Juicy transfer gossip

January 26, 2009 by Martin Banks
Filed under: Aston Villa, Transfer News 

Transfer gossipConsidering we spent over 3 weeks to make our first big signing, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Emile Heskey was the extent of Villa’s spending in this transfer window, but would you be right?

The last few days are always a hub of activity and, with over £100m already spent, this is shaping up to be more of the same. With the rumours that are flying around, it seems that Martin O’Neill treats signings like I used to treat my English Literature homework; leave it to the very last minute.

FA Cup fourth round draw

Villa have been drawn out of the hat to face Liverpool or Everton in the next round of the FA Cup, if we can beat Doncaster at our place. By the time it happens, we could have swapped left backs with Everton, as the Shorey-plus-cash-for-Leighton-Baines rumour continues to flitter around. I’ll reiterate that I find this one unlikely because Baines is an Everton fan from his childhood and very happy there and Everton are chasing us in the league, so they won’t want to swap their left back for our 3rd choice left back.

If he were to come, Baines could fit in well at Villa but until the form of Bouma is seen and after the lack of action Shorey has had, it’s hard to see any in-favour left back coming to us.

Gareth Bale’s name has also been mentioned briefly, so maybe he could enter the rumour fray.

Talking of the FA Cup

In the previous round we scraped our way past League 2 Gillingham, needing a late penalty decision to overcome the superb equaliser by the small, pacy striker; Simeon Jackson. Martin O’Neill was impressed by the player’s pace and deadly finish and the way he brushed off 2 Premier League defenders with ease then slotted past Brad Friedel. It was a tall feat for a League 2 striker, but these teams are always on a high in these games. I doubt he could do it week in week out against Arsenal and Everton etc.

This has made-up-by-a-paper-short-of-stories written all over it, don’t wait by the phone for confirmation of this one.

Nnnnnnnnnnnn-zog-beer

Charles N’Zogbia has begged and pleaded Newcastle to free him from the monotony of their failure to live up to their potential and sell him to Aston Villa. It’s funny how we have become his ultimate destination, when just a couple of weeks ago Arsenal was. Once he realised that he was dreaming if he thought Wenger was going to buy him, he switched allegiance.

Is it obvious that I’m cynical about N’Zogbia? I don’t think he would be a good acquisition for Villa, we don’t need a stropalot, especially one who isn’t likely to get in the team, so will be crying within a month.

Do Man City need some money?

If they do, then the double sale of Michael Johnson and Daniel Sturridge to us for £10m, would be a perfect solution. The reality though is that  £10m wouldn’t even touch the sides of Man City’s wallet. To call £10m pocket money for them, would be an insult to pocket money.

With Nigel Reo-Coker being linked with a move to spendalot-but-remain-crap Spurs, Michael Johnson would be a welcome reinforcement in midfield, and a young , impressive striker like Sturridge will always be a popular choice with us. Man City may wish to sell to ease the clutter of players they seem intent on creating, so this one is worth keeping a beady eye on.

Both these players would be great to help us get the strength in depth that we need to have simultaneous success in the league and the cups, as our present set have proven very unreliable in games such as QPR, MSK Zilina and Hamburg. Sturridge would give us an extra Agbon / Fonz style option and Johnson would give us further quality midfielders to choose from, instead of needing to rely on Barry and Petrov too heavily.

Marseille winger trial

According to IMScouting, we are offering a trial to Elliot Grandin, a 21 year old midfielder/attacker, with a view to a loan deal. Young, fast and skillful, Grandin seems to fit the blueprint for Villa, and O’Neill has already shown with the signing of Halfuid that he is planning for the future as well as the present.

Heskey debut

Finally, new striker Emile Heskey will be hoping to make his claret and blue debut tomorrow against Pompey, full match preview here tomorrow morning.


Comments

3 Comments on Juicy transfer gossip

  1. James I on Mon, 26th Jan 2009 11:33

    2. Of those that you mention, the double Man City is the one that excites me most, two young English players, with Johnson showing last season that he can be consistent at Premier League level. We definitely need some strength in depth – it’s not the cup games (ie 2nd XI) that are exposing our anorexia – it’s the seven-man subs bench.

  2. Aero-4-Villa on Mon, 26th Jan 2009 14:38

    3. In the Baines rumour, you say you cant see it happening “because Baines is an Everton fan from his childhood and very happy there and Everton are chasing us in the league”. Agreed, but Lescott is a Villa fan, why not go for him instead!?!?!?

    Though there is still the factor of “Everton are chasing us in the league” and probably wont want to sell their best players to their biggest rivals, there is more factors in favour of the the signing!

    -Lescott is a Villa fan and English (i know for a fact he would jump at the chance to move to the team hes supported his whole life)
    Then theres the factor of a move back to Birmingham(i would take it, im sure he would too)
    After hearing of the interest from MON he would probably start pushing for a move to Villa!

    -Its been made no secret Everton dont have a lot of money. I think they would take the money and run rather then have an unhappy player sitting in the dressing room! They would then have about ten million spending money and already a new defender in the shape of Nicky Shorey

    So thats two factors pointing for Lescott to join Villa & one for him to stay at Everton! I think we would get our man!

    So, If we do in the end, everyone is happy…..

    -Lescott joins his favorite team
    -Villa get a brilliant defender
    -Everton get a load of money and a decent defender, i think will one day get his confidence back and his England place!

    Please sign him MON!!!

  3. Aero-4-Villa on Mon, 26th Jan 2009 15:00

    4. On the Sturridge and Johnson rumors, i have been going on and on to my mates all season that MON should sign the pair of them!

    They are at a disgrace of a club who i am sure are going to forget all about their academy graduates once they have brought in all the money grabbing super-stars they can!

    The two of them must know themselves that their chances are going to become even more limited at Man Shitty so i think they will definitely see Villa as first choice when the offers role in for them!

    They would think – Villa are a (nearly) top four side with great ambition. Their team is based around young and English talent so they must see how they would fit in perfectly! They would then consider what MON has done for Barry, Young, Gabby and Davies in making them good enough to get into the England squad! With all them facts, it would hardly be a decision to join Villa, they would be here in a shot!

    Also, Sturridge is from Birmingham and im sure he would jump at the move home!

    Ohhh what a team we would have with new signings – Heskey, Lescott, Sturridge and Johnson!

    UTV!

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