Who Would You Keep Next Season.

Subject to a shiny new owner and manager, with lots of money to spend on shiny new players, I think one of the first things I'd do if I was them, would be to meet up with Benteke, and say, "Right then lad, bet you're glad you didn't go to Spurs now aintcha? Lets talk..." and outline him as a key component moving forward. People have slagged him off and at times he ain't been great of course, but sometimes I look at our team and think we could have Messi and Ronaldo up top and they'd still look worryingly average with our dross tactics and personnel. A fit Benteke could be a wonderful starting point for a manager to build around.

Aside from him... slim pickings for first XI players, though I am sure a fair amount will be hanging around for the first year at least. To me the key is to get quality in for the regular starting XI; though there are a few I'd like to see shot of asap, most of the players can do a 'squad player' role while re-building happens.

(Apart from Luna. Good grief, get that man somewhere else. Anywhere else. Please.)

First team regulars though...? Guzan, for sure. Okore, probably, should he be fit - I think he could be great for us. After that? Pfft. Um... I guess Vlaar, probably Bertrand if signed, maybe Delph. But there ain't many I'd be happy to see as a regular starter after this season.

Y'know, subject to the changes we're all hoping for, and all that.

Lambert - no way!
Guzan - yes
Bacuna - Yes (can't understand the stick he gets)
Bertrand - yes (but he'll surely have better options)
Vlaar - yes
Baker - no - second out
Westwood - yes
El Ahamadi - yes
Delph - yes
Gabby - yes
Holt - shouldn't even be on this list
Benteke - yes
Albrighton - yes
Lowton - yes
Bennett - no
Zog - no
Kozak - yes
Helenius - no
Luna - no

We need a clean canvas, then write the names: Guzan, Siegrest,( promote to 1st team squad)) Viaar, Okore, Bertrand, (buy) Donacien,(squad) Bacuna (squad)  Clark (squad) Delph, Westwood (squad) Albrighton (squad) Grealish ( promote 1st team squad) Benteke, Kosak, Robinson Gabby ( squad and only impact player late in games) ( promote 1st team squad)......We would then need to replace the players below with far more better quality and technique.

Release/Sell: Steer, Hutton, Baker, Bennett, Luna, Lowton, Stevens, N'Zogbia, KEA, Herd, Sylla, Gardner, Tonev, Helenius, Weimann, Bowery, Delfouneso and Bent.

This would represent a Hugh clear-out, but we have financially stayed still for the last 3 seasons and have accumulated at best, average championship level players whilst teams that was once in our wake like Stoke,West Ham, Southampton and Swansea have now overtaken us which for a club with the status of Aston Villa - is unforgivable and Lerner should fall on his sword and depart.

Whoever does take us over, has got a massive job on their hands and as per usual, it will take time and once again, we will be asked to show patience!

Up the Villa 

This is assuming we are either taken over... or RL stumps up funds as discussed in the 5yr plan.

I dont think its realistic to assume we can just sweep out everyone and sign a 'new' team in one window. More likely we would be able to get 5-7 new players... the quality is depended on the budget obviously. Ideally, 4-5 of those players could walk right into the first 11, then the remaining 2-3 new players could provide better competition to truly strengthen the squad depth.

I am hopeful we have $30-$40 million for 7 players instead of our typical $15-$20 million. That alone would make a huge difference in the overall quality of player we could try to acquire. We dont need to sign world beaters like Messi/Bale/etc... just a higher quality of 'young and hungry' mantra.

I am counting on Villa being able to sell off a couple more bomb squad players (prolly not all), freeing up more funds to pay the higher wages these new players will demand. If we can sell off: NZog, Bent, and Hutton... I would call this window a huge success.

