I’m sorry, but you’ll have to forgive me for not wanting to do cartwheels over our winter window business.
Reading around, it seems the word I’ve come across most to describe our dealings is “underwhelmed” and that’s about how I feel.
While the Guilbert signing intrigues me, it’s obvious he’s one for our future plans and that’s fair enough, although I do wonder why we’re signing players for the future, when we need them now, if we’re really going to push on for promotion?
Looking at the rest of the signings, it’s a similar story.
Mings seems our best bet and I like the sound of him, but he’s hardly played in years.
Will he be ready to start tomorrow? I’d be surprised, but we do need to give Chester a rest. The problem I have is that U-23 match fit is not Championship match fit.
Which leads me to Hause, who was supposed to have looked the business in training, but hasn’t been able to oust an injured Chester. What does that say about either the player or what Dean Smith told us?
The minimum for me, is that he’s nowhere near ready.
Kalinic is finding his feet and definitely seems a better goalie than Nyland, although it’s early days.
And then there’s the enigma which is Tom Carroll, who strikes me as a desperation signing when the Fer transfer fell through.
Hopefully he’ll add some more intensity in the middle, compared to Whelan and Jedinak, but I’m not sure exactly what his role will be. Competition for Hourihane, perhaps?
I’m just a bit concerned that Swansea’s fans seem glad that he’s gone, but at least he’s had a few games this season.
Ok, on paper, we’ve rebalanced the side somewhat.
But we all know the game isn’t played on paper and if it was, we wouldn’t be where we are now.
I’m minded to ask how we’ve actually improved a single position and would welcome thoughts on this.
So, all in all, I think we’re pretty much going with what we’ve got, which ultimately won’t be good enough, this season, at least.
So while I don’t think much of our incomings, I think our outgoings are mostly good moves.
Hogan to the Blades is a risky one, but as it was, we were only depleting his value by not playing him.
Yes, he might ultimately cost us promotion, but I’m not convinced. If Sheffield can get him firing, fair enough. At least he’ll retain more value when we do let him go.
Bree, well, while I know some were disappointed over this one, I can’t say I am. He hasn’t yet struck me as anything special and needs games.
And then there’s the kids. Smith hasn’t messed about here. He said we were top heavy and has cleared most of our attack out on loan.
Rightly so, as most of them were never going to get a game and need real minutes in a man’s game. This is the encouraging part for me.
If they do well, they come back and seriously challenge; if not, they get binned.
Bedou, I’m really not bothered about.
And McCormack, well, good riddance.
Anyway, given my views of the academy being a waste of time if the lads are never going to move up, I’m very happy about our outgoings.
So onto tomorrow’s game and I don’t have a clue what to think.
Will Mings go straight in?
Will Carroll play?
Will Reading have an advantage now that they’ve got rid of Bacuna?
I simply don’t know.
But I’m going for a 1-0 win.
Simply because we ought to win this game.
I hope I’m wrong, but I think we’ve pretty much given up on promotion.
I’m not sure of that but we’re definitely not banking on promotion as we (almost) disastrously did last season. I think the players we’ve got in could improve the side or at least provide much needed back up but the January window is always a bit pot luck.
I’m hoping that they’re planning for both eventualities, promotion and another season in the Championship. We need leadership at the very top of the club that is looking at the next three or four years not just this season. Hopefully we’ve got that now.
Having said that I’m intrigued about Carroll. I’ve got a feeling that he might just give us a bit more than we’re expecting. He certainly has the skill so long as he can stay fit.
Given that January is always a difficult window, I’m giving Smith et al a 6 / 10 (originally 7 but I’m concerned that none of our three loan signings are match fit).
We have balanced the defence left side which should help but Smith will have to take risks playing Mings who’s not match fit.
Like you Badger, I think the Hogan loan is a good move and I’m encouraged about the U23’s going out on loan allowing some of the acadamy an opportunity to step up. Bree will either improve or will go in the summer.
I’m going for a draw tomorrow as statistically that’s the most likely outcome
I’m a coward I just dont know what to think, I’ll wait till I see to say good or bad.
I didn’t Think Messi would come to us anyway.
Oh, I forgot.
What’s with the Gregg Evans love-in?
He’s certainly seeing something I’m not, in that everything we’ve done is a plus.
