Written by Doc Bowles Sunday, 07 June 2009 12:45
It's been great: I've been on holiday in the mountains for a week - far remote from all the furore and banter surrounding Bazza's move to City and the rumours surrounding Arry's overtures towards Ashley Young. I've read the long threads of comments with some amusement.
I think we need to get a few things straight.
The Good.
1. Three seasons ago, Gareth Barry was all about wasted potential. Out of contention for an England place, and overlooked by Sven Goran Eriksson, all his agent wanted for him was a move - any move.
Martin O'Neill made Gareth club captain, and switched him to a roaming central midfield role in which he has excelled. That switch won him back his England place, made him ultimately the most regular starter in England internationals since, developed Barry along with Laursen as the bedrock for Villa's improvement and arguably helped no end the development of Stan Petrov as a midfield deputy.
That's got to be great management, however you look at it. And it isn't undermined, in my view, by O'Neill's decision to cash in at a time when Barry himself, most of the Holte End and probably O'Neill (quietly) feel that it's just "time to move on". Twelve years is a long time in a job, and I don't resent Gareth moving on to a new challenge, especially one which will earn him a fortune.
2. There are some fans who think MON is a ditherer when it comes to the transfer market. He didn't dither when it came to Ashley Young. And bizarre though it may sound, the same clubs who were fighting O'Neill for Young's signature derided him, when he won the race, for paying over the odds (at £10m-ish for a player unproven at Premier League level).
O'Neill has since, inspirationally, given life to Young as a right-footed left winger and enabled him to terrorise right backs over and over again. He isn't the finished article, and the tactics are increasingly readable.
However, I look forward to any commenter who disagrees with my assertion that O'Neill and Robertson have spent big and riskily on a youthful talent, and turned Young into a player coveted by just about every other side in the Premier League. Now that's got to be great management, too.
The Bad
Like all Villans, I'm desperate for success and I sometimes get impatient with Martin O'Neill's cautious and considered approach to squad-building. But I see the logic in the moves he makes, and I'm convinced that our manager is trying to serve the best long-term interests of our club.
I'm glad I'm not a Portsmouth fan, though. Because the ex-Portsmouth manager seemed to revel in wheeling and dealing just for the sake of it. Big-money signings on transfer deadlines, players snatched from other clubs in dubious circumstances, repeated investigations into alleged fraudulent dealings. No thanks.
Yes, he won an FA Cup, and maybe the Pompey fans will forget the fact that 'Arry pledged his allegiance to Portsmouth one week before leaving for Spurs and taking Defoe with him.
There was a time when I couldn't work out whether Redknapp was Saints' boss or Pompey's, such is the man's loyalty.
Harry Redknapp may be a "great" trader. But he has shown no loyalty or offered any long-term vision to any club. Portsmouth, like the ex-O'Leary Leeds, are now in desperate financial straits as the result of 'Arry's financial fun.
The Ugly
So now the great Harry Redknapp is talking about signing Ashley Young, is he?
The Redknapp-Lampard family is clearly well-connected and influential in Premier League football. But does that give 'Arry the right to openly flout the rules (again) and court other club's contracted players? Before I get accused of naivete, yes I know it goes on all the time. But 'Arry is the first to complain if it's one of his players being courted, and that's what really does my head in.
There is an unspoken suggestion in his overtures, echoed by the Spurs fans who have nothing better to do than visit this site and beat their chests, that Spurs is a "bigger club" than Aston Villa.
There is no such thing as a "bigger club". All clubs stand on the precipice of financial disaster if their on-pitch success fails to meet their financial commitents - just look at the current fate of Leeds United ( a very "big" club), the shocking revelations about the finances of Liverpool (an even "bigger" club) or the woeful fate of Newcastle United (according to their fans the "biggest" club of all.)
What our 'Arry is saying is that he has been given, once again, a mandate to wheel and deal and that he may just fancy wheeling and dealing a bit with O'Neill over Ashley Young.
