One In, One Out – Aston Villa’s January Transfers
The Villains have been a talking point this season with a number of eye catching performances, most notably their 2-0 victory at Arsenal. They weren’t that impressive at the start of the season, but have notched up some consistent performances of late and sit one point out of the top four. But what is lacking from their side?
They haven’t had a problem finding the back of the net, but it is more so defending their own. Their ‘lucky’ 3-2 win at Everton was a game where the two goals conceded were from a centre half, and whilst they have defended well in some games, they need to step up if they want to break the top four. However, there has hardly been any rumour, well that we know of, that more players will be added during the window. Martin O’Neil has been tight lipped about it all, but one would think a defender or perhaps defensive midfielder is needed.
With all the talk surrounding players leaving the club rather than players coming in, it would be understandable for fans to be asking questions. The Gareth Barry saga is set re-ignite, and even though he has committed to Villa after bids from the likes of Liverpool in the summer, if he does goes, O’Neil would certainly have to look at bringing in another solid midfielder.
But what player they could bring in with the money they have at the moment, I’m not sure. Although if Barry were to leave, the fee Villa would receive for him might allow them to get nearly any player they need. The other position is up front. Injured striker Carew is set to be out for longer than first thought, and it has been revealed that Swede Henrik Larsson is set to make the move to the club. He would be a great signing as he has proven that he scores almost everywhere he goes. As well as bringing goals, he would bring mountains of experience, and would surely only benefit Villa in their mission for a top four spot, and as a free agent, what’s to lose?
My Transfer: Henrik Larsson (Free Agent)
As mentioned before, all the talk around Villa has again been about Gareth Barry. Will he stay? Will he go? We can not be sure until February 1st 2009. We saw him pleading with O’Neil and the club to let him complete a ‘dream’ move to Liverpool, but the club wouldn’t budge with their asking price for Barry, and Liverpool were not prepared to go beyond their set price for the gifted midfielder. However, speculation is starting to gather momentum as Manchester City has recently said they will launch a bid for Barry in January.
The other player gaining some interest is the out of favour Harewood. Rumours suggest that Stoke City have prepared a £4 million offer for the striker in January. With the striker limited to a substitute role for most of the current season, he may want to observe his options come January.
In the end, these two players are the ones most likely to leave Villa. After hearing of Manchester City’s apparent big bid for Barry in January, I think it may be at a price that Villa simply would not be able to resist if Barry wanted to go.
My Most Likely To Leave: Gareth Barry
Who do you think will leave Aston Villa this January? Who will MON bring in?
Topics: Arsenal, English Premier League, Football Transfers
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OUT:The Hare: he is not getting games, the promoted teams will be bidding for him and we will be bringing in another striker in january.Marlon Harewood will leave.
IN:Striker: possibly Roque Santa Cruz or Lukas Podolski, iv heard Nilmar’s name mentioned aswell
December 12th, 2008 @ 11:28I’d like to see us bring in winger Antonio Valencia from Wigan aswell.
This article is quite frankly rubbish! Styllian Petrov has been our most consistent performer this season and is the darling of Villa fans right now for his performances in a holding/sitting position in front of the back 4 and has kept Reo-Coker out of the team. Both Reo-Coker and Barry are more than capable of playing in defensive midfield. The Game against Everton was one where the only threat they posed was from high balls into the box. Our defense struggled to deal with the aerial prowess of the Everton team (which is quite considerable to be fair). The only team we have played that has managed to play through us has been Chelsea who were fantastic on the day.
Martin O’neill has already rubbished rumours suggesting Henrick Larson is target and Martin is not a man that makes such declarations when they are not true. In addition Barry would never be allowed to leave midway through the season. Martin O’neill recognises that our attempts to get champions league football would fall flat if we were to sell our most influential centre mid. Also Barry himself has said he is going nowhere this winter.
The most likely departure has to be Marlon Harewood who seems to have slipped down to fourth choice striker behind the 17 year old Nathan Delfounso. Our most likely addition for me would probably be Emile Heskey.
The writer of this article CLEARLY doesn’t possess a level of knowledge on Aston Villa which would make him worthy of comment on the VIlla.
December 12th, 2008 @ 11:43Out Harewood waste of Money and 4 million hopefully will buy him.
Out – NRC if reports are true that Spurs are interested then if we can get the 8.5 for him we should take it.
He is a good player on the work front but technically not a top 4 Premiership player.
Need Valencia even at around 9 – 10 million he will be a snip. Would Add cover to the wings if Milner of Ahsley young got injured or needed a rest.
Stefan Defour solid creative midfielder of the Gerrard mold.
