We start with the Metro, it appears as though Aston Villa are willing to sell Charles N’Zogbia. The French man has fallen down the pecking order and with the arrival of Tonev and Bacuna; it appears as though N’Zogbia will not have a further role at the club. Hull and Crystal Palace currently remain the most likely destinations. Hull’s manager Steve Bruce is an admirer of N’Zogbia and signed him from Newcastle when manager of Wigan. Crystal Palace needs a new winger after selling Zaha to United, N’Zogbia fits the bill. The biggest issue for both of the clubs will be matching the asking price. However, I haven’t found information about the figure of the price. Away from the Premier League, European teams such as Hamburg, Schalke, Besiktas, Rennes and Lyon may also be interested in N’Zogbia.
The Metro also said that Bent’s move to either Fulham and Newcastle are fading. Fulham have appeared to lost interest and Newcastle appear to prefer Lyon striker Gomis and QPR’s Remy.
I didn’t know that Lambert didn’t want N’Zogbia anymore, yes I’ll admit he hasn’t reached the same level of performance as in Wigan. And Villa payed a massive transfer fee for a player that hasn’t necessarily performed. But, he didn’t play all that bad last season. He won us the game against West Ham and got us a point against Fulham. I personally believe he deserves one more season at the club but that depends on the person.
The Birmingham mail have stated that Barry Bannan is set for a move to Blackburn Rovers. Bannan has been moved to the ‘bomb squad’ and is one of the many players that Lambert wants to sell. Bannan was holding out for a Premier League move, however that hasn’t happened. Bannan will have to kick-start his career at Blackburn in the Championship. Bannan has one more year on his contract.
Bannan was highly rated when he burst into the Aston Villa scene in 2008, however in the last two seasons he hasn’t been playing all that well. He’s certainly not rated by Lambert and as a result the manager has decided to give more game time to better and more exciting youth players. Still I am very happy to hear some news about a potential Bannan exit.
Lastly, Paul Faulkner has expressed his delight with Aston Villa’s current transfer business to the Birmingham Mail. Aston Villa have signed 6 new players and extended the contracts of more than 6 first team players. However he stresses that there is still a lot more work to do, on and off the pitch. Faulkner is now switching his attention to player sales. The club is still keen to sell up to 7 players, this includes Darren Bent, Stephen Ireland, Alan Hutton, Shay Given, Barry Bannan, Nathan Delfouneso and Enda Stevens. Faulkner hasn’t ruled out the possibility of signing more players once Villa ship out the majority/all of the players.
“there’s a lot more work still to do
“It’s still only July and I think we’re very happy with the players we’ve brought in and the players whose contracts we have extended.
“It allows us to then really go into the season feeling we’ve got our squad nicely balanced and shaped.” – Faulkner
I’ve always thought of N’Zog of as someone waiting to fulfil his potential, not someone who has reached it. I’d much rather see someone new in than continue waiting to see if N’Zog will actually do what he’s supposed to do.
To me N’Zog just did enough and that’s was it, he was not a player to want to do more, if he’s targeted as not required so be it, move him on, we need die for the club players he never gave me that feeling of being that type of player, IMO .
Morning all. Remember that CNZ was brought in on big dough and should have been the stand out name under McTwatt. He has done nothing in a villa shirt really and we’ll make a massive loss on him without him making any effort for the cause what so ever – I think ‘just enough’ is being generous Will. The news that PL has given up on trying to make a player out of the Scottish Messi has cheered me up no end!
Imo N’Zog never really justified the fee or his wage, a couple of decent games but mostly injured or misfiring- if the moneys right take it and run.
I remember when Young and Downing were sold and N’Zogbia was linked and a few were saying N’Zogbia was so good and he has the talent to replace both. Remember it going as far as making articles about it. I see him going outside of the EPL. Although a move to Hull with Steve Bruce could get him back in the mood, and he can become the one man team he seems to want to be on the pitch.
I also read Newcastle are struggling to get Gomis with Lyon giving them a hard time over the price, which could give us the advantage over Bent as Villa only want 5m, Lyon are pricing Gomis at closer to 10m.
I’ve read less than a million for Bannan from Blackburn is being readied. Like 750k or something.
Good round up article for the week
we need to do all we can to shift the ‘bomb squad’ players it needs to be done for the good of the club and just as important, for the good of those players, if it means them moving on for less than market value then so be it, it needs to be resolved. the wages of the bomb squad alone cover more than half of the rest of the squad put together.
yesterday im hearing people saying we should get in Ashley young from man utd at 7mil and 50k a week! sure lets get him in, we may aswell give him his shirt now, number 38?, 39? and while we’re at it lets go for adebyeor and andy carrol too.
Great thinking, like it and just to cap it off nicely how about bringing in MON as director of football?
I’d rather have Dunne and Beye than MON!!
how longs N’Zog injured 4 ?? and wot kind of fee would villa be asking cos hull and palace are not the sorts 2 b spending vasts amounts on wages and fees,
he has been a let down thou he has shown the odd game or flashes but has largely flattered 2 deceive
I always liked N’zog and was one of those who was keen on him, but I’ve been disappointed in him overall and don’t ever see him doing it anywhere near consistently enough for the Villa. Get rid, for me.
Bad news today is that Ireland has not been asked about by Donny, contrary to some reports;
http://www.independent.ie/sport/doncaster-make-move-for-shay-given-but-not-for-stephen-ireland-29451641.html
Nzog was/is finally starting to show what he is about and recapture that form he had at Wigan under Lambert.
I’d be happy to see him stay, I think he’s definitely still got it. He showed that towards the back end of last season. He wasn’t hitting the greatest form but it was coming. UTV
MDN8,
The trouble is, if we’re going down this road where we won’t pay top money for decent players, you have to wonder what N’zog’s role will be.
I don’t believe PL wants him as a starter and while I reckon he’d love to keep him as an option, that just isn’t going to happen.
When your top player (Benteke) earns an estimated £40k a week, you aren’t going to have someone sat on their arse on £56k a week.
Hence he’ll be gone very cheap, the same as Bent.
How flogging decent players for millions less than they’re worth, just to save a couple of mill a year is good business is beyond me, but no doubt it suits the books re; amortisation etc.
All very sad, but I’ll bet Randy’s loving it.
Apparently benteke is on £56k per wk. He was in around 28k before as we increased his wages half way thru season from 20 to 28.