Villa Signings and General Rumours Thread

Time Magazine

So after today this would be my starting line-up

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Carson

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--Gardner

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Mellberg

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Laursen

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Bouma--

--Maloney

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Reo-Coker

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Barry

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Young---

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Carew

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Moore

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Subs: Taylor, Cahill, Petrov, Agbonlahor, Harewood.

Looking at that, it's not so bad. The only position that really needs improving is RB. If we get that with a CB like Knight, things aren't that bad. Defoe instead of Moore would be nice though.

Savman

Ibid wrote:

Maybe Petrov could play right-back?

Can Petrov actually play anywhere?

shoutman

Agree 100% one cold hand. No matter who you are playing scoring five goals is always a good thing.

~Rebel~

Ibid wrote:

So after today this would be my starting line-up

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Carson

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--Gardner

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Mellberg

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Laursen

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Bouma--

--Maloney

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Reo-Coker

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Barry

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Young---

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Carew

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Moore

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Subs: Taylor, Cahill, Petrov, Agbonlahor, Harewood.

Looking at that, it's not so bad. The only position that really needs improving is RB. If we get that with a CB like Knight, things aren't that bad. Defoe instead of Moore would be nice though.

I like the look of that team. How does Barry play in an inside midfield position? If he can play as well there as when he's more wide, he's definately worth his place more then Petrov. Between the 3 attacking positions (not carew) you could play any 3 from Maloney, Young, Moore, Agbonlahor and even have them switching positions throughout the game - could cause wreck with the pace on all of them, especially if defenders arent sure who to mark for their position.

eirebhoy

You all know how much I rave about Maloney so I won't keep going. I just wish you lot would realise how good he is. I said a few months ago he'd be Villa's star player. I didn't hope that. I really believe that.

It's kinda weird seeing Villa fans complaining about their team, yet they have Maloney as a sub. The lad is goals and assists galore. Twice the player Arteta is. Absolutely no doubt about it.

One Cold Hand

Is Maloney right or left footed?

My question is if he's right footed I feel he'd be a much better option than Gabby on the right wing. i.e. I agree pretty much with the team that Ibid posted.

eirebhoy

First of all I can't even remember posting last night.:o

He's right footed. I think he's most similar to Joe Cole. Putting him on the right wing takes away a lot of the goals and through balls. It's worth a try but he's best on the left.

Mr Alan

Twice the player Arteta is!? surely you're getting a little carried away?

Savman

eirebhoy I can assure you the Villa fans rate wee Shaun very highly indeed, haven't had a player like him for years. I saw him in the flesh last season against Everton and he was different class, had the crowd on their feet every time he got on the ball.

We've Chelsea at home on Sunday, Maloney has to start, simple as that. You could take Petrov back though, we've run out of patience with him altogether.

eirebhoy

millersangel wrote:

Twice the player Arteta is!? surely you're getting a little carried away?

He's potentially a lot better than Arteta imo. Maloney's much more direct though.

Villain

Well Zat Knight has signed for 3.5 million, now he may not be a top class player but he is an experienced Premier League captian who was born in Aston and is willing to fight for his place in his home side so all in all I think its a good signing.

PS. I think if Maloney had half the belief in himslef that eirebhoy has in him he'd be a Premier League star in no time.

Esse85

IMO the Knight signing is on par with the Harewood signing.

Is MON not going to sign 1st team players?

Great result last nite.

Highlights are on UTV at 11pm tonight.

Villain

Well I'm guessing he is trying but its not as simple as picking a player and saying right lets have him, even the club agree to sell the Player has to agree also. Knight is cover for the back 4 and I think at 3.5 million he is a good player to have as cover on the bench.

V1llianous

Knight was arrested hours before his unveiling at Villa Park.

The article seems to suggest that his brother was the main culprit / target.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007400416,00.html

<QUOTE>
SOCCER star Zat Knight was led away in handcuffs after armed drug cops raided his mum’s house early yesterday.

The England defender’s brother Carlos, 26, wearing only his underwear, was marched out at gunpoint by police backed up by dogs.

