signed Matija Sarkic, a young goalkeeper from Anderlecht on a three-year deal for £3 million. He’s highly regarded, but in all honesty, I find myself wondering why we need five goalkeepers, seeing as we now have Guzan, Bunn, Siegrist, Steer and Sarkic.
Perhaps Sarkic is rated more highly than I’d expect by the manager and £3 million is a fair bit of money for an eighteen year old, but would there really be a chance of Tim Sherwood putting him in the team as Guzan’s replacement?
I doubt it, but you never know. Hence I’m certainly not knocking the signing. I just find it odd…..
Especially if you consider that it seems we might not have had much more money to spend; money that I think many of us would have preferred to be spent on another striker.
There’s still talk of Berbatov coming in on loan, but I’m not sure I see the sense in that myself.
He hardly set the world on fire at Fulham did he?
Still, no doubt Sherwood has his reasons for wanting to sign him and again I’m not really going to complain.
But I do feel this is the only area where we might have missed out, as if we’d signed another striker in say, the £10 million class, I’d have rated this window as about as good as it gets.
A right back coming in would probably have been the icing on the cake, but Sherwood looks to be happy with Bacuna and Hutton, so I doubt it was ever on the cards.
Going back to the striker side of things, I do think Sherwood was after one.
I thought it might be Austin, but I was proved wrong.
I still think Sherwood wants one, but suspect the club couldn’t work a deal somewhere and it may well be that we’re keeping our powder dry, I expect ready for the winter window.
Which leads me onto the finance side of things.
I’ve often been a critic of Randy Lerner for giving managers insufficient money to do a realistic job.
While Lambert averaged a reasonable spend during his tenure, it just wasn’t enough, given the state we were in.
This time though, if you look at the headline figures, we haven’t spent much overall.
But consider the word was that we didn’t get all the Benteke money up front and I’ve realised that Lerner hasn’t been as tight on the purse strings as I expected, although we don’t know how the wage bill has been affected.
Add in that dry powder (say £10 million) and it’s actually a very decent spend.
Then add in that most of us think that Sherwood has spent the money well and this has turned out to be an excellent window.
The Beeb have just said we’ve signed Tiago Llori on loan too, which has been countered by Joe Bennett and Nathan Baker going on loan to Bournemouth and Bristol City respectively.
Another strange move, as Liverpool have let him go out so he can get regular football.
How does that work if we expect Richards and Lescott to be the main CBs, with Okore in reserve?
Still, choice is good and as I said, I think it’s been an excellent window.
I’m a fairly happy bunny 🙂
Think we can still get Berbatov as he’s a free agent
Correct Oohah.
Is it still too late for Charlie Austin. He’s stuck at qpr ridiculous
He’s contracted, so I’d have thought so.
I think Lloris’s deal is going through because we had the paperwork in, but it still has to be ratified by 8pm apparently.
On a different note why do different countries have different deadlines for transfers. Why is the deadline the same for all?
As far as I know, all the EUFA countries had the same deadline – last night. The PL allowed another day for domestic deals in England today because their own rules don’t allow the window to close on a Bank Holiday.
[This is why de Gea’s move to Real broke down at 23:01 last night [UK time] – it was already past midnight in Spain…]
Ah I see so if yesterday wasn’t a bank hol ours would have finished last night to?
It feels to me like it’s been a good window. We seem to have a lot of defenders on the books but it doesn’t feel like a Lambert window, where he’s going for volume over quality. Our centre half situation is interesting – Richards, Clark, Okore (still alive?), Ilori, Lescott, Senderos (I’m assuming he’s getting nowhere near the team). Seems a lot but definitely an area we don’t want to be left short – I suppose we’ve got choice at both full back positions too as Richards, Lescott can play at there. Also Crespo, Hutton, Bacuna. (Bennett & Baker out on loan).
In midfield I think we’ve got some real quality, just going to need some time to work out the best combo and get everyone up to speed.
Up front and out wide we are going to be a threat once Gil / Grealish / Traore are fit, and Sinclair is a quality player who just needs to feel loved. My only question is whether Gestede / Kozak / Ayew are going to get enough goals.
Not even mentioning Gabby (apart from then, obviously).
Badger, you mention the bin-dippers and money for the Beast; from what I’ve seen over the years of the financial side of football [-I’m an accountant, and although I’ve not been involved directly in any league club finances, I’ve known many former coleagues who have…] virtually NO transfers are ever ‘cash’.
