Is Marouane Felliani interesting Martin O'Neill? Probaby not

Damian - We have exactly the same size squad that we gambled on in January so you are spot on we have no chance of getting top 4. I just don't understand what goes through MON's head. We are after a goal scores we;ll in fact we are desperate for 1 along with at leasyt 5 others including a right winger so who are we after Kevin Doyle a striker that doesn't score goals?? and for 7.5m has MON gone mad??? i thought 6m for L Young was taking the P but this is desperate.

So true about the signing. I reckon we need at least 3 to 4 good quailty signings allthough I think we are all a bit dellusional if we think its gonna happen. MON has pussy footed around this whole window so I dont see why anything will change in the next few days. If we dont at least get a right sided player in we r screwed. Teams will shut down Young and then we will be stuffed for ideas on how to score goals
I hope everything i've said turns out to be wrong though. Wouldnt that be great
Lets flog those scouser scumbags on sun
UTV!!!

A signing a day for the next six days!!

Come on, we all know that isn't going to happen and it isn't even necessary. A striker and a right sided winger, that is all we need right now and then we can reassess in January. Exactly which positions do you see these other 4 signings being required for?

MON is obviously after Milner and if that doesn't pan out, hopefully he'll be in the hunt for SWP as it seems increasingly likely that he will move. Either would be perfectly fine. OK, I'm not too thrilled about the Kevin Doyle link either but if MON thinks he's the man then that's good enough for me.

MY VILLA 11, LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
GK FRIEDEL

RB L YOUNG
LB SHOREY
CD CUELLAR
CD LAURSEN

RM A YOUNG
LM BARRY, THAT'S WERE HE WILL PLAY FOR LIVERPOOL IF HE GOES.
CM SIDWELL
CM NRC

CF CAREW
CF GABBY

SUBS
TAYLOR
DAVIES
PETROV
SALIFOU,
ROUTLEDGE. WHY HAVE AT CLUB IF YOU ARE GOING TO PLAY NRC ON RIGHT MARTIN.
GARDNER
SUPER SUB MARLON

A signing a day? That would be nice. I think we need 3 (RW, CF, RB). Then we'll have 2 or more players for every position. We might have the same numbers as last year, but there's much more quality in those numbers so we shouldn't suffer as much when a regular starter gets injured.

McGrathfor PM ' we can reassess in Janurary' are you having a laugh. How quickly you have forgotten last Jan when we thought he would reaccess te squad wen 4th was a real possibility. If he doesn't do it now then forget about it next Jan because he will be stating then that the better players aren't available in Jan wait for the summer.

obviously a rm(rw) then a striker (make it classy MON not just expensive and english.) and possibly another rb and then another lm or cm.

as you can see 2 ppossible sides 1 first team 1 reserve:

gk: friedel

rb: l.young
cb: c.davies
cb: laursen
lb: bouma

rm: ????? ( i bet 1p for today!)
cm: sidwell
cm: barry
lm: young

st: gabby a
st: carew

reserve line up:

gk: taylor/guzan

rb: gardner ( if necessary )
cb: cuellar
cb: knight/baker ( break through season for him this season )
lb: shorey

rm: routledge
cm: reo-c
cm: petrov
lm: stieber

st: harewood
st: delfouneso/?????

and then:

salifou
osbourne
paris
taylor/guzan
baker/knight
albrighton
d.bellon
c.herd
and many more talented youth players remain!!!!!!

UTV ;D

p.s. did you know that there is a fee agreed for kevin doyle from reading?

MON is clearly waiting on the outcome of the newcastle board meeting this morning he clearly wants milner and after watching him at coventry last night he is growing on me
if newcastle says no then MON will trigger others SWP or Lennon
expect agfreed fees tomorrow
up the villa

Some of you guys drive me mad. O'Neill is building a squad of quality which takes time. Who wants Villa Park to a revolving door of journeymen players. The players in are much better quality than those going out and I think there will be at least one more creative player to come (prob two) and don't forget the great kids waiting for a chance. I saw the reserves/youth a couple of times last year and Delfuneso, Bannan, Albrighton, Steiber look real prospects.

