There’s been loads of clamour for us to sign Tyrone Mings and quite rightly so.
He proved a confident, play-out type of defender that we know Dean Smith wants.
He was also vocal on the pitch, which is always important.
While I think at times he seems so relaxed he can be sloppy, which might find him caught out at Premier league level, he’ll improve.
There’s more to it for me though, in that he inspires confidence, with a seemingly never ending smile on his face and most importantly of all, the rapport he has developed with the fans, with his singing with us and even wearing the kit on his arrival home after the play-off victory.
It’s that last part that makes him a player we must sign.
So why haven’t we, yet?
It’s quite simple, really and it’s the fact that we have a matching clause, where if we match any incoming bid, we get him, simple. Well, depending on wages, of course.
And as far as I know, no-one else has bid for him yet.
We have to be clinical and wonder why if he’s that good, there’s been no other offers as yet?
We could go straight in and offer £15 million or so and get it done, but that would be really poor business.
Why do it, when there may be no other offers and we could buy him at the minimal fee that’s probably been set in the agreement (I’ll guess around £8 million)?
Not that it matters.
I’m totally convinced he wants to come to us and we’ll easily match any last minute offer that might come in.
I really wouldn’t expect Mings in before deadline day and suspect he half knows he’s coming to us, whatever happens.
We’re not just buying him for his ability.
We also want him for what he’s added to the positive feeling that we’re currently experiencing.
It’s being suggested that Axel Tuanzebe is going to sign a long term contract for Man Utd and I find it questionable, myself.
Why would he, if, as much as OGS promises to have a look at him and even hints he’ll play him, there’s nothing concrete behind it?
Man U are never going to guarantee that a young lad plays. They can’t afford too.
And I’d rate OGS as one of the favourites for the sack anyway, so his opinion possibly doesn’t count for much.
It’s probably more about trying to get the best price on Man U’s part, combined with the best wages on his agent’s part.
It all depends on Axel himself. He knows he’ll get a start for us, week in, week out.
If he doesn’t come to us, so be it. We move on and no doubt have other targets.
Phillips is a different kettle of fish and it reminds me of the Grealish situation last year.
We apparently seriously want him and it makes sense, as he’s a player I reckon could easily make the step up to the Prem. It’s an area we’re seriously light on too.
Yet, he admirably wants to stay at Leeds. You can’t fault any player for loyalty.
It would seem Leeds are going to offer him a better contract, but I very much doubt they could match the money that we could offer him and it’s the money that talks.
As much as it grates, I really hope he ignores his agent, signs that contract and stays at Leeds for another year, just as Jack did with us.
Then, if he and the team continue to do well, Leeds benefit from a higher sale price, the player gets a better offer and everyone’s a winner.
The difference from the Grealish situation though, is that Phillips is being offered the Premier league now, if we really are in for him.
Which makes it a little tricky.
A guaranteed step up in leagues has to be a tempter.
I think he’ll stay.
Whatever, I’m sure things are going on in the background and while it’s frustrating that not much is happening, things will happen.
I’m pretty sanguine about it all.
Comments
123 responses to “Why haven’t we signed Mings? or Tuanzebe? Or Phillips?”
I agree Hitch. Smith and Purslow alluded to this almost immediately after promotion. They had been planning for 2 scenarios, and when it became clear that it was Premier League, the plan clicked into gear. It’s clear that they have plan B and even C in place for every position earmarked for strengthening.
Have to say “well done” thus far! We still need a GK and a guaranteed goal machine. For me, putting it all on Wesley is a huge risk. If we do, it’ll be like polishing a chisel without sharpening the tip. I hope these two arrive soon. Looks like Engels and the lad from City cover the holding role, and obviously, they’re still after that 4th and final winger…
Great stuff!
Fair play to our owners. Going for it big time. The last similar scenario was Lerner with O’Neill. The difference in type of player is stark here though. Let’s hope they can bed down quickly enough, but the talent is very clearly there.
And Lerner turned out to be a ‘one trick pony’ whereas Sawiris and Edens have seriously deep pockets.
Two trick pony. He played that one on his wife if I remember correctly. (Allegedly and all that…}.
I was thinking about the reports re: Heaton and that it’s been suggested there is a difference of opinion between Smith and Purslow (et al) over buying him as the et al don’t see any future value in buying a 33 year old player.
I wonder if the reported ‘derisory’ offer reflects that difference of opinion.
‘Deano you can get him but we’re not paying more than £3m – have a go!’
🙂
I hope this isn’t true. Everyone knows that it’s +10 when it comes to goalkeepers’ ages. A 33 year old goalie is like a 23 year old outfield player, and a top team needs an experienced head in that position, which means over 30.
Purslow et al need to make an exception to their policy for this position. Burnley’s win percentage spiked from 15% to 45% when Heaton came in for Harte. Surely, that’s worth 7 million in this day and age? A three year contract with option to extend is nothing to fear if the player is physically in good shape.
Get him in, please!
Hitch, not going till 27th on a cruise, I’ve timed it wrong again all my goodies on the allotment will be going over. Still looking forwards to go and wear my birthday gift of the new shirt.
hope everybody is enjoying their summer, i must say i am impressed with how villa have been going about rebuilding the squad. the players we signed have quality about them, also potential to even get better. Douglas Luiz fellow looks to be another player who has bags of potential. been said he is a dm, but looks to be a all round action up and down midfielder.
last season we had a dm player with responsibilities of covering the full backs etc, i think we might have three central defenders. don’t panic we played 3 at the back last year, but one of them was whelen,a slow less mobile player. all the central defenders we have recruited like to step out into midfield,so i believe that is how smith will operate this season. the brentford defender we signed maybe. or maybe we will have a rotating back line. where the threecb are all taking turns to do the dog work of covering ful back. this will mean three midfielders are more free to go forwards instead of one holding back
anyways this upcoming season is beginning to wet my appetite, i trust smith to get us more than competitive, we will be a tough away day for most of the league. got to start well and get the confidence high.
