Written by Damian Wednesday, 20 May 2009 10:14
You will not find one reference on this site to Bill Howell that is derogatory and I'm not going to start today. In fact, if he is right and Olof Mellberg is coming home, I'll buy him a beer. This is going to make today a nice day.
I know it's only speculation but it's nice speculation. You know what you're going to get with Mellberg and it will be 110% commitment and a fairly decent defender. My only concern with Mellberg is who he plays with in the middle. He is one of those defenders that needs a solid partner; put someone in there that is weaker than him it will hamper his game, he needs someone of similar strength and quality.
I actually fancy that he'd do okay with Cueller but one thing I think Mellberg needs over anything is stability and strength. Behaviour breeds behaviour after all and the Swedes love to know what is in the cupboard and that it will be there for when they need it.
It is only a rumour however so as such, until we hear something from Olof, his agent or our club, it will remain as pure speculation.
Another bit of speculation today is that Spurs are bout to enter the race for Gareth Barry. Talk is, they are going to try and steal him away from Liverpool with a cheeky £12mn. bid. Who would you pick? Actually you can sort of dismiss the Spurs link straight away; it would be a step backwards for him as a player at the moment and while you've got to fancy Spurs are going to be strong next season, we don't know what we're going to do next season and if Liverpool are seriously going to make an offer for Barry, he'd pick them every day of the week over Spurs.
But, we're going to offer him £75k a week apparently to stay. £75k a week is a lot of money and while my views on his worth are well documented, I think Barry would take less to sign for Liverpool. I think his heart is set on a move this summer and has been most of the season.
Lastly today, talk is Stan has committed to the club and agreed a new deal. It's not on the club site this morning, but apparently it has happened. We will probably know for sure sometime today if it is true.
It's all speculation, but we love it. Probably more probably and we're going to follow up the Mellberg story like a crazed addict in need of his next hit.
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Comments (90)
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Altan Kargaci
said:
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... Great news about Stan Petrov , in the last two seasons he has gone from zero to hero . Mellberg ! Not sure really , how old is he now ? |
Chris Harper
said:
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... I am already trying to find more speculation on the Mellberg story...am I an addict??  I would love Mellberg back more than anyone else i.e Cahill. He played with great heart and determination and wasn't a bad player at all. I think you're right Damian, Cuellar and Mellberg would be a great Centre Half pairing. With Bouma and L.Young as fullbacks. I think that would be a pretty decent defence for next season. Who knows, he love Villa and us fans! As for Petrov, if it is true and he's put pen to paper, it will make my day a whole lot better! |
Panos
said:
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... Mellberg will be great, but we'll need one more center half anyway. Hangeland and Mellberg! |
tonyspurs
said:
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... Barry is a Spurs Fan!!! Always has been and alaways WILL BE!!! COYS! good luck with Olof returning. Nice to see you set your standards so high. |
Dave Shep
said:
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... What is it they say about never going back? Having said that Mellberg might just work, I'd still like to see us bring in some young/new blood and a better right-back. |
Looney
said:
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... Barry and his family are all spurs fans, the lads getting ona bit now, perhaps he would like a spell at his boyhood club, though would villa sell to their rivals. |
Smyth
said:
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... Isn't Barry a Spurs fan? Still reckon he'd choose the pool. Either way i'd let him go for 12m no problem. |
Tom
said:
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... Any talk of Barry going to Spurs is ridiculous for more reasons than I have hairs on my head. I'm pretty hairy. |
ak_27
said:
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... Mellberg would be great addition to the dressing room and is a solid defender but he is not a top defender which is what we require right now. I'd be very happy with his signing if he signed as back up for the CB's (New top class signing like Hangeland) but as long as he is not the back up for the full backs. He is not a full back and we need to being players into the club who are comfortable on the ball. |
Imran Patel
said:
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... away from this just something i'm curious about any news on the new kits i know the away one is out sunday but anyone seen any pictures of either the home or the away kit |
Damian
said:
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... ak_27 agreed. mellberg can not play at full back. he has to play at centre back .. him and cueller would hopefully be a solid partnership. i only see o'neill bringing in one central defender this season as his has knight, cueller and davies - out of those four you've got to fancy that mellberg would be number one and maybe even the new captain |
Michael
said:
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... wonder how much olly would cost us? hopefully £1million, but as its villa id say closer to £4million. |