Cheer up guys, we are a team on the up.

OUT:
Berger - didn't play
Sorensen - didn't play
Carson - lost confidence by the end
Mellberg - steady at the back, weak going forward
Moore - Not good enough, not as good as he thought he was
Little Shaun - Sadly not good enough

IN:
Curtis - Good prospect
Freidel - Proven goalie
Guzan - Looks a prospect, already an intl and good attitude
Sidwell - Everyone wanted him a year ago when he left Reading
Shorey - Eng intl, recognised as solid player
Young - Eng intl, recognised as solid prem player
Cuellar - is seen as major loss from UEFA cup finalist last year

All i know is that we are in deep trouble, dont expect anything spectacular, MON is just not upto it i think, he doesnt have what is takes to take us that step further, this is the Premiership not the scottish league!!

We'll be lucky if MON signs more than one player in the next 6 days!

Why isn't O'neil bidding for SWP being as though he's said he wants to leave Chelsea? Man City and Everton are supposed to be interested but surely we would be the best option for him....english, young, talented etc etc

Or do you think O'neil is keepin his cards close to his chest? Could he be after him behind closed doors? I for one hope so!

Felliani is a real prospect. 20 yrs old, good box to box midfield player but can play in defence. He is a big lad (well over 6 foot) and good in the air. Already 10 caps, he is going to be a star somewhere - why not Villa Park?

Jiinksy. Why do we need goal scorers? Is that really where you think we need to strengthen??? In our last 3 games we have scored more than 10 goals, but let in more than 5. Which of those areas worries you more? Last year we were third in the goal scoring league. Everyone assumes you need a Torres, but why bother when you have about 5 other players who can bag 10 a season. I'd expect Sidwell to aim for at least 7 or 8, Barry could get the same, and Ash, then gabby and carew will want 10 and Laursen could easily get 7 or 8 too. That's not to mention a few each for petrov, our right winger and the other tall defenders.

Lets address the letting goals in bit before we worry about scoring MORE goals.

I'd prefer Milner over SWP.

can't see us being after another cm myself, neither can I see us signing a player a day but if we manage to get a rw and a stand out cf we shouldn't be too bad. Milner would fit in well just can't think what quality striker we could go for and get?? Martins???

Same here. Milner over SWP.

Wright-Phillips is another Darren Huckerby. Like a speedboat without a driver, to quote Andy Townsend.

why buy doyle? he is no better than harewood, i would have rather kept maloney! for fucks sake martin if your going to buy players buy better than what we have in our starting 11, buy someone better than gabby or carew its not that hard surely!!!!the next two signings could be the most important of your mamanerial career at the villa, a top right sided player and a top class striker is needed so don't let us down, we are all still behind you but do have doubts over wether you can attract the quality we need to push on, prove us wrong!!!!!

I think I have just realised my dream for the coming season and it wouldn't be too unrealistic so long as we got the luck of the draw. I want Liverpool to get knocked out tonight and enter the Uefa cup. Then I want both them and us to meet at the final in Istanbul. Then for us to do to them, what they did to AC Milan (the 1st time). Although I'm not sure which team I would want Barry to be on cos if he missed the deciding penalty for Liverpool that would be so satisfying. Well I can dream anyway :D :D :D

He doesn't play in the UK so I doubt O'Neill has ever heard of him.

Turns out the De la Red - Villa link has surfaced. Real are looking to use De la Red in a cash plus player offer for David Villa from Valencia D'oh :'(

Spot on VivaVilla.

Im really hoping that MON has some big name signings coming in before the deadline- buy the thing is we could all probably guess who will be coming in- someone either english or from the UK or someone who MON wants to turn into a worldbeater (ala salifou, routledge..ahem)

If we have the cash, why not show our intentions by bringing in the quality, and not the safe options of the likes of Shorey, Young, and supposedly Doyle. Safe is probably the wrong word though- will those signings help us crack the top four? As Damien says, probably not of quality, and i do mean quality, signings arent coming in.

Mike S....

where did you hear a fee was agreed for Doyle??

visions of O'leary and his policy fo buying players who USED to be good. dont think Doyle can puish for anything in Villa or the Premiership.