Transfer deals are almost invariably spread over two to three years [irrespective of any longer player-deals], which is why so many buying clubs get into massive debt problems well after any particular bout of spending; and why some clubs are eventually put onto transfer embargos by the league/EUFA/etc – they simply can’t make the later repayments, especially if they’ve dropped a division since the purchase.
It looks to me that apart from being generally ‘prudent’ [good old-fashioned accounting term!], Villa may be keeping some funds in reserve for January; with so many new faces there’s always a chance that one or two of them will prove to be duds, and some extra spending could be needed in the second half of the season.
Overall very happy with the changes since the FAC fiasco, now get them all fit and blended-in.
You’re right Ardent, clubs often pay on the drip.
But a big point seemed to be made about it, where I wonder if in this case it was an inordinate type of deal?
I don’t know.
I agree with your assessment about Lerner being prudent, but for me he was overly-so previously.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that i think he’s pushed the boat out. And it’s about time.
Feel free to mail me if you can offer excellent discounts on your accounting services for self employed Villa blog writers who are part of the construction industry scheme 😉
I’m not sure who was making the ‘big point’ about the Benteke deal? Maybe it was just that people read about the Sterling deal and just assumed that Citeh can afford to pay cash [doesn’t mean that even they do it unless they have to] so ‘Pool would be flush, so we should get the Benteke fee in a large brown envelope full of used £50 notes.
As far as I’me aware, apart from one or two occasions when newly-flush clubs with new [& naiive] owners got screwed out of full payments for players, virtually every other deal is on tick of some sort.
Anyway, getting back to the point of the thread – like you I’m still puzzled by the goalie business: I don’t think Bunn is anywhere near good enough for the Premier League, and with Given gone we have a ‘reasonable’ [but far from perfect] first choice, and then – what?
Either this new kid is going to be the next Peter Schmeichel and we’ve just acquired the buy of the decade, or we’re going to be in real trouble when Guzan gets injured.
{& if you really want a quote for a/c services, the firm I’ve been with for 30 years will be only too pleased to provide one – you have my email address!]
i can’t say who was saying it specifically, but it struck me it was being mentioned a lot in various articles.
You mean brown paper bags, like it was in the good old days (ahem)?
That works for me. Deal done and none of this rubbish where De Gea is supposed to go to Real and then Man U leave it until late, where it costs them millions in a lower price, only to find they missed the deadline.
That’s truly embarrassing, imo.
Likewise, if you’re talking about involving your company in accounting services, well, I can get that anywhere and the thought is “be still, my aching wallet!”.
All somewhat TIC and I admire your integrity.
You’re no use to me though. I want to save money, not give it to a third party! 🙂
IMO we will desperately lack goals from strikers and I’d have liked to see one in. Not hopeful of Berbatov coming at all but he would score goals as we now appear to have some decent creative midfielders.
I’m satisfied with Richards and Lescott and overjoyed Clark may be replaced (please Dim). Disappointed we never got a decent right back, Bacuna not good enough and Hutton, well, he’s Hutton.
Midfield should be the strongest we’ve had for a number of seasons. Gueye will be the man (as long as he leaves the shooting to others) pulling strings once he has a couple more games under his belt and Traore, according to my Barca fan and Spanish football nut mate will crucify a lot of full backs!!
Just hope midfield have goals as I’m not sure our forwards do
Helenius, one thing about Berbatov, is I’ve always thought he’s a clever player, who can link the mids to the attack.
I suspect that’s what Sherwood wants.
He strikes me as lazy though if things aren’t working, which is why I find it strange, as Sherwood has always suggested he wants graft AND craft.
The midfield is way stronger and you can see goals if they get their shooting boots on.
Grealish ought to have goals in him, imo.
And Sinclair is on fire, meaning he might even be kept up top.
But the forwards are a bit of a concern, as they don’t seem up to it just yet.
Hopefully it will come though and there’s always that “dry powder” I mentioned.
Berbatov is lazy but say in a game like Sunderland at 2.2 he could of come on for last 20 mins and would have created that bit of genius that no one else on the pitch is capable off that can lead to a goal. We have always been a team of hardworking but talentless dross. Berbatov is quality let the other players run around like headless chickens and let him do his bit of magic
Have we signed Tiago Ilori. ..a centre Back…from L’pool.
