Aston Villa Banter Archive June 01 2013 to July 01 2013

01 Jul 2013 21:38:19
First day back at training and it was clear to see from footage and photos there was no bent, Ireland, bannan, fonz or Stevens! Looks like they have been told to stay away from the first team! If Lambo is keen to move these players on then surely he must have plans in place to being in new players!

01 Jul 2013 15:46:07
Any news on Steer signing today?

01 Jul 2013 15:33:35
Supposed Villa target Ba could allegedly be bought from Porto for a little as £2.5m.
If this is the case could the same AVFC negotiation team, last seen on a plane from France, jump on another plane, this time to Portugal and earn their money this time, if this price is correct, the lad's an absolute bargain. Please hurry as offer won't last for long.

30 Jun 2013 15:50:08
Does anyone one know the new squads numbers that new signings will be given, I'd of thought these would've made sense-

3 - Luna
5 - Okore
14 - Bacuna
17 - Tonev
19 - Helenius
28 - Steer

19 might not be given out

Don't think 19 will be available for players choice, stans shirt no. may well be retired

29 Jun 2013 17:29:25
Spuds fans think they can get Benteke for a swap deal using Defoe or Adebayor and as little as 10-15m!

When will fans stop thinking they can shift their highly paid unwanted players in silly swaps for other peoples best players!

If Villa sold Benteke this summer it would take over £25m in cash and I would still think that bad business as he is irreplacable and ever improving.

If Villa wanted Defoe it would be similar to our attempts to sell Bent. Low fee and wage problems inhibiting any move.

We should tell Spuds fans that Man U are going to sign Bale for 10m plus Anderson and Macheda.

We ain't going to shift all our old overpayed has beens just to bring in another, shame we just don't step up our attempts to keep him and if he says I wanna leave tranfers lit him but price tags him 25m

28 Jun 2013 17:20:27
We signed downing with a broken leg offloading nzogbia is still possible

Not many teams are as dumb as us though

We wasn't dumb either we sold for four times his current evaluation

We made what £2.5mill, which was around the bill of sending him off to america to be fixed up

We made £8m! thanks Liverpool!

It was £15m plus £3m add ons which we never got and we payed £12. 5 for him

We paid £12m and got £18m for him

The guy who said we made 8m is correct. We paid 12m and sold him for 20m. This was well documented. So as the guy said, thanks Liverpool

Again thanks liverpool and thanks to the guy who backed me up, thanks.

We actually signed him for 12mil but then factoring in his treatment in the US which cost us around 3mil before selling him for 17mil plus 3mil in add ons which were not activated as he didn't make enough appearances. Therefore actual profit on Downing stands at around 2mil

Closer to what I said then, cheers.

We paid 12m and sold for 20m. Where u get 3m to fix his leg is laughable let alone belivable. It cost us nothing for a cast on the nhs mate. And as for add ons your deluded. The villa have never sold a player with add ons in it's history. We are not no disrespect to any other club, a club that sells it's best players with add ons. We sell for the Market value. Too many people just post s--t for the sake of it. People posting on here can't even get the facts of previous players let alone possible signings. Don't post if you don't know the facts pleeeeeaaaaasse

He went to america to get it fixed you muppet, we had to pay for 3 months of top class accommodation plus professional medical bills as well as a personal trainer, nutritionist and rehabilitation specialist.

How the hell would you actually know what his medical bills cost. I think you will find he had medical insurance to cover his rehab you person. You like I don't know what his bills come to and most footballers have private medical insurance so I would suggest you button it you muppet as you know nothing and are only speculating. The fact still remains we paid 12m and sold him for 20m. Then again your so thick I suppose you have tried to calculate his wages and deduct that as well. I would never normally speak in this tone but with comments like you have put you need putting down you p---k.

Calm down darling, the mrs been dry lately has she? anyway the reason it cost us is because his medical insurance only payed for mediocre work in the UK, as the top sports doctors are usually offered to the best players in the country and as he was a middlesborough player when we signed him that was not offered to him, therefor we took it upon ourselves to pay the money to get him fixed quicker and better. its sort of like paying a rather large sum to go and train else where for a few weeks. many people are aware that the sheer size of america makes it a popular place for players of any sport to go and get themselves sorted out. it was made quite public that he spent 3 months in the states and i'm highly doubting his insurance for one of his legs covers his stay in the penthouse suite of a hilton for a quarter of a year with specialist working around him to keep him in the right frame of mind, make sure he eats properly, and to keep him in shape with as little strain to the leg as possible. also, add-ons or no add-ons the fee was £18m, another well documented fact other than the daily mail as i'm sure we're all aware gets things wrong more often then they do right.

26 Jun 2013 22:55:07
All our efforts should go into trying to get Barry back, best midfielder our club has seen in the last 30 years. So what if he left for money/trophies?! Football is fickle so let's get him back, I for 1 would welcome him with open arms. VTID

Me too our longest serving player in recent years and would be fitting for him to finish his career where it started

His professional career started with us he was a trainee at Brighton

26 Jun 2013 19:27:01
Rumour has it that we're now Considering Victor Wanyama, preparing a £7-8mill bid plus Ireland Although I think that would be good business I'd prefer Belhanda as a more tenacious attacking threat with a bit more guile/creativity/technique & skill.

