Monday Monday: Aston Villa after players from Manchester City and Gillingham and a Newcastle player wants to come to us
Monday, 26 January 09, 05:46 AM · Comments (148)
One thing I think we all know about this transfer window is there isn't going to be a huge influx of players, but maybe one more, maybe two. It wouldn't surprise me if Heskey was it.
So, if we all accept that there isn't going to be millions and millions spent my Martin O'Neill then we've also got to accept that of the four players that I'm about to mention, the chances are very slim.
First off is a pair of players from Manchester City. Now, Mark Hughes figured out how to do up his own shoe laces last week so there is every chance he is going to figure out that these players are half decent and ask more than £10mn. for Michael Johnson and Daniel Sturridge, but there is every chance it won't be Mark Hughes you're dealing with.
The other rumour today is about the lad born in Jamaica, who plays his international football for Canada, spent a little bit of time playing at Dulwich Hamlet (one of my second clubs) before playing for Gillingham and actually scoring against us recently, in the FA Cup; Simeon_Jackson. The wily striker has apparently attracted the interest of Martin O'Neill. Take this as you want to take it.
Lastly today, if the above speculation wasn't enough and you want to try and get your head around something else, the Newcastle player Charlie N'Zogbia has said he'd prefer to move to us over Arsenal and that he wants Newcastle to lower their price tag, to allow the move to happen.
"Arsenal and Aston Villa are top teams in the English league, so I’d be happy to join them. I don’t have a priority. Both are good clubs, but I have a little preference for Aston Villa. They have been improving as a team in the last few years, which proves that they can do well." young Charlie said.
So, we're now getting the nod over Arsenal, which is extremely nice, but we still have a way to go to cement that general feeling, but it's not as far as it was.
So, that's about it this morning, but before I go, I phoned Bill Howell for a comment this morning and all I got was "One potato, two potatoes, three potatoes four, Five potatoes, six potatoes, seven potatoes more".
That's the Bill thing finished now, I've drawn a line under it and around his potato patch, but don't blame me if he comes out with another one of those videos or perhaps, calls another one of our players a coward.
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148 Comments · Add yours
Ha ha love the Bill thing! I thought you were giving him a bit of a hard time.....until I watched that video! What a f**kin weasel!
More faces the better is what I say, lets have them all!
1st!
I think the young Man City players will start to clamour for a move but they'll probably stay this January. Sturridge has certainly been getting a lot of pitch time so won't have started to get too frustrated - and would only be an impact player for us in the short run.
I can't see Simoen Jackson either - he'd represent too much of a risk. Any cover in LB/RB would be nice though
Damien - Dulwich Hamlet, hey? Did you play for them?
I meant Damian, of course...
How about Micah Richards he can play CTR back or RB
We dont want chalie boy, hes just trying to jump the newcastle shinking ship like given and owen and barton.
Mon should go for the young gillingham lad, he would be a good signing, and the man city duo would be nice but doubt he will make a move, because if he does man city will wak the tag up to 15mill and thats not right.
The only other signing i think we should make and its a bit outraugeous but hey im going to thorugh it out there...
Keane, Yes its crazy lol maybe just loan him till may, just for some added strength, yes it will neve rhappen but hey lol never no
Jon
Never played for them .. but used to play quite a bit down their .. and lived just down the road for a couple of years
Don't live all that far away myself, and often do my shopping right next to their ground!
Jon, Doesn't everyone do their shopping there? Completely off topic, but I was behind the Lloyds Bank opposite the Goose and Granite, a few houses down from the library up Lordship Lane.
Used to really enjoy East Dulwich.
Damian WHATS THIS IM HEARING ABOUT GABBI AND REO C BEING OUT INJURED???
IS THERE ANY TURTH !! I BLOODY HOPE NOT ???
Reply to Mlockey89:
yeah suden shift to preferring Villa over Arsenal, Can't believe a word most players say and I think his temporament is dodgy. Good player though
Reply to Mlockey89:
Gabby took a knock against Doncaster and had his leg wrapped up after the game. O'Neill doesn't seem too worried about it though. Thinks he'll shake it off. Coker has hurt his hamstring so prob a serious doubt for tomoz.
"The Premier League 'big' four - Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool - have been kept apart in the FA Cup fifth round."
-from the skysports website today,wont be much longer before we get a mention will it?
Reply to SidCowanslovechild:
Hes okay player but i just think he will think he's biiger than the club, i could see him joining then maybe half a season saying he wants Real m lol or chelski.
Think we should stick to younger players and not ones that and as public. (Role model barry)
Reply to kernowvilla:
They now call them the "'big' four" instead of the "big four".
Reply to Villa_Chris:
NRC is and Gabby needs treatment ahead of tomorrow's match. You might see him rested for Heskey.
Yeah, they do, especially as it's about 10 times bigger than it ever was! It even has a Starbucks now...
Lordship Lane has changed a lot recently, depending on how recently you were there of course. Nice part of London though. My parents-in-law live not far from where you used to, although I'm over the hill in Honor Oak Park area...!