Fawn, fawn, we’ve seen it all before.
totally agree with badger and hitch on sending the kids out on loan. FINALLY i believe they should have all been sent out from last season to now. like hitch said they are clogging up the under23s now they have all been sent out the under 18s and 21s will get under23 games and they will be tested out of their comfort zones.
so the kids sent out on loan,most of them for the first time will be tested in the mens game. i think they all have the football ability thats not in question, but i think its the physical side which a few will fail on. doyle hayes and corey taylor i rate to having the best chances, but you can never tell
sending hogan out was also a great bit of business, his value has taken a massive nose dive, but a good finish to the season will do wonders for his confidence and his value.
finally we have a manager who has a plan and also is out to improve the individuals, which will improve the team. making for a stronger squad and club ready for the premiership. i am behind him. would have loved to still go up this year but if we don’t iam more than confident next year will be the year.
p/s a mate showed me this song from leeds fans singing a queen song hope you like it if iam allowed to post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUANLkhiAWo
I’m more pleased with the outgoings than the incomings. All the players going out on loan were very unlikely to play first team football this season so it makes perfect sense. If the kids can’t break into league one or two teams then it’s unlikely they will ever make the grade. As far as the January signings are concerned I feel slightly underwhelmed. Guilbert I know nothing about although our recent history of signing players from France hasn’t proven fruitful. Mings could be a great signing if he is over his injury woes but roughly 20 games in 3 seasons doesn’t fill me with confidence. As for Carroll and reading Swansea fans comments, it looks like they are delighted he has gone although expect him back in the summer. Personally I don’t see any sense in it especially when Jedinak, Whelan, Bjarnason, Hourihane, Lansbury, Grealish and McGinn are fighting for 3 places. I know two are currently injured but should be back soon. Another disappointment is Green getting injured again in training with a hamstring problem and will be out for a number of weeks. I will wait till I see tomorrow’s line up before I make a prediction. Fact is we should win and to push for play offs we have to win. Trouble is we should have beat Wigan and we know how that went. Mind you Reading have lost a top champions league player so things looking up 😂
Holte – I’m going to be devil’s advocate here – with Jedinak and Whelan certain to go in the summer, Thor probably also off and Lansbury a walking sick note, why not take a look at Carroll of whom big things were expected?
Smith backs himself to improve younger players so,for the sake of part of Bolassie’s wages, and with no obligation to buy – merely an option – maybe it’s not such a poor call?
I just think he will struggle to get match time with players already ahead of him in the queue. Maybe he will show in training that he is good enough, but his fall from grace from a promising young Spurs player, to a squad player at Swansea suggests that he might lack the hunger to succeed. Only time will tell I guess and like you said, if he doesn’t produce the goods at least we can send him back with just his wages costing the club.
Looks like Green will go into the Delfouneso category of unfulfilled potential. I’ve got my negative head on tonight. Can you tell?
I think we have massively improved at centre half, don’t forget we also brought Elphick back and now have left sided players is defence, when Tuanzebe comes back there will be great competition.
My disappointment is we didn’t sign a lb which was the number 1 problem position or a real defensive central midfielder.
However, as I think we already have the best squad I the league I still think it’s not about quality of player but getting the most out of them and them living up to potent.
Over to you Dean Smith (and hurry back Jack and Axel
I’m with you on that Holte, the feet will do the talking, in the next few games after tomorrow we have two midweek games 8th, the 13 th, a chance to see for ourselves. I’m not expecting for us to go up this season but see if we are moving forwards at last. Time will tell.
Bill, if we can stay in touching distance of play offs and get Grealish and Tuanzebe back, then maybe we could go on a run. Still lots of points to play for and no team is doing a Wolves, Cardiff or even Fulham this season.
Basically, we’ve signed two crocks who nobody else wanted and handed a million quid over for the privilege. We don’t get many injuries so the powers that be thought it only right that the medical staff earn their wages. Well done to all concerned. (slaps forehead and screams into a pillow).
We don’t get many injuries BFR?
Grealish, Jedinak, Nyland, Green, Tuanzebe, Lansbury, Chester, Adomah – at one point we struggled to put out a midfield at all! Too many injuries on the training field definitely.
A fair criticsm would be taking too many players from other clubs not match fit having suffered long term injuries.
I’m pretty sure BFR was being sarcastic, Hitch 🙂
Apologies BFR, if I took your post too literally.
Haha yes I was being sarcastic Hitch. Very disappointed with incomings.
Time to be honest. The window was an opportunity for Smith and the owners to make a statement and give direction as to their plan for the club.
The in comings have been very poor not the calibar of player needed for promotion.
To loan a player back to their club suggests planning for next season.
Smith has been a disappointment so far. We have to be careful that just because he may have been a Villa fan he can do no wrong.
Bruce over all results are better than Smith.
Time to ask questions re Smiths capabilities.
Let’s look at his side and how he has failed to address the weak areas,
He picks Whelan almost regularly, even Bruce didn’t do that, Whelan lacks pace and is not going to compete at the top level in the championship, yet Smith selects him.
