Despite the irony of the title, I must say I am very impressed with the business we have done in the last week. It’s been quite a crazy week for our club, but lets break down the transfer news so far;
Incomings:
Manzambi – 60M Euros
Gomes – 35M Pounds
Outgoings:
Rogers – 117M Pounds
Tielemans – 35M Pounds
Dobbin – 9M Pounds
Overall, I think this is fantastic business, particularly with Morgan and Youri costing a total of £12m! A very exciting time to be a Villa fan – change is inevitable. For me, the only key piece to the puzzle is Unai Emery, and arguably John McGinn. But key players arguably include Kamara and any goalkeeper, whether it is Dibu or not.
Rumours include Jackson, Garnacho and Palhinha, which is ironic considering he is hated by the fanbase – but lets hope that can change because I do think he is a good player!
One thing that shocked me was Rogers going to Chelsea. Where did that come from? I thought he was pretty much set on Arsenal if he was to be leaving, but apparently not. Tielemans to United strikes me as quite a realistic transfer – we’d have all thought that was realistic if he was still at Leicester.
Quick word on the World Cup – very impressive England performance. Funnily enough I actually took a shine to Rogers starting once the lineup had been announced, but then I quickly realised that I’d just read thirty minutes before that he was off to Chelsea! As for Konsa, probably the easiest header of all time but was glad to see him start and score in the World Cup – they all count!
A game that I really wasn’t fussed about and didn’t even move or react to any of our goals, but a game that would’ve really annoyed me had we have lost from 4-0 up because that would have just been extremely weak and embarrassing.
Now, the final. I generally have liked Argentina as a footballing nation, but this current group of players excluding Messi, Martinez and a few others are just so hateable. It is similar to Spurs – one of my more favoured clubs in the Premiership, but I just can’t stand the current group of players. Glad Spain won, they played much better anyway, but Argentina showed that you can go more than 90 minutes sitting back, and that it was actually our overall quality and poor defending that lost us the Semi-Final.
Overall a decent World Cup, and looking forward to getting club football back, but I must say I generally disconnect during the pre-season, and it’s going to be very difficult not making the Super Cup due to financial means, but priorities are priorities.
Has anyone noticed a change in the general font of the site? No idea how it’s happened – not gone on and done anything personally. Would like to revert it back, but don’t know what the old one is.
Yeh, I thought you’d done it, Alfie.
I wouldn’t have intentionally made that change as I prefer the old one, maybe I was drunk! 😂 (High probability) 😂😂
Alfie I believe Villa have an even better financial base to fund more transfers and attack SCR.
Malen’s £21m sale counts in this new financial period and even better is the removal of his £140k per week wages. Add in Barry for £3m and his alleged £35k per week wages. Then there is the loan savings on Sancho’s £200k+ per week salary and Elliott’s £70k per week. This little group have brought in £24m in transfer fees and saved £23.14m in wages. This is significant.
Don’t forget Barrenechea went for £9m, Digne likely to go for £7.5m and save £100k+ and Bailey to Hull rumoured to be £10-15m, plus £120k salary off the books.
I think there could be one if not two quality signings. Currently the squad is smaller than last year and needs to expand due to the demands of the champions league. Exciting times.
Sid, agree with the financial point. But Villa will need far more than one or two quality signings. Consider:
Tielemans out – Gomes replacement
Rogers out – Manzambi replacement (according to Canadian Pete)
Digne out – need a quality replacement
Garcia out – need a quality replacement
Elliot gone – need a quality replacement
Sancho gone – need a quality replacement
Bailey going – is Alysson the replacement? If not…
Guessand – will (hopefully) need a quality replacement
Barklay going – will need a very reliable replacement – is Bogarde enough?
Onana essentially out for the season – will need a top quality replacement (albeit a loan)
I’d also add that with CL football incoming, Tammy and Ollie will not necessarily be enough for a grueling season. Taking into account Ollie’s age, if offers of 30ish came in, I would not be at all surprised, although disappointed, if he also departed.
