I’m sure most of you know I don’t go a bundle on speculation, as it’s mostly rubbish, but there’s nothing happening unless you want to see lots of pictures of players running about in training.
I’m not into that either, because as some of you might know, my opinion says we looked total junk in the pre-season training I saw at Bodymoor Heath, just before we last won the league.
Come to think of it, that’s what probably makes me so cynical about all this type of stuff; all that matters is how we perform on the pitch and the results we get, come actual match days, in my opinion.
That said, I know some of you love the speculation stuff, so I’ll go with it for once.
Just don’t expect it too often;
First off, as some of you have already discussed, it seems Marseilles might have triggered a release clause for Idrissa Gueye.
Now for some reason, I normally had a very good memory for fees and wages supposedly paid by the Villa, but sadly that’s beginning to fade these days.
I do though have an inkling that we paid around 9 million Euros for the Senegalise, but I remember there was confusion which led to suggestions that it was actually £££’s.
If the fee was indeed in Euros, it’s hardly a loss, as 9 million Euros wasn’t far off £7 million then.
And if the truth be told, I don’t think his leaving will be that big a loss either.
I know. He was actually one of our better players last season. But that’s not saying much, is it?
I just feel that while he performed well at times and his figures look good, he was just too anonymous for too many games.
Then again, I’d be happy if he stays. He’s one of the more gritty players that will be needed this season.
The same article also mentions that Celtic might make another bid for Sinclair, but here’s another link which suggests it’ll be £3 mill, after the previous supposed bid of £2 mill.
Which part of “Villa want £6 mill” doesn’t Rodgers understand?
Of course, there will probably be a compromise and the article seems to suggest that RDM is keen to get rid/cut wages.
Regardless, £3 mill seems somewhat cheap to me, although the winger is rumoured to be on £50k+ a week.
Add it up and it’s a lot of expense for a Championship player, even though I’d suggest he’s a good option and another who could really light up our season in a lesser league than the Prem.
This might be an interesting one, as if RDM does sell him, might it be a clue that the manager doesn’t want to play specifically wide men?
Another player leaving might be Micah Richards, if HITC are correct.
£5 mill for a player who had such a poor season and is on wages of somewhere around £55-60k a week?
I’m sorry to disappoint you, but you’ve got to be kidding me and the Villa just aren’t ever that lucky.
While Sam Allardyce isn’t afraid of pushing the boat out, surely he isn’t going to fall for that one. Is he?
Incoming-wise, the Birmingham Mail suggests we might be in for Bristol City striker Jonathan Kodjia at £6.5 mill.
The article suggests that he might replace Ayew, if he leaves.
And he is French, which might make sense too.
We’ll see, but I’m not convinced, although it also makes perfect sense that RDM will indeed be after another striker, given that he’s signed a new goalie, central defender and a central midfielder.
I like that it seems to suggest he’s thinking “if the side has no bottle, get a new spine”.
Still, I’m not convinced by any of the media rattle, until it starts saying “it’s in the bag”.
It’s the cynic in me.
whats the other friendly score ?? wasn’t they playing two friendlies
Result Worcester 1 VILLA 5
thanxs giddy dsvilla
5-1 Villa at Worcester Nath
At Stourport swifts
Ok, who let the goal in? Leaking defence again. 🙂 :-).
Grealish has to be played as a number 10 this season behind the front 2! It’s his time to shine
Well the doc has stated that Ayew will be staying.. Great news he will tear the championship up! Things get better and better every day
Really Cant wait for the season to start now
Was at the Telford game. The sooner we can get rid of Sinclair the better! I’d welcome Newcastle to sign him, he would actually hinder them so bonus for us. Andre Green looked good, think it’s a big year for him. Sulliman at right back looked decent too albeit only Telford. Hepburn-Murphy also came on and did well.
Agree about Sinclair but he should be sold to Celtic not Newcastle! It will only come back and bite us on our arse, you just know it
Just wondering how many more players we really need.
With Gollini in goal, Elphick in a central role and Amavi back at LB the defense should be in much better shape.
If we can keep Gana plus Tshibola in mid-field with a (hopefully) re-invigorated Grealish plus Ayew and Gestede in attack it feels like we have a good team for the Championship. Also think that Gil might make an impact too.
Not forgetting the youngsters, Hepburn-Murphy coming on in both games on Saturday might be a pointer.
Only really soft spot in the line up still appears to be at RB.
I find that I’m feeling quite optimistic about the coming season. How about you?
Couldn’t agree more👍 Like you say a good right back then get rid of a few, think we could be onto a winner. Oh how nice is it again to get that excited feeling back😃 Long may it last.
i am optimistic about the upcoming season. like the signings sofar. right back isn’t the major problem. i would like a finisher a fox in the box, somebody that doesn’t need to be asked twice to stick the ball in the net. while hutton isn’t everybodies cuppa, he is more than capable in this division.
just red that fans where booing at h/t at telford this isn’t good news. cause championship will be hard. its not gonna be turn up and they roll over. we will have to be together with the team.last season must be forgotten if never forgiven. but new era and clean slate, 12th man will be needed and we will definitely win promotion.
