Elmohamady and Whelan in; Welcome! and a friendly tonight?

Well things are hotting up and it’s welcome to Elmo and Glen Whelan, who’s just been officially announced.
On the face of it they’re not the most inspiring signings, but I do agree that they’ll be coming in to do a job, particularly in Whelan’s case.
I’m not convinced where Adomah stands after Elmo’s aquisition, but it will be at least good competition for him.
And at the end of the day, these players haven’t bust the budget, given that
we’ve yet to sell anyone of decent value.
For that, read they’ll do a job and are cheap.

With that, I was talking to a Watford fan yesterday and I mentioned the Graham Turner friendly, which he informed me is tonight?
I’ve looked around as best I can with the poor internet I have and could only see that we were scheduled to play Bristol Rovers away?
Perhaps someone can confirm please?

Either way, I’m hoping both our new signings go straight in, if we are indeed playing, so we can get a look at them.

In other news, Elphick’s departure to Blues is looking on the cards, which should bring in a few bob.
And Veretout has reneged on St Etienne, in not bothering to turn up for a medical?
What’s that about?
Good riddance wherever he goes if that story’s correct; just the sort of mercenary we don’t need or want at the Villa, in my opinion.
And I hope whatever club he signs for realise just what type of player they’ll be getting.
If the story is correct, of course. We all know things are never what they seem in planet transfer world.

The good and bad news is that I’ll be back home in the early hours of Saturday morning, so at least I’ll be able to keep up better and maybe even get to see a stream before it’s back to the seven day a week grind in what’s about to be the busiest time of the year for me.

In the meantime, I still think we have another trick or two up our sleeves when it comes to signings.
Here’s hoping and UTV!

75 Comments

Page 2 of 2 1 2
  1. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson July 21, 2017 at 9:40 am . Reply

    True but we’re British, you know what the world think about us Brits, they don’t stop and think it was us that saved the world from dictators, Oh and it wasn’t the yanks they hadn’t the brains then.

    1. Hitchens 60
      Hitchens 60 July 21, 2017 at 10:07 am . Reply

      Not disagreeing with you Bill – but the Yanks had the men, particularly at the end of the First World War Bill when they put one million soldiers onto the western front which broke the German advance after the Russians collapsed on the eastern front and the Germans threw everything into France.

  2. Badger123
    Badger123 July 21, 2017 at 10:15 am . Reply

    In the 13 games Jedinak didn’t play, we took 8 points!

    Quote courtesy of;

    https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/2017/7/21/16007160/aston-villa-transfer-window-glenn-whelan-john-terry-perfect-signings

    That’s why Whelan is a good signing, imo.

    1. Hitchens 60
      Hitchens 60 July 21, 2017 at 10:33 am . Reply

      More pertinently we didn’t win a single game when he was out of the side as the one win ‘without him’ was against Rotherham prior to his arrival.

      Absolutely agree that Whelan is arguably the most important signing that Bruce has made.

      1. OohAhPaulMcGrath
        OohAhPaulMcGrath July 21, 2017 at 7:40 pm . Reply

        👍

    2. nath
      nath July 21, 2017 at 7:43 pm . Reply

      i was intending to ask if anybody knew our record without jedinak last season i seemed to recall it wasn’t pretty without him. i forgotten to ask in my post this morning, thanks badger and hitch you both answered my queries read my mind lol

  3. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson July 21, 2017 at 10:54 am . Reply

    I just hope the rotten apple doesn’t drop into the barrel again, the team looks more secure now but he wants another defender, are we only attacking through the middle and no wingman? Me thinks he’s going to get Hutton to move up in the team and play wing. Well he spends most of his game playing that roll. Have to agree team taking shape now.

  4. Badger123
    Badger123 July 21, 2017 at 11:05 am . Reply

    Still not sure where the goals are going to come from Bill, but yes, taking shape nicely.

    1. Hitchens 60
      Hitchens 60 July 21, 2017 at 12:49 pm . Reply

      I think part of the problem – goal wise – was the lack of quality service. With Hourihane and Lansbury released from defensive roles one would hope the partnership of Hogan / Kodjia would be well serviced and be a lethal one. Hogan makes great runs off the ball but we are not reading them at the moment.

  5. Badger123
    Badger123 July 21, 2017 at 2:07 pm . Reply

    Certainly you’d expect that to be the aim.
    Let’s see if it becomes reality though.
    My guess is that Bruce’s future very much revolves around how the midfield turn out.