Substances believed to be Class A drugs crack cocaine and heroin were said to have been seized at the house in Erdington, Birmingham.

Only hours later, talented 6ft 6in Zat was paraded by Premiership club Aston Villa as their new £3.5million signing.

A second address, believed to be owned by the player, 27, seven miles south in the city’s Great Barr district, was also raided. No one was home.

Sources claimed a desperate bid was made at the Erdington address to throw suspected drugs from a back window of the property as cops came crashing in the front.

Zat — a member of Sven Goran Eriksson’s squad which took part in a two-game tour in the US in 2005 — spent six hours in custody. It it is believed his brother is the main focus of the investigation.

Carlos has been the subject of a police watch for almost a year, insiders said.

Mum Sandra, 47, was not among those arrested and was not at the house when cops went in.

Yesterday’s raid took place at 5.30am. Nine hours later Villa were due to show off the player they signed from Fulham.

Neighbours last night told what they saw of the raid.

One local, who did not wish to be identified, said: “The police were in the house for about three hours. After that, uniformed officers came out carrying several plastic bags, rucksacks and boxes. We don’t know what they took away.

“We knew the house had been under observation for several days because we had seen cars parked around here with men sitting inside.”

Another neighbour of the family’s large white detached house said: “We heard dogs barking and police vans at about 5.30am. The police van was still there when I left for work a few hours later.”

One witness added: “It’s definitely Zat Knight’s mum’s house.

“When I left for work, it was all happening. The officers and dogs looked like they wanted to approach but they thought someone was inside.

“The police escorted a kid, who looked around ten or 11, away from the house and up the lane — but that was probably just to evacuate the area.”

Zat was banged up in police cells at Queen’s Road station in Aston.

He feared missing the press conference organised at Villa’s training ground to announce his signing of a four-year contract.

Zat, who asked to make a call to his agent, was visited by his lawyer and bailed under his full name Zatiyah Knight.

He was unveiled as Villa’s new star at the club’s training ground by manager Martin O’Neill.

No mention was made of the arrest — though it is believed Zat is protesting his innocence.

After the press conference, Zat made a brief return to his mum’s address.

A spokesman for the West Midlands Police said: “Police have carried out a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs and Firearms Act this morning at an address in Erdington.

“Two men, aged 26 and 27, were arrested on suspicion of Class A drugs offences.

“The 27-year-old man has since been released on police bail. The 26-year-old man continues to help with inquiries.

“A quantity of controlled drugs was seized.”

In 2006, Carlos broke Zat’s jaw in two places during a bout of “horseplay”.

Zat said: “We were play-fighting. I know some people thought otherwise, but that is the truth.”
</QUOTE>

One Cold Hand

According to reports we're close to signing Curtis Davies.
Kind of a complicated deal: on loan for the first season for 500k then we'll sign him for 8.5m afterwards.

Stop signing centre backs MON, we need a RB!!

maxi-twist

Curtis davies is one of the players with the most potential ive ever seen. He's unbelieveable. As a west brom fan id hate to see him leave, even if it is for 9 million.

Raekwon

It's on the official site now that Curtis Davis is at Villa Park for talks. From what I have seen and heard about him he is a very good player, even though his £10m price tag is a tad over inflated (£6m would have been fair, but then again prices for English players has always been ridiculous).

All we need now is a couple of rightbacks (Johnson & Hoyte?) and another midfielder (anybodies guess!) and we should be set-up nicely for this season. Time is tight now though, so hopefully it can be done in the next 30+ hours left of this window.

UP THE VILLA!

eirebhoy

Raekwon wrote:

All we need now is a couple of rightbacks (Johnson & Hoyte?) and another midfielder

A striker is needed more than a midfielder, no?

Raekwon

eirebhoy wrote:

A striker is needed more than a midfielder, no?

I think another midfielder (preferably an attacking central midfielder) is higher on the list then another striker. We already have 4 decent strikers at the club (well 3 and a half ) but we only have 7 midfield players, so if we pick up an injury to a key midfielder (like Barry or Reo-Coker) then we are royally screwed, especially now that Petrov has shown that he cannot be relied on.

