It's not Dean Ashton Martin O'Neill wants, it's Craig Bellamy

I'll be happy for him to come. He looked lehal in attack against us. O'Neill signed him for Celtic, so why not??
Give Milner a chance then....

Fantastic with the ball, but (in my opinion formed from watching the game this week) lazy without.

Good player to have on the bench ready to come on.......

Bellamy is a quality player with pace he would fit right in,He will score plenty of goals for us,As would defoe,ashton or crouch,I`ll take any of them.

So now we are signing Heskey, Defoe, Ashton, Owen, Santa Cruz and Bellamy?

You read it in the Mirror so it's obviously a complete load of bollocks.

Bellamy is not better than we have got and wouldn't improve the team. Why pay a high transfer fee and high wages for someone who will sit on the bench?

Reply to Villa_Chris:

I'll be happy for him to come. He looked lehal in attack against us. O'Neill signed him for Celtic, so why not??
Give Milner a chance then....

I think Bellamy would be a good signing especially if report are right harewood goes the other way so hes not going to cost a arm and a leg. He will suit our style of play perfectly. We would then have 4 good strikers Gabby, Carew, Bellamy and delfonso.
We need to get valencia from wigan as well as a must he would be a snip at 9 - 10 million.

Bellemy is 10 or 11 goals a season max.
He won't work well with Gabby
He is worse in every aspect than Gabby.
He is injury prone.
He is a complete jackass on and off of the field.

If Bellemy, a petty 7m striker is the best we can do when we have been in desperate need of strengthening our front line for so long... I honestly will give up hopes of CL this season.

Anyways this rumor pops up every window, I'm frankly not that worried, at least at one day's hint of speculation.

It depends on his personality really. He would be 3rd choice behind Gabby and Carew, but if it was around £7m then it would flesh out our squad a bit.

We're also supposed to be going for a 17 year old defender called "Arsenio Halfuid", if quotes from his agent are to be believed.

Reply to Zidave:

Bellemy is 10 or 11 goals a season max.
He won't work well with Gabby
He is worse in every aspect than Gabby.
He is injury prone.
He is a complete jackass on and off of the field.

If Bellemy, a petty 7m striker is the best we can do when we have been in ...

Agree 100% Zidave.

Bellamy is the sort of player we should be allowing somebody else to buy.

Who says we have to play him up front? Stick him on the wing with Ash, I say.

Reply to PaulE:

It depends on his personality really. He would be 3rd choice behind Gabby and Carew, but if it was around £7m then it would flesh out our squad a bit.

We're also supposed to be going for a 17 year old defender called "Arsenio Halfuid", if quotes from his agent are to be believed.

I think you've misread that quote Paul. It was from Craig Bellamy's agent saying we have made a bid for the "Arsehole Halfwit"

Reply to vivavilla86:

Who says we have to play him up front? Stick him on the wing with Ash, I say.

May as well buy N'Zogbia for that. He'd even provide cover for LB.

Yup, sounds like we've bagged this Dutch lad: LINK

The question for me is not who to buy, but who does he replace. When considering this, Bellamy does not fit the bill unless he's a bit part player / cover for injury and what players would want to do this. The Pompey right back may be a good call as we could doo with one and i think Heskey would be a good addition too. Why not go balls out for Joe cole, now theres a player who'add summat

We should be going for someone world class like a Tevez. Imagine if we had him we would scare the life out of anybody. I think Ashton would be good though he is a future England striker although he does seem to get injured

We don't want knobheads like Bellamy fucking up our dressing room.
If we want a player in this kind of mould lets Give Owen the money he wants, this is the only calibre of player that will improve us now.

Reply to Fordster:

We should be going for someone world class like a Tevez. Imagine if we had him we would scare the life out of anybody. I think Ashton would be good though he is a future England striker although he does seem to get injured

Totally agrre with your call about world class players.
Not sure we will get Tevez though but this calibre of player are the only ones that are going to improve our team now.
We as Villa fans are going to have too get use to our team spending £15-£20 million on one player, and also have them earning £100k a week as this is the only way we will continue to challenge at the top of the table year on year.

if o'neill wants to sign him i dont care hes the bloke who knows what hes doing.

Reply to bow77:

We don't want knobheads like Bellamy fucking up our dressing room.
If we want a player in this kind of mould lets Give Owen the money he wants, this is the only calibre of player that will improve us now.

I can definitely agree with that.

