I took my online shopping yesterday offline and ended up buying a new TV so it looks like while I was out I missed quite a bit as it turns out Martin Laursen has signed a new contract and Jermain Defoe is in talks about a deal.

I've not seen anything on the club site about the Laursen thing but they do like to let the Birmingham papers know about these things first and the Defoe story is based on a 'source' telling the Birmingham Post.

If Laursen has signed it's great news. His performances this season have been nothing but World class and my only hope is he stays injury free.

If he can stay injury free I can see him been the difference between 8th and 6th this season. Who knows, it could even be better, but I'm not getting my hopes up, just yet.

You should know my views on Defoe. I think the lad is top drawer and given the chances he'll score as well as create. The paper say it's now only about how much Villa have to pay.

Personally, I say pay what you've got to pay for a player of that quality.

Comments (43)

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mossiewalsh said:

are u sure aout laursen

January 17, 2008

Zidave said:

WoW these rumors completely make up for the bordom of the last week! I had some doubts about Defoe in the summer, personally prefering the likes of Fred, Martins, Suazo, and Alves, but I have no doubt now that he is a great Jan. signing for us at this point. I have complete faith that he will start racking up the goals for us come his signing. Lets just hope he signs now... Laurson signing, is massive. He is the best defender in the prem right now in my opinion. I absolutely agree that he plays a massive role in where we place. This is such excellent news, lets just hope now that we see it on the OS soon...

January 17, 2008

Damian said:

not sure about Laursen - it's a 'source' in the post .. follow the link above

January 17, 2008 | url

villa 82 said:

Damian. Just like you are in the minority about Barry (although i agree his best position is left back or left wing)i am sure i will be in the minority in not being at all exited about a guy who can barely make the bench at spurs.People talk about his ability but i am really not convinced by this selfish, lazy player who is already 26 and will not get much better.On Laursen get in top player top bloke.

January 17, 2008

Alex Taylor said:

my only criticism of the signing of defoe would be that he is too similar to gabby in his size and what you are trying to make gabbyinto. we would struggle to have any presence up front if defoe and gabby were partners. my choice for a striker would of been bent because he is taller and a bit stronger with similar attributes in front of goal However, gabby is beefing up a bit and as long as we change our football when carew is out the side we would be a huge threat. not moaning about defoe, i really want him to sign. i just hope we keep the ball on the deck if he signs and carew isnt playing!

January 17, 2008

Damian said:

at villa 82 i can understnad why people think that about defoe ... but for a player that has only start (i think) two games this season - he's still scored more than any villa player .. he might be selfish (but i like that in a striker) but he's clinical and it's one of the elements i think we're missing ... will be interesting to see at Alex Taylor - for me, he's nothing like gabby .. but maybe i need to take my rose tinted glasses off

January 17, 2008 | url

Skinboy said:

Acording to the Defoe report the fee approx £10million may be a stumbling point. Why? If we want quality thats the price you pay. Billionaire owner can pay £10million for a quality striker is crap. I'll be so p****ed off if we dont get him because of the asking price!

January 17, 2008

styzie said:

if martin o'niell does sign defoe where would we put him we have got abonlahor on the right young on the left and crewe upfront unless we take him out but i dont think that martin o'neill will take crewe out.

January 17, 2008 | url

alexb said:

In paying 10mil for curtis davies and 9.5 for young i think MON has prooved that he's not afraid of paying over inflated prices (akthough young is clearly worth twice that now IMO). I think that because defoe is out of contract in 15-16 months MON is making sure that we dont simply 'jump' when spurs say 'how high'. The buyer is in the stronger position here, all the spurs board will think about is the campbell situation and will snap our hands off if were patient

January 17, 2008

Chrisodon said:

If it's true this is the best Villa news i have woke up too in a while.

January 17, 2008

PaulE said:

I don't think he's anything like Gabby either. Gabby's a good 4 inches taller than Defoe and has scored quite a few headers from crosses this season. I think Defoe would offer something a bit different - he's got good feet and a decent first time shot, which is something we lack.

