Speculation; Players in and out

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.

78 Comments

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  1. nath
    nath July 16, 2016 at 4:44 pm . Reply

    whats the other friendly score ?? wasn’t they playing two friendlies

    1. giddyvillan
      giddyvillan July 16, 2016 at 5:11 pm . Reply

      Result Worcester 1 VILLA 5

      1. nath
        nath July 16, 2016 at 7:21 pm . Reply

        thanxs giddy dsvilla

  2. DSVilla
    DSVilla July 16, 2016 at 5:11 pm . Reply

    5-1 Villa at Worcester Nath

    1. giddyvillan
      giddyvillan July 16, 2016 at 5:12 pm . Reply

      At Stourport swifts

      1. Bill Pearson
        Bill Pearson July 16, 2016 at 7:12 pm . Reply

        Ok, who let the goal in? Leaking defence again. 🙂 :-).

  3. South coast villan
    South coast villan July 16, 2016 at 5:20 pm . Reply

    Grealish has to be played as a number 10 this season behind the front 2! It’s his time to shine

  4. South coast villan
    South coast villan July 17, 2016 at 7:57 pm . Reply

    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

  5. Adam
    Adam July 18, 2016 at 1:04 pm . Reply

    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.

    1. South coast villan
      South coast villan July 18, 2016 at 4:59 pm . Reply

      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

  6. pat57
    pat57 July 18, 2016 at 3:55 pm . Reply

    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?

    1. South coast villan
      South coast villan July 18, 2016 at 4:55 pm . Reply

      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.

  7. nath
    nath July 18, 2016 at 5:53 pm . Reply

    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.

    1. South coast villan
      South coast villan July 18, 2016 at 7:07 pm . Reply

      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 😃

      1. South coast villan
        South coast villan July 18, 2016 at 7:09 pm . Reply

        And having a new owner that gives a shit helps to

  8. OriginalLondonLion
    OriginalLondonLion July 18, 2016 at 9:15 pm . Reply

    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.

  9. Adam
    Adam July 18, 2016 at 11:48 pm . Reply

    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.

    1. South coast villan
      South coast villan July 19, 2016 at 10:41 am . Reply

      Well the sooner Sinclair goes the better then if that’s the case!

  10. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson July 19, 2016 at 6:57 am . Reply

    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.

    1. South coast villan
      South coast villan July 19, 2016 at 7:59 am . Reply

      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!

  11. South coast villan
    South coast villan July 19, 2016 at 8:09 am . Reply

    Does any 1 have any idea why i can reply to some comments but not others? Very strange🤔

    1. giddyvillan
      giddyvillan July 19, 2016 at 9:54 am . Reply

      Try rebooting your phone it happens to me sometimes.

      1. giddyvillan
        giddyvillan July 19, 2016 at 9:58 am . Reply

        Ps try replying using the mobile site/full site whichever opposite one your presently using hope it helps

        1. South coast villan
          South coast villan July 19, 2016 at 10:39 am . Reply

          Ok thanks mate, I’ll try that!

  12. Hitchens 60
    Hitchens 60 July 19, 2016 at 12:02 pm . Reply

    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.

    1. South coast villan
      South coast villan July 19, 2016 at 12:39 pm . Reply

      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👍

    2. OriginalLondonLion
      OriginalLondonLion July 19, 2016 at 6:16 pm . Reply

      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.

      1. South coast villan
        South coast villan July 19, 2016 at 7:50 pm . Reply

        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😄

      2. OohAhPaulMcGrath
        OohAhPaulMcGrath July 20, 2016 at 12:16 pm . Reply

        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

        1. South coast villan
          South coast villan July 20, 2016 at 5:29 pm . Reply

          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 😃

  13. Dave67
    Dave67 July 19, 2016 at 2:07 pm . Reply

    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.

  14. pat57
    pat57 July 19, 2016 at 10:38 pm . Reply

    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 🙂

    1. badger123
      badger123 July 20, 2016 at 2:28 am . Reply

      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.

      1. South coast villan
        South coast villan July 20, 2016 at 6:47 am . Reply

        I’d let him go on a free in a heart beat
        Great news if true

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