The next level is not this bloke. But we all know MON has & never will buy top class star players he prefers past it has beens or up & coming young players.

We are in dire straits, total mess, Malbranque?? I just wish the club would tell us that we dont have the money and not to expect anything special. We are being messed about and i dont think its fair on us fans, i wonder how the season ticket sales are going, anybody??

Reminds me of the days we were linked with hadji and kachloul. Ok players in their day, but definitely not what we need to move us forward and potentially very near future of deadwood at VP.

"Steed Malbranque - he's my kind of player"

Quote from Tony Blair.

Says it all doesn't it.

Seriously though, he would be a good squad player at that price. [i]IF[/i] we are to progress, we will need players like him to play in extended cup runs and for some Prem games. He's quite a good player you know!

I dont Understand.. How comes im the only Villa fan who doesnt wanna settle for "Average players"???? He's not good enough. Maybe as a squad player..

Damian i like your Articles.. There Brilliant. I read them at work every lunch time and look forward to reading them (Good job mate)

But you player Preference are Poor! Everytime we're linked to a wasteman (London Term) you seem to be coming round to the idea of signing that link .

I know.. We have to be realistic.. But lets not get excited when we're linked to players clubs like Middlesborough and Wigan should be placing bids for..

Portsmouth signed Diarra n Defoe in January- Probably the Best buys of the Season for a club not in the top 4. We are bigger and Arguably better- They should be our players, or the players we want to sign.

Krancjar(or However you spell his name)is a gem.. We need to be finding those types of players in europe or south America.. not just building a team full of English Rejects.

Damian i want to say again.. Your the man. Lets just not
"positives" from every Wack player that is Linked to villa.



>:( >:(

I payed my hard earned money for my season ticket even though i cant really afford it ,so it would be nice to see some investment on quality players to ease the pain of spending £410

marlbranque!! At the best of his fulham form a few years ago maybe but has shown nothing to suggest he's a player to take us forward at spurs the last few seasons, squad player at best, come on MON, get some decent players to improve the team in, an get rid of barry asap!!!!!

I Hate Blues.....Same as that mate. We need to get a move on. If we don't can see Ash leaving as well.

Him, Routledge, Robinson and Chimbonda would be a fabulous spurs reject dream team.

We also still need a right back (or two). Bad news follows:

"Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill’s hopes of signing Portuguese defender Nelson are shattered after the 25-year old claimed that he plans to sign a new contract with Benfica.

O’Neill who is looking to strengthen his squad specially after the exit of Olof Mellberg to Juventus, had been chasing the player for quite some time and this news will come as a set back to his plans for the new season.

In his interview with Portuguese newspaper Record, Nelson said: "It is true I went far enough to consider leaving, but now I intend to negotiate my contract with the club,"

"I have received some offers but none have come to anything and everything points to me staying.

"It is good that clubs appreciate my work but I want to stay here under better economic conditions."

Personally I think he would be an ok signing - yeah agree he isn't going to set the world alight, but we need players! Perhaps I am getting a bit frustrated at the 5 out, 1 in (Davies) for one of the smallest squads in the premiership and the fact that the bench is bigger next season.....aarrgghhhh! But to be fair if we can't keep Barry, who has (up until now) been an almost legend for the club, what chance have we of signing anyone decent?

:o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o

Taglor, your right...

8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
NEWS ANNOUNCED - ASTON VILLA CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILTY OF BECOMING RENAMED TO TOTTENAHM HOTSPUR (B)

This speculation is actually more likely now that Huddlestone has signed a new contract and Giovani Dos Santos is on the books.

I think we need to have some realisation. Money aside (£4 million is an inflated figure in my opinion), Malbranque could do a job at Villa and, as Damian rather aptly alludes, it's less than three weeks before we get our season going.

He's not the big money signing that we are all waiting for, but that doesn't mean players like him are s**t.

very under-rated, he is a very skilfull technical player, who would score more goals than barry if given the ball, four million would be a good piece of business

He's a squad player at best. I don't think he'll be in charge of bringing us to the next level. If he HAS been earmarked for this i'd be very disturbed. However for the time being 4Million for a decent squad player is not bad!

If we plan to field a larger squad, then we need players like Malbranque. Last year we had Salifou, Gardner, Berger, and Osbourne as our backup central midfielders, depending on whether you also classify Petrov as a backup.

Malbranque is better than all of those players. So he can improve our squad.

I get the impression that most Villa fans have on this forum seem to lack ambition - Players like this aren't the type we need. Are things this bad that we can't attract half decent players even. S M would be a stupid buy!

