Have to disagree. You can bring in two or three very good players with that coin, but Benteke scored 40% of their PL goals a year ago, and he was the central figure in practically everything they did. I'd be shocked if they got anyone in, individually or in combination, who had the same influence.
Summer 2013 Transfer Rumour Thread - Mk2
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Have to disagree. You can bring in two or three very good players with that coin, but Benteke scored 40% of their PL goals a year ago, and he was the central figure in practically everything they did. I'd be shocked if they got anyone in, individually or in combination, who had the same influence.
Perhaps, but they can give Insigne a far more important role now and he might be mobile enough to accommodate. Ah well, I'm sure Damiao will enjoy it in Naples.
Yep, brings me back to what I was saying the other night, the hardest part of being a mid-table club is holding onto your best players. Villa are now going to spend the rest of the summer trying to sign someone that makes up for losing him, they will probably fail.
He'd be a big miss, no doubt, but they desperately need strengthening, and experience, in other areas. They do have Weimann and Darren Bent is still on their books (I know Lambert doesn't fancy him but he may be brought back into the fold if Benteke goes), so they're not short of decent strikers really.
The thing about Villa is that they really need some money to strengthen their midfield. They won't find someone who can find the net like Benteke could, but they do have Weimann, Agbonlahor and Helenius (lots of goals for Aalborg last season). They could invest this cash (and however much they get for Bent) in a couple of players who can pass the ball. I think that'd do them a lot of good.
They do need to strengthen midfield, but their one saving grace last season was the fact that they were incredibly dangerous on the counter, and Benteke was the centerpiece there. They also need to strengthen defensively, as they shipped more goals than all but two other sides (both of which were relegated), and I'm not convinced that Okore, Luna and organic growth will solve that problem.
Ultimately, that leaves them in a position not dissimilar to that of the recently promoted teams; they aren't good enough in defense, in midfield, or attack, and they have will perhaps 25-30m with which to sort that out. It's no small task...if they go into the year with Agbonlahor and Helenius as their primary attacking threats, and a defense liable to find itself in the bottom third of the league again, they're in murky waters. Just as they were a year ago, but then they had Benteke doing just enough to keep them afloat.
Maybe Napoli are just being linked with everyone now that everyone knows they have a lot of money to spend...
They also have N'Zogbia, who really needs to perform to the standard we know he's capable of. If they can get the best out of the players they've got, I think they'll be fine up front with something like this:
------------Helenius
Weimann---N'Zogbia---Agbonlahor
As for the defence, if Luna is a good enough left back (I have no idea if he is) then I think they may be alright there. That means Baker and Vlaar could form a decent partnership where they belong at centre back, and of course Lowton is excellent on the right. Ciaran Clark could then move up to playing defensive midfield, competing for that position with Yacouba Sylla, and give them some much needed security there, and in the other CM spot they want a good passer which is really what they lack. Let's give it to Ashley Westwood for the time being:
--------Clark---Westwood
Luna---Baker---Vlaar---Lowton
------------Guzan
That's how it looks to me without any further signings, and to be honest I think it's a passable EPL side. With the Benteke and Bent money, they could get a better playmaker than what they have to offer right now with Westwood, El Ahmadi, Ireland and their other mediocre midfielders; perhaps another left back if Luna isn't all that great yet, and one more attacking threat who can perhaps also play on the right during the inevitable period when Agbonlahor becomes inexplicably useless for a few months.
Also Albrighton, Delph and Delfouneso have their moments and will continue to improve with age. Generally I think they've more-or-less got the talent and just need them to show it more often. They certainly have depth.
Getting the best consistently out of that group is quite an ask. Agbonlahor scored nine last year, but just five in the two years previous; think that it's safe to say that he benefited from the attention paid to his running mate. N'Zogbia is useless more often than not. Helenius has earned rave reviews and certainly has the physique to make an immediate impact, but must be considered a question mark, as any young player from a smaller league would be. And while I love Weimann, who was immense linking up with Benteke, it remains to be seen whether he'll be immense without linking up with Benteke. Unless Helenius -- or someone acquired with the Bent/Benteke money -- steps forward and establishes themselves as at least a league-average striker, it could be the most tepid attack in the PL. And the less threat they pose, the more difficult it becomes for that defense to hold, and the more incentive opposing teams will have to push forward and choke off the options in midfield, knowing that Villa now cannot so easily beat you in the open field.
http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/bologna-sorensen-piace-al-southampton-463834
We are linked to him every window!
We are linked to him every window!
While it might seem like the laziest of throwaway pieces, the article isn't a total writeoff...I learned that the phrase 'in pole position' is on loan to the Italians.
I'm starting to think the strategy with Damiao's agent is long term one to push the price up. He's been giving Tottenham the run around for years and the price creeps up all the time. I'm not convinced he is ready to move yet, but when he is, the fee will be nearer £50m.
Wanyama is a different kettle of fish. Its a big decision for him and, let's face it, a bit of a gamble going to a club like Southampton. we know we are going places but the rest of the football world are still catching up. Let's hope he makes the right decision as I think it would be a good move for all prties concerned.
Not sure about Banega. Sounds a bity of a head case to me. Would rather we went for Stoch (mysteriously gone quiet on that front) who is ...err... ...a bit less of a head case.
Benega is a class act! He would very much suit the pressing game and can transform defence into attack in seconds. Benega would be signing of the season if we get him, mark my words.
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