But at this stage another striker or midfielder would be a bonus, top of the list is a natural rightback, that has to be the priority from now until midnight tomorrow.

eirebhoy

Raekwon wrote:

I think another midfielder (preferably an attacking central midfielder) is higher on the list then another striker. We already have 4 decent strikers at the club (well 3 and a half ) but we only have 7 midfield players, so if we pick up an injury to a key midfielder (like Barry or Reo-Coker) then we are royally screwed, especially now that Petrov has shown that he cannot be relied on.

I wouldn't call Maloney a striker if you include him. He's an attacking midfielder and will do his fair share of tracking back.

eirebhoy

http://celticunderground.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=418&Itemid=1

We've been told that Maloney will be a Celtic player by tomorrow night. Negotiations have been going on all day and Maloney has agreed to a 7 grand pay cut. He is expected for a medical tomorrow morning and should be available to play against St Mirren on Sunday.

There really isn't much more we can add at this point. If we get more we'll let you know. Man aren't we going to look silly if this one is wrong? All we can say is that the source is usually excellent.

eirebhoy

I didn't realise Maloney was so highly rated by the Villa fans. The boards.ie crew could have made it a little more obvious and I wouldn't have mentioned his name all the time.

Villa forum:

The kids class...end of,always said he is always said he will be

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Thats what me and Gloo have been saying since we signed him, hes our Joe Cole

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The kid is the only player who sees and distributes intellgently imo

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hugely intelligent footballer. Look at the way that he ran in an arc to stay onside. And the finish wasn't half bad either.

If he can get a starting berth for a few weeks he can really make a name for himsef. I love the way that he can create space out of nothing.

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Toff don't foget me! I've been calling for Petrov's head ever since Maloney joined.

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Couldn't agree more guys and he'd certainly be in starting line up. It troubles me that there's clearly an issue with him and Martin and whether it's 'home sickness' or whatever I'd like it resolved beacuse the guy's a talent and a matchwinner. However I'm fairly sure he wouldn't have been on the pitch if W B wasn't injured.

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Mark my words it will all be fine in the garden when Martin's finished. So the lad is a bit silly, no worries mate. Martin will put his fatherly arm round the lad, put him under his wing, take him on board, sit him down, and straighten the mate out la. Maloney will emerge with all feelings of homesickness however improbable they are completely banished and ready to take the step up to greatness, despite the massive drag factor of being a scotch footballer he will progress to greatness with the Claret and Blue family mate. MITM!!!!

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Shauny Boy... will become a legend and rank with the likes of Gianfranco Zola and 'Tiny Fred Mushroomhunter' of the Great Barr and District Subutteo League." I thang Yew!!

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If he starts or subs this evening a rousing chorus of:

"Why don't you stay,..shaun..just a little bit longer"

should be sung.

Make the boy feel at home.

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HE MUST STAY NO MATTER WHAT HE WILL BE A VILLA LEGEND!!!

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sorry can we have our shaun back
remember- tattie scones
irn bru
deep fried mars bars
a chip roll
bridies
good whiskey
jasus shaun just come back to the homeland
we miss you too

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The 'Wee Man' is a genius, we must move a lump of Scotland into Brum/Four Oaks. Worra player. ITY!!

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yeah
he looks good

we gave him a lot of stick 1st half, non stop in fact

he didnt react or let it bother him, or rub our noses in it when he scored - top player

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The goals from Wrexham game (link c/o villa talk)
Maloney's goals in the last couple of games will have removed any chance of him leaving.He must start against Chelsea.
[IP address logged] Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLIVxwzBro0

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By all accounts he ahd a great game yesterday to add to his impressive performance from the bench on Saturday!!

Raekwon

eirebhoy wrote:

I wouldn't call Maloney a striker if you include him. He's an attacking midfielder and will do his fair share of tracking back.

Yeah I know he is not a striker. The 4 strikers currently at Villa Park are John Carew, Luke Moore, Gabby Agbonlahor & Marlon Harewood (who I counted as a half ).

