Transfer window

Honestly, I can't see anyone of any note coming to us in January. Hate to say it but we're a joke now. A useless, Randy Lerner shaped joke with the punchline being years in the wilderness. I hope he fucking chokes on his lobster thermidor.

We need about 3 £20m+ quality players to get us out of this mess now, I can't see it happening.

We need a miracle, Lerner wont throw anymore $ away come January!

The kind of player we need will require the following attributes:

1. Skill/technical ability. 
2. Determination. 
3. Physical presence. 
4. Quality movement off the ball. 
5. Top flight experience (any of the top leagues from England, Germany, France, Holland, Spain, etc) 
6. A complete lack of ambition. 
7. Be cheap as chips. 

Even if we manage to find a player with half of those attributes, points number 6 and 7 will kill it. 

It was a hell of a job Sherwood did convincing some of our better players (Amavi, Richards, Veretout) to come to this club under assurances that, with the wholesale changes being made, we wouldn't be in a relegation struggle. There is no way that Remi will convince even the most stupid footballer that we won't be in the shit come the end of the season. 

As such, I just cannot see us buying anyone of quality. And for the life of me, I cannot see Lerner willingly spending a third of the TV money (because that's what it'll cost at the very least) on what will be a coin-flip. He wants out (there's no way he's enjoying owning this club anymore), he wants the money (there's a shitload of it for him at the end of the rainbow whether we go down or not so why would he spend what's needed?) and he has no fucking clue anyway. 

So that leaves loans. There are a lot of plus-sides to this:

1. Loan players won't feel the same pressure to get us out of the shit so will play with a little more freedom rather than shitting it when they get the ball. 
2. Lerner should be happy to spunk money on wages rather than extortionate fees that he'd have to pay given that clubs don't like releasing players during the mid-season window (and clubs know we'll be desperate so will charge double!)
3. Quality players (albeit, fringe players) might come knowing that "saving Aston Villa" on their CV will look pretty good and, should they fail, who cares - they just return to their parent club without issue. 
4. We can get them in NOW!

Remi will have the contacts to maybe find the players we need. Question is, how many loan players can a team have? I'm not up on the rules.

Bringing back frozen out players like Senderos and Ali Sissoko will be like new signings too as both those guys would improve our defence.

I dont expect him to spend more than 10m net. If anything he will waste the month trying to convince zog to leave without the club having to pay out the rest of his contract again and again fail. He will most likely recall one or two of the loans but for the most part the window will be spent leaking through various people how we're talking to this player and that, but the deals will all mysteriously break down at the personal terms part.

I reckon a move for Flamini wouldn't be too wide of the mark. He's French but with massive prem experience, wouldn't cost a bomb and would give us the physicality we need in the middle of the pitch.

Forget Senderos. Same as Richarson ,both poor and both relegated

My feelings are that a replacement for Amavi is the priority. Everyone is capable enough but we need to settle the nerves that begin at the back & lead to mistakes.

Capable is an interesting word.

Maybe you're right. Maybe they are capable. But it seems like playing for Villa is like being on a Pontins holiday where they're playing in some Embassy v Castella game. It's the stunning lack of professionalism in regards to concentration, pass selection, movement.

These are blokes earning the very best money in the very best league for one of the very best names in football yet the attitudes are all wrong (bar a few of them).

But I suppose if your big boss is rarely around and when he does pop in it's all smiles and happy clapping, then where's the motivation? Fuck me I really do hate what's going on at this club.

While the cats away the mice will play,
Or in the terms of Villa while the Learner away Villa  still play crap. Sorry to be so negative, but the sooner Mr learner leaves the club the more positive I will be. I hate seeing my beloved club like this. VTID

TBH, if he splashes the cash in the right way I don't care who's in charge. A replacement for Amavi is top priority, for me - settle the back four & let everyone concentrate on their game.

Dions_Bald_Head wrote:TBH, if he splashes the cash in the right way I don't care who's in charge. A replacement for Amavi is top priority, for me - settle the back four & let everyone concentrate on their game.

Generals on the pitch is what we need, players with ability and who are capable of organising and delivering verbals when needed. I still maintain most of our problems could be improved from within, players that are under contract at the club but currently nowhere near the squad. I'm moving to the position where i think a really good goalkeeper is becoming important, a goalkeeper who knows the game and yells instruction to his defenders but is also individually good. And obviously a goalscorer, we daren't rely on staying as we are with potential injuries, Austin with 6mths left on his contract seems a no-brainier for me.

Iker Casillas and Karim Benzema are looking for a new challenge.

I reckon we could get Gareth Seddon in. Injured and unproven. Seems to fit the recruitment policy

The window will be spent trying to offload any players left without relegation clauses in their contracts, no one with any kind of reputation or talent is going to come anywhere near this club in the January window.

Ashely Cole, Loic Remy and Joel Campbell are on the target list, if the Brum Fail is to be believed, based on a tweet (ffs) by Jonny Gould.

Ashley Cole in a Villa shirt? once the best LB in the world, could potentially fill a void for us on a short term deal? Might help bring Bennett on too?

No chance Remy comes to us. Joel Campbell on a loan maybe.

probably none of them though

It's quite remarkable, but even considering how shite we've been, we're just two wins off being back in it.

If we get the right signings we should be able to get out of this. Throw high wages on three quality first team players to lift the team. Give them a release clause to please them.

For our pointless and doomed attempt to stay up we should bring in experienced loan players.

But if we are to spend any real money it should be for players who will suit the Championship and start to build a side capable of challenging at least the play offs.

But honestly, while the clown Fox and his hapless assistants remain at the club I have no confidence whatsoever that they'll get it right whatever they do. My fears our way beyond relegation from the PL. frankly that should be the least of our concerns.

Christmas Wish List:

1) Left Back
2) Defensive Midfielder
3) Right Back
4) Striker
5) Winger

I'd go for Charlie Austin and play him up front with Ayew. At least that way we'd have the AA to save up from our current breakdown.

(Or a cheeky 30 mil bid for Benteke as Klopp doesn't want him.)

Anybody coming in would probably be on loan or have release clauses 'in case' of relegation.
Therefore I don't see the problem, get everybody and everyone in, if we go down then they will all leave and absolutely no loss to the Villa except wages!

Simple!

We're obviously going to go with the tried and tested championship model of signing Joey Barton, Tyrone Mears and one of Rob Earnshaw or Kenny Miller!

So The Telegraph are reporting that Remi wants to sell Gabby...

If, as has been leaked, he does have a chunk of change to spend, is this a way of adding to the pot for them bigger buys or does he just want to get rid?