26 Jan 2021 11:11:22
I'm a big believer that "ifs" ruin a good debate. If this, if that usually means someone is running out of logical points or evidence to support their argument. However, I'm going to go completely against that in order to get some opinions😂
So there are two big IFS here: if we finish top 10/ top 8, and if Barkley plays every game between now and the end of the season, taking his appearances to 29. What is the maximum you would want the club to be spending on him?
From my point of view, in the scenario I've mapped out there, he's played over 75% of the season, therefore an integral part of a successful side. He's 27, coming into his prime, a player of undoubted quality and part of a British core that we've built recently that personally I quite like! So I would say up to 35 million would be the mark for me.
Opinions and explanations gents?
26 Jan 2021 11:50:57
Good question Chris.
I'm in two minds with this one as other than one or two games, I'm yet to see him really dominate for sustained periods. Flashes of brilliance yes and a couple of goals, but also losing possession cheaply, missing a few sitters and games passing him by for large spells. But, if he does indeed play 75% of games then I'd probably take him for £35m. He is certainly a step up from what we've had and when fully fit can be a real asset. plus Grealish seems to love having him around which, if it keeps Grealish happy to stay for longer then sign him up!
That said, all depends what the summer market has to offer I suppose.
26 Jan 2021 12:07:01
I think Barkley has made a big difference to our midfield and if he stays fit then I think we should look to keep him he has a good understanding with Jack and it seems to me that the additional creativity takes a degree of pressure off Jack he also as a creative player gives something else for the opposition to worry about which can only be a good thing.
26 Jan 2021 12:36:50
When you consider Barkley’s injury record then the scenario you describe is a massive IF Chris.
I wonder how many players who have had poor injury records up to the age of 27, have gone on to be injury free in their late 20’s and early 30’s.
That said if he doesn’t miss any more games this season, and plays well throughout, there will definitely be a strong case for making the purchase.
In terms of cost then 35 million is a lot of money and for that amount there might be other better options out there in the Summer.
I think with his record of injuries he is always going to be a risk and therefore I would be thinking along the lines of 25 million, with a possible 5- 10 million in add ons depending on the number of appearances.
26 Jan 2021 13:11:07
I’m with you mark, how much did Chelsea pay for him.? I have 15 million in my head maybe it was less I’m unsure, but they haven’t improved him, the most I would pay for him would be 20 million with maybe 5 million in add ons depending on appearances in his first 2 seasons with us. I do really like him as a player but he’s got a serious amount of proving to do to make him worth 35 million, if we got Europe this season with him making appearance in say 75-80% of our remaining games then yes I would probably pay what they ask but top 8-10 don’t make him worth it imo.
26 Jan 2021 14:23:25
This is a good question, and does need some thought.
Most things have been covered, so there is not a lot I can add to this subject.
On the whole I lean towards what Mark has said, but that is where it ends for me.
He might well play 75% of the season this year and help us achieve some success, but next season and forever more, he could be plagued with his usual niggles, and they do become more prevalent with age, that would cause no end of problems.
I think 35 million is a lot for a player of his age and injury record, so personally I would leave alone.
I am sure we are on top of this one, and have already started to put things in place, I think in the main he has been used as a pacifier for jack, mainly to see how it works out.
Also Sanson is probably involved in this puzzle, along with future targets.
26 Jan 2021 14:52:52
For me Chris, for 35m I'd want someone made of concrete and not with hamstrings like swiss cheese. His quality is obvious and does give us more options creatively and he fits in with the players at the club and is definitely the type of player we need to push for those European places.
As far as fitness questions at the moment stand I'd say closer to 20m would be worth the risk.
Saying that tho, with his close friendship with Jack, it may be worth paying the extra to keep our captain and talisman happy, as to us Villa fans, he is priceless to our ambitions.
There got through that without saying IF- damn it 🙈ðŸ˜ðŸ‘.
26 Jan 2021 15:09:36
Always a tricky decision re players and injuries for me it all comes down to whether when fit and they play they give you something different and I think Barkley does to be fair but I do accept if you only get 30 to 40% of games then you do need to question the cost but I do wonder if someone offered us Ings for say £45-50 million would we have the same doubts or would we snap there hands off?
26 Jan 2021 16:09:54
Ings 40mil definitely quality striker but there's other strikers in Europe who are younger that we could get ie plea, thurman, dolberg,
26 Jan 2021 16:32:59
I really rate Kasper Dolberg 4eva, I have mentioned him a couple of times, I reckon him and Watkins and we would be sorted up top.
26 Jan 2021 16:37:50
Great conversation lads. For me, if we can pick Barkley up for 20M then it's a no brainer, he oozes class and has a great relationship with Grealish. We have Sanson coming in who can play that role, as can McGinn if needed so I'd be comfortable with Barkley at 20M, as we can cover that position much better should be get injured - That being said I wouldn't go to 35M, I think for that value you'd get a younger and more robust player. Plus, I think we need to spend big on a striker, I noticed some mentioning Inga, great shout, Ings with Grealish, Traore, Barkley, McGinn, Sanson, Watkins etc playing off / behind him would absolutely smash the premiership!
26 Jan 2021 17:06:37
I must admit that I don’t know a great deal about Dolberg, Plea etc but looking at the stats the goals to games ratio doesn’t look great and whilst I accept goals aren’t the only currency for a striker we already have a striker who runs the channels and runs defenders ragged but in my opinion isn’t a 20 goal plus premiership striker that’s the type of upgrade we need to be looking for up top.
26 Jan 2021 17:51:24
His goal ratio is only marginally less than Watkins John.
He is two years younger and played 100 games less than Ollie.
The lad has great potential.
26 Jan 2021 17:56:52
Just putting it out there. have Chelski got a January recall clause for Barkley? Though I’m sure he’s a real good signing, buying Sanson is a bit left field for me, as many of us on here have been saying since the last window, striker was a priority. Maybe there were noises about Lampard wanting Barkley back, or maybe the new guy would want him back, who knows 🤷ðŸ¼â€â™‚ï¸
UTV.
26 Jan 2021 18:12:08
Problem is, we can’t keep buying a striker every window. I think every season, in one of the two windows since benteke left, we have signed a striker, it’s getting a bit ridiculous. That said, I have supported Daves points in the past, Dolberg is a brilliant player!
Fingers crossed, Wesley can continue in some ways the form he had just picked up just before his injury. And then for one window at least we can improve other areas of the squad and show faith in the lads we have. In a perfect world we have Watkins, Wesley and Barry as back up and Keinan Davis out on loan in a last chance saloon hoping he finds his shooting boots.
26 Jan 2021 18:58:45
Bang on chris ðŸ‘ðŸ‘.
26 Jan 2021 19:01:08
£30m is being mentioned but I think £25m would be closer to the mark which probably means they'll want £40m.
Whatever it is he's got to start proving his worth and fitness to us for a sustained period. If he misses another 4 or 5 games before the season ends I'd say leave alone.
No doubting his pedigree though.
26 Jan 2021 19:03:05
We've not signed a goalkeeper for a while, surely that should be a priority? 🤔😂😂😂.