I'd definitely get rid of Agbonlahor. Millions of pounds per year and 3 goals. He's taking the p..s Weimann with 4 should go as well. They are not premiership class,

Guzan - yes
Bacuna - yeah
Bertrand - yes (if we can)
Vlaar - yes
Baker & Clark - yes, these are a decent CBs to have as back-up, not on massive wages, and you never know might even come good (Premier League good!)
El Ahamadi - i'm happy for him to stay one more season before his contract runs out in 2015
Delph - yes
Gabby - same as KEA, he's not been great this season, but i doubt he'll want to leave this summer anyway.
Holt - no
Benteke - yes
Albrighton - yes
Bennett - yeah, back-up
Lowton - yes, I've not written him off yet, he could be our back-up anyway
N'Zogbia - no
Kozak - yes
Okore -yes
Westwood - yes, squad player at the least
Helenius - yes
Luna - maybe, if we play the right system i think we should give him a try on the left-wing (like Bennett has recently)
Herd - no, don't know what's going on with this guy
Tonev - maybe just send him out on-loan and hopefully he finds some form
Gardner - offer a one-year contract, a chance
Weimann - nah
Steer - why not
Bent - probably just go out on-loan again for the final year of his contract, i can't see who would buy him.

That leaves the likes of: Bowery, Sylla, Stevens, Hutton, Given, and Delfouneso.

Sell/Release: Given Siegrist Hutton Herd Stevens Johnson Stieber N'Zogbia Bent Delfouneso Burke Bowery (Holt)

Squad: Guzan Steer Lowton Bacuna Vlaar Okore Clark Baker Bennett Westwood Delph El Ahmadi Albrighton Grealish Carruthers Benteke Kozak Weimann Agbonlahor (Bertrand if cheap enough).

Loan to Championship: Gardner (New 1 year contract) Luna Sylla Tonev Helenius Robinson.

Loan to League 1: Drennan Graham Donacien Webb Kinsella.


Buy: 1 Center Back, 1 Left Back (Bertrand?), 2 Center mids, 1 winger, 1 attacking midfielder, 1 striker (possibly on loan).

First post: why'd the duck you you want to keep bent. We pro ably couldn't give him away. He looks even worse at Fulham than he does at the villa. Ffs. Get a ducking grip.

I've referred to Bent many times in the past as "Housebrick". For the simple reason that if you stuck a house brick on the penalty spot, sooner or later the ball will hit it and bounce in.

He strikes me as a lad that made his money and will be happy to spend the rest of his life using it to have his way with [snip....TBAR lawyers].

Have to agree. I think he's a busted flush.

None of them. Useless shithouses to a man...

Guzan, Benteke, Delph, Albrighton and Vlaar the rest can get out of my club.

I now am of the opinion that Guzan is only good enough as a back up to a top keeper or release as well.

Andy_Villa wrote:None of them. Useless shithouses to a man...

Best reply to date

Seems pretty close to the mark to me too.

these are the only players i would keep. ones not mentioned sell or loan out.
First team - Guzan, Bacuna, Vlaar, Okore, Delph, Benteke, Westwood.
Squad - Gabby, Albrighton, Lowton, Kea, Clark, Bennett, NZogbia.

Along with a new manager i think we need minimum of four players to come straight into the first team next year if we are to improve. I think a new manager with an idea on how to play attacking football would be able to utilise Nzogbia, As for Gabby i think with a decent manager, his future if he still has one at the club will be as a last 25 minute impact sub. He doesnt offer us enough anymore to be starting.

Get rid of each and every one of the useless c***s.

Get off the fence Bazz.

Vlaar? the guy's useless. He is caught out of position so often although he is the best of a very poor bunch of defenders.

Guzan is the only 1st team player worthy of our shirt.

Delph, can't pass, can't shoot, can't tackle why would anyone want to keep him?

Benteke? good player who isn't interested in Aston Villa get rid ASAP.

Okore? from the little we saw he isn't yet ready but one for the future.

Albrighton? he doing well at the moment but what will we see if he is given a new contract? get rid.

The rest are so bad I can't be bothered even remembering their names.

The kit man ???