Spent most of my life in Leicestershire though - Martin O'Neill used to really annoy me when he managed them. But only because he was so good. What he did there was incredible - he bought people like Muzzy Izzet and Neil Lennon, Matt Elliot - got Leicester to four top 10 finishes in four seasons I think, let alone the cup wins. Leicester's defining characteristic was that they never knew they were beaten - just like Villa seem to be now.
Reply to Mlockey89:
Can't see many transactions between Villa and Liverpool for a while though.
How about... get Spurs to buy him back for what they've received so far, then sell him to us for a Shorey + a few million. Sorted. Oh, chuck Bale in too
I don't want to get a reputation as the Bill H defender nor as an argumentative sod (OK I probably already have the latter) but Damian Bill Howell did not call Ashley Young a coward in that video and if you want to bring up issues of journalistic laziness I suggest you follow your own mantra.
We really need some backup in the ranks now like, just look at whats happened, two weeks ago we were all saying where fine we will finish top 4 but we have lost good players now unlike chels and man u whos back up are still good, we have not so good back up, it took doncaster to wake shorey up and i dunno wtf siddaz thinks hes doing tbh he needs dropped.
Littlevillan and _AA_ In a previous post I made a ridiculously over the top and uncalled for over reaction to a fairly innocent comment. _AA_ quite rightly pointed out the error of my ways. I did post previously but as article getting old now you probably wouldn't see it
Any way, sorry and I will try to be more constructuve in future. My only (and very bad excuse) is that I had allowed myself to be wound up by taglor and was still in my bad blood!
I will try not to react negatively in future if someone post something I don't agree with (may even try it with Taglor but probably wasting my time)
Any way - good luck to you both and UTV
Jesus Christ Micah Richards at right back would be amazing.
We don't need another centre back, we have Cuellar and Davies for cover.
Our priority in another striker, Owen would be a great addition, a fantastic finisher, which is something we lack however he tends not to track back or get involved in the build up, which might be something MON doesn't like too much.
AVMark
No, you are right. He said a hopeless challenge, the challenge of a coward (long pause, perhaps.
But Mark, if I were to blog and say 'I'm not saying James Milner is useless or that my four year old son would get more crosses in' and then glossed around it, you'd be one of the first to say 'that I'm just hiding what I'm saying in words'.
Bill Howell didn't call Ashley Young a coward. He said the challenge was that of a coward (long pause) perhaps.
We all know what Bill is saying, he's just covering himself but by actually saying it the way he said it, was enough, for some.
According to Sky Sports we are linked with Elliot Grandin.
Speculation suggests Villa are to take the 21-year-old on trial with a view to securing his signature on a six-month loan deal, should he impress manager Martin O'Neill
Put him, Sturrige, Johnson, Richards, We are laughing
I am not an expert in these matter (well not as much as AVMark anyway) but it seems clear to me that Bill Howell is a complete twat who deserves all the stick he gets.
N'Zogbia seems to be throwing himself at Villa, but didn't he recently say he didn't want to join us and wanted to return to France?
this is the last time im gunna waste my breath or should i say fingers in saying how can they help us
sturridge and johnson will be on the bench most of the time and MON wants to pay £10 million for them and why we would want to sign nzogbia i do not know because they cannot help us to keep 4th place and its a waste of money for players to be sat on the bench
I'd love to see Sturridge at the Villa, the lads got talent.
Reply to littlevillan:
its not a waste if they improve our strength in depth.
Jonhson wouldnt be sat on the bench for too long either.
he's like ireland but good lol
N'zogbia said he would not rule out a move to lyon , but they don't seem to be too interested , he's a good player but might throw his toy's if he doesnt get his way , Cant blame the lad for trying every avenue to get out of Newcastle!!!
with Man City Making a Monkey out of themselves , 'Arry trying to reassemble Jols team and Tony Adams doin what he's Doin , we should thank our lucky stars every day for Mon and Mr.Lerner!and Not be Lookin to Sign a superstar who's gonna upset the whole thing!
wouldnt you feel better nowing we had another quick winger to come on??
a cultured CM who can pass and move??
a forward who was quick and wiley and looked capable of scoring???? i know i would!!!!
Reply to Villa_Chris:
lol FAIL
Looks like we may be giving a lad a trial, according to SSN:
"Elliot Grandin has praised Aston Villa amid reports linking the Marseille striker with a loan switch to the Midlands.
Speculation suggests Villa are to take the 21-year-old on trial with a view to securing his signature on a six-month loan deal, should he impress manager Martin O'Neill.
Pacey forward Grandin refused to comment on the rumours, instead remaining coy over talk of a potential move to the Premier League.
He told skysports.com: "I have nothing to say, wait and see. But Villa are a great and very big club, which I did not know."
LINK
Reply to haines17:
ireland is like 10 times better and if man city dont play him regularly what do you think we are going to do with him
were beter than man city
were in 4th place remember
Reply to littlevillan:
yes ireland is better, for now.
you missed the point though.
so you think that salifou, harewood and shorey are better bets than the three above?????
come on get with the program, your talking about stars, im talking about STRENGTH in depth.