Hourihane has been poor for weeks/months he disappears in games, offers no defence, can’t tackle yet he is a Smith regular.
Taylor, we’ll surely we all now he is not the answer yet a Smith regular.
We needed a centre half , a defensive mid player and a left back,
Smith had months to plan for January yet ends up with Hause who didn’t impress, Ings may be a decent loan and Carroll who can’t get into the Swansea side ( I know he has been injured but his place has bee Filled)
Where are the upgrades to address the weakness in the side.
Remember the players who returned to their clubs, loss cancelled to free up money, where has the money gone?
Smith, Purslow and the owners have failed. They have now show their true intent and capabilities.
Smith is not good enough or Aston Villa.
‘The window was an opportunity for Smith and the owners to make a statement and give direction as to their plan for the club.’
Since when was January ever been a window when anyone ‘made a statement’? Your negativity is appalling, if you’re a real Villa fan that is.
“Smith is not good enough for Aston Villa.”
That’s incredibly harsh and it’s far too early to say that, imo.
But Ted does have some good points, Pat.
Everybody, whether positive or negative thinks that LB is our single biggest weakness, in that the incumbant is poor, without any proper competition.
So while we’ve signed two left sided defenders who can play there, why didn’t we just get one CB in and actually upgrade LB?
Unless Smith has seen how poor Hause currently is and thought we’d need another CB? That would be fair enough, I suppose.
Also, while it may seem harsh, when you look at the numbers, Smith’s record is equal at best to Bruce’s. Fact.
But I see that as a case of if you have the same players, you’re going to get the same problems.
So Smith gets some of his own players in, which gives us a chance to see how things are improving.
Great.
But why do I find myself wondering how many of them are actually going to get to play? Some of our current players may be poor, but at least they’re match fit.
You’re right, January isn’t a time for clubs making statements.
But if you’re going to bring players in, shouldn’t they be actual upgrades to what you’ve got? Otherwise, what’s the point?
My opinion says we should either have pushed the boat out (which we no doubt can’t because of FFP and I don’t want, as we’ve tried it before) or we should have gone for the promising kids that we’re constantly told Smith knows how to bring through.
Instead, we’ve gone for experienced players who are unfit.
Sort of in the middle and it’s this what confuses me.
Yes, we can send the players back.
But I still don’t see what the plan is, unless there isn’t one yet and these are simply back up?
In which case, why not stick with what we’ve got, as we do have players coming back soon?
Confused. com 🙂
As Bill Pearson has said, the proof will be in the pudding.
Whatever, I think Ted’s opinion, even though I think it’s overly negative is a healthy counter to Gregg Evan’s overly optimistic view, where Smith can do no wrong.
Now that’s what you call playing Devil’s advocate, lol 🙂
Ah, I’ve just read that Carroll is saying that his move was on the cards for weeks.
Now that’s good news, as I thought it was a panic signing.
What makes his comments interesting, is that he likes how Smith plays the game.
It’s a shame that we’re nowhere near that though.
If Carroll can spray the ball about in the Luka Modric mould that has been suggested, I’m encouraged.
But again, he’s trained for 7-10 days after a stint out, so might be a while away.
Hopefully he’ll come good before it’s too late.
I agree that Smith’s record to date is on a par with Bruce but it wasn’t just Bruce’s record that lost him the fans – it was his style of play and over reliance on older players. It seems to me that Smith is starting to address both of those points but to expect him to do it with a click of the fingers is unrealistic.
We also seem to have conveniently forgotten that just five months ago we were on the brink of bankruptcy and are still hindered by FFP regulations (whatever we might think of them) and the legacy of Xia’s over ambition and poor financial stewardship of the club.
My third point is the assumption that Villa can just pick up any top quality (as defined by a Villa fan) player in any position Villa need at a price we can afford in the January window – really – and, having failed to do so, then Smith, Purslow and Jesus must be failures who don’t know what they are doing.
Badger you posted that we all need to get a dose of reality or suffer a long period in the Championship like Leeds – it remains good advice.
Of course the jury is still out on Smith – as has been pointed out, he’s never finished higher than ninth with any club – but to reach a verdict yet is far too premature.
Good post Hitch.
I’d be reasonably confident that we’ll beat his previous best of 9th.
But there’s a good point that would say “so we bloody well should”.
Anyway, I’m off on the lash.
And I promise to try and be more upbeat during the game.
Only try, mind.
Have a good one Badger and spare a thought for us poor sods stuck in the cold with thousands of brass monkeys stealing all the solder 🙂
The January transfer window slammed shut on Thursday after a fast-paced couple of days of squads all over the country trying to bolster their chances.
Villa made a number of major signings in January, as they looked to improve their chances of reaching the goal of top six this season.