Striker – Top quality proven striker who does not always get injured. Hopefully not Heskey. Prefrebably Roque, Lukas Podolski, Nilmar.
December 12th, 2008 @ 11:47Have to agree with AlexeiVillain, this Gordon D’Mello doesn’t have a clue what he is talking about. MON was quite categoric when ruling out any move for Larsson. Anybod who saw that interview would know there in’t a chance in hell that he will be joining Villa in January.
As for Barry leaving next month, I can see where he is coming from but I really do not see it happen. Barry has gone to very great lengths to mend the bridges he burnt during the summer and I can’t see him leaving in January just in the hope that Man City will qualify for the CL which is highly unlikely to happen this year. Mark my words, he will stay put until the end of the season, if Villa finish in the top 4 he will then stay beyond that. If he doesn’t he may well move on then.
So sorry Mr D’Mello, you’re way off target on both accounts. A far more realistic assessment would be:
Out: Marlon Harewood. Last season he began to show signs that maybe he wasn’t quite the donkey we all thought he was when he was signed. This year however it just isn’t happening for him. The fact that MON opts to play with Gabby on his own up front when Carew is injured suggests to me that he has no confidence in the Hare either. He will move on to Stoke or WBA for 3 or 4 million.
Other than that there will be no other departures. I think the speculation about NRC is just talk. NRC has a future at Villa and there is no reason to let him go. He may not be a spectacular player but he gets the job done when necessary.
In: We all know that MON wants Emile Heskey and I think he will get him as well, the only question is whether it will happen in January or in the summer. Heskey will want to hold on until the summer when he becomes a free agent, MON will want him now. It all depends on MON’s powers of persuasion. Of course if he doesn’t come in January, Harewood may well find his move being blocked as well as this would be very much a like for like swap within the squad.
In addition to Heskey, I think a second striker will also be brought in the take the pressure off Gabby. There a number of names that have been linked with this role and I don’t believe any of us can say with any degree of certainty which ones MON favours. I deeply hope that Michael Owen is signed up but that’s just my opinion and I know that ithers will favour Roque Santa Crux, Lukas Podolski, the bloke Suazo from Inter, Dean Ashton etc etc.
If you want an outside bet then maybe Valencia from Wigan might be on the radar and although I think he would be an excellent addition to the squad, I wouldn’t bet any money on that one happeneing. I don’t think he would be top of MON’s priorities and besides, I fear we may be outbid by Man Utd.
Contrary to this article, there will be no movement either in or out on the defensive front. Yes, we have shipped more goals than we perhaps should have done but where are you going to make changes in the backline? Laursen and Davies aren’t going to be changed and in Cuellar and Knight we already have more than adequat back-up. Luke Young is a fixture in the side and won’t be budged. OK, so Nicky Shorey’s position is a bit dubious at the moment but as soon as Bouma is back to fitness he will slot nicely back into left back and Young will be able to move back to right back where he belongs.
December 12th, 2008 @ 12:32My hope is that we bring in a striker who ‘fills in’ the holes we have. We have really seemed to miss Carew and haven’t been getting the most out of Ashley Young. Young is making run after run and cross after cross but Aggy is too crowded out to make much of it all.
I do think we have a few moments of weakness at the back and let in a few too many goals but thats just a price you pay for being such an entertaining, exciting and attacking side. An extra full back wouldn’t go amiss but who are we likely to attract when they have no guarantee of getting regular games.
I can add something to this article though: He says “However, there has hardly been any rumour, well that we know of, that more players will be added during the window.” but I have plenty of rumours and gossip on my Villa blog: http://astonvillablog.com/category/transfer-gossip/
Check it out if you’re a Villa fan.
December 12th, 2008 @ 18:57I wouldn’t like to see Owen in the Villa shirt if I’m honest, i think it will slow Agbonlahor’s progress as a player and i believe Agbonlahor is better than Owen anyway, so how the hell would it be fair paying Owen 80k+ and Agbonlahor on less than half that….
Also Owen is Injury prone and the Newcastle fans want to sell him this Jan even if its for 3m because he has never played with passion for the club.
I think if we could sell Harewood and bring in Heskey that would be promising and would give us a plan B, Although would i like to see Sidwell or Reo Coker dropped to see Heskey move upfront along side Agbonlahor…. I’d have to say no, I think us playing 4,5,1 defensively and breaking as a 4,3,3 with Milner and Young joining Agobnlahor upfront and Sidwell lurking outside the box with Reo Coker holding the line just in case with Barry looking to make the killer pass, as much as a think Heskey is a good player and a player i think we need, i don’t think we would benefit playing him on away games just because we are so dangerous on the counter, if we played a 4,4,2 at home it could be successful.
December 13th, 2008 @ 19:18