Aston Villa Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2017

LeBash · 08-08-2014 11:54am

Are we openly allowed bet here? Villa will finish 14th or above.

Neil3030 · 08-08-2014 1:48pm

Bookies have Burnley as the dead cert, but after that it's between:

QPR, Leicester, West Brom, Crystal Palace, Villa and Hull.

Going by the prices, I'm assuming that will be a pretty even 6-way shootout for 2 spots.

Frankie Lee · 08-08-2014 2:14pm

Neil3030 wrote: »

Bookies have Burnley as the dead cert, but after that it's between:

QPR, Leicester, West Brom, Crystal Palace, Villa and Hull.

Going by the prices, I'm assuming that will be a pretty even 6-way shootout for 2 spots.

QPR and Leicester are strong for promoted teams, West Brom are in bad shape, Pulis is unrelegatable while Hull are a decent team who may suffer from Europe. West Ham and possibly Sunderland are also candidates, especially if Sunderland pick up injuries.

Neil3030 · 08-08-2014 2:42pm

Frankie Lee wrote: »

QPR and Leicester are strong for promoted teams, West Brom are in bad shape, Pulis is unrelegatable while Hull are a decent team who may suffer from Europe. West Ham and possibly Sunderland are also candidates, especially if Sunderland pick up injuries.

I also wouldn't rule out Southampton after their car-boot sale this Summer.

Francie Barrett · 08-08-2014 3:06pm

I was appalled when Cissokho came to Liverpool. Thought he was an overrated mercenary who was no good on the ball and would cost us games. In fairness though, I think he turned around the opinions of myself and many Liverpool fans with his performances. Even though we only had him on loan, his commitment and work rate were excellent. In defence, he was very solid and his all-action, in your face style worked quite well in the Premier League. Sure, he doesn't have the greatest of ability on the ball, but he has a great engine and as long as he keeps it simple in the final third, he can have a very good impact. If someone told me we were going to have him back at Liverpool as a rotation player, I wouldn't have any problem with that. Think he will do a decent job for you guys.

Frankie Lee · 08-08-2014 3:24pm

Far from signed yet though. edit: looks mostly done.

Corholio · 08-08-2014 4:39pm

For the money touted Cissokho looks a pretty decent deal. Will add a bit of strength to the team and hopefully a bit more defensive solidity on the left, even Bertrand faded badly there last year and looked just as bad as headbangers Clark and Baker back there.

That being said, he has dropped a fair bit in the last few years. Must be something to that too.

JPA · 08-08-2014 9:29pm

4 year deal

LeBash · 08-08-2014 10:57pm

He is a brave man. We have turned some amount of full backs into a jelly like mess.

matrim · 08-08-2014 11:03pm

I have to say despite not having spent much we have strengthened reasonably well. If we could get in a strong DM then it would have been a decent summer.

We've hopefully got the left wing / full back spot sorted. Central defense may still be a problem if Okore doesn't settle / find form quickly, but senderos is hopefully an improvement on Baker / Clark.

In midfield hopefully Cole can help to be that creative spark we were missing and with N'Zogbia back and Grealish coming through we have more attacking options.

The main thing that I think will define our season is how quickly Benteke and Kozak come back and if they can find full fitness quickly.

COYVB · 08-08-2014 11:05pm

Given how bad he is on the ball he's definitely not being brought in for his forward thinking play - which is a good thing I think, let's shore up the defence properly. Where have we signed Richardson for though? No clue how Lambert's going to play a full strength team...

Guzan

Hutton--Vlaar--Okore--Cissokho

Sanchez

N'Zogbia-Delph

Westy-Cole

Benteke

Maybe?

You know what, though, that looks alright doesn't it (all staying fit and playing to their maximum capabilities and pending actually signing Sanzhez)?

astonaidan · 08-08-2014 11:21pm

COYVB wrote: »

Given how bad he is on the ball he's definitely not being brought in for his forward thinking play - which is a good thing I think, let's shore up the defence properly. Where have we signed Richardson for though? No clue how Lambert's going to play a full strength team...
Guzan
Hutton--Vlaar--Okore--Cissokho
Sanchez
N'Zogbia-Delph
Westy-Cole
Benteke

Maybe?

You know what, though, that looks alright doesn't it (all staying fit and playing to their maximum capabilities and pending actually signing Sanzhez)?

Who is Sanchez, missed out on everything last few days. Happy with Cissokho being 100% honest

Corholio · 09-08-2014 12:10am

astonaidan wrote: »

Who is Sanchez, missed out on everything last few days. Happy with Cissokho being 100% honest

Carlos Sanchez Moreno, defensive midfielder and Colombian international. Played for Elche last year and would be the best signing this summer by an absolute mile if it comes off.

matrim · 09-08-2014 12:13am

Corholio wrote: »

Carlos Sanchez Moreno, defensive midfielder and Colombian international. Played for Elche last year and would be the best signing this summer by an absolute mile if it comes off.