January 17, 2008

Woodinho said:

Great news about Laurson if true! If he signs I will get his name on the back of my shirt for definite! Anyway, a bit off subject now but check out this quote 'I used to go into games believing the opposition was scared of me. That belief evaporated when I played under Keegan' - Michael Owen in his autobiography. Funniest thing I've read for ages!

January 17, 2008

Chrisodon said:

We should sign owen aswell as a back up.

January 17, 2008

Robbie said:

I agree with most of the sentiments here, Defoe is top top quality...the amount of attacks that we have that don't get finished at villa...now we can have a guy who is there to do just that. If he's in talks, then he wants to come, it's only matching his terms, and then matching spurs' terms (Which can't be too much, considering they've said they don't want him, and they're in the process of buying a 5th world class striker). I'm not bothered that Defoe doesn't get into the Spurs team, because Berbatov cannot be benched, not because he's too good, but because he'll sulk. Keane is integral to their team. Bent isn't as good as Defoe, but he cost 16mil, so they can't bench him either. Seriously, he is too good to not buy MON.

January 17, 2008

Alex Taylor said:

fair enough damian. i agree he isnt the same as gabby. i meant that they were both small and provide no real aerial presence and that they both have pace and we are trying to nurture gabby into a goalscorer. we would have to change our game if they player together (i.e no bolton style football at all in 90mins!!).

January 17, 2008

Beast said:

In all honestly, If we do get defoe (which if he is hold talks at Bodymoor has got to be a very good sign) We can rest gabby or even put him on the right. For me this will sort out our right hand side problem and for the the last few games we're play Pet seems to always pull into the centre which is leaving Mellberg wide open! But COME ON VILLA! We can sign him and £10m isnt a bad price

January 17, 2008

Dizzy Mugs said:

That's a rather short post about Laursen on icBirmingham's half. I'd expect a quote or two..

January 17, 2008 | url

Chrisodon said:

Gabby has aerial ability most of his goals have been headers so i think him and defoe would work just like rooney & tevez same type of players but work well

January 17, 2008

Alex Taylor said:

yes he can head but so can owen. if you thump the ball up to him from a goal kick, don't expect him to be winning too many headers!

January 17, 2008

Woodinho said:

WEBFLASH: Laursen Signs New Deal Martin Laursen has put to paper on a new two and a half year deal. The Danish defender has been a rock at the back and has proved to be a massive asset going forward too, with six goals already this term. Stay tuned to www.avfc.co.uk for more.

January 17, 2008

Damian said:

hardly a webflash - but nice of them to tell us

January 17, 2008 | url

xandeh said:

At least they've confirmed it, I was just waiting for it to all come out as rubbish, very happy now. Read it for yourself if you like. http://www.avfc.premiumtv.co.u...68,00.html

January 17, 2008

mossiewalsh said:

happy days delighted he signed. now for the new players come on MON get them in start with defoe finish with bently and have riise and a rb in between. i still dont no who for rb everyone on about lad from porto but never seen him

January 17, 2008

Beast said:

very instresting: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A31215052 Basically defoe looks like he has signed as the bloke who made the post says Defoe has brought a mansion for 2.1M!

January 17, 2008

Dizzy Mugs said:

Why do they all move to Lichfield?!

January 17, 2008 | url

Beast said:

God knows but hey it seems to be legit tho, what does everyone else think?

January 17, 2008

Beast said:

TalkSport have just reported at JD has been spotted at Bodymoor! Is a move on the cards? Suggestion points to yes. I know with a couple of mates who are or have been footie players it does take a while for you to agree terms, medical and sign. If reports are true and Defoe has been there or at Villa Park from 9 it looking very likely he will be a villa player from Monday's game!

January 17, 2008

richie p said:

i dunno why all they all move to that area but i once was out in lichfield and saw kevin phillip's in a bar called scales

January 17, 2008

AK28 said:

Just saw that Pompy have signed Diarra. I just don't understand O'Neill and his transfer moves. Surely this is the type of player that we should be signing? A french international centre midfielder for £5m is a bargin. Surely he would have chosen Villa over Portsmouth?