I would absolutely hate to see Belhanda at another epl team instead of villa as we'd never get such a great chance to bring in a top quality game changer, he'd be our Silva/Mata, we dallied around with Coutinho and his definitely going to be a player for Liverpool.

B4 you all get on my back the Wanyama rumour was on Twittter.

But PL so far so good, I BELIEVE! maybe your just waiting to offload some players

25 Jun 2013 21:57:35
Luke Murphy looks like he will not be signed because wolves have had a bid accepted

Probably why I'll never be a football Manager, I think Murphy is an outstanding talent, I would have bet that PL or many other premiership Managers would have targeted him for this season.

25 Jun 2013 18:29:36
Given set to join Doncaster on loan with them paying 80% of his wages. {Ed030's Note - Very good signing for Doncaster imo. }

My moneys going on donny promotion if this goes head, lot clean sheets there

Must be exciting times to support Doncaster, a real concerted effort to make the Premiership having only just been promoted.

24 Jun 2013 18:04:34
I think villa should be spending their money on more experienced players such as: lescott, huddelstone, parker, barry, maybe even Anderson. Need a left back though, don't like the sounds of this luna.

Parker or Barry I would agree with as I think they would give their all no matter who they played for. I would hesitate on the other 3 as they have the air of the time Charlie about them (less so with Lescott to be fair)
Signing players who are young and want to prove themselves is more desirable than players who think coming to us is a step down for them
We have had our fingers burnt too often that way
Mendax

Nah, we are happy with the new regime! and Luna needs to be seen before he is judged.

Fabio from utd but I think okore helenius and tonev are goodbyes and we make an impact

Goodbyes! Are we getting rid before they have even played? Oh, wait a minute, you mean good buys!

Villa are buying experience but in addition were buying youth who are hungry to make an impact and a name for themselves.
With the exception of Luna and Bacuna the other 3 signings have 100 plus league games under their belts, full international caps and even champs league experience and have cost relatively little in comparison to the names you mentioned.

If Lescott really is a Villa fan, he should be willing to sign and play for next to 5 bob aweek, before it becomes too late to play for the club he apparently likes so much.

24 Jun 2013 13:03:33
Heard the same whispers with regards to Belhanda. It's a mixture offing on dead expensive wood and getting the younger players to sign up such as Benteke! Then players like belhanda will be brought in who command higher wages! This will be done once the existing players lambert wants are tied down! Can't sign belhanda on £50K then offer Benteke or Okore £40K! Doesn't make sense. Get the cheaper deals sorted first then break the bank! As regards Wanyama heard of the interest but teams like arsenal and united are in the hunt so can rule us put of that one!

None of that lot. They are all useless dross that Tottenham want to get rid of with the sole exception of Walker.

Wanayama wanted to come to villa when under McLeish as he was a back up target if nzogbia fell through and when we signed him, wanayama went to Celtic. he had gone on twitter saying he was happy to be signing for villa. should have signed him, he only cost 3m at that point.

23 Jun 2013 21:13:09
Guys a few things to take in. Firstly regarding Benteke why should we be happy with 30 mil and spurs cast offs. If the quotes that are being put out for the likes of Cavani, Falcao are 50 mil I'm sorry but Benteke is also worth that as I believe he will be better next season, he has everything in his game, strength, power, pace, excellent in the air. Yes we bought him for 7 mil but we developed him into the player he is. We should keep him at all costs and make him honour his contract. I believe he will stay anyway. I don't like the fact that us villa fans on some sights are suggesting that he will be leaving anyway, we may well be posting comments regarding one of our new signings leaving next year as to say we can't hold on to them when they have signed a contract. Do we honestly think the money we get for Benteke will be shelled out for new players, I think not we have been here before. 20 mil downing 18 mil young 12 mil Barry 26 mil + Ireland for Milner. All that money bought was bent and Nzogbia. We would of bought players anyway with out selling. I for one would not sell bent if they don't pay the 8 mil. He kept us up in first year and it's a shame he does not fit our new system. But he will get the likes of Newcastle or Stoke 15 to 20 goals a season. If the likes of Kone is valued at 10 mil them Bents a bargain. Bring back Barry as well if we can he was a great servant to villa, knows the club inside out and would be a great help to our young midfielders. Good times ready to roll down villa park so let's enjoy it.

Cavani and Falcao have proved themselves in their leagues and in europe for a good few seasons. This is Benteke's first in the spotlight, so we can't value him like that just yet

23 Jun 2013 15:28:32
I was read sky text this morn. Paper rumours say we are interested in having Barry back. what are your thoughts on that? I wouldn't mind him bk personally

Would welcome him back he could be a great holding mid for us! think the fee should be no more than 3m considering his age and his salary.

I think it would be a good move as long as we also bought someone such as the much lauded Belhanda to be the high quality attacking threat we need from midfield
Barry would provide some much needed stability in a very young midfield and he also has the wonderful knack of very rarely giving the ball away
Mendax

22 Jun 2013 20:44:31
Too back up rumour avfc OFFICIALS were in french capital yesterday for prelim discussions

Prelim discussions on what exactly?
And where do you get your info from?
Mendax

22 Jun 2013 19:19:55
May have been talking to someone I don't know, and it was in Paris
TheVillan

21 Jun 2013 14:16:34
We need now:

A back up rb
A decent cdm (murphy?)