Hopefully Shaun can settle down at Villa and become a key player for us, he certainly has the talent, I just think that he needs to get his head right and the Scottish media could help him out by stop constantly linking him with a move back to Celtic, it's not helping the lad.

Raekwon

Glen Johnson has just signed for Portsmouth. So that's one potential rightback out of the picture.

I wonder if MON is even up out of bed yet? :rolleyes:

One Cold Hand

C'mon Martin we need a right-back so badly!

Was worried when I heard Portsmuth were in for Johnson, as he'd played for them last year.

eirebhoy

Raekwon wrote:

Glen Johnson has just signed for Portsmouth.

Ask them for Lauren now.

DSB

Ok we've Davies in that's class. We now need at least 2 more players (a right back and a striker) for definite by the end of the day. Hopefully we get more though. But wouldn't bank on it.

Villain

It seems Maloney has agreed a deal with Celtic but MON won't let him go unless he gets another big name in. Davies is signed and sealed so we just need a right back now and I still think Defoe could be on his way but thats just a guess.

DSB

How I'd love if Riquelme took a trip down to the midlands. I can always dream. Really don't wanna see Maloney go. If he is let go and replaced by another Knight/Harewood character, I really don't think I could deal with that.

One Cold Hand

Not to be bad, but how the f*ck can a player who's living about an 1hr flight away be homesick? He's not a f*ckin 10 yr old at Boarding school. Martin should tell him to cop on and grow a pair of balls. We really need him at Villa park. Martin shouldn't just allow him to leave. Even if we do sign another class midfielder we need to keep him.

Esse85

In the interview with Davies MON didnt seem too bothered about getting in new players.

We need a rb so badly, i hope he's not thinking of using Mellberg there now.

Thank god we didnt get johnson, he's useless.

Villain

Agree on Johnson but Mellberg's distribtion is not good enough to be a RB, word around Villa is there will be one more signing and apparently after a trial Moustapha Salifou from Togo has signed.

Bounty Hunter

"Moustapha Salifou (born June 1, 1983 in Lomé) is a Togolese football striker, who, as of May 2006, plays for Stade Brest.

He is a member of the national team, and was called up to the 2006 World Cup. On August 31 2007, Salifou signed for Aston Villa after a successful trial."

apparently he can also play in midfield.
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O'Neil has also said his RB target will not be available for another 3months... Hoyte anyone (bothe Sagna and Eboue are injured ATM) so i expect him to sign in January and Mellberg to play RB till the when it will also be decided if Olaf is signing a contract extension or on his way.

fingers crossed for one more signing

ronbyrne2005

Who will be the first choice centre halfs for villa tomorrow and also for rest season?

Esse85

Cahill and Laursen i think. Davies is still recovering from injury.

Bounty Hunter

as for chelsea i think it will be laursen and either cahill ot knight with mellburg at rb and if not gardner will continue until davies is match fit and can go instead of olaf.

DSB

Definitely not happy with the amount of signings we made. O' Neill talked about us having a larger squad and we came out a smaller 1. The man should be ashamed.

Raekwon

So the window has finally shut, I personally feel a mixture of relief and frustration. How you guys feel about the transfers that Villa made?

Obviously no 'star' players were signed but in the context of a 5 year plan I think we have laid down solid foundations for the future with some very promising young players (a couple of future England Internationals?) so that has to be a huge plus point.

The negatives for me are pretty plain to see. We still have no right back at the club, okay fair enough MON has said that the player that he was after (Hoyte? Boswinga?) is not available until January, but he has had over a year now to sign a rightback considering that we only had Aaron Hughes last season (& Bardsley on loan). IMO he should have went for Glen Johnson, Liam Rosenior or Luke Young just as cover until he got his main target because we would need at least two natural rightbacks at the club anyway. It's too late now but that would have made sense to me.

Also the squad size is still a problem. Last season MON public aired his concerns about the lack of numbers at the club after our mid-season slump but he said that he would address the problem. But 13 months after his appointment we have less players now then ever (10 out 6 in this summer), so if we get a spat of injuries or suspensions like last November & December then we could struggle again leaving us all with a serious case of déjà vu.

