It is no secret that Aston Villa are looking for a new goalscorer, this time with Premier League experience. Everton’s Steven Naismith has emerged as a top target for Aston Villa, with the club prepared to offer £6.5 million for the Scotsmen. Naismith was close to a £8 million move to Norwich but decided to stay with Everton and fight for his place. Despite a hat-trick against Chelsea, Naismith has struggled to play this season with Martinez favouring Kone and Lukaku.
Naismith would be a terrific addition to Aston Villa, he can score goals, he works tirelessly and can also set up goals for his team. Finding Premier League scorers isn’t easy, but Naismith fits all the boxes and would be a very welcome addition to this current team. Despite his age of 29, he would give our side that much needed experience, especially at the attack with Agbonlahor (also 29) not scored a goal in ages.
Sam Byram of Leeds United is another player that Villa have been targeting. The right-back would add some much needed competition to the right hand side, with Cissokho poised to improve Villa’s left-hand side defence. Hutton has been working tirelessly, and is often one of our most attacking players. But sometimes his lack of quality does show, he has conceded two own goals (they were rather unfortunate) and conceded a penalty against Arsenal.
Definate yes for Naismith. The team lack nastiness and he will provide it.
And he can score usually against us.
He definitely has the work rate Ayew needs up front or in and around him. Much different to the other attacking type midfielders we have. Not worth 6.5m, could probably get him cheaper as Martinez has said he’s not part of his plans.
Also French Football claims we’ve made a 3m bid for Steve Mandanda of Marseille.
And apparently Bordeaux’s Wahbi Khazri’s agent has been contacted by us. AM, 5 goals 6 assists so far this season
I thought REMI weren’t going down the French route anymore????
Apparently not. He did say he wouldn’t favor the French though.
The thing is would he want to move to a team struggling???he’s turned Norwich down in the past & possibily because he thought they’d whindup relegation fodder.can’t see it happening nice if it did.
Naismith and Byram would both be good additions. We also have to sign a left back as Bacuna cant be expected to play there for the rest of the season.
Which player with a career in front of him, would want to sign for a club who are odds on to be relegated, with a board who are clueless and an owner who wants out – Bring out the overpaid mercenaries, who would want fixed term contracts who could financially cripple the club when relegated, or the made up names because 1/2 season tickets are for sale.
Spot on Saddened, only a mercenary player would attempt a move to us, as for Frence players we have enought problems now without more. I say scout home grown if you look at smaller clubs they seem to prosper with no name player’s. half of Leicester English,.
You realize Leicester have only played 5 English players all season in the league, right? Simpson, Drinkwater, Albrighton, Dyer and Vardy. Only Albrighton, Drinkwater and Vardy are regulars. Add in King who’s Welsh and you have 6 homegrown players who play. They don’t use homegrown players, they are very much basing it off of foreign players with technical ability with a few hard workers like Albrighton, Drinkwater and Vardy with players like Schlupp, Mahrez, Kante and Okazaki.
I don’t disagree that Andrew, but you’ve mentioned the fact the key players are predominant English and British. we cannot say that for us.
3 players are predominantly English. 3. Their goal keeper is not, their entire defense bar Simpson is not. They do have a relatively British based midfield in Drinkwater, Albrighton and King. Although Kante’s the real star of that midfield. Their most important player, Mahrez is not English, neither is Okazaki, Kramaric, Ulloa, or Schlupp. A majority of their key players aren’t British based. But that helps having the really hard workers, Drinkwater, Albrighton, King, Vardy and then your actual talented, more technical types like Okazaki, Schlupp, Mahrez.
Yawn! Let’s bring in a bunch of overpaid, overaged rejects! We had plenty of them before – they became the ‘bomb squad’! The Villa heirarchy clearly haven’t got a clue what they’re doing. We don’t need “experienced” or “young and hungry” players, we need “quality” players. And, sadly, we’ve missed several opportunities to get those by continually weakening our squad by selling our best players (who help to attract other good players) and replacing them with cheaper players with less ability. False economy and we’re playing for it now! Personally, I would prefer to see us stick with Remi Garde for a few years now (regardless of whether or not we get relegated) and allow him to build a team for the future. Perhaps going down to the Championship would allow us to do this. Players like Gardner, Hepburn-Murphy, Sellars, Kinsella, Robinson, etc. might get more of a chance to develop together as a team then. Championship football clearly hasn’t done any harm to the likes of Watford, Bournemouth and Leicester, who all have a lot more fight in them than us!
