What’s new rumour-cat? Villa transfer targets from our UEFA Cup journey and more
Hands up those who think that being in the UEFA Cup this (is it still ‘this’ or is it ‘last’ now?) season was a waste of time? Come on, even you at the back, put your hand up if thats the way you feel. Don’t be shy, lets see your opinion.
OK, so I’m imagining that a percentage of you out there now have your hands up. Well at least metaphorically, you’d look a bit of a dillweed if you just sat there on your computer with your hand up! But I may have some news that will change your mind on the whole affair. Y’see it seems we did have a purpose in the competition after all. We were scouting. Come on, you cynics, we didn’t ‘throw’ the Moscow game, we used it to watch Vagner Love. And for many of us he was begrudgingly the best thing about the game. Who can tell me honestly that they didn’t once consider going down to the barbers and asking for some blue hair extensions.
He wasn’t the only one either, so I think we should have a look at him and Trochowski of Hamburg, as well as any other linakges that have been made with our boys in claret and blue.
- First then, Vagner Love (or Vágner Silva de Souza as he’s known to his mom) is a striker for CSKA Moscow, who you no doubt remember by his long blue hair if you don’t recall his football skills. He made a good impression on me in the UEFA Cup and his stats show that it wasn’t a one-off. His club career has seen him score more than 1 goal every 2 games, getting 60 in 111 for Moscow. He hasn’t done so well for Brazil, but he is still fairly young at 24. If you watch the video below you will some of his goals and see that he seems to be very much what we need; he can play off the last man, he can poach, he can get onto to crosses, get onto through balls, basically all the things we really need. I want him. Randy, get your cheque book out. Or send Luke Skywalker round to use Jedi mind tricks to convince Zico to swap him for Emile Heskey!
- Next up is Piotr Trochowski, who we’ll call Pete. Pete can play on the wing or at the front of a diamond, which could work well with Petrov deeper behind him. He is clearly being touted on the assumption that Barry is going. The word on the street is that he wishes to leave Hamburg for their lack of ambition and wants to play for a club that will win titles. This kind of puts us in the shade a little, especially as Arsenal are rumoured to also be interested. But so too are Spurs and we are as good a punt as them for success. Anyway, I’m in a video mood so here’s some of Pete’s action:
- Also on the rumourmill are some more that I’ll just brush over; Lucas Neill is an Australian defender who I’m sure you all know. He was at Blackburn for an age and joined West Ham 2 years ago. The rumour has sprung up because he has turned down his new contract, but I don’t think there’s anything in this.
- Argentinian Renato Civelli is keen for a move to the Premier League or La Liga, so our name has obviously come up as he is a centre back. The great thing about Civelli is that he would be as free as a bird when his contract expires this summer.
- Joleon Lescott is reported to now be on Arsene Wenger’s radar, which could make it harder for us to lure him. He doesn’t really strike you as someone Wenger would go for though, does he? Y’know, with him being English!
- Finally for today it’s back to the UEFA Cup links with the news that Thomas Vermaelen has expressed his happiness at being linked with us. I covered the defender last week or the week before but it seems now that he would very much like a move to the Premier League and is pleased with the rumours that are floating around.
What’s new rumour-cat? Plenty Villa transfer gossip
I don’t know about you lot but I am still feeling down about our boys. Maybe come Sunday I’ll have picked my head up and be thinking we can take a game to Newcastle, get a result and get some luck with Everton dropping points at Fulham, but right now I’m feeling resigned to 6th. A season of exaggerated ups and exaggerated downs that served to change our expectations and then have them come crashing down in our faces.
So what’s left to do other than daydream about who we’ll add to our squad to try and change our fortunes next season. Time for more transfer talk, and yet again there is a fresh crop of names being mentioned in connection with us. Let’s dive in:
- We are said to have had scouts at Toulouse’s last match, watching André-Pierre Gignac, who is a young French striker with a good scoring record (21 in the last 33 games). Toulouse almost came to blows with Lille over his signature, after seeing his impressive loan spell at Pau (low division French side). He became the main striker when Elmander joined Bolton, so maybe he is hoping to follow in his footsteps into the Premier League. Not exactly the number one choice for Villa fans, but depending on how much truth there is in O’Neill’s cautious talk, he may prove an affordable option. There is also a conflicting rumour around that he has already refuted these links.
- Next up is one that I would love to see come true; Joleon Lescott. There’s always a chance with him being a boyhood fan of us, but there have been incidents with him and his brother that have apparently left a bitter taste in his mouth. Lescott would be a great replacement for Laursen; solid, dependable and also gets some goals. Would he want to come though? By the time the window opens, Everton could be 5th and FA Cup winners, so it may be a step down to him. But on the positive side; he has past love for us, knows he would be the number one centre back, a good chance of captainship and ‘ambitious’ owners and management. It’s not one you can call easily, but I hope it happens.
- Arsenal centre back Philippe Senderos has also been mentioned, but he’s far from the top of my list. In fact, if we do buy him as a replacement for Laursen I will jump into bed with all the doubters out there who think that MON is going to have us mid-table next season. Senderos is not crap by any means, but we need a real inspirational player who will pick the team up, lead by example and rule the park from the figurehead position of centre back. Senderos is just another Davies, Knight and Cuellar, who needs a stronger figure alongside him to be effective and who makes silly mistakes. Mind you, I wouldn’t say it to his face. He’d probly nut me!
There are still about another 5 rumours out there worth mentioning, but you don’t want an essay, so I’ll do the others tomorrow. Anyone fond on today’s crop?
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