A goalkeeper or 2 as marshallreleased and given his way out

We have seigrist to promote to first team

20 Jun 2013 19:33:26
Brett Holman's career at Aston Villa is over after he agreed a move to Al Nasr.

The Australia international will undergo a medical with the Dubai-based club after Paul Lambert agreed to release the midfielder.

Holman was signed by Alex McLeish on a free transfer from AZ Alkmaar last summer but made only sporadic appearances for Villa under Lambert.

Alex mcleish that name is not to be mentioned on here

MR Mc. he who shall not be named. other than person

19 Jun 2013 20:08:44
Valon berisha keep an eye on this one avfc fans

Where did you get this from mate?
Mendax

Quote from Berisha from a Norwegian website >

' I have been three times over at Chelsea. It went really well the first time, but I never received contract offers from them. I did however contract offers from both Manchester City and Aston Villa, says Berisha to the Manager. - I said no to both '

So the fact he turned us down is evidence he could be on his way?
Sorry mate, I'm struggling to join the dots on this one
Mendax

Don't quote me, but I think Berisha came to Villa on trial when GH was Manager.

I read something similar to that as well
Mendax

19 Jun 2013 09:23:14
Jan Mucha is an option as back up keeper Eeverton released him and he's on a free. Had a really good game against Manchester city when filling in for Tim Howard.

19 Jun 2013 09:12:31
Great first 2 fixtures are Arsenal away and Liverpool at home, winning both of these would be the perfect start.

UTV

19 Jun 2013 08:42:03
I'm very happy with the signing so far just have to be careful that are young lads get looked after because we are signing players of nearly the same age so I can see some going out on loan it's probably going to be difficult to offload some of the deadwood who's going to pay them big wages end up staying getting no games and getting paid which is a joke

Good players thrive off the critics of not enough experience, I'm sure Paul Lambert will Be Prepared

18 Jun 2013 21:16:12
What would every ones team be next season considering we sign Luna and not taking into account other possiblitys such as belhanda, mine would be:
Guzan
Lowton, okore, Clark, Luna
Westwood, bacuna
Gabby, tonev, viemen
Benteke

Bench:
Helinus
Bennett
Herd
Baker
Carruthers
Syla

Clark? Who's your supplier mate that stuff must be strong!

I'd rather have Vlaar or Baker in the first team than Clark. I doubt Herd would be on the bench rather than Delph or Gardner. Goalie on the bench probably going to be Jed Steel or some unknown from Europe. I hear Murphy's supposed to be one his way later in the window as well according to the manager of Crewe.

You forgot our captain, Vlaar. He will most likely be starting along with Okore

Guzan
Lowton, Vlaar, Okore, Bennett (early)
Westood, Delph, Sylla
Gabby, Benteke, Weimann

Subs - rotated in too

New goalkeeper will join
Baker
Herd
Gardner
Bacuna
Tonev (wing forward sub/rotation)
Helenius

It looks like this fella has just named as many villa players as he knows and missed half our team! Its either that or this is ciaran clark himself, i'm becoming ever certain that he keeps coming on this page to defend himself when I say baker is twice the player, if so its the only defending he can do!

Anyone think clark would be better used as a sitter in midfield?

Yeah clark would be better there, had his best game of his career vs arsenal there, he's as effective at defending set pieces and cross as barry bannan so there's no way he's a centre back!

A fit Gardner would and should make any villa team

I've always thought of Clark as a midfielder, he thinks it's his best position, I think he will become an effective player but not in central defense but I also think Baker could be brought on in times of trouble and play a def mid role, he just has to improve his passing and that position could be his own.

Mine wiuld be

-----------------Guzan-----------------

Lowton---Vlaar-------Okore------Luna

---------Delph-------Westwood------
-----------------Sylla-------------------

Tonev/Weinmann-------Gaby/Bacuna
-----------------Benteke---------------

Subs:

Seigrist
Gardener
Clark
Bennett
Helenius
Holman
Baker
Carruthers
Bowery

I'm I the only one who prefers Clark to baker?

18 Jun 2013 15:10:17
Helenius has been confirmed, was just about to post that there was a private jet coming in to birmingham earlier today which might have had something to do with it when it was confirmed! Lambert said 2 more before helenius but i'd still like to see a left back (no doubt going to be luna) and a keeper coming in. Maybe another one or two if the likes of bannan, ireland, bent and given all leave.

There's always private jets coming in and going out of Birmingham.

Got a friend that works at airport security who told me a little white one with a gold strip and 5/6 windows is ours. I have seen others but i've noticed this one on the days we've signed people and the day before, mighht just be coincidence though

18 Jun 2013 09:42:18
Randy lerner guaranteed a warchest of at least 20m for every season, so far if we get these next two signings in it'l be around the 13/14m mark which leaves us 6/7m left. I believe we should use it on a defensive midfielder. Any suggestions folks?

PS Would still love belhanda to come regardless!

I really think Clark will be the defensive midfielder this season, this has to be his opportunity to prove himself.

I hope your right, remember clark doing an ok job in that position for us before. At the same time i'd like to see us have a bigger squad and competition for places and think a dmc is necessary.

18 Jun 2013 00:30:15
Lots of rumours about Belhanda, and interest from other clubs, Shahktar, Arsenal etc. Would love to seem him in a Villa search, but maybe unlikely? Check out his goal for Morocco against Gambia from the other day, sweet as a nut!