I agree with Zidave i'd have N'Zogbia before Bellamy. Plus im not sure about Tevez either, great work rate but doesn't score enough.

I don't believe it's true and I tend to side with bow77 on this one although if MON reckons he's right for the club he would know better than us.

Reply to Delago:

I agree with Zidave i'd have N'Zogbia before Bellamy. Plus im not sure about Tevez either, great work rate but doesn't score enough.

Tevez scored plenty of goals when he kept West Ham up on his own, he just needs to play week in week out, but like i said earlier would love him but dont think we will get him.

I think the guy is a decent player.

But I also think he is a complete twat.

Alan Shearer said, when bellamy left the barcodes something to the effect of..."I feel sorry for which ever club he ends up at".

Not long after he was wrapping golf clubs around Riise.

The guys a dick. Our dressing room is a good place to be. We don't want him

Agreed fellas, not a bad player but a complete headcase. Definitely dont need that sort of personality at the club at the minute.

I think we need two strikers but the most important is one that is in the same mould as Carew. I reckon Kenwyne Jones would be a good signing and would score goals at the villa with the amount of chances we create especially from wide positions, hes good in the air, strong and fairly quick.

I can believe the bellamy rumour but I would much prefer owen or defoe if we also go for that type of player. Less baggage and more importantly both better goalscorers!

UTV!!!

I fully back whoever MON decides to sign. But according to tribal football MAN City have bid 6million for Bellamy, I just think this rumour is lazy jurno's.

Reply to andy_villa:

Agreed fellas, not a bad player but a complete headcase. Definitely dont need that sort of personality at the club at the minute.

I think we need two strikers but the most important is one that is in the same mould as Carew. I reckon Kenwyne Jones would be a good signing and would...

I agree with the same mould as carew thing.

Thing about Kenwyne is you see the celebrations with Cisse this weekend? Those boys are building a good partnership on and off the field. Made me think that maybe they might stick around for a bit.

Reply to bow77:

Tevez scored plenty of goals when he kept West Ham up on his own, he just needs to play week in week out, but like i said earlier would love him but dont think we will get him.

I don't think we can afford him. Tevez is going to cost around 30m...

Reply to SYMBAS:

The question for me is not who to buy, but who does he replace. When considering this, Bellamy does not fit the bill unless he's a bit part player / cover for injury and what players would want to do this. The Pompey right back may be a good call as we could doo with one and i think Heskey would be...

Does he really need to replace anyone ? We obviously need depth so why is it a necessity to sell someone before we buy one ? We have one of the smallest squads as it is and the top clubs in the world have at least 4 top class strikers. We have 2, plus one potential and one Cult hero who can't play much.

I tend to voice the majority in that I don't want Bellamy here, but if MON was to sign him then I'd be up for it. I'd prefer Ashton though, and whilst he does get injured so too does Bellamy and he is a quality English striker - and there are not too many of them around.
Don't rate Heskey, but if he was too come, I'd still support Villa.
Joe Cole is an interesting one simply because he would blow our wage structure out the window. We have to do this eventually but it would be interesting to see the impact on the dressing room? How many here honestly think JCole deserves double the wage as Ash? I quite like him though, and think he would not only add depth but add more quality to the team which is what we need to progress. Cheslki may also sell him for £15mill or so cos Scolari is looking for a striker and doesn't have much funds atm to buy one.
Tevez is interesting. The type of player we want, who is avaiable when yu consider that Manure just forked out £30-odd-million for Berba. But Tevez would probably be close to £30mill himself. Willing to pay such a fee? More importantly would MON and RL? I think he would fit into our squad as he is hard-working, dedicated and plays for the team as much as for himself. As we all know, he is a game winner as well, and when things aren't going rosy, we need someone to step up and do the job.

Reply to bow77:

Tevez scored plenty of goals when he kept West Ham up on his own, he just needs to play week in week out, but like i said earlier would love him but dont think we will get him.

7 goals in 24 appearances is average IMO. But i would concede that a lot of those goals where scored in the second half of that season and he did play a massive role in keeping west ham up that year.

Reply to StickyAV:

I agree with the same mould as carew thing.

Thing about Kenwyne is you see the celebrations with Cisse this weekend? Those boys are building a good partnership on and off the field. Made me think that maybe they might stick around for a bit.

Yeah could be difficult but no harm in trying. After all it would surely interest him coming to a club challenging the big 4! Think Sunderland would ask a lot for him though, they dont seem to be short of a few quid!

Anyone know anything about this?

