I'm away from my desk for a few days but felt compelled to put something down now, while I'm still able, as I'm about to go on a mammoth bender ending up at the SquadGod, all for the AVFC Blog, Christmas Party later tonight.

First to the rumour. Someone sent me an SMS the other day saying we are after Freddy Adu. I've no idea how true this is or where the source is, but I'd suspect it started down under so would take it with a pinch of salt.

It's not that I wouldn't like to see the lad given a chance but if Chelsea and United won't even sign him after trials, I'm not sure I'm that interested. I would love to be proven wrong on this one though.

Onto sponsoring a player. Today the official website is letting you know you can sponsor the shirt of Freddie Bouma. In the Pompey match programme it was Martin Laursen, so I guess they're getting quite desperate.

My advice, if you're interested, would be to haggle. What is the point paying the full price now for only just over half a season - ask for a discount and you'll probably get it - I reckon start in at 60%, let them haggle down but don't go any further than 55%. They'll rather accept something, on slightly different terms than nothing at all and it is, after all, all about the revenue at Aston Villa right now.

Lastly, onto Harry Redknapp. I didn't want to bring this up but I have to. He shouldn't be commenting on fans of clubs he is visiting especially when you factor in all the press surrounding him at the moment.

It's also not wise to celebrate in the manner he did, but the real reason is something else.

If you're getting paid the amount of money he does, in a sport that is highly emotional, one of the things you've got to take on the chin, is the abuse.

Hell, for the money some of these useless monkeys earn I'd take a lot more than verbal abuse, but I'll talk more about that in about 6 hours somewhere in the West End of London.

Comments (25)

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Tonebone said:

I am getting sick of people having a go at Redknapp for his behaviour at the weekend. It is just us looking for something to pick on for the sake of. Our fans were hurlign abuse at him, and he stuck 3 (not 2 fingers as some of u keep implying) to indicate pompey were 3-0 up and then celebrated punching over and over again when they scored. So he gave us a cheeky gesture back cause his team were beating us. Thats all he hardly started shouting abuse back and took it fine. If u as fans cant take that then dont give out all the abuse u were. As for Freddy Adu we were linked a while back with him. Rather not bother i agree.

December 11, 2007

Villain from Texas said:

Freddy Adu won't come here. But we'd be lucky to have him. He has played mostly as a sub for Benfica, coming in at about the 80th minute. In that role, he has already scored several goals, included multiple game winners.

December 11, 2007

Villain from Texas said:

If you haven't seen Adu lately, check out his hattrick this summer against Poland in the Under-20s World Cup: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHWqtzessKY. Or him taking on two Brazilian defenders in the corner: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYFfq9tecHk

December 11, 2007

wildeyedtrot said:

I think it's Maurice Edu, not Freddie. He's from Toronto FC, so I wouldn't get too excited. As regards Harry - I'm sure you all remember his condemnation of West Ham fans for abusing Paul Ince while he was manager there. Don't you?

December 11, 2007

mickey86 said:

an avfcblog christmas party in london? TRAITOR!!

December 11, 2007

ChickenTrain said:

I have to agree with Tex. This kid has some serious skills and although I would love to see him in a Villa jersey, I'm not sure we would be able to get him. I think he could be an exciting play-maker with his pace and footwork.

December 11, 2007

ac3 said:

I really don't see the need for Adu when we already have a better version of the same type of player in Gabby. Adu would be a nice asset on the bench, but then what about Luke Moore?

December 11, 2007

graymo23 said:

I live in London, i'll come , haha. Saying that, I cant stand on my left foot after twisting my ankle whilst attempting some Michael Jackson moves on an ice rink of a dance floor. Hmm, I wonder if I could claim for compensation. Anyway enough of my ramblings, UTV- we MUST beat Sunderland.

December 11, 2007

andy5759 said:

Damian, enjoy the party. I agree with you about Arry; he should take it without a murmur, he's probably laying down a smoke screen to deflect criticism about being involved with shady deals (and dealers). Where would football be without the barracking from the terraces? Often it's witty; sometimes it's funny; other times it can be cruel, profane and even racist/homophobic.

December 11, 2007

kayarcee said:

Freddy showed in the U-20 World Cup that he could excel both on the right wing and in an Alexander Hleb-type role. If we bring him in, slot him on the wing, it allows us to play the hot hand of Gabby and Luke alongside Carew (though we should be giving Maloney a look on the wings), and gives us a little more flexibility in central mid.