17 Jun 2013 10:10:45
Out of the players villa have signed or signing who does everyone think willmake an impact I reckon okore and tonev

I hope they are all successful, but I also hope that the exhisting lad's Gardiner, Carruthers, Johnson, burke and others get the same opportunity as the new boy's.

Okore looks like he could make a huge difference to us
I think his pace alone will have the effect of making Vlaar a more effective player for us
Mendax

For once I agree with mendax's comment.

Just the once?
Mendax

17 Jun 2013 07:08:05
I know I'll be in the minority here but I don't think such a mass exodus is required from the club as I think it could get rid of some definite quality and experience. For example, I think the likes of El Ahmadi & Holman are good players for the youngster to develop off of. Secondly, I feel that whilst in for much criticism and rightly so after an abysmal season, Bannan still has the potential to be a decent and reliable Premiership star, I think it would be a grave error to sell him especially to a Premier League rival such as Swansea for only £2 million. And as for the players released, I know you can't change the past but I'd of been inclined if I was Lambert to have given Makoun a chance as he's never had a real shot at the Villa team and I think would've fit the mould of the level headed and experienced midfielder. Also, Lichaj would've been excellent cover for the first team as he's me versatility, and had it not have been for the extortionate wages I'd have retained Dunne simply because of his quality and experience which Baker, Clark & Okore would've benefited off.

However, I think there is some much needed deadwood which needs shifting. I'd sell given and drop the £2 million asking price and sell to the highest bidder, apparently both Celtic and Hull are interested. Hutton, need I say anymore, he's said to want a return to Mallorca whether they want him is another matter, would you? Whilst I think Ireland is a complete joke and has an awful attitude I'd be inclined to sell him to the continent as I think selling him to a Premiership club such as Cardiff could bite us on the a**. Similarly to Ireland, I think under the right management the same could be said of Bent and N'Zogbia.

Makeup failed 3 times tongues a permanent work visa as a condition was to learn English which never bothered to learn that's why villa did what they've had to with him

Just because a player can't speak the language it doesn't atop him from being a quality player and farming him out on loan to non English speaking countries will hardly help him.

Cmon man, are you having a laugh?

These so called experienced players did nothing.

Holman - works hard, but has no quality

Ireland - not interested, doesn't deserve the shirt

NZogbia - quality when he cares, but seldom does. dribbles the ball regardless of players open ahead

KEA - poor

Makoun - lightweight and is a non factor

Dunne - useless now, old cow out to pasture

Like it or loathe it, we are adopting our own version of "Wenger strategy" meaning we spend small amounts on promising players, so the loss is minimal on the ones that done work out and the upside can be massive if we nail it - Benteke.

We cannot compete any other way in todays game. If we manage to get even three of these new signings to come good we will make a decent profit if we end up selling any of them.

Hopefully the young guys war to prove themselves and that pushes our younger guys like Burke, Curruthers, Drennan, Johnson etc etc.

Sit back and enjoy it. we are a fun team to watch again!

16 Jun 2013 13:27:27
fact is Aston Villa appear to be the team most likely to sign the mercurial playmaker.

They have already made contact with Montpellier about a transfer and Belhanda refused to rule out a move to The Midlands; in fact he seemed quite excited by the possibility:

"I am definitely aware that there are five clubs with serious interest in me. England will be my first choice. Aston Villa is a great club with a big history playing in the best league in the world, so let's see what will happen. ""

Rumour has it Lambert is discussing a £7.5m deal for Belhanda with £6m of add on's possible depending on his EPL success.

This will only happen if benteke leaves and then he, d played in the hole behind helenius or weinmann

Yes this is of course a nice thought, and I totally agree that we need an amf to pull the strings.

But where is this "rumor" coming from exactly? Sounds like an old rumor resurfacing as there is no new info here other than the figures being touted.

Even those figures are most probably based on the interview with Montpellier's manager recently.

16 Jun 2013 01:03:42
the rumours regarding Bent to Newcastle are odd. According to a sunday paper they want to pay Bent less than the 75k he is asking for and pay only a 'nominal fee' not 6m?!
On top of this they have told their players who object to the Wonga deal to quiet up - basically.

Sounds like a club you would not want to sign for. He is worth the 6m asking price at least and we or Bent should break off the deal. plenty of other clubs would be happy with the fee and wages. If he signs for someone like Fulham I could see him score 15 Premiership goals and go to the World Cup with England (If we make it) and look great value.

What we shouldn't do is give him away for a nominal fee to a club in this country
That could come back to bite us
If Newcastle are the big club their fans continually harp on about, 6million for a 29 year old international centre forward is reasonable
Mendax

6 million for a player that can't even get a start in a team battling relegation! you are living in dream land. if he would take 25k a week and a transfer fee of 3million then maybe you will get rid of him, i belive bent will be at villa next season draining 50/60k a week out of you wage bill for sitting on the bench.

If he's on top of his game he gets 15-20goals a season, so villa are right to sell him at 6million, and what bent wants to demand off his new club every week is simply not villas problem. He won't price himself out of a moove as he wants first team football, because he wants to be on that plane to Brazil for the worldcup.

15 Jun 2013 11:30:30
why do we need experience to finish mid-table? Surely you would need experience to stay in the league in a relagation scrap, but we did it without any, just think if we would of let them 2 goal leads slip we would if been mid-table anyway

Perhaps with a little experience in the middle of the pitch we would have not given up 2 goal leads. We had no one to hold the ball, no one too guide the youngsters. No matter what job you are doing there is always someone to look for when things are not going the right way.