Come on MON - You've had your three weeks jolly in Austria now show us what your made of - I think he's got a week to show the fans we mean business or we'll go backwards next season!

In regards all these right backs - MON has left it far too late. No doubt we'll get somebody's reject for a lot of money that will be moved on the following year for not a lot.

I was watching MON body laguage on his holiday with the BBC and he looked very smug. So he's got something up his sleeve or he's a very good Poker player .....

I really think Villa have done nothing in getting players in these last few weeks - I hope I'm wrong!

Villan from Texas, you've hit the nail on the head there.

Not good enough, next.

Yes, Malbranque would be a good addition to our squad: skilful, reasonably priced, and would fill the void left by Berger's departure. Not 'A' Class by any means, but an experienced Premiership player who would beef up our thin squad.

Miles better than Milner

Squad player at best.

We have to start competing for the big names. It's no good accepting they won't come due to lack of Champions Leauge football....Man city seem to be coping ok.

Let's at least be linked with some real quality for once! it's going to take 1 big name to make us all sit up and take notice.

i quite like Malbranque, would have prefered to have had him 3yrs ago in all fairness. Its time MON came out to give us fans an update on what the hell's he doing to bolster our squad. The Barry saga is fuc*ing boring. Let him go, hes done nearly 10years service. Barry must have asked MON on what transfers he was looking at this summer to push us on, obviously he can't have been happy with what he heard.

Very much the calibre of player we are after (unfortunatley)

Also the club will never tell us there is no money for players - I think its something we have to work out for ourselves. Its pretty obvious to me - we don't have the money - (Unless we sell Barry)

However - if you wish you can, for a few more weeks keep hoping for Henry and Bentley. But don't be too disappointed when - Malbranque and James Beattie are unveiled.

Why not? We need squad players. He's experienced, works hard, the sort of player that makes up the numbers for all the competitions.

Not Diego, obviously, but we all knew MON wasn't going to sign 10 world beaters.

villa's problem has existed for the past several managers, they all look to buy british, mostly second tier standard or foriegn players who are playing in england, again, others rejects, unfortunately MON is the same.
villa will never move forward until we exploit the foreign market and pick up some gems. MON has never had big money and does not seem comfotable spending it!
there also seems to be an awful lot of quotes about selling before we buy, do we have money or not?
as for right back situation, what big team would go 2 seasons without a specialist right back, unbelievable! glen johnson and luke young both sold in that period without any interest from us, quotes of 'i know who i want and led to believe he will be available' from MON, WHEN! he will be a pensioner before we get this target! weeks away from europe, we should be most active, but seems barry saga has taken all our efforts, come on guys, think and act big, even if ya dont believe it

Oh God this is getting too much! Please tell me this isn't going to happen. Damain if Barry is no good, by what criteria is Malbraque worth interest? He's 28 and average, we need stars not squad players.

I hope fen avfc knows what hes talking about :P

better than petrov IMO, spuds play him on the left and despit being one of their better players id still have him down the middle, not particulary exciting but good squad player

just came beack from glastonbury and i have never been so confused in my life, has anything decent happened since i have been gone?

[quote]just came beack from glastonbury and i have never been so confused in my life, has anything decent happened since i have been gone? [/quote]

You were only gone a weekend (unless you're a Roadie), you make it sound like you've been to Papua New Guinea!!!
;)

I have been thinking about this and this might a chance to open up and new article.

A while back MON told fans to be patient with signings coming in over the summer. His words from the AVFC site where "We do not have to sign a player every week. We could end up signing seven in a day"

Now its a bit funny, but we have moved the unveiling of the new kits from the 10th July to the 7th!?

So its got me thinking as well. We are missing a number 1 goal keeper so is Robbo a done and dusted deal? Cos I really can't see us unveiling the new goal kits with just Taylor and an under 18's keeper.

Also might interesting if anyone goes down to it if Barry is going to be there?

What do you guys think??

God, I'd play maloney ahead of him any day

mini_beest .... i think you are setting yourself up for a huge amount of disappointment. People come up with these theories every window only to be disappointed.

don't worry its probably just a bad dream.

ppl seem to be takin this badly. it is highly likely that we wont sign him. after all, how many players hav we been linked wit, and actually signed? zilch.
so, i doubt steed will come to vp

not highly excited by this link but we supposedly have loads of cash 2 spend on filling a squad and he isnt a shit player!....i am getting very very very nervous that nobady wants to join the villa this summer tho!i can see im not the only one thinking that too!!