LINK

under MON, he wouldnt play up, and if he did, hed be out straight away.

Reply to Timmy_Ra:

Anyone know anything about this?

LINK

Paul mentioned that earlier mate.

There was a lot of talk yesterday about our scouts at Pompey looking at Defoe and the young U17 captain, but as we're CRYING OUT for a creative/tempo-dictating midfielder has anyone considered we might have been looking at Krancjar???
I have no idea where he would slot in, or formation or who would drop out (I'm not paid for those sorts of decisions ) but I do know he's very bloody good!
But my biggest xmas wish is that we steal Arteta from Everton- he's like a 'cheaper' Fabregas (injured for Friday!!!!!) and would weaken one of our main rivals by his departure too.
I'd be ok with Bellamy at Villa- champions league experience, bit of a tit (well, massive tit) but a real pain in the arse for defenders. I know he's unpopular but he's no Joey Barton! Eltegree posted that he's 'lazy without the ball'- has he been on the sherry early too?!

why would tevez come to aston villa? dont be ridiculous.
agree about bellamy, hes good but is injury prone, doesnt score enough goals, and is cleary an absolute psycho. me thinks this rumour is a load of balls

I don't think there is too much in this story! We already have 4 speedy attacking forwards (Young, Gabby, Fonzy and just to upset Damian..... Milner) but no cover for big JC other than Marlene. MON will probably try to sign a similar type of player to JC (ie Heskey or Ashton) or an out and out goal poacher such as Owen. There is no need for MON to purchase another speedster in January unless he gets his primary targets and has a bit of cash left over

i dont like the player but i do think he would work in our style of play

Tevez would really improve The Villa. Works hard, loves what he does, exciting to watch and scares the shit out of defences. Let's face it, if a team came to play at VP and of all the strikers mentioned above, Tevez would be the one that we all would not like facing our defence. He can score for fun and will work great with Ash and Gabby and the team will be the most exciting in the League. This is the type of player we shuld really be looking at taking on board now and giving them a bright future at Villa, to keep us in the top 4.

UTV

Lionel Messi would improve us even more!!!

Reply to __AA__:

Tevez would really improve The Villa. Works hard, loves what he does, exciting to watch and scares the shit out of defences. Let's face it, if a team came to play at VP and of all the strikers mentioned above, Tevez would be the one that we all would not like facing our defence. He can score for fun...

I agree, only problem is I doubt Man Utd would sell him in January to one of their rivals (ie US)...... unfortunately.

Wishlist:-

Silvain Distin, Jimmy Bullard, Emile Heskey, Michael Owen.

Reply to AVMark:

Wishlist:-

Silvain Distin, Jimmy Bullard, Emile Heskey, Michael Owen.

Distin, Bullard and Heskey would not get in the team. They would only be replacements for Knight, Salifou and Harewood.

Would love Owen but think Newcastle will keep him til summer in order to help them stay up and then let him leave on a free.

I'd rather us go for a quality targetman and midfield playmaker in January, such as Dean Ashton and Joe Cole.

Apparently we're after a 17yr old Dutch defender and we're finalising the deal.

Whats the craic with Carew, how long is he gona be out for?

Keef_Villa, they are massively better replacements than what we have - that's the point. If we get an injury crisis then we will be putting out that team that got hammered by Hamburg.

Joe Cole would be quality but that's the point you won't get that type of player at the moment.

Distin would be fourth choice centre half behind Laursen, Cuellar and Davies. Bullard wouldn't get in the team ahead of Barry, Petrov and Sidwell. Why would they come to Villa to sit on the bench?

We have more chance of getting someone like Joe Cole than other players mentioned,such as Tevez.

I know what you are saying about not attracting the next level of player until we have qualified for the champions league, but our sights should be higher than Bullard and Heskey.

LINK

Bellamy is at West Ham because hes an average player, good for being the main man at a mid-table club. If he came to Villa he wouldn't be the main man and im not so sure how good he will be at fighting for a place. Unless were talking literally of course! I think we should go after Podolski, and another big man to make Carew fight harder for his place. Whoever we sign has to have the right work ethic because that is what has brought us these good times and long may it continue. UTV

The shouts for Kenwyne Jones are good too, young lad right up our street. UTV

Why the hell would Chelsea want to sell their only good wide player in the club? That won't happen. Bellamy would be a good addition but it would be huge gamble to take with his obvious temper troubles and he is very prone to inj as well. I would love to see Bullard come to VP and i have no doubt he would displace one of the 3 mid (prob sidwell).