December 11, 2007

Ghosthunter said:

We've been linked with Adu before so there may be more to this than first appears. If it's true, then I think we should just get it done. He'd probably be fantastic. Look at how O'Neill has got Young playing and I had my doubts about that signing at first. Just the job for us out on the right wing.

December 11, 2007

smylhr said:

it wasnt laursen in the programme it was bouma again....

December 11, 2007

Villain form Texas said:

ac3: Gabby and Adu are not at all alike. Gabby is a striker who plays up front, relies on pace, and doesn't have great ball control. Adu is playmaker who sits behind the strikers, has exceptional technical skills, and doesn't have the strength that Gabby possesses.

December 11, 2007

Thegreatdando said:

ac3: and what about Luke Moore? For me he's had his chance, and seems like he doesn't want to take it, if we are serious about being true contenders for anything, we need to put sentiment aside and be a bit more ruthless, Luke Moore has alot to prove! If Adu can bring something new to the table, then we should go for him.

December 11, 2007

kayarcee said:

Villain form Texas :like I said; Freddy would make a great winger or Hleb/Kaka-style free agent central forward on the current squad. If we added him, and either Laursen or Mellberg (or both) leave, I'd hope MON seriously looks at a 3-4-1-2 with Carson Bouma, Knight, Davies/Gardner/Bosingwa?/Hoyte? Mighty Shaun, Barry, Reo/Petrov, Young Adu Carew, Gabby

December 11, 2007

AV33 said:

Hi Lads I kept banging on about Jozy Altidore during the summer transfer rumours. I could never work out why we let Angel go for nothing to New York Red Bulls when he cost £9.5m plus wages etc and wondered if Randy would bring US based players to Villa to compensate for this. Altidore has played some nice stuff with Angel for Red Bulls and i read somewhere that he has a better record than Freddie Adu. Any thoughts ?

December 12, 2007

villafandan said:

i was fortunate enough to watch adu play in DC last year and although he had a quiet game he's clearly the real deal. he drifted from left to right wings, played in the middle and popped up front now and again. great first touch, can spread the ball around, good vision and a decent shot on him to boot. i'd have him at villa in heartbeat for both football and commercial reasons. MON can go ahead and spend ashley young type money on him as far as i'm concerned. the only doubt i had about him in the prem was physical, but if wright-phillips can pull it off adu could too, given time.

December 12, 2007

Arrlui said:

How about get Altidore AND Adu? That's a European spot right there.

December 12, 2007

Top_6_Villa said:

@ xuan12 My sentimentsa exactly mate :S wtf lol

December 12, 2007

Thegreatdando said:

villafandan, you make some really good points, but my only worry is will the fans give him time? We love to boo our own (Petrov, and Harewood, as real life examples). If he's not ready for the Prem, Villa fans would turn on him immediately, we all like the idea of 'long term strategies' but in reality we just want instant success.

December 12, 2007

*avfc* said:

its Maurice Edu were looking at not freddy adu

December 12, 2007

villa kidd said:

@cookie_monster i think you should be banned for your racist comment, people like you make the football supporters look bad. xuan12 maybe spamming but it was unnecessary for the stupid comments you come out with.

December 12, 2007

Jeremiah said:

Adu is a good player, and he's been pretty impressive in little playing time for Benfica. I sort of debate where he's big or strong enough to play in the EPL, but I'd like to see him try. Maurice Edu isn't bad either, though. I don't know that he's destined to be anything more than a squad player, but he's been impressive when I've seen him play.

December 12, 2007

Zidave said:

I check Newsnow at least 3 times a day, I have not seen any links with us and Freddy Adu. I think you're getting confused with Freddy Edu, as some others may have mentioned. He plays for Toronto FC and won an award for Rookie of the year or something recently. However, a point on both of them. Freddy Adu, chances of us getting him are unlikely. He's been playing brilliant for Benefica. He needs more developmental time there anyways. Freddy Adu, i don't know why we would want him. He's a defensive midfielder... we already have a very unimaginative center mid with NRC Barry and Gardner. Petrov barely fitting the bill as an offensive mid. He'd never get used, we need a CM who will spark plays. As for Jozy Alitidore, we have no chance in getting him. He's being linked with Real Madrid at the moment. A class player at 18.

December 12, 2007

andy5759 said:

That's easy for you to say, Xuan. I think you may have a fount problem, mate.

December 12, 2007

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