I’d say Villa need to sign at least 4, probably 5 quality players and unearth at least two quality loans, minimum. In other words, a new look Aston Villa and an overhaul of the team and squad has begun.
Thoughts, gents?
This is very much like 2019 when 10 players came in, many of whom are still at the club; the difference is the level of player coming in based on how far the club has come in 7 years.
I’d take Garcia, Bailey, Elliot out of that list as they hardly played and if they did come on, their impact was minimal.
Guessand hardly appeared so I’d also take him out.
Strikers: I think this will be Ollie’s last season due to his age. I also don’t think Tammy is our solution.
I heard Ross Barkley was staying?
I work out we’ve made over £182 from sales plus the Guessand money, so that’s over £207m.
Add to that the money from NEWS that we are allowed to spend. That to me looks a modest £250m. And don’t forget when Bailey goes, that’s more in the pot.
We’ve spent £105m of that already, leaving £145m. We desperately need 2 wingers who can also track back and defend. Konsa can cover for Cash, but we need cover on the left. It’ll be another season of asking the players for that bit more, but I think we can do it.
Bum Bum, I wouldn’t take them out. Elliot and Guessand were major signings but in a botched window. The numbers are needed. The quality needs raising, which shouldn’t be difficult. Bailey replaced Malen in Jan so a big upgrade needed, unless Unai goes with Alysson…
Bailey needs to be given away! He’s bloody useless.
There seems to be contradictory ideas about if Guessand is still our player of if he’s gone to Palace. Does he have a squad number?
Palace didn’t take up the option.
Three points – as important as the transfer income is, the removal of significant wages is vital if we are to meet the UEFA agreement of continually reducing our SCR to 70% before the start of the 27/28 season.
With the sale of Rogers – not ideal but valuable – we should have enough wriggle room to create a positive transfer account which is vital if we want to register new players for the CL.
Small point but we – as I understand it – secured less than £1m for Barry. I suspect our loan moves will be worth far more!
BFR totally agree. I was trying to say 2 relatively expensive buys, which would be supplements with a a further 2/3 £20m type buys.
Absolutely has to get more players in.
Al-Nassar have flogged Duran to Benfica. Do we get a sell on fee? 🙂
Question:
Would we have Rashford back for around 30 million, max?
I’d go yes. Big upgrade on all the outgoing attackers.
Hell yeah, BUT if his wages were sensible. I think the days of his massive salaries has gone.
£100k a week ain’t bad though! It was Emery that revived his career don’t forget. I think there’s too much bad blood for him to return to ManUre.
We can’t afford Rashford unless he substantially reduces his wages from £325k a week to nearer a £100k. In addition, no one is going to pay Manure £40m for a player they were going to see to Barca for around £28m.
I’d be massively surprised if we’re looking in that direction!
Rumour is we’re trying to broker a loan deal for Garnacho with an obligation to buy next season at £40.
He’s just 22 and a very good player – I don’t like his attitude but I’m sure Emery can ‘sort him out’.
Alex Scott apparently available at Bournemouth. Another superb all-rounder in midfield.
Possible long-term replacement for McGinn? Gibbs-White is out of range and I think that, leadership qualities aside, both the new boys cover that skills set anyway.
Could also cash in on Onana when he gets backis Scott comes in?
They’ll be looking at a fee similar to Anderson / Rogers as will Forest with Gibbs White although I think the latter is unlikely to seek a move at this stage.
Garnacho would be a disaster and Sancho 2; please, please steer clear!
If it’s a loan, OPTION to buy; do NOT put a mandatory clause in! If this is another PSR stunt (we buy Rogers; you take Garnacho), then Villa’s pants have been yanked down. Please, no.
Bill play friendly tonight lads 7-30 kick off.
Villa silly sod
When did we sign you Bill?
Nobody else worried/panicking about Garnacho? A disaster worse than Sancho, surely? Will I be calling him Garshitsho by the end of the season? 😬
Please don’t waste the Rogers money with stupid PSR games!
Disagree BFR – he’s a much better player than Sancho.
