Re: Summer transfers speculation thread (all links in here until it's official)

[TED]

Sherwood views Baker as a late developer, so we've given him a new contract and are looking to loan him out for now. If he develops then great, if not he won't be worth any less in a year or two. As mentioned above, Westwood is a good solid player who we already have on the books and so keeping him is no risk and he too could develop further in the future.
As for lack of ambition, the improved quality of players, yes I know we don't really know how they'll pan out yet, is blindingly obvious. For the position, you never tire of reminding us the club find themselves, the signings we have made have been both ambitious and imaginative. Yes we could have bought more established prem players, but they would have cost twice as much, if indeed we could have persuaded them to come.
Your constant criticism of the club is becoming rather rediculous. You're not alone in wanting Lerner to sell, including the man himself, but I see no evidence of TF being a yes man. Of course he works for a boss and so like anyone else he has to follow his bosses wishes, but he seems to be leading from the front. He's certainly changed the way the club is behaving.
Ted, you're very quick to criticise just about anything about Villa, but I rarely recall you ever offering much in the way of constructive alternatives. I genuinely would love to know what the club could do that would receive a positive reaction from you.  

Dave this is very easy for me to answer.
Open honest communication with fans.
be sincere with the Cubs direction and plans.
The clubs lack of communication allows rumour and gossip to thrive.
It's almost as if it's intended.

[avfc85]

The thing is Ted, you can't just rip out an entire squad and start again it's never going to work, you need to keep players that can bed others in, help with experience and are familiar with the club, yes Westwood is a 6/7 steady player but the situation the club finds itself at he is definitely worth a squad position in hopefully a successful rebuild.

[villabromsgrove]

Sherwood views Baker as a late developer, so we've given him a new contract and are looking to loan him out for now. If he develops then great, if not he won't be worth any less in a year or two. As mentioned above, Westwood is a good solid player who we already have on the books and so keeping him is no risk and he too could develop further in the future.
As for lack of ambition, the improved quality of players, yes I know we don't really know how they'll pan out yet, is blindingly obvious. For the position, you never tire of reminding us the club find themselves, the signings we have made have been both ambitious and imaginative. Yes we could have bought more established prem players, but they would have cost twice as much, if indeed we could have persuaded them to come.
Your constant criticism of the club is becoming rather rediculous. You're not alone in wanting Lerner to sell, including the man himself, but I see no evidence of TF being a yes man. Of course he works for a boss and so like anyone else he has to follow his bosses wishes, but he seems to be leading from the front. He's certainly changed the way the club is behaving.
Ted, you're very quick to criticise just about anything about Villa, but I rarely recall you ever offering much in the way of constructive alternatives. I genuinely would love to know what the club could do that would receive a positive reaction from you.  

Dave this is very easy for me to answer.
Open honest communication with fans.
be sincere with the Cubs direction and plans.
The clubs lack of communication allows rumour and gossip to thrive.
It's almost as if it's intended.

I think the club may well be saying at the moment  "actions speak louder than words". I've been one of the clubs loudest critics about a lack of communication with us. However I can accept that laying out Villa's plans verbally during the transfer window might cost the club some money and would be naive. However, once the transfer window closes I expect Fox to talk to Villa fans in some detail about AVFC's actions and intentions.

[TED]

AV you make a valid point but surely with that comes the need to view these renewals accordingly.

[South London Villan]

AV you make a valid point but surely with that comes the need to view these renewals accordingly.

Who should we or could we have signed Ted that would improve your disposition?

[avfc85]

AV you make a valid point but surely with that comes the need to view these renewals accordingly.

Nathan Baker has played over 70 games for us, he has never made a fuss about not starting, he has all the attributes to be a good defender and is clearly decent enough for backup, I will agree with the Hutton deal that just seemed rushed and the fact he will have little resale value is not good business and the wages he is on but that was under the Lambert regime I hope that is our last mistake.

[DaveAV1]

Regarding communication I tend to more or less agree with what VB has just said. The reason a lot of us are in here is because we crave more information. So whilst more open communication would be great, it isn't always possible. In fact in most businesses information is kept tight, particularly the high level stuff we all would love to know. I sympathise with the sentiment, but generally it ain't gonna happen.

[Villa_Dan]

Should've just let Baker and Westwood leave and not replaced them according to Ted. Who is clueless and literally no one agrees with one this one. 

