Not loads of paper talk today but what has been written isn't what you'd usually say so there could be some truth in it and I wouldn't be surprised if they were all spot on.

First story up, and some won't like this, is that Gary Cahill is going to make his move to Sheffield United a permanent one.

You might not like this but you shouldn't be surprised. Martin O'Neill, while not coming out directly and saying it, has sort of made it clear what players he wants to stay and what ones he doesn't think are up to the task. Letting Cahill out on loan was as clear an indication as any that it was his last chance.

The other player getting some press today isn't one of ours but rumoured target, John Arne Riise. According to the papers he doesn't want to leave Champions League football and Liverpool. I personally don't blame him because after what Martin O'Neill said about player salaries the other day surely we're not going to match what he's on.

Last bit of news; Scott Carson is to start for England this Friday ahead of Paul Robinson. Again, not sure how true it is but wouldn't it be nice to see three Villa players starting for England?

Anyway, it's all paper talk but like I said would any of us be surprised if John Arne Riise didn't join and Gary Cahill left?

Comments (21)

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mossiewalsh said:

we need to get a new contract to laursen if we are letting cahill read something about 1.5m surly worth more than that hes only young and he is good. id like to see him stay but i trust MON

November 13, 2007

Dizzy Mugs said:

It hasn't been confirmed that Carson will start, but that he has the support of his England team-mates because they're impressed with his training. Shame about Cahill, he's been a good player. I don't think it was his last chance, since he's put O'Halloran up for loan as well. It's just developing his talent whilst Laursen and Knight continue to do well.

November 13, 2007

kev lacey said:

cahill and ridgwell are far better players than crap knight

November 13, 2007 | url

alextaylor24 said:

off the topic but anyone predicting a marlon exit in january??? hasn't happened for him and he cant even make the 16 at the mo

November 13, 2007

Dizzy Mugs said:

I think Marlon will stay and try to edge his way into the side. He's a good player on his day and deserves a chance if he does well in training. It was his choice whether to play regular but rubbish football at Wigan or fight for a place here. I don't expect he'll have changed his mind just yet. As for Ridgewell being better than Knight -- are you kidding? Knight, when in full concentration, is practically impenentrable. He's just as good in the air as Laursen and a very good tackler. If he sorts out his positioning and gets rid of those concentration errors, he could be a top defender for any team.

November 13, 2007

Villain in Arizona said:

Zat Knight - if he sorts out his positioning and gets rid of those concentration lapses? He's 27 - maybe by the time he is 37 he will be top notch!

November 13, 2007

Oloftheothers said:

Cahill for 1.5m..??? Will we buy him back in 5 years time for 7-8m. That would we par for the course for us

November 13, 2007

Chrisodon said:

First off i'm glad riise isn't coming to Villa, I think there is better players out there and younger too. Cahill leaving could be a bad thing he's young has good prem experience and always looked good when he played. So if we're going to probably pay 10mil for Davies who can't even get in the side we should at least want a decent amount for him not just 1.5mil. But in selling players has Mon been proven wrong in any sales he's made ? Davis & Hughes not really amazing for fulham. Ridgewell that og could have been in our net. He's had good judgement so far on his sales. It's just ashame about his buying though. I also think Harewood will go in january to someone in the relegation fight, MON obviously doesn't value him now, the 6 games carew was out we barely seen him. Time to buy a striker with real talent and not a one season wonder.

November 13, 2007

Villa_Rules said:

Good to see cahill guna stay on at shef united for a while longer Riise as much as i wanted the move to happen it was never going to go thru really was it Well what can we say about scott carson with out a doubt pure class and should be england No1 for years to come

November 13, 2007

IanB said:

We'd be absolutely stak raving bonkers to sell Cahill. I like Zat Knight, and am sure he'll be a mainstay in the team, but Cahill is a FEC. www.claretandbluewedding.com

November 13, 2007

I HATE BLUES said:

C,mon would we really be any better off for having both these players in our squad?I think not.Take the money for the cahil transfer and give it to laursen to keep him at the club in a coaching capacity after his playing carrer finishes?