Yeah glastonbury is just one big corporate advert now, "stars" like jay z, neil diamond, lily allen amy winehouse etc. It used to mean something and now it's ruined by greed just like the premiership. They even have festival wear in clothing stores now so you can look like a hippy for the weekend!!!!!!!!!! >:( >:( >:( >:( :'( :'( :'(

Ok, Malbranque is decent, but he's not the sort of player we need if we're going to kick on! David Bentley would be kicking on! Malbranque would just be a quick fix solution to our desperate right side problem!

Oh, and B6 Warrior (From London)
We're not willing to settle for average players, its just MON's reluctancy to spend anything and unfortunatley, there isn't anything we can do about! Villa fans have patience of saints and there is going to be a time when we will get narked with 'top class' signings like Marlon Harewood and Zat Knight. And continue to be linked with 'world class' superstars such as Steed Malbranque of FC Tottenham and Joe Mattock of Real Leicester!

I'll continue to back MON and whoever he signs because my blood is claret and blue, but when we don't kick on, I, as will many others, will do our talking with our feet! Just like fans everywhere!

MON will know when we won't stand for it no longer, when we've had enough of half rate Heskeys being signed! But for now, as always, we must wait! That saying 'Good Things Come to Those who Wait' is gonna get old someday!

Patience is the key. . . . . .

By the way, i can get to the root of your dogs depression! With a technique called Chew toys and pedigree dental sticks!

My god I hope prospective players dont read these boards. The negativity would put anyone off. It has been often stated that we need up to 10 players over this transfer window. Steed Malbranque would easliy fit into the mix of players we need. That is - some established quality stars, some future stars, some experienced Premiership players and a couple of punts. At 4 million he is excellent value and will not cripple any transfer kitty we have. If you have any doubts about his worth go onto the Spuds forums and you will see that they do not want him to leave and realise his value. It doesnt matter if he is the first we sign (It would matter if he was the only player we signed) Sign Him up now and then go looking for the next 9 players we need.

can someone tell me what the problem is.do we have no money and cant do much till barry deal done or is MON just playing the game.this is getting to me know back in training thursday,looks like it will be just a game of 5 a side,please enough of the spurs rejects....

Im goin to crack up if we dont sign someone soon.please martin sign a few players this week,Fed up hearing about gareth barry wish he"d just go to be b##l##ed.

I'm always the optimist....It could be worse.....We could be linked with shit-head Joey Barton. I'd love to kick the smoke out of him, the little t*at

So pre season training starts today for us!!! Lets assessthe position we are in!! At the end of the season Oneil said we needed to strengthen what was then the smallest squad in the prmiership and bring in quality.
well so far our Captain is all but gone andour vice captain olof has departed. probably our 2 most consistent perfromers over the last decade.
On top of that we have let go 2 goalkeepers, and 2 other squad players. we also have 2 defenders - davis and ohallaran out with long term injuries!!!
As it stands at start of pre season we are significantly weaker than at the end of last season!! With just 17 games till our first competitive game this is becoming really concerning and alarming!!

I think at last that the fans on this site are beginning to share my misgivings about MON. If you look at his previous history he is the ultimate 'underspender'. Yes the media tell us he's a great manager but he spends nothing and then bottles it and leaves the club in a state. Look at Leicester and Celtic - yes he achieved but then left both clubs in a right state. It's not disloyal it's just the facts. In the next couple of weeks we'll probably be putting ads in the local rags for players out of contract to fill the bench. Come on O'Neill pull your bloody finger out of Hanson and Shearers arse and sign some decent players you muppet.

Real quality doesn't always have to cost a lot of money
Real quality doesn't always have to cost a lot of money
Real quality doesn't always have to cost a lot of money
Real quality doesn't always have to cost a lot of money
Real quality doesn't always have to cost a lot of money
......The Martin O'Neill Mantra, repeat after me. Come on martin get your hand in Randy's pocket for crying out loud.

ive read through most of the comments on this, and find myself laughing....
if we dont have money how did we manage to get a.young, petrov, davies, that nearly 30mil on 3 players....wakey wakey
Randy learner is a very rich man and unlike the glaziers isnt riddles with debt.
If you look at o'neill past signing for leic celtic and villa, they have never been leaked into the papers, until the deal is pretty much done. O'Neill has spoken publically and said he will improve the squad, he is a man of his words.
Do expect english players, but not sh1t ones, sidwell, hoyte etc are all very good players, chelsea and arsenal thought so.......
We will speand big, no-one will know who we will sign, but trust me, we will be knocking on l'pool door next season and barry will be eating his words, judas....