Sturridge seen at villa's training ground!!!!!
quality player...sky sports sources say he just has to pass the medical now!!
i think he will mix in well with the crowd of lads we have.
Reply to haines17:
yes i think there better i think there gonna be sittin on the bench though and itll be a waste of money for £10 million
Reply to haines17:
and why shouldnt we be buying stars
we need are in the top four at the moment thats usually what top 4 clubs do
even tottenham are doing it but they had a crap manger thats why they were doing rubbish but rednapp got the stars working together and i think thats wahat we need to do
Lol Razza BS
Reply to Darren Razza:
Where do you see that at? Link, man, link!
Reply to littlevillan:
yes they might be bench warms some times but, would a team work if you had the best 11 players in the world and no subs ? NO! you need to have good bench warms, like man u, there subs may not be top top but there still bloody good, everytime villa play a (SUB) insted of a 1st teamer i cringe just thinking, i.e shorey.
Sturridge has been photoed with mon at the training ground. Think it'll be announced soon. hopefully, stillno news on johnson, think if he was coming to he would be there but you never no.
But yes we need at least 16 top players we have about 10 at the mo. But were getting there.
theres also spec that keane has been to see MON, but it hink thats a load of tosh.
Sid...Every respect to you and thank you.
Jack...The point is, if we ship out the dead wood, the players talked about for £10mill will be an improvement. While I'm with you on buying some real exciting quality and I know what you mean about MON will make the bigger name player play as a team, instead of how Fatnapp has such players playing, we still don't have a top 4 spot secured just yet for the bigger name quality players to want to come to Villa just yet. Patience my little man and you will enter the promised land
yeah sturridge and johnson are class and young enough to be moulded by o neill, remeber sturridge and johnson have both scored against us, johns in the league 1-0 reverse at city and sturridge late on in game not long ago i think, johnson wud be an option when we are losing a bit too much possesion and lacking creativity in the middle if teams are pushing high up the pitch or parking the bus, even tho sturridge is yung he has great vision remeber the pass for robinho when 2-0 down against blackburn so sneak a share of the spoils, they wud be option to bring off the bench or when we've injuries
I love that everyone has gotten so flattered by N'Zogbia stating that he would prefer Villa to Arsenal. He said the exact opposite last week. This guy has made a fool of himself. He doesn't want to come to Villa; he wants to leave Newcastle.
might not be sturridge in the photo might be that marseille boy supposedly comng on loan.
Razza- Is this sturridge news concrete? I can't find it on skysports website!
Reply to __AA__:
i agreee, its good the chalie boy wants to come to villa but i dont think he really wants to, if newcastle were stiing 10/9/8 spot like people thought they would then i bet he wouldnt look twice at us, its the fact he does want to play in the championship lol. which beckuns for newcastle sadly.
any more word on sturridge? i want to but my new villa strip with it on haaa!
That's right Mlockey89....If you have some quality on the bench you know you certainly have quality on the pitch. But some people don't like such an idea, because they think it will upset the Karma amongst the 1st eleven..! MON knows he has to build a team that has more strength in depth and have a better quality subs bench. He's planning to get to the top and stay on top. With that comes a full 'team' that includes the whole squad, not just eleven players. I don't always agree with some of MON's signings, but I do believe he is really up for being top dog and not just for the money.
Reply to Mlockey89:
i no there an improvment but its £10 million
thats what im trying to say and _AA_ aka dad be quiet mr sarcastic
Mlockey89...I was not talking about N'Zog, sorry if it sounded like I included him! I don't personally want him. I think he would deffo upset the Karma..!
Reply to Texas_Villain:
Please dont sign N'Zogbia. Any of the citeh guys mentioned would be an asset. Owen, YES. Take a punt with Jackson. UTV
I'm not flattered by N'zogbia at all mate, and what's being toshed around by his agent is like you said, a word for word same sentence as was put out the other week with the words villa and arsenal switched around!
would like to see someone 'like' him come in for another option wide left or lb though.
shame he seems like such a merc.
Reply to littlevillan:
Yes ten million is a lot but it looks like where not getting johnson so its 4mill for sturr which is a bargin tbh, like AA says if we have quality players on the bench (sell shorey) then its shows are 11 are top players, but we defo need someone to challenge siddaz place pn the team
Reply to Luke_M:
I can't see how we would function with Heskey up front on his own and no Gabby or Ashley in the team. NRC injury is a big one as well as he is basically our cover for RB, Cm and RW. Injurys are beginning to happen so it is vital to get more players in. At least they have happenen during the window so hopefully this will persuade MON to take a few chances.
Reply to Mlockey89:
can people stop backing my dad up even though he is right
and its a change to see him being serious for once instead of asking wahts the time or something like that
Reply to __AA__:
ohh yer i knew that haaa, i just think he wants any club that will finish top half tbh, his agent is making a big mistake, hes a okay player but he will have no passion for any club he goes to... the only thing i agree with his agent is hes not worth the newcastle price tag lol.
owen would be nice but unless newcastle decide they want some cash for him (which it hink is likely lol) then he will stay till may.
but then again i think are up front is ok now, we need a left wing back up a left back 1st teamer and maybe a back up cm.