Avfc 1874, spot on.

14 Jun 2013 19:27:02
I am buzzing with the new signings, would love to see Barry back in the Claret and Blue - he would do wonders with the kids around him. VTID

Barry is a money grabbing deserter.
why have him back at 32 just to guarantee a further pay day for him.
He made his bed now let him lie in it.

Most people in life when offered more money take it! He also said that he wanted some trophies and he has, it would be a massive coup for him to come back and finish his career at Villa. Besides he gave us ten years and owed us nothing when he left. VTID

14 Jun 2013 15:47:38
Gone all quiet on the transfer front for a day, I can't stand this silence! More Lambert please! Some out also I feel would be good too - bringing more funds in! Belhanda confirmation anyone?

Can't see us signing 3 wingers unless N, dog and Ireland go

14 Jun 2013 09:54:33
Would love to see Scott Parker at Villa, Lamberts also stated he wants someone with a little more experience in the middle of the park. would be a top signing in my eyes

He won't leave London he'll play for a championship club like QPR before leaving london

Barry or Parker would give the team experiance. Its great that Lambert is signing youth and energy but sometimes a middle park player is needed to hold the ball and give time for the younger members to get their breath. I love the thought of Villa leading the way with fresh young players but we all saw what happened when Vlarr came back into the team. WE stopped conceding goals and put points in the bag that finally proved invaluable. I look forward to the coming season when we should be a top half team. Finally it is essential that Lambert gets that one agreemant that we all want. Big Ben is a must. C'mon Christian, you are now a hero and your standing will only rise at Villa park.

Huddleston would be good and cheaper

14 Jun 2013 07:26:26
Any Villa fans here know anything about lichaj coming to forest? Lot of rumours in Nottingham!

Haven't heard anything but it would be a great signing for you.

Im a villa fan living in notts and also heard this. Would suit forest better than allan mutton!

13 Jun 2013 23:56:00
villa are in negotiation with Chelsea over a loan deal for ryan Bertrand with a view to buying him for 7 million
villa also set to sign murphy from crewe when he returns from holiday sunday or Monday 2 million agreed
4 more signings will be added cone end of june

guzan

lowton vlaar okore ?

westwood
tonev ?

helenius benteke agbonlahor

Bertrand would be a great addition

Next season's line up

---------------Guzan-------------------

Lowton---Vlaar/Cark--Okore/Baker-Bertrand?/Bennett

---------Westwood---Delph----------

------------------Sylla------------------

Weinmann/Tonev------Gabby/Bacuna

---------------The Beast---------------

Don't forget gardner

Gardner will be an impact player off the bench with Brighton Holman

13 Jun 2013 19:37:12
Crazy few week for Aston Villa Football Club, very exciting season ahead. Our new 2013/14 kit has been revealed, and we have officially signed 3 players, with one player very close to putting pen to paper. Also 3 players have signed new contracts, Weimann, Baker and Johnson Aleksander Tonev joined Aston Villa 5 days ago after recommendation from former internationally team mate, Stan Petrov.
Today, we have also signed Denmark international defender Jores Okore and Netherlands Under-21 midfielder Leandro Bacuna. With Nicklas Helenius on the verge to signing in the next few days, the future is very exciting. UTV.

13 Jun 2013 18:16:24
Three players already in. Tonev, okore and Bacuna. We now have wingers to supply the strikers, mostly benteke. It looks like it will become four soon with the likely addition of Helenius. Now all we need is the addition of a left back and a creative midfielder. I would think that the signings would be Murphy and Cresswell, but as the additions so far haven't been British I would find this very unlikely. So the players will probably come from abroad. Once again lambert has surprised us with the players he has brought in. It looks like we will be challenging for a top ten place next year.
UTV,!!

It's obviously cheaper and better value for money to buy young players from abroad but at this rate we will be doing an Arsenal and fielding a complete team of foreigners.
Not sure that I'd like that to be honest so signing Cresswell and Murphy would be welcome. Trouble is that being British could make them expensive.

Yeah would take them two but also need a back up keeper and right back

Is there a ruling coming that a certain % of players must be from the UK?

13 Jun 2013 17:25:07
I am getting dizzy!
I have never known a June like it.
Of the signings so far, the one who excites me the most is Okore.
The other players look like improvements/additions whereas Okore would seem to solve a fundamental problem at the heart of our porous defence
Surely a left back is next?
Would a stella signing such as Belhanda be being greedy?
We live in interesting times
Mendax

He has apparantly been told today that he can leave. Presumably we will have to pay up the last year of his contract and we won't get a fee so he has proved to be a rather expensive mistake.
Not sure who there is out there who will want him though even on a free transfer.