My xmas wish list would be Glen Johnson, Bullard, Valencia, Owen and another young full back to give cover.

I think we should be looking at the "Outs" - Knight, either loan to a Championship side or sell him (however he did ok prior to be sent off at Chelsea last season?), Salifou, same either loan or sell, and sell Harewood (although he hasn't had a fair crack at the whip, he isn't a match winner). That would leave us 3 short just to break even, always liked Ashton and I think injury problems are sometimes related to the club you are at, so I think he would be ok at Villa. Joe Cole would be too expensive (wages) as I think Owen would be. Definitely put a bid in for Bullard to allow us to "rotate" more and another right back to stop all this out of position lark!

Why not Crouch too?

Keef_Villa - In my opinion it would be nuts to play Cuellar and Davies together neither attck the ball. Mark my words if Larsson is injured then Knight gets in.

Bullard is quality. Without Barry with don't have another creative midfielder. Do you think we are going to get through the season without injuries and suspensions?

You don't rate Heskey - fair enough he's not got a great goalscoring record but I would have him ahead of Ashton any day of the week.

Van der Vaart looks to be out of favour at Real at the moment. Perhaps they would accept to loan bid for the remainder of the season with a view to buy if we get champs league spot?

I have never been a big fan of Heskey, probably because a bit sheepishly I have agreed with most of the nonsense thrown his way. I think with Oneill talking in his ear then we would see a very good and solid team player at Villa.
Im not sure I can see Joe Cole leaving Chelsea in the near future.
Would be happy with Bullard, think it would add some extra competition and although he may or may not be better than what we have it is another option when required.
No idea who Oneill will bring in but so far he has done a pretty good job with signings over last 2 seasons, although not what we always expected we can't complain with the current position.
Get rid of Knight and Harewood please

avmark did i read right you saying you prefer heskey over ashton?
a fit ashton? or ashtons dad?

I wouldn't mind having Bellamy; I wouldn't get excited about having him, but I wouldn't mind having him. He can be a rather dangerous player.

To the lads saying that we ought to buy Joe Cole or Carlos Tevez: dream on.

ronaldo, kaka, or messi anyone? i want all three but it will never happen so bellamy or heskey it is then

Tex.....Why are you saying Dream On.....Please do us the courtesy of explaining that statement..

gotta say would not be impressed if we signed Bellemy! he is a thug!

Reply to __AA__:

Tex.....Why are you saying Dream On.....Please do us the courtesy of explaining that statement..

andy ..do you honestly think we could get either of them??

We are third and we are a club with a great manager and we are improving. If I was one of the top players I would recognise these qualities and I would be prepared to be part of something good. We have to have expectations. If we as Villa fans don't have the belief then why would we expect class players to have the belief..? Come on guys, let's start to get some Positive Mental Attitude. With a couple of additions I see the Villa squad as strong as any in the Premiership.

To answer the question Paul, I do honestly think such players are now within reach of Villa's aspirations.

I wouldn't believe nothing from sky sports go back to post 46. click the link

These muppets forgot the hull game off the fixture list above the table? they can't even get that right let alone telling us who we are going to sign

We need players like Joe cole, Owen, Arteta, Valencia and i noticed Benayoun isnt playing much' him too and decent cover for laursen aswell! lescott/upson anyone

Anything less than top players coming in for me is bollocks we don't want players in that mon can get the best out of them!! I want players that are already the best

These next 2 games are so crucial we have the best form in the prem so we need to mantain it to have a good position come the 1st so any targets will see we mean business.....

We beat the Hammers with a fluke goal

We play the Arse next with them loosing their best 2 players for the match which is brilliant news

For luck we definately have it they say it comes in 3's, so maybe we'll have a lucky win on boxing day! I'd take that no problem

I think Bellamy and Heskey are decent, not great players, but they are both certainly an improvement over players like Harewood. Heskey doesn't score goals, but managers love him, and he makes the quick forwards like Gabby better when he's on the pitch.
I'd like Kenwyne Jones, too, though I imagine Sunderland would charge an arm and a leg for him...
If Tevez leaves United, he'll go to a team like Real Madrid or AC Milan.

goldie

"Anything less than top players coming in for me is bollocks we don't want players in that mon can get the best out of them!! I want players that are already the best"

nail on the head why should we accept second best mon has tried that it didnt work time for a different approach!

personally owen bullard valencia benajyoun just to replace the ones leaving...deadwood/fright/osbourne/salifou.

anyone else of same sort of quality as owen valencia etc... is a bonus!