Milner looked really good for newcastle last night, doesnt stop working and isnt afraid to have a pop, im hoping we wrap this shining up asap but can see why Keegan wouldnt want to lose him. I think MON probably has a lot going on behind closed doors, thats how it should be and its a professional approach, we should judge him after the 1st. if he conducted all his dealings like the fat spannish waiter and we applauded him for it, it would make up slightly hypocritical!

And me, Milner over SWP.

A signing a day - you must have been on the pop already Damian!!

I reckon we'll get one possibly two more players in and that will be that. I agree with StickyAV (should change that name!!) I'm not concerned about a striker. Would rather get a right winger and another good right back or defensive midfielder first.

What would Doyle give us that Harewood doesn't already? Carew and Gabby are clearly our first choice pairing at striker, so as far as I can see we'd be spending £7.5million on a backup! Does that not strike anyone else as a colossal waste of money?

I'm just a little concerned that Kevin Doyle didn't even make the squad for Reading's Coca-Cola Cup game last night. And I'm sure the commentator on the ITV highlights show said that he was missing due to the continued interest shown by Villa! Please MON no Doyle, I'd rather have Heskey!!!!!! >:(

Don't know if it been said yet or not....but my Geordie buddy just told me Milner has handed in an official transfer request! Get on it Martin!

Just been confirmed on SSN!

Breaking news on sky sports! Milner has handed in a transfer request, is he on his way to the mighty Villa? lets hope so! UTV!

milner has handed in a transfer request good boy!

Come on Jimmy lad! It'll nice to have a player who actually wants to play for us! Top 10 finish here we come! Doyle is Championship S**T, don't do it MON! UTV

I'll give it until x-mas before calling for a change, but i have to admit i am bemused that quality players are not coming into Aston villa,when so much money is available and the club being in Europe ,i ponder on the reason why,i have my idea's but i will hold on to them until x-mas.
In the mean time i would like to inform Mon that villa fans are screaming out for a star to worship,a match winner,who does not have to be English or an angel and certainly not an Olympic athlete,this type of player is how managers show how good they are at their job IE:fergy Cantona,so i urge you martin to show us fans just how good you really are at your job,and i believe you have until x-mas to do this,as i do not think i will be the only one to complain at this time should we find our team struggling through lack of quality and squad size,all of which you have had the opportunity and recourses to rectify time and time again patience is a fine thing and i and most fans have this in abundance but it is not endless,we want this sleeping giant of a club to wake up like a bear with a sore head and let the rest of the premiership know about it.
p.s Milner has put in a transfer request at Newcastle.

Dear sir, I have been an ardent supporter of Astton Vill FC and your very good site and never before now have I felt such a compelling need to write in about something, as this suggests this is a very important issue that is also very close o my heart as a villa fan for life...
Dera Editor could you please in your infinite wisdon and know how that you could pass this on to the powers that be and hopefully(eventually) MON, I dont know what sort of scouting goes on behind the scenes but here's my own penny's worth... I cannot believe that MON or his scouts have not been watching the recently concluded Olympic football tournament and if they have then whats all this talk about Kevin Doyle and the likes of Milner etc... in my opinion this is a waste of time and not a smart policy to adopt, there are 1 or 2 players who played for Nigeria who would be ideal for the villa and what we're trying to achieve now and are also a no brainer when it comes to costs, including fees and wages... the two players I am talking about are
1) Obbinna Nsodor - who if rumours are to be believed has now been released by chievo verona, and
2) Peter Osazie Odemwingie, who would jump at any premiership club willing to deliver him from his personal hell at the moment.. I mention only this two simply because of time constraints as there are as many as another fou in that same team who would be perfect for the mighty vill.. these include the winger Okoronkwo and the midfielder Chinedu Obasi Ogbuke.. now someone please tell me why none of these excellent footballers are even on MON's radar?... I guess my hope in writing this is that these players would somehow magically even be now brought to MON's attention at this crucial stage of the transfer window and we could all be laughing all the way to the UEFA cup final... Please lend me your ears and give me all the help you can possibly can in this quest for you have as much to benefit as I do if this is taken up and seriously (even for an instant) considered.
Many thanks for your anticipated cooperation in this matter.. Now go forth and spread the word as you can mr Editor..
Again big thanks.
Lasgidis.... Villa for ever!...