Hi Nath. Where you been hiding fella or was it just an extended holiday 🙂
no hols for me, just work and more work. had just a weekend away, few weeks ago thats all. i am buzzing with the new signings, new season closing in fast.
Aston Villa have agreed a contract extension with Conor Hourihane. After joining the Villa in 2017, the Irishman has rattled in free-kicks, scorched in long-range strikes and has usually found the pass that wins a game. His incredible journey to the Premier League will continue – with him firmly locked into a team that he clearly loves.
Details of the extension have yet to be revealed – but it’s a deserved extension for one of Villa’s more exceptional players who exists in an odd space for Villa fans.
It’d be amiss to avoid mention of Conor Hourihane’s ‘disposable’ nature. While it was the Irishman’s furious strike that earned Villa a chance to compete for promotion, the player had been constantly criticised by Villa fans – including being booed off the pitch after being substituted by West Bromwich Albion.
That’s the story of Conor’s life though. He’s always been criticised and not deemed as good enough. He won promotion to League One and was told he wasn’t good enough and then he won promotion to the Championship. Again, his abilities were criticised, before winning promotion to the Premier League. It’ll happen again, no doubt seconds before he curls in a free-kick to save Villa – once again.
Hourihane – the man is a hero. I hope there’s a pay rise in that extension.
Nath , wondered where you’ve gone, off on holiday soon myself, yes Villa are back..
Bill – agree Hourihane is under estimated as a player. I’ve taken the trouble to watch him closely in games and he contributes far more than he’s given credit for, Add to that his assists and goals and he’s more than a decent player. Pleased he has an extension to his contract.
Have a good holiday Bill
And he can play the holding role if needed. He was superb at Wembley! Extremely valuable player.
My post jumped Hitch.
Got it Bill.
Keep putting off going to allotment as we open our garden to public next Sunday (for charity) so busy preparing, had the press here Tuesday and was at Edgbaston Thursday!
Suspect all my plants have withered and died 🙂
If we do get Trezeuget, Heaton and Engels we will have signed a lot more players than I’d have thought possible. In all the ‘new players’ mentioned I’ve been forgetting about Guilbert who, although bought in January, has yet to play a game for us.
However we’re lucky in that, while we might start with more new players than old in the first game, we have maintained the spine of the team in Mings, McGinn and Jack. That’s important. As is the fact that the new signings will have some time to integrate themselves into Smith’s system unlike Fulham last season who bought most of their players on the last day.
With so many new players coming in I think that we’re going to have to be patient and perhaps suck up a few defeats before the team really clicks.
All this activity is a huge statement of intent by the owners and manager – we’re in the Prem and we aim to stay there.
UTV
Also Pat, Hause and El Ghazi were with us last season and Konsa and Jota have played under Smith previously. On that basis there are only three true ‘new faces’ so far in Fred Gilbert, Matt Targett and Wesley.
The biggest gamble would appear to be Wesley.
Gilbert a gamble too, Hitch. Targett is a PL player so should be no worries there.
Fair comment BFR. Less so perhaps because he only cost around £5m from memory.
Newcastle’s Dubravka the latest GO linked…
GK
It appears that a fee for Engels has been agreed with Reims –
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/bjorn-engels-aston-villa-transfer-16579943
Looks like another one in. Amazing!
Can someone enlighten me, its great seeing us get the players that we’ve have, but who putting them up to get? Is it Dean Smith because he’s the one to put it all together, I know it sounds daft just thinking I cannot remember us in the past going Hell bent to find so many players.I just cannot wait to start our season.
i think smith has final say, but i guess its a group decision. players that smith has worked with before, must be his recommendations,also these players will not need loads of time to get used to the system. unlike the two brazilians who might take some time to adjust so its great to see us get them in early.
Nath, I agree that the key is getting the players in early. This gives them a real chance to get used to playing together.
i agree too pat. that was fulhams big mistake last year. they made too many signings too late. they never had any bedding in pre season. they got chucked in the deep end and they never managed to swim. that and they had a bad start and sacked their manager, who got them there.
lots have compared us to fulham, but i cant see anything remotely similar. except we both came up through the playoffs and had less time to draw up premiership plans, then the other two promoted teams.
fulham seemed to buy decent players but they were chucked together, where smith knows the players hes acquiring, knows their fit the system he wants to employ.
i dare not say this but i have a great feeling on the season ahead, i really do. there i said it shoot me if i am wrong lol
Nath – Fulham bought 5 players on deadline day which last year was a month into the season – smacks of panic buying.
According to the Star the Egyptian winger Trezeuget is on his way to the Villa for £9.6 million –
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/791765/Aston-Villa-transfer-news-Trezeguet-Douglas-Luiz-Bjorn-Engels
My mind is boggling!
So Bruce has resigned from Wednesday presumably to join Newcastle.
The news gets better and better, that’s one of the relegation spots taken already!
I know it’s his home city, but a huge mistake by Bruce. Wednesday would’ve had a brilliant chance of promotion; he just had to pick up where he left off last season. Instead, he’s gone to a sinking ship with an apathetic fan-base, deteriorating squad, and an owner who’s seemingly impossible to get on with. He will surely live to regret it! Unless…nah, it can’t just be about the bottom line…can it?
He certainly likes a challenge does our Brucie.
Tbf he did a very good job at Villa until personal issues rather affected him (unsurprisingly). He may surprise a few at Newcastle.