But hey, keep fighting that corner Teddy boy. Worked for Custer...

[Keyser Soze]

The MOST Exciting transfer window in living memory, and we get TED.

[4BetLite]

Holy Moly, I'm with TED on this one. Lets just call it quits, pull out of the premiership, give the ground to them blokes always sitting on the bonk on witton, lets kill westwood and the bone head who gave him the contract, i've had enough!

unless we can get to 40 points before we play man u on Friday, I think were going down, sad times

[villabromsgrove]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, it would be boring on here if we all thought the same. Ted's different opinion has given us the chance to get a couple of pages worth of our own thoughts about the transfer window sorted and out in the open. That's what we need occasionally, a good shout about where we think we're at! UP THE VILLA !!!!!!

[South London Villan]

To be fair there always has to be balance. For every Yang there has to be a Ying otherwise it would be no fun sitting around slapping each others backs.
Ted helps us look at things from an alternative perspective that most would not consider and for that he has to be commended.
It is his opinion and no matter how much we may disagree he has every right to express it.
His avatar shows Toy Story characters so he does have fun side, we need to recognise it is hard to see that sometimes through all that piss on to our chips.

[villabromsgrove]

To be fair there always has to be balance. For every Yang there has to be a Ying otherwise it would be no fun sitting around slapping each others backs.
Ted helps us look at things from an alternative perspective that most would not consider and for that he has to be commended.
It is his opinion and no matter how much we may disagree he has every right to express it.
His avatar shows Toy Story characters so he does have fun side, we need to recognise it is hard to see that sometimes through all that piss on to our chips.

Good post.

[FoxyAV]

The MOST Exciting transfer window in living memory, and we get TED.

Just as long as he can play at RB.

[Saunders82]

The MOST Exciting transfer window in living memory, and we get TED.

Just as long as he can play at RB.

Can he? has anyone asked him?

[DelboyVilla]

The MOST Exciting transfer window in living memory, and we get TED.

Just as long as he can play at RB.

The suicide rates for left wingers in the Premier League would rapidly rise overnight.

[FoxyAV]

So, Keita Balde Diao anyone? Does this one have legs (well, hopefully as he's a striker)?

[villabromsgrove]

So, Keita Balde Diao anyone? Does this one have legs (well, hopefully as he's a striker)?

He's quick and tricky and would be a handful to defend against, but I think he's got a bit of Balotelli between his ears. He falls out with clubs from a quick look at his history.

[NARLA24]

So, Keita Balde Diao anyone? Does this one have legs (well, hopefully as he's a striker)?

Is that a real name ?

[DelboyVilla]

Just reported on Sky that we are in talks with Southampton about signing Jose Fonte which is dependent on them signing Virgil Van Dijk?

Everton also interested apparently? That's very leftfield and a statement of intent?

[Nath11]

According to SSN;

Aston Villa could be set to make another signing this summer as we understand they are talks to sign Southampton captain Jose Fonte.

The defender signed a new deal last summer until 2017 but it is understood that Villa and Everton are interested in signing him.

Saints, though, would not let him leave without signing a replacement centre-back and Celtic's Virgil van Dijk is their number one target.


Any concrete information on this? Good centre half!

[South London Villan]

What has been our net spend this window? Where has the money come from? What is the budget? Lack of ambition?

My arse!

Baggies blew their transfer record and budget on a couple of signings, we appear to have a never ending pot!

[villabromsgrove]

According to SSN;

Aston Villa could be set to make another signing this summer as we understand they are talks to sign Southampton captain Jose Fonte.

The defender signed a new deal last summer until 2017 but it is understood that Villa and Everton are interested in signing him.

Saints, though, would not let him leave without signing a replacement centre-back and Celtic's Virgil van Dijk is their number one target.


Any concrete information on this? Good centre half!

Welcome Nath .... I'm a couple of weeks late in welcoming you to the site, but better late than never.

In reply to the SKY news about Fonte all I can say is "wow, didn't see this one coming " !

Keep the posts coming Nath.

[villabromsgrove]

I think Randy has been browsing TBAR and now realises what he's been doing wrong .... Thank you TED !!!!!!

[villabromsgrove]

Jose Fonte is 31 but he's been injury free and looks really fit. He could probably play for another couple of years at his peak in the Premier League. That will do nicely.

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