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2015/12/21/report-aston-villa-contact-bordeauxs-wahbi-khazri-over-january-d/page/1/ even though we all seem to have given up dont think the club has, if they can nail these transfers gives me a bit of hope, need to be done and in by 2nd of jan to be a quick fix though.
No point signing anyone if we go into new year 10 plus points adrift we could Dublin Messi and Ronaldo and we’d still go down so pointkess
surely whoever we sign has to have prem experience. they won’t have time to adjust.
Like N’Zogbia, Lescott, Richards, Hutton, Richardson, etc all have and yet… Premier League experience doesn’t make you a good player, nor is it needed. Much rather have players come in that other teams aren’t aware of.
The past is, sadly, the past – we need to put it behind us and look forward as that is the only chance we have to being the new Phoenix and rise from the ashes. Lerner has made many mistakes but I don’t believe he’s deliberately set out to ruin the club – it makes no sense.
He’s been badly advised and acted naivaily in his appointments but, if we’re honest, he’s not been favoured by Lady Luck (someone on here labelled him a Jonah!). I don’t hate him but I’m disappointed in his apparent lack of business nouse. I know many will disagree but then this blog is about differing opinions.
I have faith in Garde who I see as an appointment for the future and Zi believe we have some very good players and I also believe that the majority of our squad really care. Hutton is a prime example – whatever the criticism you cannot accuse him of lacking commitment and passion. And then there is Gabby and N’Zog – sorry but they are both ‘all mouth and trousers’ and have to go.
I both fear the future and embrace it with optimism. VTID
Lost my way a bit there. What I wanted to add is we need players who want to be part of the future of our club whatever the short term may bring. Players with vision and ambition – I would welcome Naismith et al and they would come clearly knowing the challenge ahead – there are players that would come and be part of that future we just need to sell that future to them.
Unless we’ve been sold it matters not a jot who comes in. Lerner is still bargain basement shopping and looking for miracles, then profit. All bullshit and more bullshit. When the axe finally falls on our PL status I wanna hear the whole of VP spitting venom at that useless waste of life.
Hear hear
Who would put a dislike to that comment? a perfectly sound answer.hear hear Bum Bum.
Didn’t t see much effort or commitment from Hutton in build up to de jong costly miss for Newcastle
He runs about like a new pup after the ball never in the right position
When garde was at arsenal Dixon winter burn where fullbacks not used for attacking skills defense came first
Plus we are conceding for fun from corners dead all what do they do in training
Amalfitano is the next name on the list. Apparently we’ve made contact, he’s a free agent after his falling out at West Bromich. Be a solid signing.
Andrew,
His falling out at West ham, you mean?
He wasn’t good enough for West Ham or West Brom, so what makes you think he’d be good in a seriously struggling side?
Yep, sounds just the ticket.
This sort of crap is exactly what we don’t need.
but he’s no doubt cheap, I guess.
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2015/12/21/report-aston-villa-eyeing-former-west-ham-midfielder-morgan-amal/
You’re thinking along the same lines as the hierarchy mate.
Which is exactly why we’ve failed in the last 5 years or so, imo.
Was it West Ham? I swore it was West Bromich. But yeah, I was wrong.
He was more than good enough for them, he had a falling out with the coach so he left.
I’d probably take Naismith, but some of the utter tripe we’re supposed to be looking at has me totally dismayed.
Any half decent French player and they want a relegation clause?
They can do one for me, because I don’t care how well they’re rated in the French league, it isn’t the Prem.
Seriously, how many of the foreign players we signed in the summer, have settled into the Prem as quickly as we need them too?
I think Amavi and that’s it.
We either blow the boat out of the water with a Bent type signing up front and more of that ilk in midfield and defence (ain’t going to happen) or totally forget it and play the kids.
All I’m seeing is a load of mercenaries, who want to come to the EPL for the payday and they can all piss off.
We need QUALITY (the sort that instantly raises morale) to IMMEDIATELY improve the squad and I’ve not seen a single link that hints at that, at all.
We really might as well not bother.
But some of these very average links are probably the sort we’ll end up signing.
And another load of money wasted, you watch.
Because that’s all our hierarchy know.
Buy cheap and hope they’ll come good.
They really don’t have a clue.
