So Gana’s gone to Everton and Cieran Clark has gone to Newcastle in a move that I find more than a little strange.
I know Newcastle have had their problems in defence, but Clark certainly didn’t strike me as the sort of centre back they’d want to sign, as we all know he’s prone to massive howlers at times.
Then again, I keep finding myself thinking that he’s still only 26, which is quite young for a defender really. He’s also a constant in the Republic of Ireland side, where he had a very good Euros, that rash lunge apart, so just maybe he isn’t as bad as many of us think?
He’s another one who I think might perform better overall in a more confident side and I happily wish him all the best for the future.
So much for “Villa through and through” though.
As per usual, money talks.
But the big news is that it would seem Ross McCormack is Villa bound, after we tabled a £12 million bid, rising to £14 million if you believe the stories.
My immediate reaction is that it’s a hell of a lot of money to pay for a player who’s 30 in ten days time, but when you look at his record, it’s very impressive. He scored 38 times in 89 league appearances, a stat that also suggests he isn’t injury prone.
When I think of strikers down the Villa these days, my thoughts always turn to wondering who’s going to provide the ammo, but it appears that McCormack isn’t just an accomplished finisher and he can make chances and goals too.
The interesting thing is it seems he performs better when playing off a target man and we have a pretty decent one in Rudy Gestede. Of course, this would suggest that RDM would go with a two up front and it’s a move I’d be happy to see.
I still struggle to see where the ammo is going to come from though, although we could go long, I suppose. That doesn’t make sense though, given RDM’s previous comments about our style.
Still, that’s what managers get paid mega money for, isn’t it?
When you factor in that McCormack’s fee and wages will have been covered by Gana and Clark departing, this deal makes very good sense, if the striker’s rich vein of goalscoring form continues this season.
There’s always the risk that something could go wrong and it just might not work out, which would leave another expensive player on no doubt fat wages, but short of a cheeky attempt to get Benteke back I think this is probably about as good a signing as we could reasonably have expected.
Let’s not forget Gestede has been known to score a few in the championship and I look forward to them both hitting the net regularly.
Imagine if they do play together. How good would it be for the Villa to have a successful forward pairing again?
Comments
166 responses to “McCormack practically signed and things moving”
Good signing methinks.
Apparently the Norwich fans have got the right hump 🙂
And he creates to
jesus Badger you are taking the piss lad if you think Clarke had a good Euros he was feckin shite speaking as an Irish lad he was at fault for a couple of gaols and then was dropped. Have to say he is no loss for me at the Villa
Badgers been out in the sun too much if he thinks that Clarke was woeful
Desperate signing.
Complete waste of 12-15 million quid.
No doubt most will be happy simply because we have spent a lot of money on one player.
He will turn out to be another flop.
Nothing to do with the amount of money spent obviously your picking excuses out the sky now to have a whinge fucking boring, this players goalscoring record speaks volumes this is why the fans are pleased obviously not the closets amongst us
Ps Badger I thought terry Jones was banned.
Lol moderate me it was worth the dig 😀
Well said gv
Stubbs – a poor man’s OohAh 🙂
Lol that’s quite funny for u 😄
Looks like Ayew off to wh to join brother
Not really, Gana was always gonna go and Clark is crap so really it’s a good swap imo
Looks like Ayew may be going to West Ham to join his brother. Still a selling club
It’s a baseless link. West Ham are desperate for a striker, they want Andre (who they haven’t even signed yet) so they mine as well link Jordan too.
The thing is Stubbs, who would you rather the Villa signed, realistically?
If you’re thinking Bamford, I believe we’re still trying to loan him, although he doesn’t convince me.
McCormacks record speaks for itself and if he gets us the goals that get us promoted, he’ll have been an excellent buy imo, even if he never kicks a ball for us again afterwards.
Spot on bager, let’s see if he’s still saying that after he turns out to be the highest goal scorer in the league again. That would make it 4 years in a row I think😃
We should of got benteke on loan
I don’t think there would of been a cat in hells chance he would of wanted to comeback.