    1. Hitchens 60
      Hitchens 60 July 21, 2017 at 5:02 pm . Reply

      Agreed Badger – that’s where his major investment was in January

  6. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson July 21, 2017 at 7:24 pm . Reply

    Aston Villa’s pre-season game against Vitesse Arnhem next week has been called off – but the club have arranged another friendly.

    The fixture was due to take place on Tuesday August 25 at Stimberg Stadium in Erkenschwick.

    Instead Villa will play a warm up match Arminia Bielefeld at Heidewaldstadion in Gütersloh on Tuesday evening.

    Vitesse Arnhem confirmed the cancellation of the fixture on their website, stating that German football authorities have prevented the match from going ahead.

    Villa’s players are jetting out to Germany this weekend.

    Tomorrow afternoon they will take part in the Cup of Traditions.

  7. GIDDYVILLAN
    GIDDYVILLAN July 21, 2017 at 7:24 pm . Reply

    I see Dr Tony has been on Twitter saying the club pulled the veretout deal not the player as there were other higher offers for him. Make of that what you do

    1. GIDDYVILLAN
      GIDDYVILLAN July 21, 2017 at 7:35 pm . Reply

      Ps I think we could of handled it better

  8. nath
    nath July 21, 2017 at 7:55 pm . Reply

    cissokho wins the award for longest drawn out transfer, we still havent sold anybody lol at least they are haggling a better deal for veretout. Bruce says hes not finished in transfer market, who will be the next incoming ???? i havent the foggiest

  9. nath
    nath July 21, 2017 at 8:06 pm . Reply

    Xia wants to get Villa’s first team squad down to a more manageable number of around 20 senior pros, supplemented by half a dozen emerging youngsters

    i totally agree with this statement, i want to see the youngsters being blooded in, these kids are the future. at some stage we have to realize we can not compete with the premiership clubs. so we need to produce our own quality players,

    1. OohAhPaulMcGrath
      OohAhPaulMcGrath July 23, 2017 at 2:57 am . Reply

      Ha ha translated Xia means we can bring through half a dozen kids then sell them to the sky 4 teams and make money. We will never be able to hold onto decent players and will always be a selling club

  10. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson July 21, 2017 at 8:18 pm . Reply

    Nath, that makes sense, fixed squad of say around twenty would then give younger players a chance, having more holds back our youth. I’ve always said its time to bled your own telent. How many have we given away in the last ten years?. What you think.

    1. nath
      nath July 21, 2017 at 8:29 pm . Reply

      i agree bill, some of the youngsters we have seen in the friendlies have not let anybody down. green last season showed hes ready and davis has also proved hes good enough when given the chance.

      1. nath
        nath July 21, 2017 at 8:37 pm . Reply

        i av been impress with that haye last game midfielder, that young center back clarke was also immense, what impressed me about both they were comfortable on the ball, hayes was always offering himself and he never dallied when he received two touches and moved it on

        think what the youth players would learn just being around the players like terry whelan samba,

  11. Hitchens 60
    Hitchens 60 July 22, 2017 at 8:23 am . Reply

    Read that Gardner has not gone with the team to Germany. Either he’s injured or it suggests he might be one of those 10 (according to Dr T’s tweet) leaving the club

  12. nath
    nath July 22, 2017 at 12:35 pm . Reply

    when is our next friendly game on YouTube 🙂 is it today or 🙁 tomorrow

    1. Hitchens 60
      Hitchens 60 July 22, 2017 at 12:37 pm . Reply

      Tomorrow

  13. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson July 22, 2017 at 1:01 pm . Reply

    Hitch do you know the time?

    1. Hitchens 60
      Hitchens 60 July 22, 2017 at 2:25 pm . Reply

      Cup of Traditions kicks off tomorrow 1pm local time (12 noon) UK. Each team plays two games of 45 minutes each. I think there are four teams taking part – more to follow

      1. Hitchens 60
        Hitchens 60 July 22, 2017 at 2:31 pm . Reply

        https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1s2EVIjGQTo

        Link to live coverage.

        Teams taking part include Duisburg, Hertha Berlin and Malaga – I think we play games against the first two named.

  14. VillaAwayInDiv3
    VillaAwayInDiv3 July 22, 2017 at 2:44 pm . Reply

    Can we just play the 2nd half in each game please…..lol

    1. Hitchens 60
      Hitchens 60 July 22, 2017 at 3:05 pm . Reply

      🙂

Leave a Reply to Bill Pearson Click here to cancel reply.