Have there been any solid links to him? All I've seen is some twitter and VT stuff

Corholio · 09-08-2014 12:16am

matrim wrote: »

Have there been any solid links to him? All I've seen is some twitter and VT stuff

I think the original source of the link was a Tweet by a Spanish news provider. Think that's about as solid as it's been really.

Frankie Lee · 09-08-2014 12:32pm

Leicester have signed Cambiasso

Chancer3001 · 09-08-2014 3:18pm

Senderor will start centre back??

Frankie Lee · 09-08-2014 3:21pm

Chancer3001 wrote: »

Senderor will start centre back??

He should be 3rd in the pecking order behind Vlaar (if he stays) and Okore (if he stays fit). I wouldn't mind seeing Clark and Baker find new clubs to prevent them playing again for Villa.

Frankie Lee · 09-08-2014 7:33pm

0-0 draw with Parma, Vlaar and Okore finished the game and hopefully those two are not budged from there from now on.
Grealish was bright when introduced and could be in contention to start from now on.

Corholio · 09-08-2014 10:00pm

Gary Gardner winding up his brother Craig by decking out his nieces (Craig's daughters) in Villa shirts. His spelling isn't the best though :pac:

Frankie Lee · 10-08-2014 6:35pm

One other very slight positive with the fixture list is that the consecutive games against Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City will all be on Champions League weeks with Arsenal and City coming after CL games while Liverpool and Chelsea will be prior to games.

Corholio · 10-08-2014 7:37pm

Entourage creator gets blamed for Villa demise :pac:

http://www.joe.ie/football/football-news/entourage-creator-doug-ellin-accused-of-running-aston-villa-into-the-ground/?

matrim · 10-08-2014 8:21pm

Tonev possibly off to Celtic

COYVB · 10-08-2014 9:45pm

Frankie Lee wrote: »

Leicester have signed Cambiasso

no they havent

Frankie Lee · 10-08-2014 10:12pm

COYVB wrote: »

no they havent

Apologies he was down as a Leicester player on wikipedia on Saturday. He was linked with Villa earlier in the summer and would still be a great signing but it is doubtful that Villa could compete with Leicester's money for wages.

LeBash · 10-08-2014 11:23pm

matrim wrote: »

Tonev possibly off to Celtic

He has to be up there with Balaban in term of crap signings

Frankie Lee · 10-08-2014 11:29pm

LeBash wrote: »

He has to be up there with Balaban in term of crap signings

He didn't cost £6 million or be on big money but he was terrible. If one of his speculative efforts found a top corner things might have been different but I think the SPL is probably his level.

LeBash · 10-08-2014 11:57pm

Frankie Lee wrote: »

He didn't cost £6 million or be on big money but he was terrible. If one of his speculative efforts found a top corner things might have been different but I think the SPL is probably his level.

I think he will still be out of his depth there.

He has shown nothing but a bad long range shot for Villa.

Frankie Lee · 11-08-2014 1:26am

Sanchez rumours gaining momentum.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/11025073/Villa-in-talks-with-Colombian-star-Sanchez.html

Would make the transfer window a decent one.

Frankie Lee · 11-08-2014 1:27am

LeBash wrote: »

I think he will still be out of his depth there.

He has shown nothing but a bad long range shot for Villa.

He must have done something right to be a first team regular for Lech Poznan in a much stronger league.

COYVB · 11-08-2014 2:19am

Its a loan to Celtic isn't it? Could be a clever move. He'll no doubt score a few there, get his confidence back and, hopefully, impress in a few champions league games. That'd mean, at the very least, we'll get our money back on him in a year, or at the most, have a player who comes back looking a lot better

OneColdHand · 11-08-2014 10:27am

COYVB wrote: »

Its a loan to Celtic isn't it? Could be a clever move. He'll no doubt score a few there, get his confidence back and, hopefully, impress in a few champions league games. That'd mean, at the very least, we'll get our money back on him in a year, or at the most, have a player who comes back looking a lot better

I don't think Celtic will be doing much impressing in the Champions League this year. But he should be scoring at least a few in the League.

LeBash · 11-08-2014 11:56am

Le Tisser naming us as one of the team to go down.

death1234567 · 11-08-2014 3:56pm

LeBash wrote: »

Le Tisser naming us as one of the team to go down.

Paul Walsh too.

I am actually starting to think Palace, West Brom and Burley will be worse than us. Dangerous stuff.