Reply to haines17:
yes i agree.
Maybe kaka that would be flattering lol
My first post in a while.. I must say Sturridge would be a great buy, reminds me of when MON bought Ashley Young. Not really seen Johnson play that much, friend of mine (Man City fan) did tell me he is a bit Like Lee Hendrie in his socail activities..!! But MON really is the manager to get people back on track.
Reply to ak_27:
Sorry littlvillan lol but your dad has good crack haa
Martin O'Neill insists he will not pay 'extortionate' prices for any of his transfer targets.
4mill he'll be worth 8/9 next season under MON.
The Aston Villa boss admits he is looking to strengthen his squad in an effort to maintain the momentum they have achieved so far.
With a top four finish, and a UEFA Champions League spot, within reach, O'Neill knows how important it is to have quality cover in all areas of the field.
He has already brought in the considerable experience of England international Emile Heskey, but is adamant that any further arrivals depend on his ability to unearth bargains.
"The fees for players in this window have surprised me and I assume, with the wages that also go with such deals, would be more than a tidy sum," said O'Neill.
SKY SPORTS.
I think sturr is clashed as a bargin
I dunno i looked at hpto of sturr and the youngin on trail they look very differnt and surposadly this photo is close.
Reply to littlevillan:
Jack, yer dad's never been right, especially in the head!!
I want to see some quality on the pitch not the bench, And no that does not mean Bloody Heskey. Lets get Henry instead of Owen!!
Reply to RSamVillaFan:
Henry? i think thats pushing it lo.
Heskey is a good signing. for 3.5mill its a great bargin.
Now mon just needs to get sturridge in the bag and push for own, if only we had more MON's!
Reply to AVFCBlog:
Damian you got anything new in the transfer topic ?
Skysports isn't giving any news and AVFC seems to be on a hush hush mode.
I want Henry, and i'm staying put until we get him!
I want Henry my lord, I want Henry
I want Henry my lord, I want Henry
I want Henry my lord, I want Henry
Oh lord, I want Henry
Reply to Mlockey89:
nothing from me
although there does seem to be growing speculation over sturridge but i think the general feeling is that man city are not going to let him go until they either get santa cruz or are fairly certain to adding to the team first
apart from that, i have nothing right now
Reply to AVFCBlog:
Yer though so, hopefully hughes forgets that hes only valued him at 4mill lol might grab another bargin.
Reply to RSamVillaFan:
are we thinking of the same henry!? lol
Mlockley89 said "I dunno i looked at hpto of sturr and the youngin on trail they look very differnt and surposadly this photo is close. "
sorry what does this mean? Do you have a link to this pic?
This Elliot Grandin looks like he could be Gabbys long lost brother... LINK&c=2008_14
I watching sky sports news waiting for an update on anything, it has nothing to do with the fitty brunette presenting...
Reply to SidCowanslovechild:
It's spelt Temperament not Temporament
Reply to SidCowanslovechild:
Anyway is one word not Any way.
Constructive is spelt like that not Contructuve.
Reply to taglor:
Picking out spilling mistraks?
Too much free time?
I don't believe that Sturridge is at Villa Park and has been seen with MON. Slate Villa's website all you want, but in the last few years it has always let us know when a fee has been agreed and a player has come for a medical or for contract negotiations.
Reply to taglor:
Tag,
Can you spell pedantic?
Taglor....stop messing about on here, come home your tea's getting cold and i want some love!!!
Damian I don't think Ashley is a coward. He is a 100% er however it was the challenge of a coward. I might say something idiotic (though never on this site) but it doesn't make me an idiot.
Reply to AVMark:
Sorry, Mark, but he did call him a coward, he just did it indirectly.
It's like saying "some might say" before a statement when it's really saying "I say" with a little wriggle room.
A reckless challenge? Yes. A red card? Yes. A coward? I didn't see any incident before hand that might have looked like him taking a malicious swipe and I'm sure he's the only commentator to even use the word. There's just no hint of it in the incident and it must therefore be the journo's own editorial.
Reply to Mlockey89:
Agree.
Heskey good business.
Sturridge a good purchase as long as he accepts (and the fans too) that he's mostly a bench player. He'll be a long term option with a bit to contribute in the coming weeks.
Henry isn't going to come.
Owen is just way over-priced,wages-wise. He's been at Newcastle a while though and he's just not as sharp anymore - otherwise any of "the old big four" have been in for him. Pace was such a factor in his game. No... that would be a backward step, I think.
Reply to DanWilson82:
That's a good spot Dan, I hope he is knocking up 3 women inside of a month if he does join Villa. The goal on the video at AA put up was pretty damn good.
Reply to George_Templeton:
It would also be one damb ugly forward line!! but who needs looks when your earning 50k a week lets be honest...
TheMachine - he called the challenge cowardly. Most pros in the game would also agree. Its a challenge where you protect yourself from hurt at the risk of seriously injuring your opponent. MON rightly agreed and disciplined him.