On a season-long loan, with an option to buy, apparently [like Cleverley last season…]
So does that mean if we want to buy Liverpool can’t stop us doing so?
Depends on the deal.
It’s an option, which probably works on both sides.
It’s all about the clauses, where Pool might have a stupid one in that says if we win the league, he will cost £50 mill.
A bit far-fetched, but come on Oohah, why the daft questions?
It’s a contract and I’m sure you know how they work.
Iv never really got option to buy. If he played brilliantly for us what would happen if Liverpool wanted him bk and he did t want to join us. Would we be compensated? Also what if a team like Utd etc wanted him.
reported but i dont know if its 100% right
Tiago Ilori loan move from #LFC to Villa confirmed. £1m loan fee and Villa can buy him next summer for £6m to £9m depending on appearances.
so im guessing the more games he plays for us the higher the valuation if we buy him.
Yes.
I am happy with the CBs coming in. A bit disappointed there was no CF. I hope our front line clicks and starts banging them in. Over all I am very happy with the business Sherwood has done this transfer window .
all these centre backs now, richards, clark, okore, crespo, illori, lescot, with baker out on loan, Is sherwood thinking of going 3 at the back? I don’t think he is a 3-5-2 man .. but he might be thinking of a 3-4-3 or variation, 3 -4 -1- 2 etc etc … It would explain why he would be happy with bacuna or hutton as RB’s – why he was considering bennet not cassoko, and also explain the type of forwards, gestede is the battering ram yes, but ayew, sinclair, Gil, gealish, traore, they can all play in a wing forward, advanced midfield roll,
otherwise we have a lot of Cb’s very attack minded fullbacks and chock block midfield coupled with a lot of support strikers
Very good point. Whether we do end up playing 3-5-2 or not, at least our new squad offers us a great deal of tactical options and potential for a more fluid midfield formation. Any thoughts Paul Lambert?! 😉
Problem is Sherwood is as tactically inept as lamberk. He has a clue what to do with players he’s bought.
You do remember how we were as good as down, before he took over? And got us to a cup final? And he’s only had 5 matches with his own squad to be judged on?
or even just following through on the logic he had the same team as lambert but won significantly more games .. so that would suggest that he is in fact not as tactically inept as Lambert ?
Given that TS was faced with a massive task to bring a poor squad up to PL standards, strenghten a dodgy defence (and that includes Vlaar), replace virtually the whole of our midfield and the guy who scored pretty much all our goals in one transfer window – then I reckon he’s done a pretty good job. AND for all the criticism levelled at him RL has backed the club with money this time around not just in reinvesting all the income but by allowing a restructure of our wage bill.
We now have real choices in defence and mid field and enough depth to deal with injuries.
Which leaves GK and the forwards! GK is, I think the biggest concern and will have to be addressed either in January or at the end if the season. The lad from Anderlecht is highly regarded but 18 is far too young for a PL keeper.
I actually think we will have enough goals in us between our forwards and mid field to be OK. Sinclair, Grealish and Gestede or Kozak just have to step up to the plate. I would rather see the goals spread among a number of players that be totally relying on one player to score.
Overall, I think this has been a pretty good window for us. UTV
On a separate note Merson was talking a load of absolute b****cks on Sky Sport tonight.
Couldn’t we get De gea on loan
🙂
Come on, this has been the most exciting window in years. We did a lot of business fairly early, which spoilt us a bit. Given that we were stuffed by buy out clauses on two of our best players, we have improved the squad tremendously for not a huge net outlay.
In 6 weeks time when they have all bedded in I think we will be in good shape. i think we will score enough goals, and the late additions may well help us reduce the goals conceded. Bring it on!
Looks like Tim did good in this window
H60,
What makes you think we’ve broken our wage structure?
I’ve seen no evidence whatsoever to back this up, but would appreciate it, if you could point it out.
It appears French players are paid peanuts, in the Prem scale of things, for example.
Indeed, a cynic might suggest that’s exactly why we looked there, as we could double their wages without even thinking about it, while massive cutting the wage bill.
What I’m suggesting is that while the wages might not have risen, so signing-on fees might have, big time.
Which would cover the likes of Richards and Lescott etc.
We just don’t know, now that most fees are undisclosed.