Vijay
said:
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... Hangeland and Mellberg would be great, and yes, Looney id take Bentley and Bent for Barry, thats our 4 signings of the season sorted!! |
ROBERTSBOOT
said:
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... BENT 12 GOALS IN PREMIERSHIP SAME AS YOU TOP SCORER AGBOLAHOR. BENT HAS PLAYED FAR FEWER GAMES!!! |
Looney
said:
|
... Hangeland could be a tough one, with fulham looking like they will make europe, I'm sure MON has got a couple up his sleeve. I can see barry going to spurs if the rumour is true, since I doubt MON will wanna do business with rafa, and a couple players from spurs would prob be more useful than the money |
adam
said:
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... would love mellberg back and sell barry to the highest bidder i dont care who. at least with a few clubs interested we will get more than the 8 mill pool want to pay |
David Tyler
said:
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... I suspect we'll put a contract on the table nice and early so we'll know what Barry's intentions are soon enough. If he goes and Spurs put £12million on the table, surely that would be our preferred option? To get in the Top 4, we've got to get ahead of one of the current Top 4... Sure, Spurs will be stronger but strengthening one of the teams ahead of us just wiodens the gap. Or are we now saying that Liverpool are out of reach? Obviously they've looked good this year but this time last year we'd have thought it was them that was there for the taking. Let's be clear, Barry at Liverpool would push them over the horizon from us. He hasn't done that much this year but that's a function of his head being turned. I love Mellberg... but I don't think he should come back. Still, would be happy enough if he did. Like Damian says, you know what you're getting. |
ak_27
said:
|
... To be honest i think the romance about Mellberg coming back is taking over. While i believe he is solid enough we need a better at CB then him. I would prefer Distan from Pompy who would be available for prob around 4 or 5 million. I would be very dissapointed if Mellberg is the only CB brought to VP this summer. |
peter haworth
said:
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... Barry and his family have always been huge Spurs fans and he has a lot of connections in Kent.Possible exchange deal with Bent and Bentley?? Melberg would be a good addition to the squad but would still like a world class defender for the future.Great news about Petrov. |
Chris Harper
said:
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... Did you watch Distan this season ak_27? He made more mistakes than Davies and Knight put together. |
ak_27
said:
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... I put a lot of that down to the whole mess down there. He is a quality defender, better then any CB we currently have. And nobody has made as many mistakes as our calamity CB's. I just think for his price he would be well worth a go. |
Pat McDermott
said:
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... Barry won't go to spurs, if he's gonna leave it will be for a team in the champions league and that only. He's been with us for what, 11 years, so i dont think him going to the team he supported as a kid is really gonna be that much of an attration. |
John Flynn
said:
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... I would take Bent + Bentley for barry would be a good deal for everyone! Forget about Mellberg he has just bought a huge house on the coast 7 miles from Stockholm, the rumour here in Stockholm is he will sign for AIK SOLNA his first club. Evidently he is not wanted by Ciro Ferrara (new coach) at Juve. |
Aaron Wilson
said:
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... on the talk of Stila`s new contract, i think Barry will follow him and sign on! the two of them are amazing together now, and im sure Barry loves that partnership. If they were that good together last season i bet he wouldnt have wanted to leave! UTV! |
Ben
said:
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... There is NO CHANCE of Barry joining Spurs. Even if they were able to offer him a better contract, he is not going to join them. Anyway, the article I read about it said we're offering him £70k a week and Spurs may only be able to offer £40k-£50k. Why would he leave a top 6 club for a mid-table club and accept a lesser wage? It is not going to happen. He wants to progress in his career, not go 10 steps backwards. The only clubs I can see him going to this summer are Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea. |
Michael
said:
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... jaf - there may be some truth in what you are saying about mellberg but i cant see him going to play in sweden just yet, players usually go home to end there careers, and at 31 he still has 2-4 years at playing top level football. maybe when he is 35 he will go back to sweden and play for his first team. spurs may be below us this seeason, but look at how good they have been since christmas, and they will probably be better equipped next season to battle us for 5th place, although it is spurs and they will probably lose there first game next season and sack harry and will have to start all over again. |
Frank
said:
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... Erm, we're not a million miles from you in terms of position. And in terms of form, we're better. Last result between the two confirmed that. As for Barry, I'm not sure he'd be that much of a bargain, definitely not at 70k a week. |
Mark
said:
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... I said some time ago I fancy Barry going to Spurs. One contributing factor? The morons who booed him. AK I hate to be continually agreeing with you nowadays - come on mate sort it out! - but yeah Olof is not a legend because of his play but because of the classy way he conducted himself. If he comes back great but we need a different type of centre half. |
Joseph
said:
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... I dont think Barry will go to Spurs but its not all good for us. Liverpool will offer lower than what we expect for Barry, and if Spurs offer more we can say match it. I dont think Liverpool will match it and then we could be in danger of forcing Barry out of the club. He has his heart set on Liverpool and if they offer a reasonable price I think MOn will keep his word and let him go. I still want him at the club but if he isnt going to commit then we might aswell sell him to the highest bidder. Id love to see Mellberg back, its a real shame we didnt really get to see him and Laursen form a good central defensive partnership as I think they would have been amoung the best in the League. Will Laursen be getting a testamonial? |
Damian
said:
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... the_flabster re. laursen ans a testimonial - probably no .. he wasn't with us long enough |
Mike18
said:
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... Barry deserved to be booed for the way he conducted himself! I'm completely against booing players on the back of footballing performance because anybody who has ever kicked a football knows sometimes you play well and sometimes you don't and booing is anything but constructive! But to criticize the manager who has developed you as a player which increased your international credentials, disrespect your club of 11 years and have complete disregard for the fans who pay money week in week out to support you deserve to be booed. I don't blame Barry for wanting to achieve his goals and being ambitious, but i blame him for the way he managed the situation. Personally think Barry is a touch of class which we need to break the top four! Hes Consistent, playing 37 games this season and good leader on the pitch and calming influence in possession. We need to keep him to progress i think. Barry will be all but impossible to replace, for those who say it will be easy please explain how and with who? Realistically which player who has the ability to play for a top 4 club was come to us instead? obviously Barry is of the calibre illustrated by rafa's pursuit and being linked with arsenal and chelsea. Hangeland, Steven Ireland and Bentley would improve our side no end. |
VillaDude
said:
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... Has anyone heard what MON has said about Barry?? I'm about 90% sure he will be leaving this summer - but ONLY to a top 4 team. Taken from Sky Sports... While O'Neill would be loath to lose influential midfielder Barry he accepts there could be a parting of ways in the close-season, with former suitors Liverpool expected to reignite their interest. "With Gareth, you do accept - having spent 10-11 years at the club - he would be wanting to have a look at other particular things." O'Neill will put the emphasis on bringing in quality this summer although he recognises the need to add depth to his squad. But like i said on numerous times, I think its a good time he moved on for Aston Villa as well. We now have the chance to invest into a new spine of first team players. Centre back, centre mid and striker. I just hope MON doesn't use it as an excuse next season, that qulaity midfielder left and we struggled to replace him. |
Mike Carter
said:
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... I'd let Barry go to Spurs. I genuinely believe he's not good enough to play for a team close to the top 4, so he should fit in perfectly at Tottenham. |
ak_27
said:
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... AVMark don't worry i'm sure will be on opposite sides of the trench again soon when the transfer window opens. By the way what has happened to keef? |
Tim
said:
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... I'd have Olly back anyday ! He was another one of those defenders like Laursen who would arrive from nowhere to smash with Head of Foot the ball into the opponents net from many a corner or set piece ! The only player we have who has done that this season has been Big John Carew. As a Central Defender you need to be able to read the game and just be quick with decisions when takling just like Paul McGrath, You dont need to be super quick with running its all about timing as a defender. Olof may be 31 but my god he was a fine player for us and id have no hesitation in re-signing him if he would come back to us. I'd still buy say Jolean Lescott to play alongside with as he's another player who does the late arrival in the box jobs, can you imagine Carew, Mellberg and Lescott all hovering, the other team would be shiting themselves at set pieces. Im also happy that Stilyan has signed the 4 year deal as he has had a truly great season and has shown us that he was good after all. The game in Scotland is different and now he has had the couple of years practice his understands how the Prem works. I'd also be happy if Martin and Randy sat down with Gareth Barry and just said what would you like to stay at Villa ? We all know that Liverpool are in the Champions league but does Gareth have a crystal ball and say he will win it by going there !! He may spend half the time on the bench in Prem and Champ League games and im sure all the other Liverpool Midfielders will raise their game to keep him out of the side. Gareth you will be playing in every game for Villa and also i think MON will be taking the Europa Cup this season seriously so why not stay and be loved at the Club who made you what you are. Im sure playing Teams like Ajax and alike is not chicken fodder ! they are as good as the Champions League sides ! If MON gets in some World class players and Barry sees that we are going for it next Season he may stay but if none of the world class players that we require materialise before the Transfer window closes let him then go to the Pool. Im sure if he sees that we are seriously capable of challenging the top 4 he may want to stay ! |