13 Jun 2013 16:35:35
Finally signed Jores Okore, can't wait to see his potential

13 Jun 2013 07:58:02
Okay we've only had PL in charge for one and a bit transfer windows but does anybody else agree that he's one of the best transfer magicians they've ever seen? I certainly do! He picked up players from lower leagues, a risk nobody else is willing to take and although bennett still looks championship quality and bowery is yet to properly find his feet he managed to find two absolute gems that would walk into any prem team outside the bottom 4. Then look at what he does abroad, ron vlaar wasnt really on anybody's radar but we snapped up a quality dutch international, and when it comes to benteke well what can I say? Another unheard of player from a rubbish league and he took the chance on whether they'd be any good in the prem and it worked! Now look at the players we're being linked with, they're all young players but even at the age they are they will strengthen our team, if most of this summers signings come good and keep improving and we manage to keep the team together I have to think we can push back to the top. all these players are breaking into the international teams and in a few years they'll be regulars. We'll end up with a team full of internationals and the prices he's picking them all up for is unbelievable. PL can get 4/5 quality players for what MON spent on one! In lambert we trust UTV

I think Bennett deserves a fair crack of the whip. Does anyone else think that he was much improved as the season came to a close?
Trust in Mr Lambert to work on him and improve him.
The same yardstick applies to Bowery. The manager obviously saw something in him when he signed him.

I agree Bennett could be a quality player but whoever decided he was a left back needs to go back to being an person.

12 Jun 2013 20:57:08
Papiss Cisse as announced he wants to quit Newcastle United, some rumours suggest his next destination is Villa. {Ed003's Note - He has announced no such thing}

Wouldn't it be against his muslim beliefs to wear a gambling sponsorship on his jersey? {Ed001's Note - yes, but it was also against them to have a moneylender on the front and yet he managed it all last season!}

Why do people just make thsi stuff up?
Really, what is the point
Mendax

11 Jun 2013 21:53:12
11 Jun 2013 19:42:50
Danish striker Nicklas Helenius to complete a deal to Aston Villa in the next 10 days according to the official AVFC website. The young Danish has scored 4 goals in 11 appearances for his under 21 squad, and is known as the 'new ibrahimovic'. PL knows a good player when he sees one, especially youth, trust in PL. UTV.

11 Jun 2013 17:55:17
We are currently in negotiations with Aalborg for their promising young striker Nicklas Helenius. This guy looks to have a great technique and an eye for goal. What I have seen of him would fit in perfectly to our style of play but the question is to supplement what we already have or as a straight replacement for Benteke?

The 12th Man

11 Jun 2013 17:42:53
Aston Villa can confirm that the Club are in negotiations with Aalborg BK for the transfer of Danish forward Nicklas Helenius. Hope the signing of another big forward doesn't mean Benteke is off tho!

I share your concern mate
Hopefully, the signing of Helenius is to precipitate the departure of Bent and the Kid from Chesterfield rather than Benteke
Mendax

11 Jun 2013 19:42:50
Danish striker Nicklas Helenius to complete a deal to Aston Villa in the next 10 days according to the official AVFC website. The young Danish has scored 4 goals in 11 appearances for his under 21 squad, and is known as the 'new ibrahimovic'. PL knows a good player when he sees one, so let's see about this

11 Jun 2013 10:40:11
Keeping on with the "where there's smoke there is fire" theme.

Ok, Belhanda "deal" has been "reported" as anything but. however as I said day before, where there is smoke there is fire. It certainly doesn't look bad for AVFC to have your clubs name amongst some of the names that had also reportedly had bids accepted for Belhanda.

Now, just speculation, but I think we can also look further into the comments made by Villa legend Martin Laursen and his public approval and support of Okore, a Villa target, with an initial bid of around 3million turned down.

Laursen goes on to say that Okore "is very wise to choose Villa over Chelsea (referring to an attempt made by Chelsea in January to secure Okore�s services) as he will get an opportunity to play significant minutes" (at Villa).

As Laursen still has a lot to do with Villa, it is not normal for him to publicly approve an attempt by the club to acquire a player, even if that player is a fellow countryman. We only have to look at Stan Petrov as a reference (Tonev) to this.

I fully expect that Villa will soon table an improved bid of 5million and Okore will be a Villan very soon.

It may prove to be an inspired purchase as we all know how shocking the Villa back four were this season past.

Just my opinion

Danish international is coming and I've no doubt laursen is behind this one but nothing about okore. officially we are negotiating for niklas helenius hopefully another peice of transfer wizardry from lambert. who knows if okore will follow but it makes it more likley

10 Jun 2013 13:05:10
Apparently Weimann has signed a three year deal. Anyone know if this is true?

True m8 he's said on twitter and avfc has officially said as well

True he did

Andreas Weimann has signed a new 3 year contract.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22847519

09 jun 2013 23:33:06
as i know benteke personally he told me yesterday that he will be signing a new contract and also. i am cousins with belhanda he also told me his mobe to aston villa will be wrapped up on tuesday for 25 million

And alex fergursons your dad I suppose

25 million yeah so nearly twice what they said they would accept for him. I smell bull****

Thats funny when the bid was 10.5m and its now been retracted as Benteke will sign a new contract

09 Jun 2013 12:13:59
does anybody else not fancy tom ince from blackpool? its quoted at £4m in todays papers, I would have thought that will be declined but if its in the region of £6m its definitely worth a shout.

4m is what Ian Holloway has bid but Blackpool have been saying he's worth 12-15m

I personally think he is better than zaha he tracks back and works hard zaha drifts in and out of the game and often waits for the ball to come to him if I had the choice it would be nice for me all day

08 Jun 2013 11:53:20
PL will focus on Younes Belhanda he's the missing link required. a great addition showing intent and desire to innovate what we've become at £10.5m, he would definitely take us forward 5 fold with the likes of Westwood flourishing getting even better game by game. Then comes Okore a natural fit into his system who has power, is quick and young with adequate experience with plenty of scope for growth with our club, likewise Cresswell.

