Aston Villa Thread

Someone on the villa site was rumouring you with Hoyte. Another said Finnan. But they may have just been regurgitating the names that'd been linked with us for that position.

I see..Hoyte would seem a bit pointless to me.

Finnan would be decent though.

The Quiet Earth wrote:Debaser, what is happening with signings? I assume Guzan hasn't signed yet?

You won't be surprised to learn that MoN knows all about Guzan because he was on trial at Celtic! You didn't think he'd buy an American GK who had no connection to either the EPL or Celtic, did you?

MoN, arrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhh!

TQE - we've signed a foreigner! from another country! Okay it's Scotland, but he's not from Celtic...Rangers! Now that's diversifying.

Welcome Carlos Cuellar (assuming you pass your medical )

£7.8m seems a lot of money for him but he is a good player and will strengthen the squad.

What will be the first choice back four for next season Deb ?

Young-Cuellar-Laursen-Shorey, I guess

Davies will probably get a fair few games too. Not sure how long Bouma will be out, but he'll be competing with Shorey when he does.

Yeah Davies is gonna be there ready for when Laursen bows out, Knight's never gonna be anything but an interesting option to O'Neil. Who am I missing? I can't think, it's too early

Now what do we need? Isn't this the first season for ages we've bought more than we got rid of? We should have a party.

So in the space of a week, Martin O'Neil goes out and buys a whole new defence. I think his procrastination habit is overrated

Jago wrote:Yeah Davies is gonna be there ready for when Laursen bows out, Knight's never gonna be anything but an interesting option to O'Neil. Who am I missing? I can't think, it's too early

Now what do we need? Isn't this the first season for ages we've bought more than we got rid of? We should have a party.

Too right

A right-winger and a striker would see us looking strong all over.



Subs: Guzan, Davies, Gardner, Petrov, Maloney, Routledge, Harewood

with Knight, Bouma (when fit), Osbourne, Delfouneso, Salifou, Taylor - it's like we've got a whole squad!


Centre-mid may lack a little in creativity. But if we got a Young equivalent on the right, I think that side could be very dangerous, and also very strong defensively

u better hope he doesn't turn out like boumsong did for newcastle

The-Frank-Tavern wrote:u better hope he doesn't turn out like boumsong did for newcastle

I watched an old Rangers game the other night and Boumsong was playing. He was bomb scare material in that game and, in comparison to Cuellar, he looked inferior.

I think Rangers fans were so used to seeing guys like Dan Eggen, Vanoli, Bonnisel, etc at the time, so Boumsong must have seemed like a god in comparison.

I think Cuellar will be solid but unspectacular in the EPL. A reliable defender who has found his level.

An astute purchase from MoN.

Yay. He looks a bit like Keown, poor guy.

Good player IMO, all be it, not sure why a centre back would be a priority with £8million quid?

Knight's not great, Laursen won't play every game, Davies still not too experienced (and has been injured over summer). You need 4 decent CBs if you're going to try and play in 4 competitions, and might as well buy one whose going to be a starter, rather than another Knight, who's a squad-filler.

I hope that's not the last purchase anyway (and from O'Neill's comments, it won't be)...we've overhauled the defence very well now, but haven't brought in any attacking players. A right winger would be grand, and a striker the icing on the squadcake.

Football Genius wrote:Good player IMO, all be it, not sure why a centre back would be a priority with £8million quid?

Should've spent it on Milner tbh.

debaser wrote:Knight's not great, Laursen won't play every game, Davies still not too experienced (and has been injured over summer). You need 4 decent CBs if you're going to try and play in 4 competitions, and might as well buy one whose going to be a starter, rather than another Knight, who's a squad-filler.

I hope that's not the last purchase anyway (and from O'Neill's comments, it won't be)...we've overhauled the defence very well now, but haven't brought in any attacking players. A right winger would be grand, and a striker the icing on the squadcake.

I understand exactly what you are saying, and hes no bad purchase by any means, going on last years performances. However... the point i'm making (which also taken from SAF opinions... needing to take risks to achieve something).... surely that £8+ some would have offered you an opportunity to get another 'flair' player in which just "might" have or contributed to, taking you to the next level? that is the question i pose, not if hes a good player, or offers you great defensive depth..

Well I don't think one rules out the other - we're not Liverpool, we got an owner with lots of money

Good start to the season

Beat our bogie team - fortunately there was no Vassell to haunt us - scored 4 goals, to carry on from last term in scoring terms. But also showed we haven't solved the defence by conceding late again. Still hopefully that will improve as new players gel. Also, Cuellar and Sidwell still to come in. Friedel looked good, definite improvement there.