I'm certain that Ashley Young is a key part of Martin O'Neill's long-term plan for a successful domestic and European squad at Aston Villa. So I guess that only gold bars would tempt him to release Young from his contract at Villa Park. But still, the arrogance of Redknapp stinks.
You only have to look at Arsenal and Manchester United to see that long-term success comes from relentless club and squad-building, over decades. That's why Rafa's project is far from complete, and why Chelsea also have a way to go.
I think Lerner is a club-builder and O'Neill is a squad-builder. And I think that's the right environment for Ashley Young to grow and prosper.
I think Redknapp is a horse-trader and Spurs are going nowhere. The choice is yours, Ashley.
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Jake Gardner
said:
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... great post Doc. but ... Que every bloody spuds fan coming in and moaning about what you said and how much better redknapp is and how much bigger they are than us. |
Jimbo Daventry Villa
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... Cracking post Doc, Oh and Gonzo if them gobby cockney's come on here again today and spout the bullshit that they did yesterday i'll go out on the lash and not look at this site all day! |
aston villa 1982
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... young will only go to arsenal has that was his boy hood club, I was told last night from a pal, a friend of mine has put a £20 bet with william hill on the villa moving there ground to the LDV site where they park all there un sold vans, he knows that they want to build a 61000 seater stadium with a sponser name for the ground, his he pulling my leg, because some times he can be right |
badbobby
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... i think guys that young is ready to move! the very very concerning thing is that mon or lerner havenet even come out and said he is not for sale!! there is something not rite in the background at villa park, i personally think that mon will have to sell in order to buy! i really hope i am wrong! if we sell ashley webcam young then i will forfeit my season ticket!! i think lerner was a mistake we needed someone like arab coming in! we will never be great while mon is in charge! the best thing he can do is resign now, especially if young is allowed to leave! |
spagbol
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... Great post! Firstly, spurs would much rather have MON as their manager. Secondly, why would young go to spurs when he's an arsenal fan!??? |
robdabank
said:
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... Agree with everything you say mate... good article. Holiday dans la montagne eh?? Was wondering what your thoughts are on our midfield- who do we need to sign... have you seen delph play? I hate waiting for MON in the transfer market... We need five players or more.. when are they going to be arriving?? Right i'm off to watch dragonball in Thai... greeat. |
southgatescrookednose
said:
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... why are people worried about young leaving ??? its laughable. hes not long signed a new contract.mon will sign players and lerner will back him, barrys gone big deal ! |
VillaMumphie
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... well said Doc. welcome back. If we are to continue to build on the last two seasons we must keep Ashley Young, John Carew & Gabbey. On the GB front i'm pleased that he's gone to city rather than the Arse or even worse the "tap you up for F**k all" merchants L'pool. On the L'pool side i really hope they fail to make their payment and have to sell. Nothing against the fans but the management tactic's of "tapping up" using gerards friendship to turn GB's head really p**sed me off. I hope we get Owen. Hes a world class name & if fit will score stink loads of goals. He would also give us the option of Carewgabby or HeskeyOwen ... with fonzey in reserve. Other targets i'd like to see come in are Bentley, a top draw centre half ... what about spuds Woodgate ... they seem able to talk up our players so lets have one of their best. Also if L'pool do go into financial breakdown ... Alonso anyone? |
clarkamus
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... badbobby what are you going on about with that kind of crap you should go work for the daily mail |
mikey18
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... Read today that arsenal have had a bid accepted for Vermalen from Ajax 11.5mil! I think they've beat us to him there! 11.5mil for a quality centre half is a bargain! we'd be looking at 15mil + for Hangeeland or cahill! I agree with the earlier post something doesn't seem right at AVFC! Martin Oneil has said nothing, lerners said nothing the clubs said nothing! Its an unpleasant feeling and my mind has been running over the scenrios. I think it maybe a distinct possibillity their has been a falling out between MoN and the club. Before the Barry/City dealing Oneil said nothing would be done until after Barry has played his internationals i think maybe Lerner sold barry without MoN approval, or has not commited the Funds raised from the barry sale to Oneil. Its only specualtion and it could be a number of reasons but something doesn't seem right. |