Reply to __AA__:

Tex.....Why are you saying Dream On.....Please do us the courtesy of explaining that statement..

I would've thought it was obvious.

First, Joe Cole starts regularly for Chelsea. So (a) why would he want to leave Chelsea and (b) why would Chelsea want to sell him?

Second, Tevez would cost us about 30 million. Would we pay that? And as jeremiaswodo mentioned, if he leaves Man U, then he'll go to a team like AC Milan.

I'm all for a Positive Mental Attitude, but let's maintain a sense of realism friend!

One of the rumour sites has sggested that Real madrid want to get Ash and are prepared to offer cash plus Van Der Vaart to get their man. Somehow I can't see MoN agreeing to selling Ash at any price.
Bellend? He would at best be a squad replacement for Marlon, as would some of the other strikers mentioned. Someone mentioned a wage structure, do we have such a thing any more?

Look folks we are looking at buying players to improve our depth. And we can't be Chelsea or ManU and have 70 and 80 thousand pound a week players sitting our bench and only getting in occasionally. We need a big man to play for Carew when he isn't fit or is struggling, Crouch or Heskey fills that role beautifully.
Honestly, I would like to see Delfuenso come on for Gabby if he is struggling or move Ashley Young to striker if that is the case or if Gabby is injured or needs a rest.
And we need another midfield creator, because when Barry is struggling we need another option to go to plus we are looking at a lot of games once the UEFA Cup picks back up. Jimmy Bullard is exactly what we are looking for and remember Barry might leave no matter how high Villa finishes, so Bullard is an excellent long-term replacement as well.
Bullard, Heskey, the dutch kid and Bouma staying fit would make our squad good enough to stay where they are at or maybe even move up!

Guys,

Does anyone actually know whats going on with Carew, how long will he be out for? As for Bellamy I really can't see it happening. Surely O'neill wants to have a replacement / alternative to Carew in the mould of Ashton , Santa Cruz, Heskey. We have seen in the early part of the season how effective and O'neill team is with a big target man and pace coming off him.

I can't see him changing this to go with 2 quick players up front, and we surely don't want bellamy to come in as a wide player??

thoughts? I would personally like Heskey, think he would allow gabby and yound to be even more devestating!

As for the Bullard comment, I think this would be a great buy. Perfect Villa player, and has that little bit extra on the ball, something Barry / Sidwell doesnt.

Reply to George_Templeton:

Look folks we are looking at buying players to improve our depth. And we can't be Chelsea or ManU and have 70 and 80 thousand pound a week players sitting our bench and only getting in occasionally. We need a big man to play for Carew when he isn't fit or is struggling, Crouch or Heskey fills that...

I like this post. It's what I think. I'm a big sheep, all for positive thinking. However all this buy amazing players stuff won't happen. Why work yourself up about it.

Tex your right, Joe Cole???? Dream on. Has anyone ever been to Stanford Bridge? He's the fans most prized player. "he's here he's there, he's ever f'in where, joe coooooole!". They won't sell him. If he's fit, he starts.

Tevez? Would like him, but won't happen. Oneil paying all that money for a small striker with an average goal ratio. Nah!

We need backup for Carew first and foremost!!! That is someone who is big, with a primary role of holding the ball up and bringin in ash, sidwell, milner and gabs in to the game. Next on list, backup for gabby, because if he gets injured we are screwed.

Man City bought Robinho this past summer. Look where they are. Look at the signings Spurs made. look where they are. You guys were the ones to be moaning in the summer saying our signings were poor and we should be getting these big name players, and it turns out MON did a great job.

It's about buying people for the job, not for the name, price tag and hype.

We need players that are available and can also still play in the Uefa cup, so for me that rules out Defoe. N'Zogbia would be a very good buy as would valencia. I would like to see us try for Santa Cruz and i think that the only lure to Man City would be greed, not Sparky. After all, Friedel chose us over Man City in the summer. These 3 are available, can still play in Uefa cup and are definatley quality for enhancing our push for 4th.

Reply to ak_27:

Van der Vaart looks to be out of favour at Real at the moment. Perhaps they would accept to loan bid for the remainder of the season with a view to buy if we get champs league spot?

Like the thinking there mate..