OneColdHand · 11-08-2014 4:06pm

death1234567 wrote: »

I am actually starting to think Palace, West Brom and Burley will be worse than us. Dangerous stuff.

'Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.' Red, Shawshank Redemption.

LeBash · 11-08-2014 7:47pm

With Benteke, Kozak, Vlaar, Guzan and Delph we surely have enough to keep us up.

We have had another shot at fixing up the problems at LB. Im not worried tbh.

Surely Southampton are in a worse position than us?

JPA · 11-08-2014 7:50pm

death1234567 wrote: »

Paul Walsh too.

I am actually starting to think Palace, West Brom and Burley will be worse than us. Dangerous stuff.

Palace ain't going nowhere with Pulis in charge.

We're getting selected by a few because of the appearance of being a club in turmoil. They wouldn't be far wrong of course but the 3 promoted teams plus West Brom and Swansea are surely worse.

CSF · 11-08-2014 8:03pm

LeBash wrote: »

With Benteke, Kozak, Vlaar, Guzan and Delph we surely have enough to keep us up.

We have had another shot at fixing up the problems at LB. Im not worried tbh.

Surely Southampton are in a worse position than us?

If it was 5 a side astro that might be a bigger help.

LeBash · 11-08-2014 8:49pm

CSF wrote: »

If it was 5 a side astro that might be a bigger help.

Its a solid core. Bet a few teams would like strenght in the squad like that

Frankie Lee · 11-08-2014 9:29pm

You might be overestimating Kozak's ability a bit there. He might be a big lad and a half decent finisher but his all round game didn't impress me hugely last season. Lack of mobility is a factor whereas when Benteke builds up a head of steam he leaves most defenders trailing.

Delph has many great attributes but still wouldn't be good enough for any of the top 7 clubs.

CSF · 11-08-2014 9:31pm

LeBash wrote: »

Its a solid core. Bet a few teams would like strenght in the squad like that

Nobody would fear Kozak that much. Lots of teams have a few good players in their teams, Villa's standard drops too low after those 5 though.

COYVB · 11-08-2014 11:00pm

Fee agreed for Sanchez

Frankie Lee · 11-08-2014 11:02pm

COYVB wrote: »

Fee agreed for Sanchez

The defence should be rock solid if they pull this off.

COYVB · 11-08-2014 11:05pm

he'll also free up delph and westwood to be more forward thinking. If we get him it could turn out to be a bit of a turning point signing for the squad. We've been missing that DM for so long, and IMO it's the most important role on the pitch. The right player in there could completely change the team

COYVB · 11-08-2014 11:15pm

Lerner no longer actively looking to sell the club apparently, and he's willing to back Lambert financially now, but if a suitable bid comes in he'll take it. So says a journo on Twitter anyway. Seems a bit of a catchall statement that

LeBash · 11-08-2014 11:45pm

The point is those 5 will be enough to keep us up.

I see us finishing somewhere between 10-14th.

matrim · 12-08-2014 12:02am

So the defense / midfield now looks something like

Guzan
Lowton Okore Vlaar Cissokho
Sanchez
Westwood Delph

Wonder where Richardson will fit in. Maybe a replcement for Cissokho when we want more attacking treat and standin for delph when he eventually gets suspended

Front 3 could be either

Cole / N'Zogbia
Benteke Gabby/Wiemann/Kozak

or

Zog Gabby
Benteke

Corholio · 12-08-2014 12:33am

COYVB wrote: »

he'll also free up delph and westwood to be more forward thinking. If we get him it could turn out to be a bit of a turning point signing for the squad. We've been missing that DM for so long, and IMO it's the most important role on the pitch. The right player in there could completely change the team

Agreed definitely. Will be interesting to see how Westwood fits into that though, when he isn't the pivot for passing in there I'm not sure he improves the position he might move into. Would still like to see Ki signed to slot in there, although it was almost certainly one or the other with Sanchez.

Excellent signing if it comes off though. Delph more forward is the biggest benefit of this.

Frankie Lee · 12-08-2014 12:41am

Corholio wrote: »

Agreed definitely. Will be interesting to see how Westwood fits into that though, when he isn't the pivot for passing in there I'm not sure he improves the position he might move into. Would still like to see Ki signed to slot in there, although it was almost certainly one or the other with Sanchez.

Excellent signing if it comes off though. Delph more forward is the biggest benefit of this.

I'd have Westwood sitting just beside Sanchez with Delph in front given license to attack and press at will.

I'd have a front 3 of N'zogbia and Grealish supporting Benteke but obviously there are plenty of options available there.

COYVB · 12-08-2014 12:51am

If we get Sanchez we'll actually have too many players in the squad. That's a first

Aston Villa Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2017

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