Aston Villa Banter Archive July 31 2015

31 Jul 2015 20:20:00
Hi guys, iam buzzing from all the activity and hope we really remove the doom cloud above OUR villa park.

Anyways I've copy and pasted a few stats about the lad Veretout.
72 - The 22-year-old fashioned an impressive 72 key passes for Nantes last term, making him the club's most creative player. The same tally would have made him the most innovative player at Villa Park, with Fabian Delph his closest competitor (36).

60 - The Frenchman completed 60% of his attempted dribbles throughout the season, averaging 1.2 take ons per appearance; the second highest total at Nantes.

80 - Veretout averaged an 80% pass completion rate last term, which is marginally superior to the squad average at Villa Park (79%).

7 - With seven goals to his name, the 22-year-old finished the season as Nantes' top goalscorer, while he found the back of the net on more occasions than everyone but Christian Benteke (13) at Villa.

738 - Veretout recorded more assists (6) and made more forward passes (738) than any Nantes player last season. No player at Villa Park managed as many assists, with Leandro Bacuna finishing the campaign closest (5).

{Ed001's Note - where did you get the stats from? So we can give them the credit they are due.}

31 Jul 2015 21:37:40
Sorry dude, should now better, at work and didn't have time to rewrite.
I source it from HITC.

31 Jul 2015 19:28:48
If we could get a world class goal keeper now I'd be happy. Guzan is the weakest link for me. Thoughts?

31 Jul 2015 21:38:33
Disagree mate - We would have to invest very heavily in order to sign a keeper that would be a significant improvement over him, and I would rather that money be spent elsewhere, mainly on the defence and right side. We may need to upgrade him eventually to really push on but not this season. Just don't pass him the ball when playing tiki taka round the defence!

31 Jul 2015 23:19:29
We could sign a world class keeper for free-Victor Valdes. If wages aren't a problem, then we should definitely try. Villa need to stop being so scared to bid for world class players if we can afford them.

01 Aug 2015 08:30:54
agree with andy. guzan on his day could play in any prem team. just keep the ball away from his feet and for last few seasons look what he's had in front of him, one the worst defence in league

31 Jul 2015 17:49:48
Baker signed new deal, that's Lescott deal dead then.
I had a feeling it was just to piss West Brom off because of there pathetic big for Clark.

31 Jul 2015 17:09:55
So much hate bouncing around, posts saying if it's got a pulse villa will buy. It winds me up. I seriously hope we are the surprise package this year prove all the haters wrong. I also believe gestede will be our new Carew. I am so optimistic it's unreal. Tim sherwood (the new messiah) up the villa

31 Jul 2015 15:59:15
Cant beleive all the signigs wevw made with adebyor an ayew an gested got to b looking to finish top ten anyone agree

31 Jul 2015 15:24:11
Really pleased about Gestede, I predicted last week that I thought we would get him, He will replace any shortfall we are supposed to have up top after our sales.
Our squad is now starting to have some real appeal, and I think when everybody gets settled we are going to surprise a few teams this year.
This guy is as good as anybody in the air and puts himself about.
Tekkers was a beast but this guy is a beasty.

31 Jul 2015 15:16:59
Veretout confirmed now as well!

31 Jul 2015 11:34:14
Sky sports reporting villa have had an approach for lescott rejected by west brom. Looks like Tim realises that CB is a position that still needs to be addressed.

31 Jul 2015 09:56:49
Is it true that the Holte will be rocking to the sound of La Marseillaise at our first home game.

31 Jul 2015 13:45:10
Ed apologies for not saying this is my first time on. Thanks for letting me be part of this great site.

{Ed007's Note - Welcome aboard, Jack and there's no need to thank us but you're welcome.}

31 Jul 2015 01:20:27
wondering what you guys & girls will be our 1st choice strikeforce for the upcoming season. ayew cost 9 million so he seemingly is going to play with adebayor coming in on 100k a week it seems like he is also a sure starter. the thing is that gestede is joining us when other premier league sides have looked into him and he doesn't seem like he would join us if he wasn't guartneed 1st team football. kozak has proven he can do a shift in pre-season and would be unfair to not give him a string of games in the 1st team.
you're thoughts?

31 Jul 2015 04:42:22
And don't forget poor Gabby! Joking aside we are being heavily linked with Berbatov too. I guess it depends heavily on what formation we go with. Not so much a prediction, more of a thought :-

Guzan

Hutton Richards Clark Amavi

Sanchez Gueye

Ayew Berbatov Sinclair

Adebayor

This line-up could be magic if Berba and Ade are on song, but it also has the potential to be disastrous. But that's the kind of risk I can see Sherwood taking.

31 Jul 2015 07:50:08
reckon this year could be huge for gabby because if I'm honest I don't see him in sherwoods plans. I know the bloke is a "legend" of our club and came through the academy but let's be fair the bloke's finishing is decaying every season, he is on huge wages per week and gives us like 4 goals every year.
I've always loved berbatov and thought of him in the highest regard but I don't want him to come in. I would rather see someone like robinson/ sellers be given a chance then bring in berba who will be with us maximum for 2 years.

31 Jul 2015 18:51:04
At the very least we are assembling a forward line that will force Gabby to up his game. He was only ever competing against Weimann to start up top alongside Benteke, and was never going to get a chance as a lone striker whilst Benteke was available. Bent was out on loan and Kozak was injured.

Now with Gestede, Ayew, Kozak back fit, and potentially Ade and Berba as well, he is never going to get a kick. I think the club will want to keep him around but will drop his wages massively next time his contract is discussed.

In regards to Berba, I to would like to see some of the younger players get some game time too, but you can't deny the guy oozes class and composure which I think would really help in developing players like Grealish and Gil. I would only realistically take one of Ade or Berba, I can't justify the wages for both.

30 Jul 2015 23:46:53
Some great signings come through for us. Really looking forward to amavi, Gueye and hopefully veretout. Richards should do a good job for us too, and he'll have a point to prove.

My concern is that by moving on baker, cissokho, senderos, we're going to be incredibly light at the back. Can't be relying on Richardson. And then a potentially very new team that needs time to gel.

A lot of attacking promise but need a couple more at the back if sales are going to continue, or utilise our youngsters.

31 Jul 2015 04:46:56
Its the kind of risk I can see Sherwood taking - leave us a little light in defence and use all his transfer funds on forwards to make sure we have goals in the side. Then try and outscore the opposition. Richards and Crespo are very versatile defenders and can cover multiple positions and I think that must be part of Sherwood's thinking.

31 Jul 2015 09:24:45
I can see TS bringing some young defenders into the squad to offer support. I've heard good things about some of the ones we already have and possibly buy someone like Mason Holgate.