It’s still early in the UK, I know, but I expected to be quite quickly picked up in some way about when I posted how demoralised I am about the Villa.
Actually, I’m hoping someone does pull me and remind me of where we might be.
Or do we all think similarly, in that we really are utter rubbish, but just don’t want to admit it?
Whatever, I’ve thought about very little else since I abandoned watching the total load of tripe we were yesterday, since.
For me, that’s been a good sleep and a holiday drinking session.
The best part of a full day.
And I’m still worried about where we’re heading as a club.
On the one hand, we’re constantly told how rich Wes Edens or Safaris are, by the Birmingham Mail. We’re also constantly being told that we have funds available, by the same source.
And Dean Smith intimates that wheels are in motion, or similar, which suggests we do indeed have funds available.
Yet, up to now, we’ve signed a goalkeeper and a left-sided player who made the worst debut that I can remember in my 40 years plus of supporting the club (let’s not make excuses here, it really was that bad).
And I remember Djemba-Djemba.
That’s saying something, I’m sure.
Then there’s the fact that we now have 4 days (5 if you include today) to get some top players in.
And apparently our DOF is in Europe on a scouting mission.
Really?
This late on in the window?
Shouldn’t he have done that months ago when he first came in?
Or, even better, have been doing it for years, before he came here?
You have to be kidding me if you swallow this garbage.
And then the reality hits.
We’re being massively strangled by FFP.
I suggested we would do very little business a while back, yet still Smith seems to be dangling us on a string.
I have the vaguest feeling that we might actually sign yet another “top” player, who will turn out to be a failure, simply because it’s what’s expected of us as a club.
Thinking further, no it probably won’t happen, if Smith has anything to do with it.
But if we’re not going to sign anyone of any significance, I’d rather the club just come out and say it.
Which begs the question “why haven’t we seen the kids?”
Which is a policy I firmly disagree with, to be fair, as to me, they are not good enough; something that has been a consistent view, regardless of which manager you care to think of.
Are they really all wrong?
Which, all in all leaves my thinking totally directionless.
For all the hype that we’ve been given, that’s how the club strikes me. Directionless.
None of us have the slightest clue and I don’t think our “leaders” do, either.
It saddens me to say it, but Smith is doomed to failure.
He has been since before he took us on.
Unless he can do something that many decent managers have failed to do, in totally turn us around.
Steve Bruce commented recently that he considered packing it all in, because he couldn’t see what he’d done wrong.
I had a lot of sympathy for this, purely because that’s what managing the Villa does to you.
Lambert was much liked by us before he came to the club, for example, but he’s now hated for the way we played under him.
And all of this, is why I’m worried.
We don’t know how we stand.
Are we a big club going back to it’s righful place in the Prem, or not?
Certainly our team says “no”, but we as fans say “yes”.
And that’s our biggest problem in my opinion.
We’re awful, but struggle to admit it.
Looks like it Hitch he had a medical this week but as you’ve said injuries is the problem.
According to Rob Dorsett, clause in Mings contract that says we have an option to buy in the summer as long as ‘we match any offer from another club’. Not sure whether that’s very clever or daft!
It’s clear we’re keeping our options open but don’t want to commit to a buy option now with a set price – FFP and promotion?
Matching option clause confirmed. Villa wanted option to buy, Bournemouth didn’t – hence compromise. I prefer the conspiracy theory LOL
Mings deal reported as done – welcome Tyrone – part of the pride.
UTV
Seems a decent idea to me, Hitch.
At least he’s not guaranteed to walk away at the end of the season.
I have concerns about this deal, particularly if there is a £1 mill loan fee.
Add on the wages and it’s an expensive deal for a few months.
That said, I’ve noticed him before and he seems a decent player, with some guts.
I just hope he’s up to speed.
And surely he can’t be any worse than Taylor?
6′ 5″, that’s a big unit for a full back.
Hi Badger – hope the sun still shining.
He’s reputedto be quick as well. Read that, initially, Smith will play him at CB to give Chester a chance to recover from knee injury.
Yes, sun definitely still shining, but I’ve been laid up today, with what seems a mild case of food poisoning. Getting over it now (Immodium is brilliant stuff), but it means I’ve mostly been sleeping.
Never mind, it means I should be able to last the pace right up to the end of the window and I’ll be posting my thoughts.
Makes sense to rest Chester, I suppose.
Good to read he’s quick, as I was wondering how well he can turn.
“The 25-year-old has only played 19 times in four full seasons”
Blimey, very risky.
I thought we were moving away from this type of thing?
Oh, Jacob Bedeau off to Scunthorpe.
The best part of another £1 mill wasted.
Oh well, good luck to him.
And it now transpires Mings was training with the U-23’s after a fallout with the affable Eddie Howe.
You’d have thought Bournemouth might have been keen to get shot, so I’m still wondering why we’ve left it so late?
So, awful injury record.
Hardly played for years.
And now, might not be as professional as we’d expect.
I hope the relevant parties have really done their diligence here.
Sorry for sounding cynical, but this all seems so familar.
I really do hope this turns out to be a decent deal for us.
Corey Blackett-Taylor has gone out on loan to Walsall.
Now that’s a good move, imo.
Sorry to hear about the gippy stomach Badger – whisky normally helps!
Just read that Ipswich trying to sign Bree.
Looks like more out than in – as long as we don’t resign Simon Dawkins!