I cant understand why anyone can suggest us going for Heskey, Bullard, Owen and now Bellamy. We need quality. We have seen what happens when we buy "squad players", Knight, Salifou and Harewood are deadwood. We are bloody 3rd on the table now is the time to bid for the Defoes, Artetas, Valencias and any other quality player. We cant promise Champions League just now, but with us sitting third at the moment we must look rather enticing foer a number of players that may be stuck in teams that are struggling (think Santa Cruz, Defoe, Martins, Elano, NZogbia, Valencia). Any two of these players would definately help the team and i reckon would keep us cemented in the top four.

Im sorry but Bullard, Owen, Heskey and co are stop gap players with little future, and dont match our now lofty ambition.

Up the mighty claret and blue!!

idk bout u but i luv manchester utd

Bellamy offers pace. I think we got that option boxed off.

We need a goal scorer and that is not Bellamy (this comes from a Wales supporter)

Owen please.

id put a cheeky couple of bids in for stephen ireland and darran fletcher as well as owen valencia etc....

Leroy you have interesting ideas about football.

LINK

Bellamy is a complete and utter arrogant twat.
His ego is so big i doubt he will be able to fit it into the dressing room.
If were getting him we might as well sign Joey Barton and stick him next to Reo-coker and Salifou.
Because if O'Neill wants bad feeling and attitude in the team, thats whats gonna happen.

Reply to AVMark:

Leroy you have interesting ideas about football.

Care to elaborate Mark?

Bob - what hasn't worked? Working bloody well as far as I can see. Ireland is a half season wonder and Fletcher is crap.

Texas - do you know how many games Cole has started under Scolari? hardly first choice.

Sticky - just because fans sing his name doesn't mean he plays or wont be sold.

i can see what bob is on about with the likes of harewood salifou knight and maybe shorey but its the good signings that count and a good manager gets rid off quickly and moves on

cheers paul saves me trying to explain that lol

hes give them a year maybe less for some and oportunity in games, he'll move them on and replace with better squad players before he adds the quality etc...

look at my history ive never called for expensive signing just players that could fit into squad and do a job when called for whatever the cost...personally i have the same view as mon and get quality for cheapest price possible but thats not always possible!

Reply to keefvilla:

Bob - what hasn't worked? Working bloody well as far as I can see. Ireland is a half season wonder and Fletcher is crap.

Texas - do you know how many games Cole has started under Scolari? hardly first choice.

Sticky - just because fans sing his name doesn't mean he...

better squad players than what we have thats all would be better cover to our excellent first team!

Leroy sorry for "interesting" read "bollocks".

Subtle AVMark

Lads, let's calm down on the transfer speculation cos you lot build up my hopes until transfer deadline day when it's shattered!!

Let MON buy who the f**k he wants cos he can turn a shithead into a world-beater.

I'd have Bellamy, yeah he's a 2@, but MON will make him into a 2@ that'll get 15 league goals.

Bellamy was a country mile better than GABBY on saturday. Personally, I can't stand the bloke. He's a jumped up tosser with small man syndrome in the same mould as BARTON and KEANE.

Reply to AVMark:

Leroy sorry for "interesting" read "bollocks".

Well as you dont want to give any reason, i will take a stab for you......You disagree because you think Jimmy Bullard and Emile Heskey are the ones that will help propel us into Champions League glory for the next decade...and we need to buy squad player after squad player, we have no weaknesses at all just need a few more players right? We have a really good squad, so good infact that we can all feel at ease and comfortable when we leave some first team regulars out, and we still get great results.....Now thats bollocks for you mate

give bellamy "a chance"??? though he suits are style of play(very fast, good finisher) the man is a scumbag! if we buy him we might aswell give Joey Barton "a chance" too. No thanks, neither of them are worthy of wearing the Villa shirt.
Screw Bellamy, i want Defoe, a real proffesional...

Bellamy? No Way. The man is an unprincipled, trouble-making thug and a Club like ours should be above signing such an appalling role model ['because he's got pace'].Believe me, he would wreck our dressing room.
Ashton is another matter and would do very, very well with the service we could give him. Also I would break the wage structure and go for Owen, either now or in the summer when he's a free agent. If [and I grant you, it is 'if'] he can keep fit he will give us 15-20 goals a season for another 2-3 years. Now that is worth buying.[And if we just happened to be in the CL, he would jump at it because Man U, Chelsea and Liverpool won't take him].
Lots of talk about raiding Portsmouth-what about that attacking LB they have? I'd love to see him pairing up with Ash.
The good thing is that it is a buyer's market at present and clubs like Pompey & WHU are there for the picking. Also there may be some bargains going in Man City's January sale as they do a clear out in preparation for Kaka, Pele, Maradona, Eusabio and whoever else they're going to sign.Although he looks out of form I would like to see Micah Richards here-he could cover CB and RB and can attack the wing. Given that we are now the passport back into the England squad he may just be tempted, and won't cost as much as he would have done last year.