As I posted earlier, he’s a player that I dislike but Emery has a good record with players of his ilk – apart, possibly, from Duran 😂
Player, yes. Character? If there’s an obligation to buy, this is extremely risky. The lad looks a mess and that’s often telling. I really hope I’m wrong and the talent is realised at Villa.
I agree with your summation BFR that’s why I don’t like him but if Emery can get a tune out of him he’ll be a very good player.
Risky, yes but so was Rogers (albeit for less money). The problem is that the really top class proven players cost more than we can afford!
Alfie I believe Villa have an even better financial base to fund more transfers and attack SCR.
Malen’s £21m sale counts in this new financial period and even better is the removal of his £140k per week wages. Add in Barry for £3m and his alleged £35k per week wages. Then there is the loan savings on Sancho’s £200k+ per week salary and Elliott’s £70k per week. This little group have brought in £24m in transfer fees and saved £23.14m in wages. This is significant.
Don’t forget Barrenecheau
Please ignore above comment not sure why it posted twice
Nicolas Jackson at 25 makes sense. But if it happens, I feel that may be ‘curtains’ for Ollie…
If Madjo is the real deal and eventually comes into the fold, I can’t see Tammy lasting long either…
Speaking of which, Madjo starts this evening. I will be very very interested to know how both he and Hemmings do…
If Jackson is worth 60 and Malen 20, does that mean Jackson will score over 40 goals a season?
In other words, is Jackson a better striker than Malen?
With Ned Kelly back from his loan, should he get a chance as Cash’s understudy? Matthew is sporting a mean crew cut btw
Call me mystic Ron – Ned crosses to Madjo, who dispatches it with aplomb. Very promising!
At 17, Madjo looks an absolute beast!
I’ve got the game. 20 minutes in no score yet and Bailey having a right go, no Mcginn yet
Half time 0-3 Villa new boy Madgeo score 2 Hemmins 1
Haha, Hemmings, too? I might try predicting the lottery numbers…
If Madjo is playing does that mean we won our appeal against FIFA refusing his registration?
If so that’s excellent news as it seems Emery really rates this kid.
0-5 Villa
Didn’t watch but great result.
Aston Villa have confirmed that Morgan Rogers has completed a permanent transfer to Chelsea.
I found the game very interesting. Last year we lost but this year, even playing most of the youth team, we cruised to a win.
Especially impressed with Madjo, two goals and, at the age of 17, he’s quick and he’s got the physique of Romelu Lukaku. Aiden Borland scored a peach of a goal and looked really good in midfield and Hemmings played well too.
We seem to have some decent young players and I’d like to see Unai take them to the next step. If he can we may not need as many incomings as we think.
Borland’s finish with the outside of the boot reminded me of prime Suarez for Liverpool. Superb finish – just the confidence to try it says something about a player, never mind executing it.
Unsurprisingly the Villa faithful – well those that post regularly on BBC sport – are United in their opposition to the (potential) Garnacho signing.
Have to agree it’s a big risk, particularly if it’s tied in to us buying him next season (without safeguards).
According to reports Emery is personally driving this deal as he feels he can ‘unlock’ Garnacho’s undoubted potential but can he control or, at least change, his unacceptable persona. Sounds a little like Duran, The Sequel – and we all know how sequels tend to turn out. 😂
Rather we were negotiating for Nicolas Jackson!
Or Michael Jackson. Sha-Mow!!!
Unnecessary risk is all I’m saying. And it’s easily mitigated by not having the obligation to buy; surely, the club should have learned that lesson with Elliot?
Keep your options open is all I’m saying! If there’s an appearance clause, it should be 25 MINIMUM, 30 ideally, and certainly not 10, as in Elliot’s case. This safeguards against long-term injury, poor form, as well as poor attitude and dare I say disciplinary issues – all it takes is one impulsive and stupid social media post, which we know he’s well-capable of.
Happy to advise the club full time for a tiny fraction of what Garnacho will be paid. 🙂
I’m sure we’ve all learnt from last years sorry lesson. We can only trust the Boss! (Not Bruce Springsteen).