vogra
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... Joevillian, yep Alonso would be good, so would Xavi,Messi,Ribery or Ineista.. but thats NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN!..you going to tell me Alonso would leave L'pool to come to Villa,he'd go back to Spain. |
spagbol
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... Lets forget about barry, he's gone. I'm sure MON will have a worthy replacement. I do hope stan pet gets the captaincy armband as he's been solid in midfield and seems passionate about this team unlike our last captain, i really think that itself would improve the midfield we already have |
gregdavillain
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... i think oneill is on holidays and being the stubborn man he is will wait till he has returned b4 concentrating on bringing in his targets. alternatively the club are lining up the targets on the qt and will have a press release when they have signed 3 quailty signing and then adding 2 r 3 more over the course of the summer |
robbo
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... Mikey18. This time of year is always anxious and frequently frustrating and that's when there's a risk of us all speculating based on no evidence at all. Or...do you have evidence that MoN has fallen out with the club, or Lerner has sold Barry behind Mon's back. I find it hard to believe the first and impossible to believe the second. There has been very little transfer activity by any club so far, not just Villa, so it's a bit too soon to be reading anything sinister into it. |
Villa Sparton
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... Well who can disagree with that. Wish i'd of had a break in the mountains, after reading some of the crap some people had written. Harry 'Del Boy' Redknapp is a tosser, we all know that, he should concentrate on turning Spurs into Pompey. O'Neil needs to concentrate on signing quality players to further the club and cement us in Europe. This transfer window is the most important for us as we all know and should ignore some twat from London who is trying to unease our players. |
Gee
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... Badbobby...............i got the Samaritans number somewhere, you should give them a ring...Urgently!!!!! |
Gee
said:
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... Just out of interest has anyone actually seen Fat Harry making overtures about Young or is this all just media bollox for a change (not that i wouldn't put it past Honest Harry to be be in for a spot of tapping up!!) |
robbo
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... Mikey18, you made a comment in the previous thread about Villa 'fans' needing their 'pantomime villains' whether it's Reo Coker or Petrov or Knight. I couldn't agree with you more. I've never understood why a fan would seem to enjoy regularly having a go at one of their team's players. The most recent one is Heskey and I would dearly love him to show up all those critics next season. Capello still clearly thinks a lot of him and I enjoyed reading the following comment from Lampard after yesterday's game: Lampard said: "Emile is fantastic. His work-rate is brilliant and what he has done since he has come back into the squad has been top class. "He is a great lad and he deserves a lot of credit. He deserved his goal against Kazakhstan but goalscoring is not all of his game. "The beauty of Emile is the work ethic that he gives the team, the fact that he works his socks off. "He is a target man for us, he is very unselfish in the way he plays but now and again he pops up with his goals. He is top drawer." I still feel that the disproportionate criticism levelled at him is borne out of his time spent at the Blues and I just wish those fans would move on and get behind him. I fail to see how constant sniping can do anything other than sap morale and reduce the chances of us seeing him giving the team as much as he could do. |
robbo
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... One quick thought about Barry. I lost count of the number of headed goals Barry missed for us this season. Towards the end of the season I would turn to my son and say "there's another he's missed". To see him put one away yesterday was a kick in the guts. I'm not suggesting he was deliberatly missing them for Villa, I think that it's just indicative of the fact that he'd lost his edge when playing for us and it was time for him to move on. |
mikey18
said:
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... I completely agree, Heskey isn't the 20 goal a season striker which alot of people were looking for MoN to bring in, but he has a great work ethic and is a good alternative to Carew and Gabby. He hasn't played that many games for us but attracts a lot of criticism, which is the last thing a player needs when they first sign for a club. |
