Re: Transfer speculation 2016/17

by **Sandie** Sat Dec 10, 2016 2:34 am

Be that as it may (and I never take managerial comments at face value) we are lacking in depth at centre half. Baker and Chester are very good for the level but below them there is only Elphick and a seemingly permanently injured Richards. Another centre half might be a useful addition. Not saying Alex Bruce would be a good or bad addition merely a possible one.

by **villabromsgrove** Sat Dec 10, 2016 1:26 pm

Sandie wrote:Be that as it may (and I never take managerial comments at face value) we are lacking in depth at centre half. Baker and Chester are very good for the level but below them there is only Elphick and a seemingly permanently injured Richards. Another centre half might be a useful addition. Not saying Alex Bruce would be a good or bad addition merely a possible one.

Ouch!

by **Sandie** Sat Dec 10, 2016 10:46 pm

Another keeper link:
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-manchester-united-12303412

by **Sandie** Sat Dec 10, 2016 11:26 pm

And a right-back link:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-ready-rescue-arsenals-9433495

by **villabromsgrove** Sun Dec 11, 2016 3:20 am

I must be difficult to please. Johnstone would be no more than cover, and Jenkinson is totally short of match fitness and confidence.

by **Sandie** Sun Dec 11, 2016 3:09 pm

Unconvinced by Johnson. Haven't seen the lad play but he's lacking in experience. I also think if he's looking for a loan move then being a starter is likely to be a prerequisite of him joining. In that case I'd rather be giving that experience to the inexperienced keeper who is contracted to us for the next four years rather than one who is somebody else's player.

I personally think that Jenkinson would be a decent move. I've seen him play and he hasn't seemed conspicuously awful and playing in the Championship is a lower standard than playing top flight or Champions League football for Arsenal. Taking a loanee is less of an issue here as we are down to the bare bones at right back and six months of Jenkinson would cover us until De Laet is back fit.

by **villabromsgrove** Sun Dec 11, 2016 4:30 pm

We don't need to keepers both "learning their trade" at Villa at the same time. The fact that Sarkic was on the bench yesterday confirms that a keeper will be incoming.

Jenkinson got roundly booed during his cup match for Arsenal, and his serious knee injury has naturally set him back a lot. I would take the Jenkinson of two or three years ago like a shot, but do we have time for him to rehab at Villa?

by **Sandie** Sun Dec 11, 2016 5:19 pm

Whilst our name still has a bit of weight we're a midtable Championship club right now. Finished articles won't be signing up for that. It's a choice between Premiership loanees and players already at the level for now, sadly.

by **villabromsgrove** Sun Dec 11, 2016 5:45 pm

Sandie wrote:Whilst our name still has a bit of weight we're a midtable Championship club right now. Finished articles won't be signing up for that. It's a choice between Premiership loanees and players already at the level for now, sadly.

A week ago Luke Ayling (Leeds RB) had Kodjia in his pocket for 90 minutes. He didn't give him an inch. Ayling was a Bristol City reject. I would rather we scout for no nonsense hard working defenders who are going to get their heads down and dominate just their area of the pitch.

by **Sandie** Sun Dec 11, 2016 8:02 pm

I agree that hidden gems are what we should be looking for but they will always end up being players that are enthusing for us. Even if we signed the mentioned Ayling people wouldn't be thinking it was a great signing. As an example, I didn't think much to Kodjia as a signing and even there that was someone who cost us £15million.

by **villabromsgrove** Mon Dec 12, 2016 2:00 pm

The media seem fairly sure that Johnstone and Jenkinson are SB's loan targets.

by **Sandie** Mon Dec 12, 2016 4:26 pm

Asked a Doncaster fan about Johnstone (he had a couple of loan spells there) and he reckons he's a decent keeper. I do think this one is probably going to happen.

by **Sandie** Mon Dec 12, 2016 10:11 pm

Few midfield links percolating now:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/2383334/aston-villa--norwich-robbie-brady/
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/evertons-james-mccarthy-lowdown-aston-12309307

McCarthy particularly would be a great signing.

by **villabromsgrove** Tue Dec 13, 2016 10:11 am

Sandie wrote:Few midfield links percolating now:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/2383334/aston-villa--norwich-robbie-brady/
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/evertons-james-mccarthy-lowdown-aston-12309307

McCarthy particularly would be a great signing.

McCarthy is as hard as nails and has a real engine, he and Jedinak would allow Grealish to concentrate on what Jack's good at. Brady would be another excellent addition. They're both right at the top of our range and budget, but if we're serious about promotion then these are the kind of players we need. We're top heavy with strikers and need to redress the midfield balance.

by **Sandie** Tue Dec 13, 2016 3:54 pm

Exactly. My own question is whether those guys who have Premier League suitors would be interested in coming to us in the Championship. I think our name is still something of a draw but I still think top flight status and the salaries offered by PL clubs might count against us.

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