First to the rumour; we're apparently interested in 31 year old Villareal midfielder Marcos Senna.

He's currently in the Spain squad and is at Euro 2008, which rules this out for me as Martin O'Neill isn't there for any players. Or was that just a ruse?

It used to be that I'd consider 31 as too old, but with the Intertoto just over three weeks away, I'm thinking any age would be good enough, especially if he's good enough to get into the Spain team and has the European experience we may need.

So, if there is any truth to this rumour, it could turn out to be an inspired signing if it happens and well, we could do with some real quality, which I' hope this player is.

Onto Paul Ince. I'm really quite happy that he got the Blackburn job, not because he may very well be able to talk Bentley in to signing a new contract and staying for at least another season, but because it's nice to see it's still possible.

Okay, he's got the name and experience but he still went to the lower leagues and did the business. If he can bring his managerial win record to the Premier League, quite a few clubs will have good reason to be concerned.

Anyway, he may be able to talk Bentley into staying or it may be a case that he already knows he is off. We don't really know but if he is coming to Villa, I suspect we'll find out sooner rather than later, with the Intertoto kicking off so soon.

That's it from me for this morning. I'm thinking I should do something constructive as today is a day off for me, so if this afternoon I come on posting absolute gibberish, you know I'm posting from the pub.

Comments (39)

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mickey86 said:

that senna bloke is brazilian by birth, saw him play last night, never really stood out but if he keeps fabregas and alonso out of the spanish starting 11 then worth a go. man u were after him but opted for hargreaves instead.

June 23, 2008

Marlon said:

Where were we linked with Senna?

June 23, 2008

matt_cutler said:

If MON could get Senna for a decent price considering his age, it would be an absolutely brilliant signing. In La Liga this season, he has been mightily impressive. He is excellent in the Makelele-esque role and if (when) Barry goes, he'd be a like-for-like replacement. People who are unfamiliar with him, check out this goal he scored from the half-way line this season:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...re=related

June 23, 2008

Villain of the North said:

MON never said he wasn't there to sign players. His words were that there were unlikely to be any gems unearthed that he didn't already know about, suggesting he wasn't there on a scouting mission. No reference to not signing players who are playing in the tournament.

June 23, 2008

karpenter said:

"...saw him play last night, never really stood out..." You must have been watching a different game, he was the best player on the Spain team.

June 23, 2008

The Mighty Steve said:

He keeps Fabregas and Alonso out of the starting line-up because they know, unlike England, that it is about the best team and not the best players.

June 23, 2008 | url

NH08 said:

I'm pretty sure MON never said he wasn't going to buy any players that participated in the tournament. I think what he really mean't was that he didn't expect to see any players interest him that he didn't already know, and therefore wasn't going to buy anyone based off their performance just in the tournament. Any of the players he's bidding for or is interested in that happen to be in the tournament aren't going to be bought just because of how they did in the Euros, but what their performances have been over the last couple of seasons.

June 23, 2008

Damian said:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/h...299163.stm senna link

June 23, 2008

McVilla said:

He's seriously going to have to make quite a few signings and soon. Maybe he's got it all worked out and will make a mass of signings all at the same time.One can only hope Senna would be a very good signing, but we need so much more

June 23, 2008

maindog said:

ive been watchin senna during the euros and i think he could fill barrys boots perfectly..composed on the ball and a great vision for a pass.not much pace but barry hasnt either..id be very happy to sign him.as far as bently goes,id love to see him sign but SWP or milner would be just as good for me.

June 23, 2008

vivavilla! said:

Although I think Senna would make a marvelous addition, I think I'd rather avoid this signing as we'd be paying a lot of money (inflated based on his good performances this summer) for a player who probably only has a couple of years left at his level. Add in time needing to adjust to a different league - doesn't seem a very efficient deal.

June 23, 2008

jaf said:

Senna plays the same role as Coker, so doubt MON would be after him.. One rumour that seems to be true is Newcastle are after Aimar he's still only 28 and the fee would be around £5 mill.. Would be great for us in the creative midfielder role.....

June 23, 2008

jace the ace said:

senna , alonso dont thay race cars ,all joking apart mybe the sort of experiance that we need with brookside barry going

June 23, 2008

Marlon said:

That Senna link is from months ago.

June 23, 2008

Andyeltz said:

Thate BBC Sport Senna link is from the 16th March 2008 Damien!!!

June 23, 2008

Damian said:

someone just emailed me the link ... i looked at the content, not the date .. sorry but, still, it's a link and we've not mentioned it before

June 23, 2008

pazzler said:

he wud bring some bite to the midfield as well as midfield. but perhaps reo-coker wud benefit from learning from senna. on the bentley thing, wud love to see a bid for him

June 23, 2008

Paul McMahon said:

Senna has got Champions league with Villareal and that link is quite, quite old. I would forget about this one

June 23, 2008

JonnyW said:

Aimar is lightweight and very injury-prone, he will be eaten alive in the Prem.

