Martin O'Neill's fifth year in charge. At the beginning of the Lerner/O'Neill era, the plan was to be qualifying for Champions League in five years.

So I'm excited about our imminent breakthrough into the top 4 after three seasons stalled at 6th.

Transfer rumours range from the uninspiring to the downright depressing (with the odd hopeful one)

Here's a taster of the latest:

Ins: R.Keane, J.O'Hara, F.Aurelio, K-J. Huntelaar, J.Jenas, A.McGeady, S.Ireland, S.Parker
Outs: J.Milner, A.Young, E.Heskey, S.Sidwell

Suffice to say I'm not expecting many of these to happen, but it is looking like Milner will go. Think Keane and Ireland are like incomings. Keane's past his best, but Ireland would be good addition if we lose Milner. He'd add a bit of class/unpredictability that we lack.

If we did sign them two & lose Milner, I'm thinking we might see something on the lines of:



with inter-changing between Gabby, Young, Keane. Could be quite effective. Could see Downing being able to play in the centre as Milner did. But if we do get a load of cash in, I would like to see it spent on better striker than Keane.

Word is also that more use will be made of youngsters such as Delfouneso, Weimann, Albrighton, Clark. This would be nice to see. Think we could sell a few fringe players (e.g. Sidwell, L.Young, Heskey, Davies, Beye) and give some chance for these to step up, while spending the money on 2-3 players who can press for a place in the team.

Last season's squad:

GK: Friedel, Guzan, Marshall
FB: Cuellar, L.Young, Warnock, Shorey, Beye, Bouma
CB: Dunne, Davies, Collins
CM: Petrov, Milner, Delph, Sidwell, Reo-Coker, Salifou
Wing: Downing, A.Young, Albrighton
FW: Carew, Agbonlahor, Heskey, Delfouneso, Harewood

Ins:
Outs: Harewood, Marshall, Bouma

Probable outs: Shorey, Beye, Salifou
Possible outs: L.Young, Davies, Reo-Coker/Sidwell, Milner, Carew/Heskey

With promotions of youngsters that could leave squad:

GK: Friedel, Guzan, Parish
FB: Cuellar, Warnock, Lichaj
CB: Dunne, Collins, Clark, Baker
CM: Petrov, Delph, Reo-Coker
Wing: Downing, A.Young, Albrighton
FW: Agbonlahor, Carew, Delfouneso, Weimann

with maybe 40m from sales to spend.

Priorities would then be: CM to replace Milner, Striker
Then we'd need some full back cover/competition and probably another midfielder.

That'd give a squad of 25, perhaps a bit heavy on youngsters but one that could hopefully grow together (of course danger now is that others will follow Milner out as soon as they start to play well/get in England team).

Rumourizing currently saying Sidwell to Fulham on the cheap and McGeady to Villa on the expensive. Shaun Maloney take two

debaser wrote:Rumourizing currently saying Sidwell to Fulham on the cheap and McGeady to Villa on the expensive. Shaun Maloney take two

So it would mean that NRC is staying, right? Isn't his contract expiring next year?

I'd imagine so, but can't say for sure. Last I heard people saying is he just wants to sit out til end of his contract (yup next year), because we won't put the price low enough to get people interested.

But maybe he can re-establish self. Was injured much of last season. All depends if he & O'Neill are on decent terms now.

Coker-Petrov could be decent backbone to midfield, with Delph hopefully getting involved once he's fit again.

Don't think we can keep trying to play with Petrov as the only holding midfielder as he can't really last for 90 mins.

McGeady's better than Maloney I promise. He's not worth any over 6 million though. I think Villa need to spend some proper cash this summer, their first 11 doesn't look as strong as Spurs, City,Liverpool or Everton. 4th place is about 30million pounds away as far as I can see.

The things O'Neil could do with £30m!

Curtis Davies
Carlos Cuellar
Luke Young
Steve Sidwell

As much as I don't rate Huntelaar, I'd be quite worrried if Villa got him, as I said last summer they already have the workhorses & wingers so all he'd have to do is put the ball in the net.