We shall also be retaining Big Ben for at least another season by which time he'll become more committed, engaged, embroiled in our pending dynamic style and progress. If not, the funds it would generate would make Memphis Depay and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang realistic possibilities.

We also have Danny Crowley dubbed the new Jack Wilshere amongst other great squad additions in Gardener / Grealish / Drennan / Burke

Danny crowley went to Arsenal

Danny Crowley I think he, s gone to the gunners

Did the lad Crowley actually go to Arsenal?
Does anyone know categorically?
Mendax

He's no longer on the avfc academy page

Seems disappointing but every young player who can tie his own bootlaces these days seems to be described as a "wonder kid".
All of us who saw them play at 15/16 will have no doubt thought that Luke and Stefan Moore were destined for great things
Mendax

07 Jun 2013 16:28:18
Villa have confirmed the signing of Aleksander Tonev rumored to be around the £2.7m with addition clauses if he plays enough matches

07 Jun 2013 06:37:35
Baker signed up for 3 yrs great news!

06 Jun 2013 17:09:04
-----------------Guzan---------------------
---Lowton---Vlaar---Okore---Cresswell---
---------Westwood---------Delph----------
Weimann------Belhanda-----Agbonlahor
-------------------Benteke----------------

Subs: Siegrist, Herd, Clark, Baker, Williams, Bennett, Sylla, Gardner, El Ahmadi, Albrighton, Holman, Caruthers, Austin, Bowery.

?

Not Tonev or Popov?

Im not really sure we need them and the belhanda fee is going to be quite a lot so I don't think we could afford all three

06 Jun 2013 09:36:05
Does anyone think we should go for vydra from watford? Looks a class act

Yes but with Udinesse slapping a english inflated price tag on him its doubtful as Villa can buy Popov for 2.5m who's young and a full international and are being qouted 4-6m for championship strikers who aren't internationals

06 Jun 2013 08:03:27
dawkins dunne lichaj marshall makoun - released

petrov - coach

burke williams drenan carruthers johnson - given new deals

Squad left for next season -
Gabby Agbonlahor, Marc Albrighton, Nathan Baker, Barry Bannan, Joe Bennett, Darren Bent, Christian Benteke, Jordan Bowery, Ciaran Clark, Nathan Delfouneso, Fabian Delph, Karim El Ahmadi, Gary Gardner, Shay Given, Brad Guzan, Chris Herd, Brett Holman, Alan Hutton, Stephen Ireland, Matt Lowton, Charles N'Zogbia, Benjamin Siegrist, Enda Stevens, Yacouba Sylla, Ron Vlaar, Andreas Weimann, Ashley Westwood.

from list sell - bannan bent delfonso given holman hutton ireland nzogbia stevens

a lot of work to be done by the club this summer but looks promising for the future!


Up The Villa!

The Fonz will be given a chance. Loan Bazza and Enda out. N'zogbia showed glimps of what he can do keep him till jan then sell if not good enough I reckon. Sell rest if seller is found

05 Jun 2013 21:55:32
-Reading tv, it says we've released 5 players, really we've released 3 as dawkins was on loans so is returning to spurs and makoun had a transfer clause so he's actually being sold not released.
-With Dunne and Lichaj, realistically we need a new CB and cover/competition RB
-Shame to see Marshall leave and with Given looking to sold, not sure whether we should look for a nother back-up keeper or just promote Siegrist to the bench
-And with Bent leaving, we need a new striker, to atleast challenge Benteke, especially if Benteke picks up an injury, I don't think the fonse or Bowery are the answer and gabs is hit and miss

-blake

05 Jun 2013 12:01:05
Younes Belhanda seems open to a move to Aston Villa by talking about them today in a press conference "Aston Villa is a great club with a big history playing in the best league in the world, so let's see what will happen. " He also stated that if a deal can be reached with Aston Villa, then he'd be very open to the move.

05 Jun 2013 09:27:59
speculation and rumours still indicate high interest from many clubs for benteke. so why on earth haven't we offered him a bumper new deal yet?its as if it isn't the TOP priority to get him to stay which is utterly ridiculous. come on villa get a move on or we WILL lose the best player we've had in AGES.

Sorry but the balls in villas court, and I cannot see Benteke doing an odemwingie.

04 Jun 2013 21:00:50
An open message to Randy Lerner
This is a really good way of producing a successful football team
The most tricky part is buying the right players. This can be a bit problematic and very few managers get it right all the time. So, with the initial point in mind, this is what I suggest
1 : Look at the stable of players that the various managers under your stewardship have acquired, keep the really, really good ones. In particular the really, really good young ones.
2: Simultaneously, try to sell some of the really bad ones, particularly the really bad old ones
3: With the money freed up from following point 2 you may then be able to add to the players described in point 1

Note : this is the exact opposite to what you have been doing over the past 3 years
Mendax

04 Jun 2013 12:52:00
As we all heard, Aston Villa are rumoured to have bid for Younes Belhande of montellier. Here is some interesting comments that Belhanda has made over the last few weeks -

"I want to go to England or Germany. I think that I'm cut out for football which is both physical and technical, which is based on taking risks".