I'm not trying to be anal about all this but it costs nothing to be accurate on this site. Unfortunately too many people here seem to think that hysterical rants can be excused as "passion" and there should be no accountability for false statements. Freedom of speech is about being able to correct the bollocks as well as listen to it.
Reply to RSamVillaFan:
our henry cooper was a boxer
£10m for the two promising youngsters...damn, we should have spent the extra £4m and got a season out of Bellamy
!!!
Why are people worrying about spending 10 million on Johnson and Sturridge?? This would be 10 of the best millions Villa have ever spent. Both are young and clearly talented!! Yes they would sit on the bench to begin with as nearly all of MON signings do, but they would grow to become real stars and would help to create the squad they we will need to challenge over the next 5 years!!! And also we are going to re-coup some cash in the near future for Shorey and Harewood, i reckon we will get a minimum of 5 million for em meaning a net spend of another 5 million on the citeh boys!! More great business if that is MON is interested in signing them, but i really hope we do!! Having Sturridge coming on for the last 20 minutes against those fishy pompey bastards tomorrow night would would be fantastic!!
UTV!!!
YES WE CAN!!!
What photo of Sturridge are you going on about???????
Shed some light please!!!!
UTV!!!
YES WE CAN!!!
my sentiments exactly! there really is some money being wasted this transfer window - i think allardyce should personally drive santa cruz to city if they offer any where near the rumoured £20m but half of that for those 2 lads at city would be an excellent buy! Liverpool were looking at Johnson alone for £10m when he first broke into the side before getting injured. I dont see what all the fuss is about having these big names come to the club - MON obviously knows what he wants and is proving it with results unlike what could be said about spurs and man city! Why bring in the stars?? Let them be born at Villa Park
Reply to RM4:
At last someone who speaks sense, why are people obsessed with villa buying a big name player . Is it so they can go to work , college , school whatever and say ohh look who we signed. He cost £20 million and he's going to fuck the vibe in the dressing room right up with his shit attitude and his probable 85k a week . MON is developing the stars of the future .
As for tommorow 0-2 to villa , Heskey and Petrov .
Reply to AVMark:
The challenge can be seen here
LINK
Young is looking at the ball, not the man, and made an error of judgement, not cowardly, vindictive or intending to hurt, just trying to win the ball.
Remember his challenges against Manure(?) and WBA when he smuggled the ball away in the penalty area. Very similar challenges only this one was milliseconds wrong.
Clattering someone from behind when they are in full flight with no intention of hitting/hurting other than the man is what red cards are for.
Howell is a puerile feckwitted villaphobic arse.
Reply to RSamVillaFan:
at least youve got a bit of sense
Reply to RM4:
you say let them be born at villa park but what happens if it turns out the youngsters arent that good and we have just missed the transfer window and havent bought anyone and we end up struggling
what happens then?
Damian,
maybe this news hadnt been released when you wrote this article but you didnt mention one player!
French striker Elliot Grandin:
Sky Sports- LINK
Team Talk- LINK
and finally...."gulp"
Tribal Football- LINK
Hes a 21 year old striker who plays for Marseilles. The links say he is due to undergo a trial with Villa with the view to a six month loan deal!
UTV!!!
AVMark,
I'm certainly not defending the challenge and I can see where you're coming from more broadly. It's quite an admirable stance really... I just think you're being a little generous on that article but perhaps that does balance things just a little.
I see it like Headologist does but fair play to you.
Reply to littlevillan:
Surely its the same risk however much a player costs? The more you pay - in theory - should be the more successful a player is but we all know that isn't the case. Robbie Keane @ Liverpool for instance - what if Liverpool just miss out on the title because Torres gets injured and Keane can't step up to the plate, what happens then?
I would be ecstatic if we signed Johnson and Sturridge! especially Sturridge...Ive been banging on about him for about a month now so if signs id be unbelievably happy! Johnson would be a brilliant signing too...
They both look great at the moment and will only get better as the years go on. The two are young and English which makes them ideal for MONs squad!
I would love to see Micah Richards come too! I say we give Man City a nice 25 million offer for the three of them, we wouldnt regret it!
It would be a happy day, the day the three of them come out the tunnel in Claret and Blue!
UTV!!!
Problem with that Aero is that we would become 1/4 Man City...Then what would we do....?? lol
Reply to littlevillan:
Yes but the beauty of these would be that they are lower risk because we do have first teamers ahead of them so wouldn't rely on them hitting it off straight away or change the team to accommodate them.
Of course, we'd like them to be competitive and push on and would need it if they are going to shoulder some burden in the run in but most of what is attractive in their purchase is for the future, albeit maybe even next season rather than further out.
We've seen very positive things from both of them but Gardner still has more experience in the Prem than both added together. Even so, if Fabian Delph with no Prem experience is worth £6-8million than getting the pair of them at a lower price each would be shrewd business.
littlevillan - I do agree that it probably isn't the priority to see us over the line though even if it would be good business.
Is anybody whispering soothing sounds into Sid's ear?
Ignore that angry little man in the corner. I was really impressed with your apology.