StickyAV...While I'd love to agree with you, you make a very flawed argument. First 'fact' is we need more players. Second 'fact' our defence is considered 'sorted' with regards to numbers now. Therefore are you suggesting the new signings (which I feel is an absolute minimum of 3 new players) should be defensive players! I don't care what you say...a lot of our goals last season came from set plays and from players other than strikers. I'd love Gabby and Big John to bang the goals in, but do you really honestly believe these two are near to 20 goal a season players in the Premier League? We actually need a 20 goalscorer if we are to be a top 4 team.

I'm prepared to wait for the 5 year plan, but we keep getting told the monies there and with the sums talked about we can get quality players. ;)

james milner hands in transfer request now!!! 12:40pm skysports.

looks like he will be joining very soon.

signing milner will balance our team up nicely, im sure hes on his way to the villa!

all we need is a potent striker, thats offers sumthing different, a bit of flair, brilliance etc and our squad will be complete.

Milner has handed in a transfer request but is on his way to Liverpool according to talk sport, we really need to get him in he would be great for Villa.

Just been reported that James Milner has handed in a transfer request to Necastle.

Our next signing?

ML

I will lose it if Liverpool signs Milner. Aren't they in for Riera?

how exciting another english player that cant get in the full squad. fk; the 1st team for england would struggle to get top 4 so with the signings we are making we dont have a hope!!

How about a double swoop for Milner and Martins? We need another striker and Doyle doesn't cut it in the PL.

Yorkshire Villain: a doule swoop won't ever happen. So there's need to talk about it.

More good advice there from a fellow Yorkshireman! ;)

Like I said already, why arent we after guys like Victor Obinna Nsofor or Peter Odemwingie or Solomon Okoronnkwo or Chinedu Obasi Obguke all Nigerian players on show in the recently concluded Olympic football competition?... This is the big question at the moment and one which makes me question MON's transfer policy and the whole scouting system at Villa, these are players of the calibre of Lionel Messi the argentinian and would do villa the world of good if acquired... MON go figure.....

Just heard announcement to be made this afternoon about barry by his agent.

I for one, would be glad if he stayed even though whats happened, hes a quality player and i can forgive if he plays for the shirt.

I will not be happy if liverpool get milner, its got martin o'neill writen all over this one.

he is stayin!!!!! whoop whoop

BREAKING NEWS on SSN- Gareth's agent confirms that he agreed to stay two weeks ago. Will talk about a new contract at the end of the season.

Add James Milner and a top striker and the squad is coming together.

Just on SSN

Gareth Barrys agent says he will not leave villa dring transfer window!!

BARRY STAYING!!

MILNER HANDED IN TRANSFER REQUEST!!

What happened to all the doom and gloom...Where's taglor when you need him?! ;D

Will you please give us 9 million for Milner???... Would you???... Oh pretty please?... A guy that is backup to Duff and Jonas and who mustered 2 assist in 29 games last season... A guy that you will watch trying to drible holes in the ground going past an oponent, then back and then back again loosing the ball in the process, and if he succeeds in going past his oponent, watch his cross reach nearest oponent... Here's some reading for ya

LINK

Will you please give us 9 million for Milner???... Would you???... Oh pretty please?... A guy that is backup to Duff and Jonas and who mustered 2 assist in 29 games last season... A guy that you will watch trying to drible holes in the ground going past an oponent, then back and then back again loosing the ball in the process, and if he succeeds in going past his oponent, watch his cross reach nearest oponent... Here's some reading for ya

LINK

I see GBarrys agent has said that he will stay at Aston Villa in the transfer window, fcuk Barry, he's only staying because L'pool can't raise the cash, HE WILL NOT discuss another contract until next summer....come on fans are you really going to except this bullsh*t..fcuking stick this cnut in the stands for the whole season, There isn't a chance in the world he will sign another contract next summer, he's just mugging us fans off thinking that he want to stay..