Leroy, sorry I was out of order.

The Young rumour to Madrid looks like it has some substance. Even that Balague geezer says a bid is on the cards. I've even seen £20m plus Van der Vaart!!

Sorry guys bad news

LINK

Thats the worse news we could have recieved anyone but knight

Cuellar - Davies coker at RB and Young at LB

Reply to keefvilla:

Bob - what hasn't worked? Working bloody well as far as I can see. Ireland is a half season wonder and Fletcher is crap.

Texas - do you know how many games Cole has started under Scolari? hardly first choice.

Sticky - just because fans sing his name doesn't mean he...

No but the fans usually know who the better players are.

With regards to starts, the stats do not always tell a tale either. He has been injured loads this season. Head gash, injured against croatia for england, another ankle injury which he came back too early from and was started before he should have been (they were so keen to get him back on the pitch again!) and he limped off with a reoccurence in the first half.

He's made 7 appearances this season and scored 3 in all competitions. If he's fit, he starts.

Reply to keefvilla:

Bob - what hasn't worked? Working bloody well as far as I can see. Ireland is a half season wonder and Fletcher is crap.

Texas - do you know how many games Cole has started under Scolari? hardly first choice.

Sticky - just because fans sing his name doesn't mean he...

Like StickeyAV said, Cole starts when healthy. Look at his game log for this season. You can't reasonably argue that he isn't first choice.

Bellamy looked really good against us the other day but week in week out he's not a headline maker? I would rather had Padolski any way, hope MON purchases him as my Xmas present...

The way we play suites at least one big guy up front. When we arent breaking quickly on the counter attack we play route one and launch the ball forward.

Lets not fool ourselves we dont play an intricate passing game, we play very direct and really use the long ball. This is why when MON goes looking for another striker, I think he will look for another big athletic guy.

For me Santa Cruz would be perfect and give carew a real run for his money and would allow us to give gabby the odd rest. K Jones would also fill the same role, another big guy, fantastic in the air but also some speed and ability of his own. Heskey would fit the same role, but generally speaking he has less upside when it comes to scoring.

owen, defoe are classy finishers, but I cant see them playing in our current team. Would these guys be happy with being late substitutes? Rotating in and out, and really fighting for a spot? I dont think so considering they both want to start for england.

Reply to Timmy_Ra:

I agree, only problem is I doubt Man Utd would sell him in January to one of their rivals (ie US)...... unfortunately.

The thing about that is, Man U don't own him, he's on loan.

Oh if Laursen is out then that would be terrible. I think a Davies-Cuellar CB could work, but we haven't tried it (and we should have in the UEFA Cup).

Reply to George_Templeton:

Oh if Laursen is out then that would be terrible. I think a Davies-Cuellar CB could work, but we haven't tried it (and we should have in the UEFA Cup).

They will be fine in the center, the problem is that pulls Cuellar out of the RB position and puts NRC into RB. He has in all fairness played well in his last two appearances (one being in midfield) but nonetheless it shows how badly we need to focus on strengthening our fullback positions this window if possible too!

Reply to Ramonicus:

Does he really need to replace anyone ? We obviously need depth so why is it a necessity to sell someone before we buy one ? We have one of the smallest squads as it is and the top clubs in the world have at least 4 top class strikers. We have 2, plus one potential and one Cult hero who can't play...

I did not mean to imply that we sell anyone (other than marewood & fright). No i was refering to who to drop. I think most agree Milner is the obvious choice, but then again most like the 4-5-1 formation. So that is why i said Cole. and then would consider cover player for Gabby n Carew and a full back. Got to admit Young at left back has been tremendous and could revert to RB when bouma returns (what is status on his rehab?)Decisions, Decisions.

StickyAV and Texas_Villain

I don't know where you two get your information, probably www.load of bollocks.com, but Joe Cole has played 11 league games this season and only played 90 mins once.

I am not saying that Chelsea would sell him to us but that he is the kind of player that we need to buy in order to improve the team. We are better than the likes of Bullard, Bellamy etc.

We were talking about the January window. If anyone wants to waste time thinking about Joe Cole it's their prerogative but there's more chance of Jesus Christ coming and it is that time of year.

