I’m bored.
Bored with the lack of footy action and bored with all the rumours I keep reading, where I know 99% of them are at best pure conjecture and at worst complete rubbish.
That said, at least some of our latest rumoured targets are worth reading about.
Idrissa Gueye, seems a useful sort of player, in that he’s a holding midfielder type, who’s apparently beginning to get forward more and have the occasional crack at goal.
I have to admit that he sounds similar to the type of player Fabian Delph was supposed to be when we signed him (as a box to box type) and you have to wonder if he’s going to play with Delph or instead of him?
I don’t really have a clue on that, but if they are to play together, the thought of one marauding forward and the other protecting the defence, with them interchanging, definitely appeals, to me anyway.
I like the thought of Gueye and it’s seemingly a done deal, with him having signed for a fee of £9 million and awaiting a work permit.
Which reminds me. It had previously been suggested that he’s been living in France since he was young, which I would have thought means he’s a naturalised Frenchman. Now I’m not convinced that’s the case.
Going back to the “complete rubbish” comment, this is where Delph comes into it.
Even if we assume that the rumoured £10 or even £8 million buyout clause is true, there is no way, in my opinion that Delph will be going anywhere for that kind of money.
The latest rumours I’m reading are that he’s Manchester City bound, with a wage of £100,000 a week.
That’s all well and good (for the player) and depending on what type of buyout clause it is, the club would probably be obliged to let Delph talk to City.
But surely you would expect another club to come in and match that sort of money?
Maybe not the wages, but at least the £8 or 10 million?
It’s a steal for an England midfielder, after all, even if some of us don’t particularly rate him?
That’s where the confusion kicks in, as I’d expect the club to be more interested in any higher bid.
Who gets preference in a case like that, is beyond me, but I’d suspect it would come down to yet another sort of deal, between the buying club, Delph and the Villa.
Suffice to say, I don’t think he’ll be leaving that cheaply.
But who knows?
I’m not even convinced Delph would want to shine his backside and be another Milner, at City, but it seems Begovic is happy to do just that at Chelsea, so again, who knows?
What else?
Ah yes, we’ve apparently tabled a £9 million bid for Nice left back Jordan Amavi.
He’s supposed to be a very good player who most importantly for me, defends as well as he gets forward.
I’ve previously said I think this is at least one of the most important positions we need to look at and if we were to get him, I’d actually be a bit excited.
We supposedly face competition for his signature from Arsenal and Southampton, which is very encouraging, as the latter club in particular have a brilliant recent record in signing players.
And there’s another midfielder, in Anderlecht’s Dennis Praet.
I’m not so convinced about this one, as he’s an attacking midfielder.
What he has over Carlos Gil, I’m not sure, but it’s £10 million we’re talking about, so you would expect he has something about him.
I’ve spoken to a couple of Villa fans at work and they’ve both expressed a slight concern that we’re not being linked to strikers, but that’s most likely to be down to what happens with Benteke, in my opinion.
Which is a situation, where I genuinely think the club don’t know what’s going on.
Hence it would appear that the club are willing to spend money regardless.
I know I’ve had the arguments that the club will spend money whatever the situation of the takeover is, but I’m not at all convinced.
It seems to me the club are going to spend proper money in this window and it isn’t coming from Randy Lerner.
It’s then logical to suggest that the takeover is probably a lot closer than we think.
That’s pure conjecture on my part though.
Hey, if the papers can do it, surely I can?
Whatever, I’m liking the players we’re being linked too and am encouraged.
A class apart from the rubbish we’ve averaged over the last few years, it would seem.
Bring it on and let’s hope we’re better than relegation candidates this time.
Which I think we will be 🙂
Plenty to chew on there Badger, I for one got fed up with all the bull shite coming in, yes looking good at the minute and hoping the two main players stop for what I can see would be a good fighting team, my main headache is the sale? Just hope its a owner wanting glory, finger crossed.
From what I gather Idrissa Gueye didn’t leave Africa till he was 19 so would need a work permit! Need to be living in France for ten years to claim citzernship.
I just assumed that as people were saying he’s going to playing in the African Cup of Nations, etc., that he’s not actually “French” and so would probably need a permit…
Davo/Ardent, I was told that he had lived in France since he was 11.
It would seem that was wrong.
It used to seem much more simple in the past, working out who qualified for what country, what nationality they were, etc.
Now it seems that you can claim a link to anywhere that one of your distant relatives may once have visited…!
Exciting times definitely. I knew the media had no clue on who Villa wanted. No one mentioned Gueye until the French media confirmed a bid, Amavi was confirmed in France first. Not the ridiculous moves for Spurs and Championship youngster players. Oh and the group of Hull City players we were supposedly going to buy.