Yeah but that’s been circling around for ages, has the story progressed yet into anything more factual
Looks like it starting to pick up pace https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/1549614/andre-ayew-to-west-ham-brother-jordan-to-join-swansea-star-at-the-olympic-stadium-in-8million-switch-from-aston-villa/amp/
First of all this story is from the sun say no more,if true bar any release clause will refuse to sell or play hard ball & price him up to some daft amount.can’t see this one happening
Also says they are trying to sign his brother from Swansea to play them together. So not one without the other? Sounds unlikely but then it’s the Sun!
So he’ll go to West Ham with his brother and be 5th selection?
They’re also after Carlos Bacca too. Can’t see this one tbh
Well if it’s from the sun it must be true then lol
Oohah has a habit of believing everything bad about Villa… Everything. like sheep level everything..
Good thing Xia has come out again and said he’s not for sale. And said the same thing when he was linked away for a fee higher than the Sun’s bs fee.
@ Badger
There’s better players out there than McCormack for the money he’s cost us.
In the Championship alone there is Charlie Austin who springs to mind. Murphy from Ipswich. Oliveira from Forest, Robson Kanu who was available on a free is another.
I just think we could of spent the money on a better player.
did austin not sign for soton,robson kanu and murphy make gabby look good in goal scoring stats
You’re right JV, Austin is at Southampton. My bad.
Robson-Kanu who had two good games at the Euros but was let go by Reading because he didn’t score any goals – and you think he stands up to McCormack’s goal scoring record. We need proven goal scorers not freebies.
Two strikers who didn’t even match McCormack together in Oliveira and Murphy with 19 goals together… Murphy’s also 33. Oliveira was once highly rated but that’s well past. And Kanu, who no one would’ve wanted if he didn’t have a semi-half decent Euros.
McCormack signed – on OS
He scores goals. What doesn’t make sense here?
With Ayew liking to play a touch deeper I can see him become our playmaking midfielder with the licence to roam. He’s the only player I have confidence in with the ball at his feet and we know likes to shoot on sight from range.
Still think we need a holding mid and a right back though. I’m hoping someone pops up with a late bid for Westood too!!!
Spot on helenius. I do think though that Ayew is a on the greedy side, if he can create a solid partnership with McCormack we’ll have two incredibly lively forwards on the pitch with lots of movement which could help Grealish’s game, it’s just too static up front for him to properly create. There could also be a case that McCormack and Ayew are too similar but I think it could work. With Gestede as back up for the tougher games we could have goals in us this season, finally!!
Would be the best news of the summer if we can offload Westwood, absolute dross of a player!
I agree Ayew can be very greedy. I’m hoping with a bit of movement alongside/in front of him we will see another side of him. With the scarecrow up top I wouldn’t be passing to him either…..
With the rumour Ayew to West Ham. It just doesn’t make sense to me. They already have 3 established forwards, with interest in Bacca and the two Ayew brothers. Maybe a swap deal to be had but they definitely don’t want/need all 6.
It’s all speculation at this stage, I can’t see it happening. Unless there’s another clause in there somewhere we just don’t have to do it. Ayew does strike me as the sort of player who would throw his toys out the pram if we did block a move though.
I thought I read somewhere that RDM said Ayew has not got a release clause!
I read that he said there were no other release clauses, that being before we sold Clarke based on a release clause! I hope he doesn’t in any case mate, just seen another couple of articles appearing on the topic so I bloody hope it isn’t true!
Excellent signing, glad its done, get him a few training sessions in before the game on the weekend!
A proven goalscorer, just what we need.
A creative midfielder and a right back would be lovely!
utv
As proven by Boro last season, you have to pay top whack for battle-ready, proven goal scorers. We out bid a rival club, which is not something that has happened too often in the recent past! I can’t see anything to moan about frankly. I won’t be shedding any tears about any of the players that have let either. Gana was too lightweight and would get kicked to absolute s**t in the championship and Clark was a calamity that would make Dunne look faultless. Hopefully the Dr has got a few more phone calls to make before the weekend but the window doesn’t shut for another three weeks.
don’t think Clarke’s move was a money motivated thing, he was probably told he’s not in managers plans. personally believe benteke has been the root of our problems for the last four years we became one dimensional and forgot how to attack as a team.