He suggests that England and Germany are preferred destinations, and he obviously has been linked numerous times to Arsenal and Spurs recently. Although no offers are apparent yet from the London clubs, the offers that have been made are those from the Milan clubs, Galatasaray and Atletico Madrid. For sure these could of been made up by the Monpellier president to attract more interest but that seems more unlikely given the type of player he is - he would be in demand. what's interesting is these further comments that Belhanda made -

"My wish would be to play in the Champions League next season, but I could also sign for a club with a great history".

With villa being submerged with great history, maybe this could be a good sign in securing his services. The lure of the champions league would only be the main factor of him moving to the clubs mentioned but with arsenal and spurs yet to make an offer, Villa could act early and perhaps persuade him to sign up. also the likes of KEA could be also a good sign in him moving to villa park. I guess were being optimistic but I don't see why not, but as mentioned I think the champions league sides would be too hard to resist. Only time will tell.

03 Jun 2013 09:09:55
Every day the press report that a striker is being priced at some unbelievable price by the president, the chairman, the owner and the groundsmans dog. Should Lerner put a price on Benteke to show his intention to keep him at VP? Today Cavani is being priced at £54m. Bale at £85m, Jovetic £25m, Suarez £40m. How about £60m on Benteke? All of the snipers on here will laugh out loud but if scousepool, mufc, spuds, gooners etc etc really intend to buy him, then let Villa get the expected value of Benteke right. WE don't want him to go anywhere but VP and all efforts must be made to keep him to his contract, and keep away all the clubs who just gave him lip service before Villa stepped in to pay £7m.

If we can convince Belhanda to come to Villa after our £13m bid was accepted, Benteke will see we are building something special here & will definitely stay - seems Lerner has given lambert a raise in pocket money!

02 Jun 2013 20:25:35
For me we need 3 players for start 11 cb, lb and a wide left attacker.
I'd move Weiman into the hole behind benteke and in front of Delph and Westwood.
For me realistic targets look like being cresswell, tonev
And for me I'd splash out on lesscot I'm and vlaar would be rocks for me.
If as suggested tonev is brought in to cover right across the front line I'd like us to go for ince then move gabby to the left

For me we need 7 new players

gk, cd, lb, lw, dcm, acm, st and add grealish, crathures, drenann

outs
given
dunne
lichaj
petrov - resigned
ireland
bent
holman
bannan

Make that 8, you will need another striker to replace Benteke.

Belhanda, Popov, Tonev. Benteke will stay!

02 Jun 2013 17:13:09
Wish lambert would raid norwichs youth for the murphy twins they looked I watched them in the fa youth cup and they are what we are missing on the wings. They track back and give everything to the cause.

MS AVFC92

Would that be one of the CUPS us carrot crunchers never win!

And if Lambert went to Norwich for any player he would be ignored, Norwich will not do any deals with the Villa, Lambert's name is Mud in East Anglia

Oh here we go on about youth cups again, like I said the first time. We're the champions of europe when it comes to youth. So be quite

Had to build a trophy room with the extra £1000 paid by the 66 more people than watched the carrots the previous season. that's great economy.

Us Norwich fans don't have much to post about, yes we won the FA Youth Cup, and yes we are really proud of our young teams achievements. Villa fans are soon in with the responces of how great you are, and all you have won, how long will you continue to live in the past? you WERE a big club and now you are relegation battlers, you may move to be a midtable club, look at Leeds they are also a self proclaimed BIG CLUB. a year in the championship would have done you good, and make you appreciate what you have.

Once again you are missing my point, I am not living in the past, you were talking about youth cups so I responded that we won the youth european championships THIS YEAR! So while you can try a bring youth cups into it to make your club seem bigger, we're the current champions of europe and will be until next year when we could be in with a chance again. Do a bit of research mate this is just embarrasing

02 Jun 2013 13:19:41
Jernade Meade released by arsenal would be great for villa. Freebie, young, can put his foot in, quick and can play anywhere along the left side of the pitch. Lb, lwb, lm or lw.

02 Jun 2013 10:45:04
Benteke to leave for £20 million to either Atletico, Arsenal or Tottenham. Would like to see Lukaku as a replacement, but anybody can be better than Bent last season!

Bent wasnt given a chance. so how can you say anybody could be better. person

01 Jun 2013 15:30:35
Now that Tonev looks likely to sign these are the other signings i'd like to see come in i'm not saying we'be been linked with them but:
Huddlestone - he'd be great to help delph or westwood
Cresswell - had a pretty good season with ipswich and is way better than bennett
Ince - he'd be a great player to sit in behind Benteke and he fits in the team which lambert is trying to create

Ince and Cresswell I agree with but Huddlestone I don't think is smart business.

I mean, he's had his shot with Spurs and has failed to crack it as a regular.

We need to raise the overall talent level at each position whilst keeping the team young and ambitious. I think Sylla will be better next season and I liked the energy that he brought into the middle also.

I still think we need three more signings from abroad. Mertens, Depay, Finnbogason, Popov are the types of names we need to be looking at in my opinion.

01 Jun 2013 08:32:20
am I the only villa supporter that don't wanna see bent sold, lambert should try using him. we know he is a goal scorer and getting on the end of bentekes flicks or gabbys runs he could bag a few

Would he want to take a pay cut to do that?

He has already tried to do that and Bent has proved woeful
Lambert wants to play a high tempo passing game and Bent is just not cut out for it
Mendax

Yeah I understand the wage side of it but got feeling regardless stay or sell he's money going down, plus last season don't really think he had a good run last season, only time he did was start of year when we was just poor