Yeah he could do a job a right back but he’s not the answer long term. Just think if we get a good right back in now and give him the year to settle next season when we’re back where we belong everything will be looking Rosie 😃 As for the booing I think it’s absolutely shocking at this stage of the season people are doing that.
This might be a bold statement but long term I think dropping down for a season might be the best thing that could of happend to us
As long as it’s just for the 1 season tho 😃
And having a new owner that gives a shit helps to
I am not optimistic about the coming season. Anything in the top half will be good IMO. The important thing is we look better at the end than at the beginning.
I can’t criticise RDM for starting with a clean slate, even for Micah Richards. For sure he would have off-loaded any of the shite from last season given a reasonable offer. But when there are understandably no offers and you are still paying their wages, you have to go through the motions of giving them a fresh start. He has obviously stripped Richards of the captaincy – giving it to Elphick. The only problem is the expectation that Gabby or Richards will suddenly change their stripes. They won’t, they are work shy losers more interested in scoring in a Manchester club than a Birmingham stadium.
The booing at Telford lasted about 5 seconds (I wasn’t one of them) and straight after as the players walked off they were all getting a clap except Sinclair who got a bit of abuse but it was deserved he had shown no effort or desire looked like he didn’t want to be there. So I think the booing was just to say come on lads it’s telford show some class get stuck in etc etc nothing to be concerned about. From chatting to a few people they all seemed optimistic.
Well the sooner Sinclair goes the better then if that’s the case!
Any thoughts on that Liam Bridcutt , a defensive midfielder we are interested in? Been reading about him seems to be a player that can lose it now and again.still it is a kicking league we’re in now.
I suppose that depends on if Gana stays or not! If he does I don’t think we really need him but hay that’s just my opinion!
Does any 1 have any idea why i can reply to some comments but not others? Very strange🤔
Try rebooting your phone it happens to me sometimes.
Ps try replying using the mobile site/full site whichever opposite one your presently using hope it helps
Ok thanks mate, I’ll try that!
Couple of interesting comments from Beijing press conference.
First, RDM is talking about getting back to the PL within 2 years and wants to see a solid first season. This sounds a realistic approach and I’m not expecting us to go straight back up.
Second, he wasn’t sure how many new signings he would make and it would seem from his comments that this will largely depend on who he can retain (eg Ayew) and who of the better players he loses.
I see what your saying about a solid first season but I just have a good feeling about the club now and feel that we might just get over the line first time of asking👍
Xia will have learnt that chucking money at it at the start, unless you can afford to replace the lot, isn’t the way to go. We need to see how the improvements work and the re-assess where the weaknesses still are.
Teams should be built from the back, it is easier. We have keeper and a centre half / captain. I think Amavi if he can stay fit will make a decent attacking left back. In my opinion we have not got another decent centre half, nor a right back. Richards would have to learn to do what he is told and stay in position to fit in either of those roles – I don’t think he is capable of that. Baker is too slow even for the Championship, Clark should have improved by now if he was going to. Hutton – no comment.
The midfield and forwards can’t be judged if they have a leaky defence behind them. See where we are come Xmas, the key stat will be a goals against tally below 1.3 per game.
Yeah agree about build from the back first I just think it’s just a right back we need tho imo! Think we have enough in the middle.
I just can’t wait for the 7th now and for the new season to start, it’s my 12th year anniversary that day and I’ve already told the wife I’m down the pub with a mate who’s a Wednesday fan😄
Our defence is still looking grim nothing really been done to address problem other than Elphnick. All our centre halves are crap even for championship Clarke Lescott Richards baker are all injury prone or crap or both. I thought Okore was one that would be decent but he’s a liability too probably because of injury
What about Amavi tho ? And I do think with Elphick leading the back line the likes of Okore and even Baker will be alright next to him. Just a right back for me but hay that’s just my opinion 😃
I agree a good solid season and I will be happy .RDM said the house has to be knocked down and rebuilt. Lerner left the team in a shambles. If we get promoted that’s a bonus.
South coast Villan,
There is a preset limit to prevent too many replies to one specific response (or “nesting”, as it’s known). It may be the limit has been hit.
It’s designed to stop the replies to that single point dominating the reply thread too much.
We’ve played with this and although we could increase it, we reckon a limit of 5 replies to the same point works ok.
I’m not sure I’ve explained it very well, but if there’s a point that you can’t reply to, yet you specifically still want to do so, just address it to the original person at the very bottom of the replies, exactly as I’ve just done here. Then you can have another 5 responses 🙂
Still nothing happening really, but I’ll see if I can think of something to write about later.
Ok thanks mate, yeah that makes sense nice 1👍
Guzan to Middlesbrough on a free?
My God is someone at Villa finally showing some sense?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/07/19/aston-villa-to-give-brad-guzan-a-free-transfer-to-speed-up-middl/
RDM definitely goes up in my estimation if this is true 🙂
I’d like to think he’s worth at least some fee, but if we get him and his wages off the books, it’s hard to disagree.
I still think there’s a decent goalie in there, given a better defence, although he does have major failings in some areas; particularly distribution.
I’m still trying to think of something meaningful to write, fwiw.
I’d let him go on a free in a heart beat
Great news if true