Sorry Badger, I didn’t mean to suggest ‘broken’ our wage structure but I think it was the Birmingham Mail that reported Villa had eased the restrictions on wages which had allowed us to get Richards in for instance. I accept that I may be wrong but I’m pretty sure that’s what I read.
Seems like most people are very happy with our transfer business, and I very much agree. Maybe a little disappointed we didn’t get a proven goalscorer, but then a number of other teams are as well, there’s not many about.
I’d like to hope the Berbatov negotiations might be ongoing, and it’s not impossible Adebayor might buy out his contract. Who knows, maybe we saved £8mil to take a punt on Austin in January, at a price we’re more comfortable with?
Find myself not so bothered about a ‘proven goalscorer’. Honestly think that Gestede and Ayew have a good chance of proving themselves once the team gets to know each other better. Plus the fact that the mid-field should be scoring at least 50% of the goals rather than just relying on one striker as we have in the past.
Agree with others that Tim is gambling a little but is keeping some of his powder dry for the January window should he need further signings.
All in all best window for years and looking forward to the rest of the season
UTV
Overall, a very good transfer window I reckon. Amavi, Richards, Gana and Traore all look fantastic signings already. Veretout and Ayew have a lot of potential. Gestede still seems a bit of a strange one to me, but we’ll see…he will put a few headers in at least.
Happy with Lescott signing. He and Richards will make an excellent partnership and have played together before. Llori is an interesting one, obviously Sherwood likes the look of him…I wonder if he is thinking RB?
The young goalkeeper must be a player other teams were after too, otherwise why sign him on deadline day? Interesting…
Im glad we avoided Berbatov and Adebayor, in my opnion Kozak is a better option than both of those two. As someone mentioned earlier, maybe a cheeky low bid for Austin in January is planned?
I’m amazed no ones signed Austin tbh even at £15m it’s not bad business. Maybe teams are worried about his injury record.
Injury record, high wages, high transfer fee. My only guess, possibly the fact he only wants to stay in London could be another one. Wouldn’t agree to go to a team outside the top 6-7 could be another one. I’d have loved to see him at like, Southampton if not us though.
I didn’t realise until just now that Austin is in the final year of his contract with QPR, so would guess that the £15m that QPR were supposed to be asking for him is likely to be half that in January and £zero/zilch by next May?
Bargain to be had later…
Very good window for me and quite happy with Ilori in, I could care less about Lescott coming in as I still don’t think he’s an improvement but Ilori will be quality and if I read correctly we have an option to buy, even better.
A striker would’ve been nice but anyone who complains that we wouldn’t pay big wages to Berbatov can do one, he’s not good enough to expect high wages and this means Kozak gets to play more.
Quite interested in the young keeper we brought in, either this is the end of Seigrist/Steer or Grant doesn’t look good enough. Either way he was highly rated and Anderlecht are a great side at producing talent.
Sinclair looks solid up front and I think Ayew playing off him would make for a great partnership with Kozak and Gestede coming off the bench/starting with Sinclair. (I am finally coming around to him). I still think Ayew will be quality as a support striker, he brings players into the game so well and playing him out on the wing deters his ability.
Gestede will also come good, I think people need to relax on the whole “oh no, our strikers haven’t scored much yet” claims. Give em time, 2 of our 4 strikers are new in Ayew and Gestede and Kozak’s coming back from a serious injury. It’ll take time for them to get running.
All in all the team looks like it’s really upgraded. Just for the tactics to be right and we’ll look like a solid top 10 team.
I just cant quite see what formation he’s gonna end up playing. Grealish has to play and from what we have seen from Traore, so does he. So how do you fit the likes of Ayew or Sinclair into the team if we stick to 4-3-3?
We could always go 4-4-2 as well but that may leave us pretty vulnerable. It wouldnt surprise me though if Sinclair or Ayew ends up playing down the middle as the main striker and we scrap the idea of a target man.
For the most part probably with Gestede or Kozak coming on late for Grealish/Gil/Traore to aim at.
Some rags are saying we have option to buy some saying it’s just a loan. Which one is correct
OohAh – most papers reporting a £1m loan fee for a year with option to buy at between £7 and £9m depending on appearances (so the more games he gets the more we pay?).