January 17, 2008

MJ said:

laursen to officially put pen to paper on friday. what are the odds that villa unveil defoe at the same time in a press conference. just a thought. can see carew with defoe upfront if we sign him. put gabby down right to improve his touch and vision for rest of season. sign a right back, then kick on from there. utv

January 17, 2008

TimC said:

Diarra wanted to be guarantied to play every week.

January 17, 2008

swb said:

I'll be joining that minority that doesn't fancy Defoe much. Sure, he's scored some goals, but in how many chances? He's like the king of missing 1 vs 1. If you think Carew is bad at finishing, I would say Defoe needs even more chances. O'Neil is probably buying him to try and bring him back in form, because a 26yo isn't a hot prospect anymore, only a good manager/trainer can fix him up. If that happens, I'm guessing it's to put pressure on Young. Or be a sub for Carew. The attack looks thin with maloney and moore as the only reserves -considering we play with 3 most of the time.

January 17, 2008

VillaPD said:

cahill will bo off to the blues next week.

January 17, 2008

andy5759 said:

I predict a rousing reception for Laursen on Monday. Both before the game and after he scores!

January 17, 2008

Villa_Rules said:

Laursen signing a new contract is kind of a like a complete new signing im so glad he has decided to stay and showed his loyalty to the club As for defoe where has this been mentioned please dont tell me the eveining mail again bill howell and his silly storys?

January 17, 2008

DSB1 said:

Obviously Laursen signing is great news, as would be the signing of Defoe. The one worrying aspect is the apparent quotes that a right back is not a major concern. Whilst we have had a great season to date I always feel that any team with a half decent left winger will create numerous chances against us due to the poor positional sense of either right back we use. If Villa don't want to pay the silly money Porto want for Bosingwa there must be other targets they have been looking at. That said, I would not be surprised if we make several signings from Jan 30 and 31st as MON likes to leave it late.

January 17, 2008

V1L4 FC said:

I think that if villa sign defoe this would be MASSIVE for villa, i have a season ticket at villa and i believe that we are going places this could make the difference between 7th and 4th CHAMPIONS LEAGUE here we COME.

January 17, 2008

505anthony said:

Funny, but even more than other signings we could have made, getting Laursen to sign back on was getting me nervous. And now that it's official, it really feels like a new signing. I'm overjoyed. Granted, I think it's p**s that we're selling Cahill rather than loaning him, as I've certainly earmarked him for the future--but to City! Again? They're making a team off our scraps. But I guess he's been playing in the Championship lately and likes it there to want to go back? As for Defoe, I dunno: I'd think MON would want to sign someone with height rather than another diminutive forward. I think we should keep Moore, forget about Defoe, and replace Harwood, personally (unless we're just keeping Homer there to keep Nigel comopany). With Defoe, i'm concerned he would be picked in front of Gabby, which is crap. Gabby is going to be a better striker than Defoe ever will be, no doubt about it. And he's taller. anyway...I'm just relieved about Laursen.

January 17, 2008

Az_ said:

Very relieved that Laursen has signed a new contract. Defoe? I suppose he's worth 10 mil, and would be a good signing. Could probably get a cheaper younger foriegn striker but this is O'Neil, Defoe is english...I'd welcome it! Also, does anybody else think 10 mil is a rediculous price for Curtis Davies? He's an alright player with potential, but to put things in to perspective; Man U brought Vidic for around 7 mil off Spartak Moscow. Don't get me wrong, he's been playing well for us, but he's no Vidic!

January 17, 2008

Chrisodon said:

Defoe is better than Moore ever will be.

January 17, 2008

Beast said:

At the end of the day, I have a good feeling Defoe will come. Ok the papers are saying Newcastle are after him but if you was Defoe where would you go? A - The a club which is 6th and has a glowing future ahead of them Or B - A club which is struggling to get results they should win and are VERY over rated!

January 18, 2008

nuneaton villa said:

I think that buying defoe is a step backwards as lets face it he is not good enough to get in the spurs first 11.Whot we need is a top striker who will bring us goals game after game and not think he is bigger than the team.villa till i die!!!!!

January 18, 2008

mike_roberts said:

Just read on SSN that O'Neill has denied any contact with spurs or defoe, i knew it was too good to be true!!

January 18, 2008

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