Despite being around mid table, Dean Smith’s men will fancy their chances of a play-off spot after these additions.
Lovre Kalinic, Croatias international goalkeeper, was first to join the club, to improve the goalkeeper situation where Orjan Nyland was struggling.
The loan signings of defenders Tyrone Mings and Kortney Hause were also two very strong additions for Smith’s side.
Yet, there is still a chance for Smith to improve his side.
There are a number of free agents out there that could significantly improve their squad at a very little price, and here, we look at some of those .
I didn’t know that, apparently we have 5 if required to have on loan.
Bill, they’re not specific to us.
They’re free agents who are available to anyone and just suggestions.
I see, they are agents that own players contracts?
No, they’re just players that are out of contract and free to be signed by anybody.
Mostly over the hill or just generally finished, through poor fitness or just not being good enough.
Free “agents” is just a name that means they can go anywhere they like.
smith was never gonna use January to bring in a whole bunch of superstar players. but in my opinions he has done loads in that window by sending the kids out, say half return fire up ready in preseason to make a point that they are ready.then smiths decision to send um all out be vindicated.
also the squad bruce left was not a balanced one. far too many strikers if you only play 1 per game. tammy if fit will command that role and others will never get a look in. so having tammy davis and kodjia should be enough. he also brought in three left footers (or left sided players) which will add competition and balance to our play.
i don’t understand who smith could have bought in to satisfy us. clubs don’t wannna start selling their players mid season. so if you wanna steal another teams players, you have to offer more than their value. also the selling team will want to find a replacement before they release their player. they should do away with jan and have a open window which would drive down prices
smith done good my opinions, brought in potential players with scope to improve and if they do good purchase um summer. best business was sending kids out, they have a chance now to prove their worth, something that should have been done ages ago.
new faces, new characters around the place. the doom and gloom that follows us might be lifted, if the game goes ahead hopefully. we can win and win with some style. maybe then all the doubters will come over and being overly confident. as theirs nothing in between
0 3 villa
Good posts as always on here, and well balanced too. I read Teds post and I tend to agree with the fact the transfers / loans haven’t really addressed our major inefficiencies which are LB and DM. Loans with an option to buy are better than loans which we have had recently. As for Smith I hope he gets time to mould a team in his style. I think it will take the summer to get the players he really wants with a lot of contracts coming to an end. Next season if we are still in the championship the pressure will be on him from fans and owners. And we have to forget he is a Villa fan and judge him purely on results and performances.
Has anyone thought that they have in fact made a statement….no more STAR signings in window like Hogan etc….so stopping the drain of money out of the club …I have said for ages I want us to start a system at Villa which will be a solid platform to hopefully get us a long spell back in the top flight……just hope it works.
I agree with you VillaAway and it’s why we have to be patient.
I understand some fans will say we’ve been patient for too long – but, in reality, have we?
Splashing the cash doesn’t guarantee success and Villa have been the masters of proving that over the last few years.
I think we’ve already made that statement Villaaway.
Yet we’ve spent around £5 mill on Guilbert who we won’t even see this season.
This is what doesn’t make sense to me.
If the winter window is generally seen as over-priced, why would we buy him now and not be able to use him?
It looks to me to be a totally pragmatic buy by Pitarch.
And I wonder if he and Smith are really singing from the same sheet?
That said, it could be a good thing.
Pitarch does the continentals and Smith does the British players.
That would work for me.
The intimation is, as I read it Badger, is they wanted the player and didn’t want to risk losing him by waiting until the summer. I guess it’s similar to a pre-contract arrangement. I suspect we can also take the costs into next year’s accounts – FFP? Also, I suppose you can make the argument that we’re OK at right back until the end of the season.
Smith also said he had been to see ‘Fred Gilbert’ play and liked what he saw.
Fred Gilbert?
That’s funny and typical Brummy 🙂
Plaugery, I’m sad to say Badger – it was Deano’s quip not mine!
I’d gathered that Hitch.
Which is what makes it so funny.
A Villa manager calling him that? 🙂
Badger the Guilbert signing makes sense to me. My bet is that his current club wouldn’t let him go in January anyway as they have no cover so it was buy now for next season or wait and watch his price go up.
If we go up than we’ve (hopefully) got a player who can play in the Prem, if not then he can help us get there next season.
As I’ve said before I’d guess that the board is hoping for promotion but not banking on it or, as Xia did, betting the club on it.
Some sensible and pragmatic management at VP was much needed and I hope we’ve got it now.
Yes, good points and hopefully it is a sign that we’re thinking ahead and actually planning.
I’d be inclined to worry they might get injuries that life affecting, I know there’s insurances but if it don’t show till later stages hey ho bad luck.