colm tarpey
said:
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... The special one is in talks for Carvalho....proably another one lost....Moyes is saying He'll never sell Lescott....Varmealen has a fee agreed with Arsenal...that just leaves Haagland and Cahill! Come back from holiday quick Martin! |
andrew
said:
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... Harry does what he wants because thats the only way he operates,he;s a crook and should have been banned along time ago. As for Barry he wasnt the player every1 thinks he was and for young any1 who witnessed the secound half of his season wouldnt be that botherd if he left.the good of the club comes 1st |
oranjay
said:
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... Does anyone else wish MON would come out and tell us that everything will be ok and young is going knowhere! Why hasnt he spoken up??? If young goes, we are finished. ...and would he ever hurry up and get in signings NOW!!!! |
A.B
said:
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... i reckon good signings would be : upson, bentley, defour, owen.. then some more if needed sturridge, huddlestone and i think a right back dont no who though friedel young.davies.upson.bouma bently.milner.petrov.defour.young owen |
Oscars Arse
said:
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... I'm just back from the mountains too the welsh variety look you. Didn't even know about Barry going until yesterday, not surprised he has gone but surprised it was to Man City. At the end of the day money talks and I defy anyone on here or anywhere else who wouldn't refuse a new job somewhere else on double the money. A bit concerned about webcam Ashley as badbobby said he is ready to move. No smoke without fire. We won't get Owen he isnt gonna take a 70K drop in wages is he then again will he stay fit? I don't hold out much hope for next season guys I'm sorry but I don't think we've got the money to spend to attract top names even if we had finished top 4. Thats the sad state of football these days, until theres a wages and transfer cap then it's always gonna be like this. What do people think of the new away kit? to me it looks like a primark t shirt and I ain't spending 40 quid on that, any idea what the new home one is going to be like? Not like Arses one last season I hope if you swap the red and white with claret and blue of course. |
Simeon
said:
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... Why do people continue to peddle this boring and ridiculous line that O'Neill made Barry the player he is? Barry was a fantastic player when GT arrived second time round and restored him to the team on the left side of midfield. Even when he wasn't being picked for Villa, he was playing for the U21's and outshining teammates and opposition players alike (players such as Pirlo, van der Vaart and Quaresma). All this despite playing at cente back! If Eriksson weren't so inept, Barry would have 70 or 80 caps by now, because he was good enough for England at 19, and a couple of years later, when he was playing left-midfield, there wasn't an Englishman to touch him. As for the transition to central midfield, it was O'Leary who picked him there. As good as Barry was outo n the left, it wasn't brain surgery to recognise that switching your best player to his natural position might pay dividends. International recognition came during O'Neill's reign, but let's not kid ourselves. McClaren's selection of GB was accidental, had it not been for injuries, it is perfectly possible that Barry would not have assumed his rightful place in the England team until Cappello arrived on the scene - and even then there's no guarantee it would have happened. Barry was class long before O'Neill pitched up, and he will be class for many years to come because he is, purely and simply, a class player. |
Leroy
said:
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... Simeon will you get over the thing now please? Gareth Barry plays for another team now.....end of. Every second day we hear a whinging post about him from you. It is hard losing a good player, but he didnt want to play here any longer and had to make a financial decision of which most of us accept and respect to some degree. Its nobodies fault, its just football. Any comments on Young perhaps Simeon? What about Curtis? |
Simeon
said:
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... As for Harry Redknapp, I, like all right-thinking people have no respect for him as a man. He disgusts me. But to cite his record at Portsmouth to demonstrate that he's a bad manager is ludicrous. They won the FA Cup! Yes, he spent alot of money there, but surely no-one is going to suggest that he wasted it? Big wages were obviously paid to players, but how else is a club like Portsmouth going to attract quality players? And besides, it was money he was given to spend by the owner. Was 'Arry responsible for way the club was run financially? Of course not. Then, to dismiss Spurs as going nowhere strikes me as mere false bravado. Spurs have more financial backing than we do, they have a number of saleable assets (half of whom are seemingly being linked with us), and have a manager with a proven record in the transfer market, and a record of success with lesser clubs that is, dare I say it, the equal of our very own O'Neill (if we set aside O'Neill's record at Celtic, who might be playing in a lesser league but who are hardly a lesser club). Apologies, however, if the Doc simply means that Spurs aren't going to be finishing in the top 4 any time soon. That, to my mind, amounts to nowhere, or purgatory, or the Europa League - call it what you like. I'm smiling as I type this, as I anticipate the barrage of abuse that will come my way, but please, can we avoid making ridiculous arguments so that we can feel better about ourselves? |
gregdavillain
said:
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... gareth barry is pure class, haha cant run cant tackle, shows the lack of quality in the england team now because 'there is no englishman to touch him'. Man city bought a good professional but hes hardly 'pure class'. I think we got an excellent price for barry @ 12 million. It was time for him to go. He really showed his 'pure class' when he choose the poor half of manchester in terms of history and tradition. He left the club who made him the player he was, after 12 years of service had no problems walking away from the holte end even though we are in the best postition we were ever in while he was at the club. says it all really he didnt do much for the club in terms of achievment. He showed his 'pure class' by walking away after magic o'neill turned him into a regular england international 'where no englishman could touch him in that positition' yep pure class. Time will tell, i for one think he will fail to shine, ie after izzet, guppy and heskey left leicester they all turned shit, why because oneill used them to their strenghts. |
Simeon
said:
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... Leroy, I've commented about both Curtis and Ashley in the past couple of days, as both have been subjects of Damian's blog posts. It was the Doc who brought up Barry. And I won't appologise for defending a player who was a giant amongst men at this club for over a decade. To summarise on Curtis and Ashley though: I think Curtis Davies has real potential, but I think he's been exposed by O'Neill's choice of midfield partnership in the latter part of the season (as good as Barry is, and as well as Petrov has played this season, neither were effective protecters of the back four. You won't be surprised to hear that I don't blame either player for this, but O'Neill for making the tactical error). Curtis also wasn't helped by the fact that O'Neill continued to pick him despite carrying a shoulder injury, which was always going to hamper someone playing at cente back. Ashley Young is a fantastic player, and O'Neill deserves great credit for bringing him to Villa. How on earth Walcott is in the England team ahead of him beggars belief - but then Capello picks Heskey as well, so go figure. But, given how good Ashley is, it wouldn't surprise me at all if the top clubs were seriously looking at him, and neither too would it surprise me if he fancied a move to a Chelsea or Man Utd, or whoever. But, as galling as it would be to lose Ashley, a fee of, say, £40m, would be extremely beneficial were it re-invested in a series of astute signings that raise the overall quality of the team. |
Simeon
said:
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... Leroy, I responded to your post because it was reasonable. I won't be responding to gregdavillain's because his was garbage. |
robbo
said:
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... Simeon, you're right about Barry being an excellent player. He showed the sort of composure on the ball that few other players do. He has not been great for us this year though as evidenced by the number of MOM's and (non penalty) goals he has scored for us this year. He will be hard to replace, but I don't think he was ever going to be great for Villa again. |
gregdavillain
said:
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... simeon if you want to call my posts garbage thats fine by me because i find all your posts pathetic u really should go f**k yourself you annoying little c**t |
Leroy
said:
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... I understand your compassion for Barry, but "giant amongst men" is drastically over dramatizing his role at AVFC. To put it in perspective, i think that the club can get over the loss of Barry but to lose Young would be catastrophic. Young is the most naturally gifted player that we have had here since Dwight Yorke perhaps. I think that when you replace these kind of players such as Barry, you have to match quality for quality or value for value. You cant plug the hole with a stop gap replacement ie Sidwell, Jenas, Huddlestone etc. We deserve a big time talent to replace Barry and its not going to be found here in England. If we trade Young for Bentley and others, we will be handing a rival one of the only players who can turn a game with his individual skill and ability..... |