Why is it when I reply to people’s comments it delivers my message eventually but a lot further down the page and not make sense?
It happens now & then
South coast Villan,
It’s done on purpose, to prevent too many replies to one specific comment, which might sidetrack the thread.
The easy way to get round it is to address your response specifically to whoever you want to respond to, as I’ve just done to you.
I know it might seem crap, but it keeps the replies flowing and stops things getting bogged down on one particular point, trust me 😉
Ok fair point, will do👍
Glad this one is all sorted. I wonder if Joe Bennett could play at RB? Has the experience of the championship and has had decent loan spells. I know he’s left footed but surely he can practice right footed crosses etc and adapt. I’d rather see him at rb than bacuna or Hutton! That’s for sure.
adam
have you watched joe bennet play for villa,maybe as left winger but no where else ,he was out on loan loan last season bournmouth no app,sheff wed 4 app he div one standard as a defender atbest saying that ,its a stepup on hutton standard
Yeah I’m not saying we shouldn’t look for a rb just that it might be worth a game or two just to see. He can score free kicks and can actually cross a ball which is more than Hutton can do.
So Lescott followed Leeds on twitter then unfollowed them quickly after. Let’s hope it wasn’t from his pocket and there actually after him.
Great to see that McCormack at the Villa, let’s all hope he gets of to a flyer and starts hitting the net. Keep them coming Tony.
I agree with some of the lads we need a RB and another CM.
Yeah good shout. What did everyone think of Shane Duffy at the Euros, ironically he replaced Clark in the Republic of Ireland team. Had a stormer against Italy in the final group game and is a bit of a giant. I know he got sent off in the France game, but was last man and I believe that rule of double jeopardy is under review.
I doubt Blackburn will sell though as they’ve just let Grant Hanley (another beast) join Newcastle.
Mccormack brings goals and creativity, but I still think we need another forward player as Gabby is finished and Gestede is not good enough as a starter as he is too limited.
Dr Xia says 3-4 more in and Ayew staying, though I think if a big bid comes in Ayew will kick up a fuss and we’ll end up losing him (bit like he did when we signed him).
Having said that, I keep forgetting we still have Traore. Really think he could cause so many problems if we could get him fit…
What’s happened to Traore is he still injured
when are we gonna sign somebody lol AGAIN yeah have we signed anybody today ??? buying mccormack shows the non believers and haters we mean business. spine of the team looks solid. full of character instead of last season shrinking violets.
wonder where RDM wants to strengthen now, i just reading some of ur posts saying lescott to leeds, love it to be true but how could leeds afford him.
looking good and just intime kick off sunday
I think those moaning about the McCormack signing [age, cost, etc.] need a dose of reality: Villa aren’t in a position to sign ‘Premiership’ players – any more than they should be signing ‘promising youngsters’ at this stage- and looking at the crazy fees being spent by PL teams this window I doubt whether we could afford any for a good few years to come now.
The Championship is [literally] a different league. The only objective is to put together a squad able to scrap and get out of it as soon as possible, and there are players out there who can do that, even though we all know they would do sweet FA in the Premier League [Gestede as another example].
Imagine the fuss on here if McCormack had gone to [say] Wolves, and started scoring for them in his first couple of games: we’d soon be hearing moans that Villa were too-tight to spend the money…
As for Clark – whatever merits he might have, he’s been part of a failed team, and didn’t really show any ability to raise his own game when others were failing. So good luck to him at Newcastle, but I don’t believe he’l be missed at VP.
I’m delighted with the McCormack signing – age / price / length of contract will mean nothing if he does the business. Our signings so far this transfer window should all go straight in to the starting 11 and it’s been a few windows since we’ve been able to say that……all of the signings make sense to me.
Add Amavi, Baker, Gardner and to a lesser extent Bennett to the mix and the team could look very different. I’d love us to go for Jerdinak from Palace if he’s genuinely going to be made available – he could be the bruiser / leader / big beard in midfield we’ve been crying out for for years.
Could Amavi play further forward on the left seeing as we have three left backs who are arguably better going forward than defending? (actually, not sure what Cissokho is good at).