Taking your lead, if my pompous postings/Blog has got on anyone else's nerves(like nowinlondonvillan) then I too am sorry.
We are all great, because we support a great football club.
Martin Laursen, Gareth Barry and Reo Coker may also testify he is a struggle to play against LINK
im not for a minute suggesting signing these two would be all we need to compete, not at all. I just don't agree with the sentiment that we shouldnt be "wasting" £10m on them as they're unproven!
How many goals have STURRIDGE and JOHNSON scored between them this season? I'd take Stephen IRELAND from that team as he looks to be the more accomplished player.
That's not to say STURRIDGE and JOHNSON haven't got 'potential'. My worry is taking on too many 'up and coming' starlets and not balancing it with real experience.
TheMachine - thank you. I'm probably overreacting. My late brother had his right leg bust clean through, double compound in a similar challenge - it just annoys me when people say "he was going for the ball" or "he got a bit of foot on the ball" because if you get it wrong your body becomes a lethal weapon.
At the end of the day it's a balancing act. Youth and experience. All the very good teams have it I suppose, except the 'Kids Man Utd' team of yesteryear!
I think that John lad from the Gills looks a good prospect. At around £1m (what I read somewhere this morning) it's well worth a punt. I know I'm being a bit romantic about it, but he has a look about him that says he's a honest and hardworking lad. If that matches the reports about his footballing skills, then he's one for 12-24 months down the line. He could replace Gabby when he get poached..!
'twas the night of the Chinese New year,our home redolent with the aromas of exotic food we could not place and a portion of chips and gravy to share.
My father was full of vinegar and gesticulated wildly at the serving boys to place each dish upon the correct platter and in doing so give one hundred and ten percent, he felt this wild and unexpected celebration of a far distant oriental bacchanal, might tap into the lucrative Asian market and lead to renumeration beyond our wildest dreams.
There was a knock upon the door and when thrown back it revealed a scribe had come calling.
Craven he was in appearance, his quill pre-dipped in poison, he came with fierce chagrin in his heart, to reduce men to accusations of cowardice, all in a voice a bit like Alan Partridge, whom of course we had never heard of.
The balding hunchbacked bard spake thus.
“Martin, on the rise, perhaps, only one winner, Knowing me Harry Jack, Knowing you Mart..”
My father reached for his Shillelagh , which he kept close at hand, in the upturned torso of Bosko Balaban.He cuffed the brute wordsmith and did smite him firmly, and put the boot in a bit, till the snake scurried away upon his belly,getting mud all over his Marks and Spencers topcoat.
Mother chided him for this and father reacted as we had seen him do oft before, he threw his arms in the air, shrugged his shoulders, pleaded his innocence and then was ushered away by a florid faced alcoholic steward in a high visibility jacket to the stands for a two night ban.
In many ways twas a blessing, for it gave father time to ponder the rumoured arrival of a Frenchman.
Talk was abound of some fleet Gallic musketeer being enrolled into the livery, whispers told of a previous visit, he of flowing locks, L'oreal endorsements and a crippling effect on dressing room harmony
But surely folly was not about to repeat,for that was in the years of Sodom, and wailing. When he who must not be named held sway..
the rain came
Reply to Summer of George:
wow
u need to get out more!!!
Good point AA.... lol
Oh No. it's
Bill Howell
Reply to Ipbopmalik:
Ipbopmalik,
dont start going on about their goal totals.... Stephen Ireland gets a full game! Sturridge and Johnson barely ever touch the pitch! From the only times they have played, they have looked brilliant!
Stop looking at what players have "accomplished" and look at their potential!!!
UTV!!!
dont start going on about their goal totals.... Stephen Ireland gets a full game! Sturridge and Johnson barely ever touch the pitch! From the only times they have played, they have looked brilliant!
This is my concern Aero. SALIFOU looked great in the world cup and a couple of games for us, but it never materialised. I support the idea of buying 'potential', but would suggest it is also prudent to buying someone that does exactly what it says on the tin!
Summer Of George I really love you. Do you have anything from Mary Shelley.
LINK
this link shows johnsons goal against us but reading the comments someone seems to think weve missed our chance as he played for us as a youngster.....is this true?
I reckon we should steer clear of Nzogbia. This guy is practically begging for a move and he will be sat on our bench so im not sure how he would handle that? Johnson im not sure about either, I reckon Gardner is better than him personally. Again MJ would be sat on our bench and what does that say to Gardner if we buy him? We have enough cover in the centre of the park. I would take Richards from Man City if he was availiable. He was one of the highest rated youngsters in England not so long ago. I think MON could make him a quality player and he can play RB or CB which is a bonus. Exactly what we need if you ask me! Dont know about Sturridge either, Id rather take someone on loan and look for a top notch striker in the summer when we are playing CL football! UTV
Ipbopmalik
i see your point but isnt that what MON did with the signing of Friedel, Petrov and of course Heskey!
Friedel - great signing
Petrov - a bit slow off the line but has become incredible lately
Heskey - Im sure will prove a good signing, MON did sign him because he does "what it says on the tin"
but then there is Young, Milner and Davies!