Milner + Cash for Ireland + convert Downing to CM & you get:

-----------Petrov------Downing
------------------Ireland
----Gabby----------------------A.Young
-----------------Cuntelaar

With Carew as back-up, that's very strong.

Still this requires MON is a DISGRACE to a) have the team play a bit of football & 2) buy a player who has no previous experience of British footy

Big 4 Billy Bollocks™ wrote:As much as I don't rate Huntelaar, I'd be quite worrried if Villa got him, as I said last summer they already have the workhorses & wingers so all he'd have to do is put the ball in the net.

Milner + Cash for Ireland + convert Downing to CM & you get:

-----------Petrov------Downing
------------------Ireland
----Gabby----------------------A.Young
-----------------Cuntelaar

With Carew as back-up, that's very strong.

Still this requires MON is a DISGRACE to a) have the team play a bit of football & 2) buy a player who has no previous experience of British footy

Not in the PL and I doubt Huntelaar could play as the lone front-man in any league. Huntelaar is an incredible technical finisher but his lack of movement and ability to hold the ball up would mean that team would have to be a pure counter attacking team. And I don't think he has the pace or creativity to make the counter attacks work. Most of the counter attacks would have to be independent of him. He needs to play in a two man strike force, I think.

That's why I think TS' formation could work - he's put Agbonlahor as a winger but effectively he would be the 2nd striker alongside Huntelaar. And Villa already are a counter attacking team.

Don't see the signing happening though. And I don't fancy that midfield too much.

Big 4 Billy Bollocks™ wrote:As much as I don't rate Huntelaar, I'd be quite worrried if Villa got him, as I said last summer they already have the workhorses & wingers so all he'd have to do is put the ball in the net.

Milner + Cash for Ireland + convert Downing to CM & you get:

-----------Petrov------Downing
------------------Ireland
----Gabby----------------------A.Young
-----------------Cuntelaar

With Carew as back-up, that's very strong.

Still this requires MON is a DISGRACE to a) have the team play a bit of football & 2) buy a player who has no previous experience of British footy

Surely you mean the other way round. We're gonna milk City for Milner, Ireland will cost less.

Don't think we'll go for Huntelaar. There was a very fuzzy rumour that he'd been offered to us and others but nothing at all to say we interested. R.Keane is looking most likely striker signing.

Alen_Boksic wrote:McGeady's better than Maloney I promise. He's not worth any over 6 million though. I think Villa need to spend some proper cash this summer, their first 11 doesn't look as strong as Spurs, City,Liverpool or Everton. 4th place is about 30million pounds away as far as I can see.

Look how much City are spending, I fear it's further away than that. Particularly if we having to keep improving just to stay still (sell Milner, buy a replacement).

Big 4 Billy Bollocks™ wrote:As much as I don't rate Huntelaar, I'd be quite worrried if Villa got him, as I said last summer they already have the workhorses & wingers so all he'd have to do is put the ball in the net.

Milner + Cash for Ireland + convert Downing to CM & you get:

-----------Petrov------Downing
------------------Ireland
----Gabby----------------------A.Young
-----------------Cuntelaar

With Carew as back-up, that's very strong.

Still this requires MON is a DISGRACE to a) have the team play a bit of football & 2) buy a player who has no previous experience of British footy

I agree - that would have the potential to be quite a tasty forward line.

I do hope Villa can build and challenge ; although not a fan of O Neill's footballing philosophy, he has built and put faith in a lot of young players - ultimately much more likeable as a team and challenger than Mohamed City

Ive seen Fulham have agreed a few for Sidwell ! WHo the fuck is buying him seen as they dont have a manager ? Does Al Fayed have a thing for gingers and seen as no manager in charge he thought he'd collect a few....im expecting a bid for Dave Kitson very soon

shazlx wrote:Not in the PL and I doubt Huntelaar could play as the lone front-man in any league. Huntelaar is an incredible technical finisher but his lack of movement and ability to hold the ball up would mean that team would have to be a pure counter attacking team. And I don't think he has the pace or creativity to make the counter attacks work. Most of the counter attacks would have to be independent of him. He needs to play in a two man strike force, I think.