November 13, 2007

Thegreatdando said:

Cahill is good, and i'd be sad to see him go. Just a question though, when he was loaned out to Burnley, everyone said how brilliant he was etc, and he was from what I saw of him. But this time, it seems that he's not made as big an impact at Sheffield Utd. Has anyone seen him play this year? What have you thought of him when he's turned out for the Blades?

November 13, 2007

Kieran said:

to be honest we dont really need the money but we do need players so until we find someone better than cahill, simply dont sell him. its the reason why we have such a small squad, because martin oneill is selling 2/3 players for every 1 that he buys

November 13, 2007

Myles said:

Diffinitly time for MON to be looking for a out and out goalscorer it is the missing link in the team there is only so many goals Agbonlahor will score on his own.Harewood is only a squad player

November 13, 2007

Eli said:

bale to villa bosingwa to villa maloney to start postiga to villa wouldnt that be nice?

November 13, 2007

Eli said:

Still talks of Pedro Mendes?

November 13, 2007

BigAnd said:

Selling Cahill?? This would be totally foolish on MON's behalf; Mellberg 29, Laursen 30, Knight 27 - none of them spring chickens anymore and won't be around forever. £9m been the price on Curtis Davies by West Brom yet we are planning on letting a better Centre Half (in my opinion) go for £1.5m. Davies as of yet hasn't proved himself and from what i saw was good in the Championship not outstanding, yet Cahill has proved he can play in the Prem League (and yes he was outstanding in the Championship at Burnley - i witnessed with my own eyes) and was an exceptional partner to Mellberg last season when laursen was out. If MON believes Davies is that good and worth £9m (then i will trust his judgement as he spends more time watching players than any of us have the time to do) then surely he should be looking at keeping a natural partner for him in Cahill and growing them both to become the future of Villa and their country. Riise - far better younger players out there for the money; if he's not good enough for Liverpool then why should we accept him at Villa Park?

November 14, 2007

villafan1884 said:

'bigand'(thick!!) i think you are living in dream land. if we can sign players with champions league expierience then thats what we should be looking at. i think theres arrogance in your comment. altough in my eyes villa are the best with great tradition the reality is we cant attract big name players and liverpool have a more glorious tradition than ours. gary cahill is a good young player but he was the main fault why we conceded so many goals from set pieces last year. i no hes learning but he hasnt the phisical presence yet in his game. maybe he may never will, and i think thats why ridge was sold aswell (lack of presence). i think we cant always be looking for top youngsters, id like to see some real damn good established pros come in who are pacey, comfortable on the ball who can make time and space and make good decisions. im only dreaming but id love to sign riquelme. there are players out there the like of elano at city waiting to be unearthed and villa are an attractive enough club to bring good foreign players to play in the premiership. we need to begin to blend the team. keep what weve got and sign a left and right back(were no threat from these positions while attacking), creative centre midfielder and a star feared striker (what a squad we'd have then). a real finisher because boy do we create chances!!! cmon the villa i no something special is brewing!! i no martin o neill is gona make it work the league is getting tougher but da gaffer is in for the long haul, best of luck lads!!!

November 14, 2007

ryanvilla3 said:

Saw sheefield Uniteds last game and Cahill was awesome one last ditch goal saving tackle he made was outstanding. Personally i would keep at Villa just for his goal against the Blue noses ha ha! Seriously would be a shame to lose him he offers a bit of a football brain at the back he can play a bit.

November 14, 2007

Northern Villan said:

To BigAnd, Riise is good enough for Liverpool? Well I don't know why he has played there since he was early twenties first team for 6 years now. I do remember reading that he was only going to leave because Liverpool declared an intrest in Heinze which did'nt go through! apart from having one of the best left foots in the world I would love to hear about these better younger players for the money? I heard 6 million to villa, so who would you get for his quality and experience for his age(27)?

November 14, 2007

remolds said:

We dont need to go backwards by signing riise we need to be moving forwards and signing better players. We need to keep Cahill he is the future england captain, besides i have spoken to the lad and he is villa through and through. I would rather have 11 players who loved villa and were willing to die for the cause than 11 prema donas on mega money who would not

November 14, 2007

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