oranjay
said:
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... alan hutton is shit! When are we ever going to get big names in!? Its what we need, we need more players like carew and a.young. MON has to start signing NOW, whats he waiting for??? |
Keith
said:
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... Superb Doc, a move to Spurs would be a step backwards for Ashley. I'm more worried by reported Chelsea interest, however. |
Chrisodon
said:
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... What makes hutton shit ?. if you're going to make a statement like that at least back it up. Young isn't one of the best players in the world and if we were offered anything near £20 - 30mil we should take it as it's too good to refuse. He's got great talent but he also moans a shit load and falls over too easy at times. |
Chrisodon
said:
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... Athletico Madrid are supposedly interested in eduardo salvio the argy we were linked with. Shame as i quite liked the sound of him. |
Simeon
said:
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... Leroy, I think you're probably right that Young is the most naturally talented player since Yorke. I also think that, in practice, losing Young would be hugely damaging. But I think that losing Young - this summer at least - is only a possibility because Barry has left. Whatever anyone's personal opinion, Barry was pivotal to the way we played. His range and quality of passing allowed Ahley and Gabby the opportunity to counter in such devestating fashion. Also, for all the carping at Barry's captaincy, he commanded the respect of his teammmates, and was held in the highest regard. And he played for us for 11 and a half years. Barry leaving opens the door for others to follow, and Ashley is at the front of the queue. I'm not suggesting he particularly wants to leave by any means. He's at the front of the queue because he is unrivalled as our best player. Lerner and O'Neill have to move to close that door, and the only way they can do that is by showing real intent and ambition. But Barry leaving doesn't suggest that this intent and ambition is likely. |
Jimbo Daventry Villa
said:
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... DAVIDVILLA, If Villa sell Ashley Young it will show the world that we are not a club heading in the right direction. There would be hundreds if not thousands of fans like you that would stop going. Lerner isn't stupid he's a business man so to sell Young after Barry just isn't going to happen. Sleep well tonight knowing that Ash will be terrorising defences in the claret & blue next season. If i'm wrong i'll streak against the Blues. |
gregdavillain
said:
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... such continuous negativity by the usual suspects, imo barry leaving is opening doors, gives us a chance to improve and develope as team. Better teams have lost better players and have blossomed. A club isnt about 1 player. No doubt Barry was a gr8 servant to the club for many years but he never achieved anything more than uefa cup football in his time here. He is 1 signing i am not afraid man city to have gotten, it hardly sends shudders through the footballing world like as if they signed a kaka or david silva. |
Leroy
said:
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... Huddlestone has the same passing variety as Barry, but im not a big fan. I just hope we can bring in a damaging running replacement who can slot a few home from the center. If Spurs offered us Huddlestone, Bentley and Bent for Ash would anyone accept? I still wouldnt....as much as Young is good now, when he gets a bit stronger and reads the game a bit better, he could be really special.... |
Leroy
said:
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... greg, totally agree.....we have some good pieces in the team, we just need to get it right in probably the two most important positions CB and AMF. I dont think we can "go cheap" either, you cant replace a LAursen for 3mil or Barry for 5mil..... |
Nel-A
said:
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... badbobby said: "i think lerner was a mistake we needed someone like arab coming in! we will never be great while mon is in charge! the best thing he can do is resign now, especially if young is allowed to leave!" Jeez mate. If you want Arabs, go and Support Man City will you. Lerner was a mistake? Really? So yeah, I dunno, maybe check google maps to see how to get to Eastlands. |
Simeon
said:
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... Huddlestone shares some similarities with Barry, though he is some distance away from being in the same class. I don't see us signing a player in Barry's mould to replace him, because Barry is in many ways a quite old fashioned type of footballer, and there simply aren't many like him about. One thing is certain, and this is that the way we play will be quite different next season to how it's been previously. Who we sign will obviously have a huge bearing on the way we play - although I'm not convinced central midfielders are that high on O'Neill's shopping list. I think our football is likely to be even more direct next season - whether we sign Owen or not, and God help us if we do - and suggestions that we're going to sign 'creative' attacking midfielders I believe are well wide of the mark. Bentley, Huddlestone and Jenas are all far more likely targets than Hleb, van der Vaart or others of that ilk. But who knows? Maybe O'Neill will spring a few surprises. |
Leroy
said:
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... I have been fairly active on rumour sites etc today and i found this one - " Exciting news for all Villa fans!!! MON will secure the signing of Eden Hazard within the next 5 days. Hazard is touted as the brightest prospect in Europe and has been likened to the great Zidane. Expect Villa to pay in the region of £6 million to secure his services in a 5 year deal " http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQTyv2oh5AA This is exactly what we need in the middle of the pitch next season.....lets hope there is some truth to it |
gregdavillain
said:
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... nel-a well said leroy i think ur right we've to spend big to replace barry n laursen. we're in dire need of a technical energetic midfielder who can shoot and pass and chip in with 8-12 goals a season from open play. we need flair, some one whos not afraid to take a game by the scruff of the neck, qualities barry just didnt possess. Laursen in my book was 'pure class' but funnily enough should be easier to replace because there are decent cb's out there |
Jeremiah Wood
said:
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... I'm sick of talking about Barry. He's a decent player, but just that. He isn't a Gerrard, a Xavi, a Pirlo. He's a professional midfielder who did a professional job. If we bring in similar quality, which I do consider Huddlestone, Bentley and Jenas, I'm sure we'll be just fine. As for Young, I think he'd be a bigger loss, but I don't think anyone will pay what MON wants for him. Regardless, it's not like Villa is going to suddenly be a lower mid-table team. The people moaning about that are the same ones that said we'd finish 12th after we lost to Stoke early in the season. |
Jake Gardner
said:
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... i think its disgusting that people are saying they would stop going if we sold young yes i wouldnt be happy but i am an aston villa supporter, the only thing that would stop me having my season ticket, is financial or health problems. sort it out. |
mikey18
said:
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... Leroy Eden Hazard looks a quality player, but what standard is that he is playing at. From what i've seen he looks a good prospect but has played one good game against Lyon. Do you think an 18 year old is what we need to replace Barry? Personally i feel Hazard would be a good investment but would take 3-5 years to develop into the player we need. Tottenham have Taarabt and Liverpool have El Zhar in similar molds! |
Fitzy_7
said:
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... yes we have got another zidane yippieeeeeeeeeeeeeee oh wait wasnt salifou also touted as the next zidane get in some proven quality mon |
Altan Kargaci
said:
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... Eden Hazard is pure quality , he is a bit of Ronaldo type full of tricks and flicks. Arsenal were keen , Zidane himself told real to buy him but for what ever reason no one has. yet ..! |
colm tarpey
said:
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... lads, If MON can f*ck off Liverpool wehn they want Barry, why do we think that Redknapp,or anyone else, will get Young? who is priceless according to MON? |
jk92923
said:
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... well said Doc, i always tried to say that about redknapp, but couldn't find the right words! fair play to ya!! UTV! |
Andy Scarborough
said:
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... I'm still here... waiting... still waiting... When does the transfer window open in B6? |
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- Something for the ladies and Gérard Houllier
- Curbs, not catch 22 and time gentlemen please
- Transfer window shut, Lerner has to invest or sell and four months of fun
- Kevin MacDonald: The new Aston Villa manager
- Post-mortem: Three points is three points
- Press release from club on search for new manager. This is mostly spin and blarney
- Aston Villa 1 Everton 0: Fourth place looks good from here
- Everton at Villa Park, Robbie Keane coming, Petrov calls for strengthening and Randy Lerner
- Aston Villa have imploded, Webcam and Spurs, Koeman interested, Everton tomorrow and Saturday bets
- Aston Villa out of Europe but can we show a little respect please
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