Think Holland in Euro 2008 - Still devastating on the counter and the vast majority of them were independent of the immobile RVN.

kas wrote:That's why I think TS' formation could work - he's put Agbonlahor as a winger but effectively he would be the 2nd striker alongside Huntelaar. And Villa already are a counter attacking team.

Kind of a Kuyt/Park Ji-Sung role for Gabby was my thinking.

debaser wrote:

Surely you mean the other way round. We're gonna milk City for Milner, Ireland will cost less.

Yeah, sorry

debaser wrote:Don't think we'll go for Huntelaar. There was a very fuzzy rumour that he'd been offered to us and others but nothing at all to say we interested. R.Keane is looking most likely striker signing.

Typical MON

Noah and the Bale wrote:

I agree - that would have the potential to be quite a tasty forward line.

I do hope Villa can build and challenge ; although not a fan of O Neill's footballing philosophy, he has built and put faith in a lot of young players - ultimately much more likeable as a team and challenger than Mohamed City

This. I like Villa as a club, and their fans are alright in my experience. It's just their manager. I can't stand him. I have no axe to grind with Citeh either to be honest, just that twat Gary Cook making look bad.

Big 4 Billy Bollocks™ wrote:

kas wrote:That's why I think TS' formation could work - he's put Agbonlahor as a winger but effectively he would be the 2nd striker alongside Huntelaar. And Villa already are a counter attacking team.

Kind of a Kuyt/Park Ji-Sung role for Gabby was my thinking.

Aye. I did suggest much the same formation in the opening post here, only with R.Keane rather than Huntelaar as he seems more likely signing.

I'd see Gabby more as playing the role Anelka plays for Chelsea sometimes on the right - still getting in the box plenty - rather than the wing back role Kuyt plays


Sort of a younger version of:

Anelka-Lampard-Malouda
Drog

Gabby-Ireland-Young
Somebody

Problem is the somebody. Carew can be as good as Drog one game in ten, but otherwise would be ineffective. Maybe Gabby can do the lone role and have someone else on the right. But fear he just isn't quite prolific enough yet.

Ireland is multi faceted unlike Lampard, Huntelaar is a pure box player unlike Drogba - cancels out.

Apparently Milner decided he wants to leave (refused contract offer from Villa) and join City.

He's just a allround decent lad that doesn't deserve to be messed around. He doesn't even have agent you know.

Not much difference between Milner and Barry IMO. City are becoming Villa ffs!

Hopefully O'Neill won't invest money properly and he will use it on players like Ireland (who I rate actually, if he's playing as AM), Scott Parker or Mc Geady. And Robbie Keane as well.

stinger wrote:Hopefully O'Neill won't invest money properly and he will use it on players like Ireland (who I rate actually, if he's playing as AM), Scott Parker or Mc Geady. And Robbie Keane as well.

Sadly McGeady and Keane are two of the strongest rumours. Ireland, I'd be happy with, so long as City don't try and counter rip us off. Parker's not likely.

We were tenuously linked with Flamini. That I'd like.

Milner out for 28m, plus Sidwell, Heskey, Shorey for a few million more

Spend the money on Ireland, Flamini and a proper goalscorer and I'll be happy..

I don't mind Keane exactly, if we can get him for what he's worth, but Spurs are strong sellers and will rip us off. McGeady sounds over-priced and risky.

Aside from signings, I worry we will have too much pressure on A.Young again now. Need Downing to step up this season, and hopefully youngsters like Albrighton start to make impact.

You definitely don't want McGeady, he would be out of his depth in the Prem.

I will be happy to get Milner, i really rate him and think he will fit into the squad very well as mancio looks for young talented players who can play in a variety of positions.