Young - Proving himself as one of the best players in the Europe if not the world. Called up to England squad!
Milner - starting to show how good he is. He has also had comments from Cappelo of how good he is!
Curtis Davies - Proven himself a solid defender. Was called up to the England squad.
Then there is Reo Coker and Agbonlahor - i know he came through the Villa academy but he was a young, unproven player who turned out to be an absolute gem!
My point is.... havent all the young, un-accomplished players signed all turned out great! So why not keep signing them if they have all turned out brilliant, except for Salifou of course! lol
UTV
Reply to Aero-4-Villa:
i agree with lpbopmalik
and why does everything revolve around potential
potential is not everyhing steven ireland hasnt acclomplished a lot with man city because theyre rubbish but hes a great midfielder who can pick out key passes and scores goals as well
Reply to taglor:
thanks taglor, will try harder next time
..The moon gazed upon my midnight labours , while with an unrelaxed and rather seedy eagerness i tried to finger a polish girl who barely spoke any English, through the rear side window of a Nissan Micra, suddenly i realised that as a medical man getting caught dogging on Cannock chase might look a bit untoward, plus i was fairly certain Stan Collymore was wanking behind a hedge...i returned to the laboratory at once.
I gazed upon the Promethean carcass that lay dull, grey and lifeless upon the slab...my child i saw, my ragtag creation, were i akin to a god now, upon flicking the switch and bringing a conciousness alive would i be a titan of sorts....should i rest upon a mountain top and play games of chance with the vagaries of man....should this phantastic work have occurred early doors?
I heard the sound of the trumpets, i say trumpets, it was the car alarm at the Motor factor next door kicking in once more, this meant that the electricity was returned and my faithful batman had managed to fight his way through the hoards of feral kids lobbing WKD bottles at the substation round the back of Superdrug.
I quivered as i approached the controls, my candle guttered as my paternal nature sang to me, it forgave my gross blasphemies, safe in the knowledge we needed a lofty target man.
Devil take the hindmost, i threw the lever, sparks, tyranny and the rank odour of burning flesh filled the room, it rose to a pitiful crescendo as at last, i saw the yellowed eye of the creature half open.
IT IS ALIVE, i cried, i had defied god ...i had taken base materials and made man....i was born again in the seconds and heartbeats of the moment...
The creature stirred, he fixed me with baleful eyes...
He enquired about a move to Everton and directions to a decent lap dancing club near New Street.
What had i done...?
What fresh hell is this...?
Will he “come to the party” for a “huge night of European football here on Five”?
Jack, do your homework and go to bed. lol
Nan, you will never offend anyone here, I'll have em if they say otherwise!
Reply to Nan_was_a_fan:
thanks Nan, AA put things in perspective for me
Hello everyone
I'm quite excited by some of the rumours on here tonight.
I was only talking to my brother about the Man City boys earlier and came home to find we are being linked with them. We spoke about Stephen Ireland as well but he doesn't seem to be on the radar.
Two very exciting players there for £10m ? I say snap em up !
I'm also warming to the idea of Heskey now that i've thought about how he will help our general play (hopefully!). I just hope we don't go for Owen, i really think his best days are behind him, he is so injury prone and would require a massive wage.
I also like the idea of taking the French lad on loan. If he plays for Marseille, he must be decent so let's have a look at him.
Good luck to the boys at Pompey tomorrow. I'm predicting a 2-1 away win. Heskey on the scoresheet !
Up the Villa
Reply to AVMark:
AVMark, sorry to hear about your brother. I'm not sure this was such a bad challenge by Young though? Didn't seem more than clumsy to me but I guess if MON fined him there must be more to it than I saw. Ash isn't a nasty player though and certainly not a coward, in my opinion
Don't know if anyones interested, but this article was in my local newspaper today
LINK
get DAVID BENTLEY!!!!!!!!!
Reply to clevelandvillian:
Good to hear we won the Premier League in 94 and 96, must have slept through that.
Reply to clevelandvillian:
Good article that! I knew the Browns were pretty crap but it just goes to show where Mr Lerners priorities seem to lie, and as a Villa fan, im delighted with that!
Reply to SidCowanslovechild:
American journalists sometimes aren't very smart!! One can only assume they mean the League Cup
Reply to clevelandvillian:
"Lerner bought the team in 2005 for 62 English pounds, which is the equivalent of about 84 million in U.S. dollars." - Classic,i'm visiting the Bureau de Change tomorrow!!!
Reply to DanWilson82:
I'll be right behind you!!!!!
I tell you what its nice to see we have moved on and that we're now arguing over who to sign rather than we have no money and Randy has screwed us over with false promises etc!
Also AVMark - I normally agree with most your posts but in the Bill-Git thing your wrong.. he said..
"..the challenge OF A coward.."
It's semantics but he's calling the challenger (ie YOUNG!) a coward not the actual challenge itself...
I presume as a journalist he knew exactly what he was doing and is able to express his views perfectly well in language!
Lets be honest like any 2-bit-rag, gutter press 'journo' he's just after a bit of shock and sensationalism - regardless of the facts!