June 23, 2008

Villa dan said:

we aint gonna sign any 1 at this rate. not long till the inter-too-bob cup starts. could be a season of struggle

June 23, 2008

tonebone said:

here is an alraming statistic. Before readin it please note i realise we are going to promote so youth players to the 1st team squad. Our current 1st team squad based on players named in squads last season is get this 7 yes 7 players short of the 2nd smallest squad in the premiership. so we have to sign 7 players just to have the equal smallest squad in the premier league. this a team that is in europe, starting there season earlier than anyone else, hoping to challenge for 4th, and put a cup run together. we might promote 2 youth theam players and maybe make 5 signings but i imagine the teams above us in these stats will sign a couple so unless we sign 8 players we will definitly have the smallest squad again!!!

June 23, 2008

Al said:

Senna is a World class performer and would be an excellent addition to midfield as he not only holds the midfield superbly he is also a very good passer of the ball. He would improve the squad and by the time he is ready to retire I think reo-coker will have learnt a lot from him and will become an even better player! If there is any truth to the rumour lets get him now!

June 23, 2008

Taddy said:

Sign em all up. No seriously Senna is a great player - but a holding player in the Makele mould. If we sign him and play him with coker we will get no goals from centre mid next season. Der der der nigel reo coker, der der der ball across the floor.

June 23, 2008

I HATE BLUES said:

Heading states Ince is keeping Bentley and and as you read on he might know he is leaving ,dont really make much sense does it.So maybe the the heading should have been Ince going to try to keep Bentley ,but it maybe to late as he is already off elsewhere, may have been more accurate.

June 23, 2008

Az_ said:

Senna is top class, this is a pleasant rumour

June 23, 2008

Taddy said:

Az_ - just how pleasant is the Senna rumour? More pleasant than a towering john carew header??

June 23, 2008

joey the ak said:

31 years old. The thing is he will probaly retire in a few years time,but with the age comes the experiance. try this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcos_Senna oh type it sorry. UTV

June 23, 2008

Taddy said:

Could Zak Knight do the holding role in midfield - could we transform him like Capello transformed Marcel Desailly all those years ago from centre half to centre mid at AC Milan? Der der der nigel reo coker, der der der ball across the floor.

June 23, 2008

joey the ak said:

sorry go onto ertenal links Marcus Senna!

June 23, 2008

spec34 said:

not a chance he is top class, afraid to say it but there is no way he is linked with Villa

June 23, 2008

MOOCHER said:

Even more worried now. When is MON going to get some new players. Only a month to go. Please prove me wrong MON

June 23, 2008

Villa_Rules said:

Senna looks very good got a great shot on him As for Bnetley lets just hope he really dose have his heart set on a move we really could do with signing him Anyway just sign someone martin and shut me up

June 23, 2008

smcc said:

does anyone know when the first Inter-toto game is and do new players need to be registered by a certain date to be elligible?

June 23, 2008

Ben Richards said:

Senna was the best player last night by a long way - He ran the show in the middle and if we could I'd take him. I still think if Bentley does leave Villa would be the best option for him. £15m not sure he's worth that though! I'm a little worried about are lack of players coming in. I think if nothing comes by the end of this week we have a real problem as it will leave two weeks left and new players need time to settle. If you look at the last few years Man Utd and Chelsea have got their targets real early. This is the right way - People might say Man Uts haven't got anybody - Fact is they don't need to buy this summer unless Ronaldo leaves. Chelsea got their full back and I think you'll only see one maybe two more in unless they have a big clearout - Which again they don't need.

June 23, 2008

brett said:

senna plays every week for villareal who finished 2nd in la liga last year, and starts for spain so he aint exactly struggling simply put its a ridiculous link that will never happen

June 23, 2008

somersetvilla said:

watched MON dithering about on the beeb last night,,i bet hes got nothing sorted,cause he needs the cash from the barry sale,thats why hes hanging on for more,,hope barry stays put,,and dont sign a new contract,then he can go where he wants for nowt.....now were hearing about centre halves,,we sold a diamond in cahill..and now MONs thinking about buying another,,brilliant...and what about the 2 year hunt for a right back,god are these guys like rockin horse s**te,or is it just that MON is a twat...whos our number 2 keeper this season,,has any one told MON that weve only got one goalie..HANDS UP ALL THOSE WHO REMEMBER THIS TIME LAST SUMMER....Deja vu or what..its fun to be a villa fan

June 23, 2008

jeremiaswodo said:

Really, none of the teams have made many signings. I've said this before, but instead of Senna, who is a great player but older, why not sign Poulsen? Similar player, younger, probably equally good, plays with Laursen, cheaper. I'm going to keep banging that drum until Aug. 31, I think.

June 24, 2008

Ben Richards said:

Don't agree with somersetvilla about no money avaiable - In the last 12 months Villa only paid a small amount for the winger from Spurs. Curtis deal was taken into account from last seasons figures. Villa ammased a big income from TV revenue, 6th finish etc. Players wages haven't gone up as no new contracts have been put in place as yearly increases don't go in place till next April. So to say no money is there is a stupid comment. I think the problem is MON is a people manager not a businessman. I hope we're proved wrong - BUT MON seems to not realise that Villa fans have this every year - So MON and Randy wake up and smell the coffee !!!

June 24, 2008

vivavilla! said:

There is absolutely nothing to suggest that MON needs to sell in order to buy. Nothing. We all know how he goes about his business in the transfer window - slowly, but methodically. Please people, stop making these nonsense suggestions that we're having cashflow issues.

June 24, 2008

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