Can’t wait to see what the line up is gonna be on Sunday
Who cares whatever it is we will lose
Full of happiness as usual oohah lol
Jedinak is a quality shout mate. Excellent calm head in the middle of the park, would be a fantastic signing!
See that we have ‘smashed’ the transfer record for the Championship in buying McCormack – well OK by a couple of mill with add ons included.
The point is it starts to give credence to Dr. T’s claims – would Lerner have invested in the same way even having received £12m for Clarke and Gana?
The other point, not to be overlooked, is despite last season’s appalling record we have been able to convince four players with other options to join us – that’s a heartening fact.
h 60
that s a great point about rdm been able to convince 4 players to sign even if guzan only one of last year boo boys been shifted out the door
percy still saying we are after hull striker and lescoot tweeting car pictures is on his way to leeds on a free
Lerner splashed 25m on bent what’s ur point
Not in the close season he didn’t. He shat himself in January when he thought we were in trouble – protected his investment for another season.
True but Dr X won’t be spending that money in one player.
Irrelevant – because there aren’t Championship players at that price yet [and it wouldn’t go far in today’s PL market either].
Give it a rest OohAh – read your own posts and stop arguing against yourself
I’m thinking dr x may just be more savvy (naive) than we think and is looking at a 1st attempt return to the prem. If we get that, I don’t think 25mil will be a problem for him.
I say naive from the devils advocate point of view. He’s obviously an ambitious business man, with dreams of grandeur (us being bigger than Real Madrid within 10 years *cough cough*) but realistically, from a business mans point of view, you don’t go all out immediately on a new investment when potentially your money could be better spent at a later stage (considering the business plan runs accordingly-getting to the premiership in our case). Why go all in now when if we’re back in the prem in a year we can really invest to keep us there. He’s a fairly black and white type of fella (based on his Twitter feed and admittedly poor English at least) and I think his social media antics are fantastic and honest (which for a Chinese-in business- is extremely less common place) I like the guy and I think we have good owner. I think 12mil is pennies for him and the real money will be seen at a later stage. The championship is about experience only, players who know the league, managers who know the league and know how to get out of it, it’s a gritty league with little flair, that’s what we’re investing right now, we can wait for our messi’s and ronaldhinos till next season.
Lescott to Leeds on free? cracking idea, let them all go on a free!
Problem is these guys just sit on hefty contracts watching the money role in! Let’s hope any money saved on a transfer fee on Leeds part can bolster his wage packet.
Leeds must be more stupid than us and that’s saying something
Now that I can agree with 🙂
I’d honestly pay money out of our transfer budget to get rid of Lescott and Richards. Poisonous attitudes, lazy and deluded, as well as completely disinterested. If we could get rid of both on frees, it would be a huge result
Agree with you – but it’s not ‘our’ cash!
Should be a priority to get them out, even if it means subsidising their wages at another club. They’re poison.
Here it is in the Telegraph, Lescott for Leeds –
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/08/04/leeds-united-poised-to-move-for-unwanted-aston-villa-defender-jo/
If true wonderful news (even if it means that the sale of chewing gum will fall in the B6 district). I’m just wondering how much they had to bribe the Leeds’ manager to take him off our hands?
Good riddance!
Is Libor Kozak still with us, just thinking he may make a good hold up forward in the Championship, possibly a good partner for McCormack.
I saw talk that Kozak might be on his way out now that we’ve signed McCormack.
If you want to see a feel good video watch this from the great John Carew –
https://twitter.com/TomVTID/status/646252609385431040/video/1
Great stuff!
Love it
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3724196/Roberto-Di-Matteo-Aston-Villa-house-knocked-rebuild-club.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
Decent read
I see west brom have been sold to a Chinese group!!
I hope their well dodgy.
According to some reports Villa are in for Paddy McNair of Man U.
Clark out and McNair in? If true that sounds like a great bit of business!
“Everyone in the squad needs to buy into the fact that a point isn’t good enough for a club like Aston Villa.”
That is a magnificent quote from our new number 44 Ross McCormack.
Flippen heck now we are signing players with a winning mentality can’t have that !!
Ha ha hopefully it’s contagious.