Overall though I think we are slowly moving in the right direction, hopefully we can pick up players like Defoe and Boswinga in January and have a strong run in and hopefully nick a UEFA Cup spot (over optimistic maybe?), but I think over the next few seasons we will see MON's 5 year plan unfold and we will finally be in a position to challenge the top 5 on a regular basics (fingers crossed anyway!). At the very least we can be thankful that we haven't signed a shed load of panic buys like West Ham or Fulham did.

Keep the faith! Up the Villa!

Savman

DSB wrote:

Definitely not happy with the amount of signings we made. O' Neill talked about us having a larger squad and we came out a smaller 1. The man should be ashamed.

Ashamed of what exactly? He released McCann, Hughes, Djembe Djembe, Hendrie, Samuel, Wittingham, Ridgewell et al. - hardly cream of the crop players. Davis was the only real quality to leave, but he hardly played a game last season so not exactly like we're gonna miss him. JPA was no longer up to Premiership speed, so that was a logical move for all concerned.

MON has nothing to be "ashamed" of, he got rid of the old deadwood and built his own team. Carew, Young, Davies, Carson, ReoCoker, Knight, Maloney. There's some real quality there if you ask me, but you can't please all the people all the time I shpose.

Bring on January.

Villain

I don't have an issue with getting rid of dead wood but the problem is numbers a few suspensions and injuries and we could be in real trouble plus I don't see why we couldn't have loaned in some right back even as cover.

But we have to remember how things have changed, when I started this thread I was hoping Randy would end the days of Ellis and Villa not spending money and when you look back now Randy Lerner has spent 40 million in 12 months would that have happened under Ellis??? Not a chance.

Villa are looking to the future and while everyone wants success ASAP I think MON is building a good young squad and I'm sure with Randy's backing MON will have Villa fighting for the top 6 in the next 3 or 4 years. You can buy success but it doesn't normally last that long and it can leave the club open to big problems.

Villain

There is a small bit of speculation Wayne Routledge has signed on a years loan but with no reports apart from one paper I think its most likely not true.

Raekwon

We could still get in an unattached player like we did last season when we got in Sutton & Agathe. I see that Brazilian rightback Ze Maria is available after being released from Spainish team Levante during the summer. I think signing a player like that as cover until January would be a good idea.
___________________________________

Carling Cup 3rd Round Draw:

Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest or Leicester City

DSB

Savman wrote:

Ashamed of what exactly? He released McCann, Hughes, Djembe Djembe, Hendrie, Samuel, Wittingham, Ridgewell et al. - hardly cream of the crop players. Davis was the only real quality to leave, but he hardly played a game last season so not exactly like we're gonna miss him. JPA was no longer up to Premiership speed, so that was a logical move for all concerned.

MON has nothing to be "ashamed" of, he got rid of the old deadwood and built his own team. Carew, Young, Davies, Carson, ReoCoker, Knight, Maloney. There's some real quality there if you ask me, but you can't please all the people all the time I shpose.

Bring on January.

Ashamed of the fact that if we suffer any kind of injury crisis we are royally ****ed.

shoutman

Get Carew off, he's a lazy git who's wlking around the place,doing nothing. He's jogging forward as the likes of Young sprint past him and wont even contest for throwins near the chelsea area. At least Harewood would chase up the defenders.

Laursons having a bit of a mare too, being shown up a few times and a few dodgy clearances too but he is solid especially with his headers.

shoutman

get in!!!!

mike65

Three Cheers for Villa!

Mike.

_blank_

Savman wrote:

:d

Er....mysterious tight hamstring when Villa are playing Chelsea eh?

I'm so gullible.:rolleyes:

DSB

Great performance. Really hope this team can stay fit.

Savman

DesF wrote:

Er....mysterious tight hamstring when Villa are playing Chelsea eh?

I'm so gullible.:rolleyes:

Eh?

_blank_

Savman wrote:

Eh?

I was joking Sav.:)