AVMark v Other folk
He say potato, you say potartoe.
madladdy if you quack does that make you a duck? If I make the sound of a bird it doesn't make me one. It just means I made the sound of one.... perhaps!
lads, who is that prick in the video? im guessing he is a reporter for the local tv station or something? What a prize cock. Is he a blue nose or baggie?
Reply to SidCowanslovechild:
I see you've given up your job at ACAS then.
Yes, no... maybe... ermmm are we playing philosophy 101?
The sky is blue, my car is blue.. therefore my car is the sky.
- or is it that the sky is my car? hmmm anyway discuss.
On another less dolphin related topic - how many times do you have to quack before your definitely a duck?
Just watched the video...what a moron
Anyhow like I say Bill said it was the 'challenge of a coward' - it would have been just as easy to say 'a cowardly challenge.'
But he didn't - and I think he, you and everyone in this room knows the difference!
To be honest I don't give a flying fxxx what the muppet said and I'm sure MON and Young aren't crying in their cornflakes over some local journo's ramblings either.
Reply to madladdy:
“The sky is blue…etc” is a syllogism. The problem with this particular syllogism is the “undistributed middle”. It is a “non sequitur” aka a logical fallacy.
I had taglor check the spelling before I posted. He said it was OK.
he said it was the act of a coward, calling Ashley a coward, the challenge wasnt that bad as even some of the pundits said he shouldnt of been sent off, im sorry your brother got his leg broke because of a nasty challenge by someone but my brother got his leg broke when he fell off a wall, but he is a forgiving sort and built his own last year, its only a lttle wall and prob wouldnt break your leg if ya fell off it
Summer Of George that was splendidly told and with a wonderful sense of modernisation to it. I do hope that you are busy at work scouring over the works of Mr Arthur Conan Doyle and even might I hope John Milton and the ever lasting Paradise Lost.
Regards
Mr Taglor
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
Oh fuck it...HORSE WANK
Reply to churchil:
A syllogism is part of philosophical thought - or it was, I mean that Aristotle loved 'em!
Your absolutely correct though - my undistributed middle let me down again.
My syllogism's are poor..
The bankers are poor..
Therefore all banks are..... ah damn it.
ps.. I had Firefox spell checker have a gander and it all looks good!
Reply to pprid:
How about if some coward pushed you?
Reply to madladdy:
id probably fall over, or you saying i pushed my brother off the wall. well thats a lie i was no where near him it was the rope i had tied to his foot that got snagged not my fault, mind you it was a two footed fall so it was really his own fault
Reply to wheelo2020:
fuckin baggie prick aint he
Completely off-topic, but I just saw this, and knew it would get lost on the other thread:
*********
Reply to kohoutek:
You have to understand...Villa don't care about all the passing.
You don't get points for time of possession, or the number of passes you string together.
Our team is built on the pace and athleticism we bring to the counter. That's what we do. Get used to it. Learn to...
I nearly agree with you and have said similiar things on this site however this should mean that when we need to, when we are a goal up with 10 minutes to go, we could change gear, pass the ball around, keep possession and run down the clock. When did we last do that?
**********
I agree completely. MON's worked wonders, but the Villa still haven't learned how to kill off a game properly.
bill howell likes to snog cocks.
he states the ashley was rightly sent off, the tackle wasn't even that bad. if bill howell has even played a game of football with someone else other than his mom, he would know that football is a physical game and some players like to tackle hard. The man is a riffbag and i dont know how he still has his job. he has also stated more than 3 times in the evening mail that the last tiome we played arsenal we beat them, i havent got the best memory but i'm sure we drew 2-2
Bill Howell is a creep, I'd say he should stick to his writing because his cringeworthy face should be left for radio, but his agonising, scrawled drivel isn't worthy of vultures.
Bill, you made me puke in my mouth, though I'd gladly do it again rather than listen to your bile inducing journalism. I hope you get eaten by rusty spoons.
I think Sturridge and Johnson would be two very good signings... I'd also like to see Tom Huddlestone added to that list... He doesn't play all that much under 'Arry...
I know Daniel Sturridge's brother, and I know that he's happy up in Manchester and likes playing with the likes of Robinho.... He's also quite involved in 1st team action at the moment so cant see him going anywhere till the summer at the very earliest...
Johnson is a very good young player, a bit injury prone but he's be a good signing..
Not sure about Simeon Jackson... He did okay against us but it was only Zat Knight that he turned for his goal....
I hope big JC doesn't leave in the summer, I think we could cause teams alot of problems with our pace and our power....
For any Facebook members, join my group called All things Aston Villa...
Madladdy, last go! The use of the term coward in this phrase is as an attribute. An attribute does not define someone. If you have the strenght of an ox you are not necessarily an ox. We are all capable of contrary actions that do not define us. That's it!
Nan I am grateful to you for pointing out that everyone else is wrong!
Reply to Winter of Gladys:
Brilliant...
I live in East Dulwich, great place to live, just makes travelling to Villa a bit annoying. Cant wait to move back to Brum!