People are talking about players like Owen, Heskey and Bullard because, contractually there is a possibility of a deal. It's just the practical world as opposed to the Xbox one.

I predicted before that if Laursson got injured Knight will be in so it will be intersting to see what develops. Bearing in mind that Adebayor is out the need for a commanding CB is not important so I concede Davies and Cuellar might work. Just can't see it long term and as many people pointed out against Hamburg Cuellar was poor. I definitely agree that Young has done so well at LB that the search if for a RB.

Reply to AVMark:

We were talking about the January window. If anyone wants to waste time thinking about Joe Cole it's their prerogative but there's more chance of Jesus Christ coming and it is that time of year.

People are talking about players like Owen, Heskey and Bullard because, contractually...

Cuellar could be out as well so we might have to put Davies and Knight in together and i wouldn't be too confident of that partnership to be honest.

It looks like McGeady will def be leaving Celtic in the upcoming window now as his agent has stated that he has no future there so i have a gut feeling that he will end up at VP. I wouldn't be too upset at that prospect if the price on his head isn't too much.

Reply to AVMark:

We were talking about the January window. If anyone wants to waste time thinking about Joe Cole it's their prerogative but there's more chance of Jesus Christ coming and it is that time of year.

People are talking about players like Owen, Heskey and Bullard because, contractually...

How practical is Owen really? He is on 120 thou a week.....ok so hes going might be willing to take a pay cut, maybe lowest he goes is 90 thou, thats what Defoe is on. That is my point from yesterday mate.......

Reply to Villa_Chris:

I'll be happy for him to come. He looked lehal in attack against us. O'Neill signed him for Celtic, so why not??
Give Milner a chance then....

agree fully
i think bellemy will do well here
and milner is a classy player if we give him a chance
he will show us that he is worth 12 million

Leroy: It's widely reported that Owen will take a cut. If you want to compare him to Defoe here are the facts. One would cost little the other a lot. One has a career ratio goals to games .5 the other .36, one is a proven international class goalscorer with an impeccable record the other is not. Owen is a world class finisher Defoe is not.

Owen will be a waste of our money - the future is not him and is not with someone like Defoe - personally I wouldnt want either and think MON should look towards Crouch again - he would play well with Gabby and would spur big John to get even better as they are similar types of players! That will be as good as signing 2 new strikers!!

Reply to AVMark:

Leroy: It's widely reported that Owen will take a cut. If you want to compare him to Defoe here are the facts. One would cost little the other a lot. One has a career ratio goals to games .5 the other .36, one is a proven international class goalscorer with an impeccable record the other is not....

Safe to say they could ask for about the same in wages. Transfer fee a different story. But it doesnt matter if its not out of your or mines wallets.....what does matter is Owens abysmal injury history. He is just simply not worth the trouble becuase of that. Defoe is a lethal finisher a goal sneak whatever you want, in my opinion brings more value because he is available to play in matches....Defoe has a great goal scoring record nothing to be sneered at...But what about others? What is Heskeys defence? Bullard? You cant tell me you would not rather have Santa Cruz and Elano than Heskey and Bullard.....

Leroy, injury record is a different matter but it could work in our favour. Owen needs careful handling. I could see Owen playing in the same squad as Gabby. Sign Defoe and I reckon you pretty much have to guarantee Gabby is on the way out cus there's no way you would play both together. Defoe has been in a squad fighting for his place before and he didn't like it. Some rise to the challenge others don't.

I wasn't mocking Defoe's record, it's very good, I was just pointing out Owen is special. That's why he's on those mad wages at Newcastle.

Every one is talking about Owen, heskey, defoe, and santa cruz,in my view they will all be over priced in january and be wanting silly wages, two of the best bye's we could make in the window are Wayne bridge and Benni Mccarthy and possibley Elano if he would come to villa park UP THE VILLA

Reply to keefvilla:

I think you've misread that quote Paul. It was from Craig Bellamy's agent saying we have made a bid for the "Arsehole Halfwit"

very good - he is an arsehole as well

Give me Ashton any time - between him and JC we might get a big CF fit for most of a season

Reply to Delago:

I agree with Zidave i'd have N'Zogbia before Bellamy. Plus im not sure about Tevez either, great work rate but doesn't score enough.

N'Zogbias got plently of attitiude as well - don't know who he thinks he is saying he wants to move to a bigger club when he's done nothing in the game. Got talent though