Barry out.

The kid is tosser. Makes me sick when i here the villa faithfull clap him. He is worse than Dwight Yorke.

Up the Villa.

come on barry we are not that daft!!!! no contract talk,,we know you still want to go so fukc off

milner is very avearage - another underwhelming signing if it happens! no skill runs with his head down and cant cross!! think it was 2 assisits all last year.
liverpool must be quaking in there boots.
And for the last time will people on here stop saying liverpool cant afford barry. they spent 20m on keane they can afford him they just dont think he is worth 18m and can get better value for that.

at least we will have barry playing outta his skin for 4 months so that he will keep liverpool interested.....or...he will go on a go slow to get the price lowered for jan....am sure MON will wise up to whichever route he takes

but vogra is def right

I for one am happy that Barry is staying for another season, he is by far the best and most consistent player in the team. You lot make me laugh! Do you honestly think that a big WOW signing would have any more commitment to Villa than Barry?? I seriously doubt it. Just say we did manage to sign a Berbatov type striker that took the premiership by storm and scored in excess of 20goals he would be first to jump ship should one of the so called big 4 teams come calling. Now Barry is staying lets just get behind him! Booing him is only going to be detremental to the team we support!

Ghosthunter...pot kettle black??? :)

Andy...I'm not saying we need to buy more defenders. But what about a real holding midfielder. A true Makalele would be on my list (please don't say Reo is good enough, or Petrov for that matter). That along with a right winger, someone with pace, and then someone who can play as cover at either left or right back. Then I might think about a striker, but I would doubt us getting any more than 3 players in now.

And as for the argument you must have a 20 goal a year striker to break the top 4, I don't buy it. If we scored more goals than top 4 sides last year, had we let in less goals than them, we would have beat them in the league. Simple as.

And for those looking for a hero to worship. Ash Young!

Oh and for those moaning about Doyle. We won't buy him, if we do I'll eat my hat.

According to Talk Sport Milner wants to go to liverpool, but to be fair Talk Sport talk s**t more like!

wright phillips rules out city and everton

Gareth barry is stayin with the villa!!! Agent Black has confirmed this!

barrys agent confirms he is to stay at villa setanta sports news

i was at bodymoor heath n avon a word with craig gardner he said a lot oif the players were in his office so prob now signins at tht time, alltho stuart taylor after i asked him who are we signin :D said he knows martin oniel is after players but he doesnt no who

Of course he does he's a money grabbing waste of talent that enjoys the London life too much!

oh and the loads of press were there n io asked why is it milner he goes i dnt wanna talk about . tht bluenose frm brmb

where did you here that not so silent bob?

If Milner and SWP are available.. take them both. We should be banking on an extended UEFA run, and it couldn't be a terrible idea to rest Ash every once in awhile. That would knock my socks off! Not terribly realistic though. SWP and Ash wide would surely be terrifying for any opposition.

Congrats on the paid internship, Damian!

shaun wright phillips doesent want everton or man city move perhaps he wants to move to villa or sit on the bench at chelsea for another season hopefully we will sign either him or james milner or maybe even both who knows

utv

was on skysports news bout 10 mins ago

sign both swp and milner dont make me laugh this would take 3 years for oneal to arrange lol stick to what his best championship raids kevin doyle let the good limes roll lol

With regards the Barry announcement...Anyone else think it's p*ss poor that it's his agent doing the announcement? Should it not have been word from MON and/or Gareth that should have made this announcement. After all it's been the longest running transfer saga in Premiership history. Very poor PR on behalf of the club in not making this announcement first. It's on the official site now, but only stating what Black has said...Not a word from an official club source! :'(

milners agents are the pfa, and according to them milner put in a transfer request 2weeks ago! newcastle broke the news againist the p.f.a's request! newcastle are trying to get clubs aware of this to start a bibbing war! get in there mo'n get the lad! newcastle have f*cked up big time!!