Smyth
said:
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... Lads what do you think of the concept behind the new away kit? Is it a bit of an eff you to the great international players to play for the club who weren't English? Or am i just being a bit of a benny?! |
Damian
said:
|
... If anyone is interested in seeing a new Aston Villa forum before it is launched and test driving it by adding a few posts or replying. Please contact me .. the form at the top of this page will send an email to me. Cheers |
David Tyler
said:
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... Delago - I had a similar thought... seems a bit odd. Like someone picked up the fact from a Pub Quiz. I suspect that if you count up how many caps our players got while at Villa, they'd be well behind Man Utd. Maybe the home kit will reflect how many of our capped players were 'one cap wonders' and feature homage to 'one hit wonders' like Chesney Hawkes and Joe Dolce. |
VillaChris
said:
|
... Yeah....it gave me shivers again. I'm gutted too, but just imagine how difficult it is for him. Retiring during the best spell of your career must be heart wrenching for the bloke. |
Alistair
said:
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... I think it would be great if Mellberg returned, although it would make his last game for us not his last game and then so not as special. If that makes sense, but i would def hav him back. As for Barry i'm ready for him to go, last year I didn't want it, but I have a good feeling about this summer and so I think its time for him to move on and new blood to be brought in, i wouldn't mind seeing defour and bentley in the middle, oh and why not joao moutinho, everton are linked with him and he is quality, why wouldn't we be? |
Carl Main
said:
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... Bale and Dos Santos for Barry would be nice. I really want us to sign Lescott, Vagner Love, Micah Richards, Delph and the two boys for Barry. With Harewood, Osbourne, and Barry going and maybe Fonze off to Wolves on loan! This all is very unlikely to happen though...our transfer activity is about as exciting as Swine flu. |
Michael
said:
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... main dog, i like your transfer targets apart from the spurs 2, i do rate them both but would prefer more than that for barry. bent and bentley as suggested above for barry would be fantastic but would most likely be one of them. maybe then buy bale and dos santos for £6million the pair? |
Fitzy_7
said:
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... Im sick to death of hearing about lescott we have as much chance of signing him as spurs do of signing barry |
Carl Main
said:
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... Fitzy I know Lescott does seem unrealistic just because I would love to see him here so much but why do you think its so unlikely? Has he recently signed a new deal at Everton?...If not, why wouldnt he come here?..If nobody in the top 4 goes for him i cant see why not?....isnt he a villa fan? |
Andy Scarborough
said:
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... Villan_within, you have a great feeling about this summer, but I feel that we may be disappointed. In this economic recession RL would be struggling to match the spending of some other owners. OK, I know he's genuinely trying to get us to the top, but I reckon there's going to have to be a few years' delay before we can get back on track. I hope to goodness that I'm wrong, but fear I'm right. Perhaps I'm just feeling miserable at the thought of two and a half months of no footy! |
Fitzy_7
said:
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... Firstly would everton sell him (my answer No) unless silly money everton have finished higher than us for the past 2/3 seasons and have a better chance of silverware (stepdown or a sideways move) chance of happening 1/10 |
Michael
said:
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... on christmas day lescot was wearing a villa shirt (he and his brother have a bet that if villa win joleon has to wear the villa shirt, if everton win his brother has to wear the everton shirt) with lescott, getting to the final of the fa cup or winning is probably the best they can achieve with there finances so he might want to leave evrton on a high after the final, and i cant see the top4 wanting him (maybe arsenal might) so i think its a big poibility that we will get him. heres a strange target that everuyone will probably dismiss - afonso alves from middlesbrough? either get him on the cheap or get him on loan for a season? any striker who can score 45 goals in 39 games in the dutch league cant be too bad, at a better team with better service i think he can recapture that form |
Fitzy_7
said:
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... and any striker who needs 10 chances per game to score a goal is certainly not worth a punt |
Jimbo Daventry Villa
said:
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... I think the Villa fans singing at lescott that he's the elephant man & been hit by a bus might have been enough for him to never want to play for us! |
taglor
said:
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... I would love to have Mellberg back, when can he sign. I have been sporting a Mellberg beard on and off for a while now. |
Notts Villan
said:
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... andy5759.. "Perhaps I'm just feeling miserable at the thought of two and a half months of no footy!" ...make that 5 months because not a lot has happened in the last 2 and a half months for us either! |
James
said:
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... I wonder what will happen in the window? I'm staring into my crystal ball and I see sadness and anger and shattered dreams. |
peter power
said:
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... i have said all week mellberg will be coming home on previous posts,but is he a good replacement for shorey  |
peter power
said:
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... on a serious note (no its not mon tatics)what about a cheeky bid for duff when we send the barcodes down  |
dave stoper
said:
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... I think that extention to the contract will not save Aston villa they are in free fall at the minute. |
Jake Gardner
said:
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... just noticed the talk about the away kit i think it might have something to do with the amount of england internationals at villa, i know a few years back we had supplied more england internationals than any other team, i dont know if that is still the case i dont think its a eff off to the amazing foreign players we have had its just a celebration of all the english players we have had, i cant see that as insulting. |
Jake Gardner
said:
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... wouldnt you like to know!  no mate its not, it has no relation to zane lowe or his sofa. just a nickname i picked up |
Altan Kargaci
said:
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... The poor excuse of a newspaper that is the daily Star today have us linked to a £7m bid for David Weater. I feel we could do better , but in saying that we could do worse . |
Michael
said:
David Tyler
said:
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... Altan, I know what you mean... if we already had an older head to replace Martin, we'd say what a great buy Wheater was in support and for the future. |
Steve Sims
said:
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... A lot of names are interesting, but they are all either the best players from rubbish teams, or the rubbish players from the best teams. Why can't we try and nab a good player from a good team that's already proved they are good enough? |
Steve Sims
said:
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... is it as simple as that though? a player can be made to look good because of the dross around him, or score a bundle of goals in the lower leagues, but might not perform at a team with better quality of players around him. Sidwell for example - he might still come good and I've a feeling he'll get some form back, but everyone presumed because he was so good at Reading he'd be a real plus point for us and it hasn't really worked out that way (yet) |
rayk
said:
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... I'd love Mellberg back, but what would it cost? Its certainly not going to be a free transfer. Perhaps a loan move? And would MON play him at RB again... |
Mike18
said:
|
... Mellberg is not what we need, unless its a loan move! We need Hangeland plain and simple! 14mil for him 6 mil for bentley sorted, although i'd rather 20mil bid for lescott whos a better defender than hangeland and wud probs score more goals than bentley! Maybe owen as pay as you play to increase our options. But Mon will have to look at his rotation policy because its all well having these players but not if MoN isn't going to change his starting 11! NRC, Sidwell and Gardner will be begging for a game....and Mon keeps reminding us how fatigued the squad is...but we still don't rotate, bring in senior players or even the youth i dnt understand! |
Steve Sims
said:
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... i can't see Juve loaning out a 31 year old international. if they don't want him i'd imagine they'd look to get some cash for him. i'd take him back at the drop of a hat, if only to teach the young uns what defending is all about for a year or two. |
Leroy
said:
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... I have totally let go of Olof. Great servant to the club but we are a different team with different ambitions now. Going back in time and retaining him is not the wisest thing we could do. Barry has to go too. I think it is a great opportunity to grab a player or two that could help us out. Liverpool and Spurs WANT Barry. We can play hardball and get back Benayoun and Riera/Leto perhaps, or Bentley and Huddlestone. Either way, we shouldnt be asking for cash in return. Too good a chance too pry away a decent player.....or two |
Chris Harper
said:
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... Olof isn't coming anyway lads, MON said 'its news to me' on the Official site  |
Jake Gardner
said:
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... mickey86, lol i meant the significance of the number of international we have had, we have had 67 england internationals which i think might be more than anybody else |
chris brown avfc
said:
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... i would love to see mellberg back at the club but he may only last another few seasons with him being 31.I think he was a great player for villa but i think we need to look to the future and look for and experienced centre back in thier mid 20's. |
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