Transfer speculation 2016/17

by **villabromsgrove** Wed Jun 15, 2016 1:30 pm

It looks like there could be a fair bit of player movement both in and out of Villa, so I'll start off this thread with Tommy Elphick .... yes or no?

It's a yes for me, because although he's not a particularly gifted footballer, he's a 100% committed professional who will lead by example. We need these type of players.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36538840

by Jim Villan Wed Jun 15, 2016 1:50 pm

A big yes from me. This is a root and branch rebuild of the Villa squad and I see Elphick as a root type player. The talent for me is the icing on the cake, The desire heart and professionalism needs to be the start point and teh foundations to rebuild he seem like a player that ticks all the boxes on that Basis.

by **Sandie** Wed Jun 15, 2016 1:51 pm

Yes from me too. Elphick has been a leader for Bournemouth in the Championship and into the Premier League. Something that was apparent last season was that we had no leaders. Micah Richards was the class clown elevated to a position his form didn't justify and where his teammates didn't take him seriously whilst Lescott and our pathetic excuse of a "club captain" pretty much brought the club into disrepute. We need leadership and Football League experience and Tommy Elphick has both of those.

I am somewhat surprised that it's as strongly in the works as suggested, though. I'd have seen Bournemouth as very reluctant sellers and Elphick maybe keen to stick around in the Premier League. If it goes through it will go to show that our name is still a draw.

by **villabromsgrove** Wed Jun 15, 2016 2:26 pm

I don't expect any of our targets to be looking at top Premier clubs as an alternative to Aston Villa. As you say Sandie our name is still a draw. Our stadium and our training facilities will attract the right kind of players to Villa in my opinion.

by **Sandie** Wed Jun 15, 2016 5:39 pm

Sky saying an offer for Elphick has been accepted: http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11743/10314590/bournemouth-accept-aston-villa-bid-for-club-captain-tommy-elphick

by **villabromsgrove** Wed Jun 15, 2016 6:06 pm

Sandie wrote:Sky saying an offer for Elphick has been accepted: http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11743/10314590/bournemouth-accept-aston-villa-bid-for-club-captain-tommy-elphick

I really hope this happens. The qualities that Elphick will bring to Villa are ones that we've sadly lacked. It sends a message to other players of the same ilk. Come to Villa, there's a big job underway and you can be part of it!

by **Sandie** Wed Jun 15, 2016 10:40 pm

The personal vision of the owner will also be a selling point and will surely be part of the management team's sales pitch to targets.

As big a part of our summer business will be who we can get rid off and to where, though. I can see a few Winston Bogardes staying on the books.

by **villabromsgrove** Thu Jun 16, 2016 8:55 am

More out than in according to Di Matteo. He wants to work with a smaller squad than the one we've got.

by **villabromsgrove** Thu Jun 16, 2016 9:08 am

http://afcbchimes.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/tommy-elphick-will-always-be-captain.html

This doesn't add to what we know, but it reinforces the fact that Tommy is the captain we need right now, to motivate and lead our comfortable bunch of under performers.

by **villabromsgrove** Sun Jun 19, 2016 3:56 pm

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/cherries/clubnews/14566613.AFC_Bournemouth__Elphick_understood_to_have_cut_short_honeymoon_for_Villa_medical/?

Encouraging if it's true.

by **Sandie** Sun Jun 19, 2016 4:12 pm

Hopefully something in it, be good to do some early business.

In other news, various clubs expressing an interest in Amavi: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-rumour-mill-11493694

Hopefully, we'll be able to keep hold of him. He'll be quite a player in the Championship and maybe Xia and his vision can sell the idea of hanging round to him.

by **villabromsgrove** Sun Jun 19, 2016 5:08 pm

Di Matteo has said that a number of our younger players don't have suitable experience for the Championship. This is a worry because some of our young players have a lot more potential than their likely replacements.

If several of our young players are sold then I can see an area of potential conflict opening up. It would be difficult (wasteful?) to spend the amount of money we get from sales plus thirty million on just championship experienced players, and fans would be very quick to jump on the fact that investment was coming in the main from the sale of 'assets'.

If we go down this route we then have to change the players again next season 'IF' we're promoted.

I think that RDM would do well to keep and develop a nucleus of potential stars, and surround them with helpful motivated experienced players.

by Jim Villan Sun Jun 19, 2016 5:11 pm

Elphick would be a very solid first signing, what is promising if this goes through is that a player from the premier league is prepared to drop a league to play for the Villa and also that presumably that we have been able to offer the player a better contract than what was on the table at bournemouth, which bodes well and shows that we are willing to pay the going rate on wages.

by **villabromsgrove** Sun Jun 19, 2016 5:22 pm

Jim Villan wrote:Elphick would be a very solid first signing, what is promising if this goes through is that a player from the premier league is prepared to drop a league to play for the Villa and also that presumably that we have been able to offer the player a better contract than what was on the table at bournemouth, which bodes well and shows that we are willing to pay the going rate on wages.

That's a good point.

by **Sandie** Sun Jun 19, 2016 5:31 pm

villabromsgrove wrote:I think that RDM would do well to keep and develop a nucleus of potential stars, and surround them with helpful motivated experienced players.

That's my take too. There are plenty of young-ish players who have a few seasons experience in the Championship and the potential to excel in the Premier. Get those guys in, bomb out the bad element amongst our seniors and add a few senior, solid pros (like Elphick).

In other news, Okore has now said he is prepared to stay in the Championship according to "foreign reports".

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