£30m is a ridiculous amount id rate Milner at bout £15m but cos he is English and we are super rich i expect us to pay around £25m...its still a ridiculous amount but luckily we can afford it. TBH i hope we offer £20m and Onuoha or £12m Onuoha and Ireland (although i dont want Ireland to leave, he might want to).....doesnt matter anyway cos it will ust get reported as undisclosed and then the Sun will report it was for £50m.

Sorry Debaser at least you will get a fair whack of cash for him !!

From what I've heard, we don't want to do part exchange, but it's quite likely we'll go back in (or are already negotiating separately) for Ireland. The thinking apparently is that values tend to get fudged in part exchange deals.

Anyway, yeah we will get a great price. He's probably never going to be as valuable as now (age, contract length, Man City added tax), so it makes sense to sell at peak value. But I just hope we spend it wisely. And it is a shame to be losing a player who I was starting to think last season could become our Gerrard.

Still, it's not quite like Barry. People on forums getting all wound up, calling him traitor, etc. Don't know what they expect. He's only been with us 2 years (3 if you include the loan spell), it's not like he bleeds claret and blue! We can't compete financially, and sadly he is more likely to get trophies at City. Hopefully that won't be the case, but Chelsea showed the way and there's every reason to expect City to follow now.

debaser wrote:From what I've heard, we don't want to do part exchange, but it's quite likely we'll go back in (or are already negotiating separately) for Ireland. The thinking apparently is that values tend to get fudged in part exchange deals.

Anyway, yeah we will get a great price. He's probably never going to be as valuable as now (age, contract length, Man City added tax), so it makes sense to sell at peak value. But I just hope we spend it wisely. And it is a shame to be losing a player who I was starting to think last season could become our Gerrard.

Still, it's not quite like Barry. People on forums getting all wound up, calling him traitor, etc. Don't know what they expect. He's only been with us 2 years (3 if you include the loan spell), it's not like he bleeds claret and blue! We can't compete financially, and sadly he is more likely to get trophies at City. Hopefully that won't be the case, but Chelsea showed the way and there's every reason to expect City to follow now.

£25m or whatever....how much will MON have to spend this summer ? £40m? if he gets that kind of money and spends it well you will have a strong team. What areas would you spend the money on ?

Im looking forward to seeing how Milner fits in, i think Mancio wants a flexible young squad that can play 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 / 4-4-2 depending on the oppositon, also with us being in Europe we are going to rotate the team but he will be a valuable member of the squad cs he is a great player but sadly i think it might mean Ireland or SWP or both will leave.

Ultimately I'd be happy if team/squad was something like:

Friedel,Guzan

Cuellar, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, L.Young, Lichaj, Clark, New Signing

Petrov, Reo-Coker, Delph, New Signing

Downing, A.Young, Albrighton, New Signing

Agbonlahor, Carew, Delfouneso, Weimann, New Signing


That'd be selling Milner, Sidwell, Heskey, Davies, Shorey, Beye and clearing out a couple like Osbourne, Salifou. Which should give us 40m+ to spend, plus plenty of wage space. So I'd be hoping for 3 quality signings:

CM/DM, AM/Wing, Striker.

Defence is pretty solid, could maybe add some cover to replace whoever leaves from Shorey/Beye/Davies/L.Young - but most of them played very little last season and we have youngsters like Clark, Lichaj coming through.

Rumours abound of Keane to Villa, with potential deal for Ashley Young.

If this were to happen:

a) I'd be furious if I were Debbie
b) I'd be ecstatic if I were me. Which I am last time I checked.

So make it happen Harry!

An English winger we can play on the left and move Modric into the centre. Lennon and Young on the flanks would be quite superbulous.

I'm gutted we missed out on him 3-and-a-bit years ago, but I'm not too high on Young now, MON (is a DISGRACE ) has coached all the creativity out of him. 'arry would have to do a grand job to re-ignite the X-Factor he once had.

I really hope you keep Milner!