Kinda reminds me of the signings Houllier wanted to make honestly, which gets me quite excited it could be back to that time and not the signings O’Neill, Lambert and McLeish made.
Agree with you on both points.
The English media don’t take any real interest in Villa these days, and I won’t believe any spurious rumours they might bother to report until I see ‘news’ rather than ‘gossip’.
It does look as if there’s been some serious work done at VP in the last year or so to improve scouting in Europe – and hopefully not just by watching video clips on Youtube!
I’d also hope that they might start looking even further from home in future – South America for example.
Same thing over and over, papers have no idea about European players, think Sherwood’s only going to sign former players at Spurs or young English players because he has no problem giving youth a chance if he likes them. Never having a transfer window I almost understand it, but the Spurs fans claiming we want their players is the funniest thing ever. Especially Adebayor.
Im just glad the adebayor rumours seemed to have died of death. That would be a terrible move.
That was just a load of bollox
Tom fox was a genius move by Lerner, we have a number of people on the board who have a vast knowledge of football, and a great scouting network- I really believe things are beginning to change ! If it was still Lerner, The General and fatty on the board, Lambert would still be in charge and we would be in the Championship….. Lets hope the new owners have a bit of cash, but are responsible in their spending!
was listening to transfer tavern on talksport last night and they said that Patrick Riley the head of recruitment at villa over the last few year has a big say so in all transfers and no player gets signed without him watching him and giving the go ahead. he was instumental in bringing in the like of benteke , gill , westwood and even our new recruit Gueye . the so called experts on ts said he was tom foxes main man for trying to find new talent and fox trusts him to find the right sort of players that can bring us on to the next level. hope there right.
So contrary to all the rubbish about how Benteke wouldn’t suit Liverpool, Robbie Fowler and others have come out over the last couple of days and said he’d be a great fit (so much for the Pool fans knowledge).
Guess which directions the stories have taken now?
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/588976/Exclusive-Liverpool-32-5m-Christian-Benteke-Arsenal-Spurs
The Express has proved the worst of all the papers in this window, imo.
It’s sister paper is the Star and you expect this from them, but the Express?
If you look at what the current owners of the ‘Express’ have done to editorial staffing numbers over the last few years, you wouldn’t be that suprised.
They’ve cut hundreds of journalists across every department, and the paper is just a sad joke, relying on a few desk-bound people to collate every story or rumour from anywhere on the web and then printing it as ‘news’.
Let’s see if he turns up for training tomorrow,that possibly might answer a few questions.
he wont be at training as he has an extra week off.
why has he got a week off?
I think anyone involved in internationals will get the extra week off.
correct
pool will have to change there style of play to fit in benteke ,saying that rogers has signed almost 30 players in little over 3 years including borini sturrige balotelli lambert ings oirgi 5 strikers
JVillan,
No, I really don’t believe they would have to change their style and have said so all along.
Just get the ball to him and he’ll score or bring others in.
Here’s what Fowler said and he’s spot on imo ;
http://www.squawka.com/news/hes-ideal-robbie-fowler-endorses-liverpools-top-striker-target/411524
Why people think Benteke is merely a target man is beyond me.
one of first players rogers got rid of was andy caroll , benteke would in my eyes be more suited to chelsea, rogers likes small players thinks he could turn them into barcelona mark 2,and again if they don t want to pay full amout tell them bugger off, and all there old players stop living in 80 s when they really where a big side take suarez effect out only once in top 4 last 5/6 years
badger
apart from 10/12 good games last year what did benteke do in final he even let meretseker score a simple header from a corner to many efforts like that from him
Benteke’s record is 49 goals in 101 appearances (think that is correct) which is right up there with the best. He does seem to ‘lose interest’ in games – recent comments from the Belgian manager support that – but when he’s in the mood then he’s virtually unstoppable. If he goes then we have to spend big on a proven goal scorer.
Agreed, Benteke does seem to lose interest in some games but it’s generally when he’s not getting a look in and doesn’t look like he’s going too, which let’s face it, happened lots of times last season.
Liverpool’s problem is that they created lots of chances but couldn’t score.
I believe Benteke will take advantage of those chances and get goals.
I don’t think he’s without faults, (offside being his worst), but I think he’d get goals anywhere the team gets the ball up where it matters.
They’re also a club that rarely crosses, we’re a side that are near top of the table in crosses, Liverpool are quite close to the bottom, if not bottom.
I really don’t see how it matters.
Agreed Benteke is frighteningly good in the air.
But it’s not the only string to his bow, read Fowler’s assessment about how he can bring others into play.