What immediate quality are we getting exactly? Seeing as we’ve tried the Premier League experience under Lambert and that failed, we tried playing them all under Sherwood and that failed, and we tried the foreign way under Lambert and fans loved the way we played and now we’re doing it under Garde and a majority think we’re getting better.
Andrew, if you read, I said it isn’t going to happen.
I really don’t think I’ve ever been as uninspired in a transfer window as I am now.
I can read, mate. I was wondering what “talent” you’re thinking of. Seeing the lower end Premier League sides in the bottom half don’t really have better players than us, at all. (Bar Chelsea obviously) so i really wouldn’t say getting any of theirs would be a step up. Could pick a few out at Southampton I guess, and maybe 1-2 in each team.
If you knew about football outside of England and who we were linked too currently, you’d be inspired.
They call it flying the flag Badger and I agree, think some are watching foreign team’s to often, let’s get back to our own grown talented , count today in managers how many are foreign? all bringing in their own.
Football outside of England is better, that’s why. More technical, more tactical, more about football and less about being happier for Chelsea losing their fans own teams winning.
It may well be better, but what’s undeniable is that the Prem is totally different and it’s why it’s the most popular league in the world.
Even the best foreigners very rarely start performing quickly.
We just don’t have the time and need players who can hit the ground running.
Of course, if you’re looking at things from a championship pov, your points are perfectly good.
But I’m thinking from a pov that is trying to survive relegation.
It’s the most popular because fans abroad have been brainwashed to believe so. I can see why English fans think so, as Spanish people think La Liga’s the best. It’s also by far the most advertised and people can name all 20 English teams but couldn’t name more than 5-6 Spanish sides.
Not looking at it from a Championship point of view, or a relegation point of view. I’m looking at it from a logical point of view and not an emotional one. Bringing in mediocre experienced Premier League players is what got Lambert sacked, and playing them is what got Sherwood sacked. Yes having a foundation based on homegrown talent is great, but you need much better players like going back to Leicester with Schlupp, Kante, Mahrez, Okazaki, etc, who will bring the talent. Vardy’s no doubt a talented footballer but would in no way be scoring the goals he is if Mahrez wasn’t currently the best performer in the league, Okazaki wasn’t a very good forward, Kante wasn’t currently the best performing DM and Schlupp didn’t own that left side.
We need players with talent, that can balance and influence the current side we have. We have enough “Premier League” players, unless of course we start getting rid of them all. We need real talent, a Mahrez to start setting up Ayew, a Schlupp who can set up Gestede, a Kante who can run that DM position and an Okazaki to partner Ayew. We don’t need random Premier League experienced players who bring nothing to the table that Gabby, Westwood, Hutton, Richardson, Richards, Clark, etc bring to the table.
Vive le France.
Ligue 1 footy is a better standard imo the premier is SHITE.if they played a better standard of footy in Kazakhstan I’d welcome any player from their top league.can’t see what all the fuss is about the clubs probably on plan Y atm & running out of options what do you expect with a tight arse at the helm.
Ps who’s top of the prem atm?? fuck me I bet their a household name around Europe.
Problem with Ligue 1 is down to 1 thing. Money. And well exposure but that brings money. We could still attract the top players from Ligue 1’s 5th-20th team. Hell I can only really think of Lyon, Monaco and PSG and possibly Lille that we couldn’t do this too currently as financially we are so much better off.
Best thing about their league is is that no matter how much we can decimate each team by buying players, they’ll just establish a few more, because their scouting system and academies are the best in the world today. From Ligue 1 and Ligue 2.
In other news, Us, Newcastle and AC MIlan have contacted PSG for Sirigu and Marseille’s reportedly said they’ll allow Mandanda to join us if he wants too.
I was going to mention ST Etienne but they’ve gone belly up they used to be a team to reckon with in their day sounds familiar????
Saint Etienne are my favorite Ligue 1 side. Sad how they’ve gone but they have a very good manager and Ruffier’s one of the best keepers in the world. Hopefully they get back up there, but then PSG will just rip them apart if they get a CL spot.
TBh I’m more a fan of the bundersliga one thing I’ve noticed over in Germany you don’t get many empty seats the grounds seem like there brimming.possibly they watch entertaining football & ticket prices are cheaper there certainly doing something right.
Big Bundesliga fan too, as well as Serie A, La Liga, MLS, etc. Germany does it right, best league in the world. Other than Bayern the rest of the sides are still very good, they keep the seats cheap, some clubs are fan owned, they produce talent and are great to watch. They do just about everything right.
MLS really?