A couple more attacking signings before the window shuts, and I think we're set up to have a v good season. Although I do have to be careful not to read too much into opening day..

Trip to Stoke next, to hopefully get the away days off to a good start, before two tough games vs Pool and Spurs.

Summer ins:

Cuellar
Davies
Friedel
Guzan
Milner
Shorey
Sidwell
L.Young

Outs: Sorensen, Carson, Mellberg, Berger, Moore, Maloney

with maybe one more to come, according to O'Neill. Spent alot, but now have a strong looking squad, esp if we bring in one more attacker.



+ Osbourne, Baker, O'Halloran, Steiber

how many monies was Milner?

nobody nose.

bbc are saying around 10m, figures from 7-12 have been bandied about by journalists over the last week or so

Great win. I was expecting us to lose there, so a very pleasent bonus. Good performance all round. Special shout-outs to Davies, who was very solid and Petrov and Barry, who ran the show in midfield. Petrov's quick-thinking breakaway pass to Reo-Coker at one point was beautiful, and should've created another goal, had Coker passed it. In fact, we should've scored at least 2 more. Gabby and Harewood both had glorious opportunities.

I knew we'd concede before the end, that's what always happens, but thankfully this time managed to not piss it away. When the ref allowed them to take a corner after the injury time was up, I feared the worst.

Only downside was Carew's injury, but word is that it isn't too bad and he should be back next week. Longer-term and that would hamper plans, as Harewood doesn't really cut it.

Aside from the Stoke game (which was a bit of a wake-up call and the kind of result you sometimes get early in the season) the other 3 games are all improvements on last yr (we lost to City and Pool and drew Spurs). A good sign for things to come.

The other positive is that we've still got 3 new signings to come in as the season progresses. By starting with a consistent team, we've made a solid start and can now wean in Milner, Cuellar and Sidwell as and when. Although it will not be easy...I could see Milner and Cuellar starting on Thursday, with Laursen and Petrov rested, but they will not necessarily be able to walk into the team and stay there. Particularly Cuellar has a fight on his hands with Davies/Laursen starting the season pretty well.

West Brom away next - tough local derby right after a midweek trip to Bulgaria. Wouldn't be surprised if we dropped points.

Aren't you inundanted with central midfielders now with petrov actually looking like a good footballer for the first time in a little while?

Slightly. Sidwell's injured currently, but once he returns - and assuming Milner takes the spot on the right - there'll be Sidwell, Petrov, Barry, Gardner and Reo-Coker fighting for 2 spots.

But some of these guys are flexible - e.g. ReoCoker could play on the right, Barry at left back/wide left, Gardner at RB - plus with being in Europe we should have more games to play so they should all get their chances.

Too fucking right. 3rd

forza_rossi wrote:Too fucking right. 3rd

If we win at Chelsea it could put us top (and end their ridiculous home record). Drew 4-4 there last yr...I feel like getting carried away, eh

4pts out of Arsenal/Utd...far better than I expected. Played all the top 4 now, and only lost to one of them. Good progress, and with Arsenal's troubles, you can't help but think 4th is looking more attainable.

Next 4 games upto Xmas, I'd like to think we can get 7-10pts...

aturday, 29 November 2008
Barclays Premier League
Aston Villa v Fulham, 15:00

Sunday, 07 December 2008
Barclays Premier League
Everton v Aston Villa, 16:00

Saturday, 13 December 2008
Barclays Premier League
Aston Villa v Bolton, 15:00

Saturday, 20 December 2008
Barclays Premier League
West Ham v Aston Villa, 17:30

With a couple of UEFA games in between (beat Zilina and we're qualified which would mean the trip to Hamburg can be treated as a friendly...)

Plus Arsenal still have to play Chelsea and Liverpool before Xmas.

For Villa to have a good chance of finishing 4th you probably need Arsenal to have a good run in the Cup competions.

Do you think O'Neill will make any signings in Jan?

Striker, probably. It wouldn't be a shock to see Harewood go, he can't get near the team, despite the paucity of strike options...but even if he stays, someone to give proper alternative/cover for Gabby & Carew is necessary.

Elsewhere, Routledge has gone, so possibly a replacement backup there.

Really think a striker could be crucial though. If Gabby was out for a couple of months we'd struggle badly


We play Arsenal again on boxing day (so soon?!) - that could be crucial. Hopefully they are still in disarray then

Villa is growing for a few years already! The O Larry david days seem like a decade ago. A top 6 place shouldn't be much of a problem. If they still play like this, I will ask my Villa mate to order an extra ticket in the spring

those 4 game should be 12 points says I