Jake Doyle-Hayes might be off to Cambridge for a stint.
Good, get them out playing a proper game week in-week out and let’s find out if they’re really up to it or not.
Despite failing in their attempts to sign Grégory Sertic on a six month loan from Marseille, Aston Villa aren’t quite done in France yet.
According to French journalist Mohamed Toubache-Ter, the Villains have agreed a deal to sign Frédéric Guilbert from Caen for next summer with the player currently undergoing his medical.
Securing his services in January with a €5m + €1.5m in bonuses deal, Aston Villa will then loan him back to his current side where he will stay until June.
After that, the right-back will join the Championship side on a four-year deal keeping him at the club until 2022.
The deal taking Guilbert from Caen to Villa Park will also include a clause that will see the Ligue 1 side receive an undisclosed percentage of any future transfer fee.
The 24-year-old has been close to ever-present for the French side this season, making 19 league appearances and picking
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Full-back currently ‘undergoing medical’ ahead of €6.5m Aston Villa move, loaned back to club until June
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Beat me to it Bill
Bill, that €4m wages offer was for Samiras – not very likely is it when he turned down Newcastle!
According to reports we have signed Frederick Guilbert (or agreed a deal to sign him) from Caen for €5m but are loaning him back to Caen for the rest of the season. Think he’s a left back – will check.
Bill got it right – right back
I was just about to post the same.
That’s a really strange one and I struggle to believe it.
We buy a player and loan him back?
When we’re in our financial position and need players now?
That said, I wonder if that’s what our DOF has been up to?
Fascinating, if true.
Planning for the future?
Smith press conference now been delayed twice – ?
Nothing wrong with planning for the future Hitch, but I just seriously doubt we’re in a position to do it?
Maybe Smith is finalising a deal?
or maybe wants to announce a done deal?
He’s been busy apparently, having worked with Purslow all night.
He’s certainly earning his corn today.
Well, eyes on transfer news as from now for me. Would be ideal if it comes off.
Watch Scott Hogan fire Sheff Utd in to the premier league now!!
I suspect News Conference delayed until Mings deal signed. Nothing really new – Smith hopeful Green fit for Saturday and confirmed they would be working on possible deals to the end of the window.
All gone a bit quiet now. Finding it hard to get excited about French player who won’t play for us until next season!
God how I hate that Birmingham Live website! So heavy with advertising crap that it takes half an hour to load up and then things keep flashing at me when I’m trying to read. Dreadful.
Please keep posting with any news as I’ll be be using this site to keep up with what’s happening as the window closes.
Fingers crossed.
Totally agree and I even complained about it to the Mirror group.
No reply, of course.
The trouble is, amongst all the crap, it remains a good source.
Don’t worry, if anything happens, I’m sure it’ll be up here fairly quickly.
Although, as said, it’s all gone quiet.
I’d be surprised if we see anything else today, tbh.
Linked with Leroy Fer but seems a bit confused. Scott McKenna going to Stoke for £7m – outside our affordability but as we’ve signed Mings I doubt whether the links are real.
Guilbert reported as having a medical
Nothing else really happening unless Villa working on a surprise.
I see Bacuna is chasing his Champions League team via Reading and now Cardiff City🤪
Cardiff! So we’ll probably be seeing Leandro next season then!
James Bree loaned to Ipswich for remainder of season – needs game time so probably a decent move
Is there any legs at all in the Cahill rumours do you think? The Guardian says that he’s reportedly turned down offers from Monaco and Juventus
Just looked at that in print. Cahill turning down Juve for us? Probably not.
I wish something would happen…
I doubt it Pat. Why would we want Cahill at £130k per week – we have Chester, Elphick, Mings, Tuanzebe (when fit) and Hause (sic) plus ‘the beard to be feared’ at a pinch.
At 33 Cahill seems more interested in sitting on his wallet – we’ve already funded too many footballer pensions.
Guilbert ‘rumour’ seems to have gone a little cold. Sky haven’t picked it up at all so maybe there’s nothing to it.
Aston Villa’s business is not yet done – and it looks like a surprise move for Swansea City’s Leroy Fer may yet be on the cards.
Reports from the Netherlands suggest that Aston Villa have intercepted Lille’s offer for Leroy at a late stage – and that any deal would likely be a permanent transfer. A report from VI.NL suggests that if Villa can make a decent personal offer for Fer, then he is all theirs, preferring to extend his stay in England rather than move to France.
Fer has featured plenty of times for Swansea City this time and would not look out of place at Villa in their midfield. If the report by Martijn Krabbendam is correct, it’d mean that a fairly ambitious move by Villa has come about at the late stage – and not because they are signing a player like Fer – but simply because they have, for once, beaten another club to the punch.
Leroy would represent a solid addition to the Villa squad (we saw that when he tore us a new one in the Cup), and would add some much needed ability to Villa’s midfield. Here’s to all of this coming true!
Another player to ponder over I’ve noted its saying Lilli have said this so might be true.
Bill, just about to post on this. I mentioned earlier there were confused reports about Fer who it seems was headed to Lille.
Latest report is that Villa are in advanced talks with Swansea but where would Fer prefer to go (sorry about the pun!)
Think Hitch he wants UK, just hope its us , getting interesting now.
One report now saying Fer undergoing medical
Harry McKirdy is off to Newport, on loan.