We know Benteke has pretty quick feet for a big bloke and can play one-twos etc.
We could keep debating this one all day, it would seem, but I’ll put it this way.
Benteke got 15 playing for a frankly rubbish team for the majority of the season.
He’ll get 20+ no problem in a better side (which of course I’m hoping is the Villa), as it stands. Which is way better than any Pool striker did.
Now consider he’s probably 3-4 years from peaking.
The bloke is a steal at £32.5 mill, regardless of where he goes (or not), imo.
Of course, the proof will be provided if he does indeed go to Pool and I’d be disappointed if he did, after he said he wanted CL.
Would say he’ll peak within 2 years, he’s not gonna be one of those players that last till their 33-34. I think he’s a steal, but to his strengths revolves a lot around his strength. Yes he’ll hold up play but what Sturridge and Suarez did really well was make runs and Benteke can’t, he’s awful at them. I’m with you that anyone paying his price tag now will get an incredibly talented player, but Liverpool don’t play to his strengths. Will he score 20 goals there? Of course he will, pretty easily honestly, but overall he’s too lazy, not quick enough and defensively lets just say, he’s awful.
Don’t think our poor showing in the cup final has helped with the buy out clause. As the saying goes you’re only as good as your last game. Has slightly tarnished his excellent end to the season. Fans of Liverpool and others who are spouting nonsense about the price tag are judging on that one game.
Andrew,
in fairness, I don’t think Liverpool is the ideal place for him.
It’s just that I really think he’s top notch and will adapt (if) wherever he goes
I said Arsenal would be his best bet, but agree Chelsea would work well too.
But then, I reckon you could put him in a Barce side and he’d get a boatload of goals.
So it’s not about crossing, imo.
My point is, it’s about getting him in the game and if you do that, he’ll step it up.
I think I said or at least hinted a few times last season that it must have been soul-destroying at times, being up front for Villa, but when we did look like creating, he often looked a different player and was indeed “unplayable”.
As for defence, we had supposed specialist defenders who were equally as poor, if not worse, when it came to balls in the air.
Hence I couldn’t give a toss about how a striker defends, as it’s not his job.
Of course, if he’s good at that too, it’s a bonus. But it’s way down on my list of requirements from a striker.
Doubt it, Barcelona couldn’t really play to Ibra’s strengths and Ibra’s technical ability is vastly better than Benteke’s. Doesn’t have near the ability playing 1-2’s with Barcelona which is what they require to sneak through a defense.
Of course being defensive isn’t a high up requirement, but Liverpool rely on a lot of endurance and players running a lot, that’s not Benteke’s style. He won’t randomly chase balls and he doesn’t put a lot of pressure on defenses when Villa don’t have the ball.
Can he adapt? Sure and with Coutinho, Firmino, Markovic, Lallana, Sterling, Ibe and now Clyne as an attacking fullback, they can adapt. I just think Rodger’s is too closed-minded to play the way Benteke likes.
well it looks like Tim won his hundred pound bet with that reporter, that villa wouldn’t be sold by the time pre-season started. also see the press has gone into meltdown again saying Rodgers is going to meet villas valuation! would he really talk to the press before villa think not, i cant understand the presses frenzy that this deal must be done i don’t know if this is being leaked by Liverpool in order to get benteke to submit a transfer request either way it smacks of dirty tricks.
I’ll be glad when all this will he go or not? Is over since he signed this has been the situation also clearly someone who wants out.replacement concerns me we’ll need another goal machine or we’re fucked simple as that.
Hopefully he will go this week. Sherwood ought to give a deadline like we did with Barry sign by end of week of that’s it
I agree I’ve got a horrible feeling it’ll be a last minute deal & we’re well & truly fucked for a replacement.
Wouldn’t surprise me gives Lerner an excuse not to spend if we do it last minute
Ps fuck knows what’s happening with this GUEYE deal even if we’re waiting for a work permit this would of been known I’ve heard or read diddly so far.
Work permit issues sky.
TS quoted as saying ‘there are work permit issues but I think we’ll be alright with that one (transfer)’ Can be interpreted as simply we need a work permit rather than there are problems with the work permit. Depends how your glass is filled!
had enough of media showing no respect to the villa every report ends with villa facing another relegation fight. praet is out of villas price range! Nicolai Boilesen.will be great in the premier but not at villa.benteke to be sold, delph wants out. i hope all this jibes from the media gives them a spur to ram it down there throats if benteke is away i would rather the baggies than the bin dippers. to much time on my hands have to stop reading news now starting to get chest pains UTV
Tim has also offered another bet that Benteke will be staying, wonder if he’ll win that won also..