Garnacho please no!! and if we do loan, please make it an option to buy and not obligation. Also, there must be better alternatives to Jackson. He needs 10 attempts to score 1, and makes Ollie look prolific. Unai is a great manager but he will be tested to the limit if we end up with these Chelski misfits.
If that happens it’s basically a swap: Rogers for Garnacho and Jackson. I’m sure Chelsea will be delighted with that. Up to Unai and the players in question – especially the players – to prove that Villa got the better deal!
But have to be separated as UEFA tend to dismiss swap deals!
Jackson, of course, was with Emery at Villareal so knows him and has tried to sign him before. It seems Jackdon is open to a move to Villa?
BFR – see my post below re:UEFA swap deals regulations!
I assume this is to prevent inflating of transfer prices?
Rogers @ £117m – see the Anderson deal as a comparable!
I’ve read reports that say Garnacho buy at the end of the loan period is conditional which is a good starting point.
Assume the negotiations will be around this, salary and loan fee (read £5m but part of the total fee to acquire).
Agree with comments on here that the conditions have to be more realistic to that of Elliott.
Here’s an article on EUFA’s approach to ‘swap’ deals – just scroll down through the Chelsea crap!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvg0723e0jko
On the basis of this article Jackson’s not coming to Villa so forget the click bait stuff (me included).
UEFA really have got us tied up in a knot of frankly unfair and restrictive regulations – but, as I’ve said before – they can ‘get away with it’ because in registering the club and being able to play in Europe Villa agree to comply with their rules!
Stinks – doesn’t it?
PS – if Villa are savvy they will have cleared the loan deal for Garnacho with UEFA before signing anything!
I’m getting a bad feeling about this one. Lose two class act professionals in Youri and Morgan and replace with an immature loose cannon. How does that work for dressing room camaraderie? I really hope I’m wrong and Garnacho lights up the PL and CL while giving the Chelsea haters – of which there appears to be a great many – ‘the bird’ as he goes. Here’s hoping!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh8fdParxns
Can Garnacho get 20-25 goal involvements in a season? (scratches head and looks skywards as tumbleweed blows by…)
I hope Unai knows what he’s doing this time!
Garnacho all comes down to Emery. He believes there is a talent to be unleashed. Pretty much looks the obligation to buy will be met, which means Emery is confident. Look how he got a tune out of Duran and sold for top money. Not one of the numerous clubs and managers have got a tune out of Duran since. I do believe Emery can turn him around.
Perhaps Buendia will be his mentor.
I’m looking forward to the pace he can inject j to the team. This will add a new dimension. Does it mean we might cross balls in the air for Watkins? I’ve always been impressed with Watkins heading ability.
Whose next through the door?
Sid, I agree with you on Emery’s ability to get the best out of players that subsequently don’t continue to perform – not just Duran.
Also I see Buendia and Martinez being there (as fellow Argentinians and Martinez being a senior group leader) as mentors.
We’ll see.
Guys, it’s not ON the pitch I’m worried about. Everyone knows he’s a talent and we all know Emery has a good record of harnessing that. Like Duran, it’s off the pitch I’m worried about; Emery is a world-class football coach, not a life coach. He won’t be able to control what Garnacho does when he’s out and about and/or on his phone. In his book, which I’ll be reading next week while on holiday, he expresses regret over Duran; I hope he doesn’t feel the same about Garnacho in a year or two!
*for those thinking Saudi is a safety net to get your money back for talented but problematic players that you’ve taken a chance on, that’s fine, but one day the Saudi’s will get bored (like LIV Golf) and that bubble will burst. When it does your stuck with an expensive flop that’s draining the positivity from the dressing room.
Having said all of that, it won’t be difficult to provide more goal involvements than Sancho did, so in that sense, worst case scenario, the squad can afford ONE passenger. But not 3 or 4 like last season!
Hopefully the two Emis will be there and guide him, although Martinez is by no means guaranteed!