Interestingly quite a lot of negative comment on bin dippers Twitter about this deal – negative in the sense of criticising Rodgers and Liverpool’s handling of the player who it would seem is pretty useful. We shall see.
H60 – yes I saw that on a few sites yesterday and it was interesting; the L’pool fans moaning that Rodgers has apparently let-go one of their really highly-rated prospects without having given the player much time to impress.
All of the reports I saw say that we have an option to buy at the end of the season at up to £9m.
The OS didn’t mention OTB though so I’m not sure now
Just looked at OS and dosnt mention OTB
The OS never gives any details over the terms of any acquisition or sale of players so I wouldn’t be too concerned. Let’s see if TS says anything in the next couple of days or so.
Fair enough. Noticed Benteje alkegedy has thigh injuslry and can’t play for Belgium. We should of told him not to pjs in meaningless games to. Liverpool have pulled their players like Gerard for years unless it’s a vital game
Benno, we’ve always got Abonglahor! Like hell we have, think the writings on the wall now with him, I bet he’s pretty pissed off knowing his days are numbered, your right by saying how’s he going play his team ? he might now play Kozak as his front man? Interesting times to come.
Spot on Bill – are we now spoilt for choice 🙂
If Gabby starts at Leicester with all those options, I think I will cry!!
To be fair Benno, your question is what makes Villa fans smile at the moment. For so many years the Villa lineup was predictable, when players were all fit it would be the same starting XI and tactics week in week out. Now we have multiple options of decent quality or potential in many positions (not all), and the ability to play different tactical styles. Coming off the bench we can make real changes to a game and not replace like for like. There were times last year when we would be losng and the only change we could make was maybe Sanchez for Westwood. Now it could be Gil/Ayew/Kozak etc Sanchez if losing. Gives some hope.
JB- agree entirely. For too long we’ve had a team that virtually picked itself depending on injuries, and the likes of Agbonlahor became lazy incumbents. It made life very easy for the opposition, and also meant that Lambert, McLeish and the like didn’t really have to think about alternative formations etc. – there weren’t many options available past the first 12 or 13 fit players.
Sherwood should now be spoiled for choice; while OohAh already calls him ‘tactically inept’, we’ll be able to find out in the coming months…!
from ssn – Dimitar Berbatov has signed for Greek side PAOK after failing to agree a deadline-day move to Aston Villa.
ahhh well . onwards and upwards.
and Jordan Ayew powered Ghana to a 3-2 win over Congo . he scored the winner for his country so maybe he can start banging them in for us.
must say i was very happy with this window , we didnt sign adebayor so its all good.:)
Good point Domingo, I’ve always said the team we had was readable, normally teams are given to the ref 45 minute before a game, well it used to be, now we can hide players till the very last minute. Got to be an asset to us now. Yes I’m looking forwards to our season wilh more enthusiasm than the last two decades.
Sorry that’s in answer to JB.
Bill are your replies going wayward aswell MATE.
No not really Giddy that was my error.
lerners got away with it again
what is villas nett spend since oneil left 6 years ago
sold milner bought ireland bent makoun
about 6 m year one milner sale paid for ireland bent so only makoun to pay for
year 2
mcleish spent about 18m sold 42 m profit 22/24m
year3
lambert spent mcleish profit
year 4
lambert spent about 16m
year 5
lambert spent 10m
year 6
sherwood
sold about 45m spent about54m about 9m over
my rough counting leaves us spending about 41m over 6 years in which we have finnished bottom 4/5 4years scraped up to 9 under houiller with winning last 2 matches
not sure on alll the figures but not to have signed a proven number 9 is shocking bad buisness sense
that doesn’t particularly bother me to be honest, how much is Southamptons or exertions net spend the last few years? not seem to be doing better.
I have never doubted learners intentions and I don’t subscribe to the we must 100m or we are relegated theory,
look at QPR
its about the right people for the right job and this is where Lerner has gone wrong again and again. Managerial appointments to the support staff, neu points there …
I think he has corrected that somewhat with fox and the new commercial management/directors
He is actively trying to sell. you don’t spend millions on Meryll lynch and all this malarky if you are pretending to sell why trying to save money.
And the premiership is a different place than it was when bought us.
If you want titles and champions league you will be unhappy for the rest of your life unless we get sold to a sugar daddy, but they are literally 1 in a billion, PSG, chelsea, Man city
thats 3 from 7 billion, already spoken for.