Tonebone... Very true, im a NUFC supporter and i HATE when Milner is playing, he dosnt look up AT ALL and just dribles around in circles till someone takes the ball of him... For 9 million i would bite your hand off!!!

milners agents are the p.f.a, and according to them milner hand in a transfer request 2 weeks ago! newcastle have broke the news to get clubs interested, he wanted a better contract. so newcastle brake the silence, there not going to give him a improved one! get in there m o'n sign the lad!

with regards to barry, they say he wont discuss a new contract till at least next summer, i hope he isnt thinking of going to the poo in january or end of season for lower price, i would not be happy! either sign up or p**s off! would ratehr have SWP that milner too.

Doyle a box player goalscorer... if u watch u will see. gabby is a threat but does not score enough goals. with the chances we create and with doyle he'll be quality. he can head... finish... works hard... everything u want from a centre forward. Hes a regular international who plays up top with robbie keane... hes only young and can only get better!!! Up the villa!

dont talk rubbish if doyle was half as good as keane was when he was 19 hed have a better goals to game ratio than he does now keane was class then scored goals and continued to do so through out his career comparing him to clinton morrison would be a better option in fact morrisons got a better scoring record and is cheaper......

dont get me wrong i dont want morrison just an example doyle is a dime a dozen out of nowhere championship player not what we need

quality is what we need with an eye for goal i personally dont want world beaters but better quality than doyle say saha from united cheaper and proven prem player with a good goals to game ratio

Andy i think Barry has been pathetic the whole window. All it would take for us fickle Villa fans is one press conference with him saying how great Villa have been to him and that he is committed to the cause (until Jan). Instead we have the twat Alex Black furthering our concerns more with a unconvincing rant, which would lead most to believe he is set to head off asap..... Ok so Milner or SWP........who cares anymore? Just get one of them and move on to the other five signings we need so we can "just stand still" as MON put it himself a couple of weeks ago

I don't know why there is criticism of Milner, he was excellent when he was here and he's played well for Newcastle this season. He's definitely coming. Is Cuellar going to be fit for the match against Littlepool Sunday?

Andy - Don't think you can blame the club for not making the announcement first. When Barry and his agent agreed to the deadline a few weeks back the club were straight out with an announcement only for them to have to, embarrasingly, retract it. My guess is that Barry told the club and they simply left it to him to announce to avoid any 'misunderstandings'.

What I find odd is that it looks like he made this decision two weeks ago!! If that truly was the case why didn't his agent come out and say something then?

Either way the important thing is that is seems it resolved, for the time being at least, and that Barry seems to have accepted it. I'm glad the club have not given in to him with a new contract with an option of a lower sell on price next summer. This means if he still wants to go after this season we can still ask for a decent figure and if doesn't like that then he can buy out the remainder of his contract, which I just don't think he's going to do otherwise he would of handed in a transfer request a while back. Lastly, he has probably decided not to go for a new contract due to the very negative press he would likely receive.

I'm feeling quite positive about Milner coming to us and I think it'd be a good move, for him as well as us. And for fun here's a keegan quote from the other day...

"He is the last player that Newcastle United want to sell, and I'm talking about the owner and myself," Keegan told the club's official website.

"James Milner won't be leaving here, I'm sure of that."


:D - Classic - should've checked with Milner first :D

Milner is a good player. we can't expect any big shot coming to Villa, we are not in champion league yet and we cap player's salary to certain level - which is a wise move really. Don't expect the sky for this season, i'll be happy if we are competing in top 5 and get into quater final uefa cup.

DOYLE MAY BE A BOX TO BOX PLAYER AND GOOD UP N COMING BUT WE ARE VILLA GIVE US MORE HAREWOOD PROVED A JOKE TONIGHT WE ARE 1 INJURY AWAY FROM MID TABLE.AND WHO IS ROBBIE KEANE MATE HE AINT BANGIN EM IN AT LIVERPOOL IS HE. A GOOD PLAYER BUT 20 MIL HE AINT WE PAYIN FANS WANT A FEW QUALITY SIGNINGS TONIGHT JUST SHOWED HOW MUCH QUALITY WE HAVE IN DEPTH WHEN ONLY ROUTLEDGE AND SALIFO WERE QUALITY TO OUR SUPRISE.COME ON GIVE US A DREAM NOT EMPTY HOPES