Could this be the day that we will sign our first players...!!!
Whe should also put in i bid for the best young norwegian player Tarik Elyounoussi, pay 2 mill and he is a Villan..

i would love both these players to be at the villa, sidwell a good replacement for barry and i think will get better and bentley is quality and is real good at dead balls. him and ash young takin free kicks next season were bound to bag a few

I share your sentiments Damian! Bentley would be hard to top! And i'm starting to warm to Sidwell too! Its exactly as you say, a few more like that and we could be on for a very good season!

Another thing too, re: "The News that won't go away" £17mill plus Finnan for Gareth Barry! I'd say thats a good bit of business if its true! A short term solution for the right back! Finnan is a very steady and consistant performer and i'd be very confident of a solid back row with Finnan, Davies (or A N Other), Laursen and Super Boom in there!

Optimism is renewed fella's

dont tease !!!!

please dont give me false hope again

If true I take my hat off to MON - And it will be the start of some quality coming to go hand in hand with the great young players we've got already!

I wasn't even on the Best avfc site (avfcblog) i was looking at other sites for any transfer news, i saw that it said Steve Sidwell and David Bentley set to sign? so obviously i clicked on to the link and what do u no im back on avfcblog

Im reallly startin to think all the links around come from here
i dont really no what im saying that for but i wanted to say it

HOPE THEY SIGN lets start believing again, forget about the blues matches this season its all about

VILLA VS LIVERPOOL

Bentley is my number target this summer, im not sure it will happen, but if it does then i will know we mean business, he will improve our team immensely and also he will become a much better player over the next season or 2, top man!

Yeah i saw Sky Sports News this morning which said that Sidwell was on his way for a medical at VP. Very good news. With regards Bentley - i think that is just wishful thinking (i hope im proved wrong tough).

Does anybody know if its true that MON didnt fly out yesterday to Switzerland?

i think bentley will sign for villa in next 48hours for £16m, i know her was at the belfry last night discussing move with mon.

hopefully he will ours by friday

bentley has agreed terms with spurs and the clubs are discussing the fee as i type. He 100% will not be joining villa. Surely blackburn to villa ould be a sideways step anyway.

if blackburn to villa is a sideways step then going to spurs is a step backwards

what are you basing this on - your continued failure to break into the top four or your carling cup win last season?

fernando - your off your trolly mate. Villa a sideways step? Maybe but Spurs would be a step down? 6th vs 11th? Joker!

Blackburn to Spurs is certainly a sidestep at best. Now Hughes has gone a move to Villa is probably a step up. Depends on how Ince gets on.

The only reason he'd move to Spurs over Villa is for the London lifestyle. And I certainly don't wants players who are more concerned about the lifestyle than the club.

i've come round to sidwell and he looks like a racing certainty, so i'll be very happy when it's confirmed that he's signed.

i'm still not convinced we're favourites to sign bentley and i'd settle for milner, but bentley could be the missing ingredient in terms of creativity at villa. we sign these two and i'd say our midfield options suddenly look very strong indeed. just need to fill some spots at the back and we're all set.

a striker might be nice, but maybe delfouneso will be 4th choice next season and that wouldn't worry me at all.

Damian.. Where did you hear this Bentley meeting MON thing last night? I'm guessing he is flying out to Switzerland today then?

Ive seen on SSN myself about Sidwell, so hopefully that get sorted soon. Not sure about Bentley.

K4AVFC they can do it by phone or fax and they have people at villa park who can do the terms

Darragh mon has gone to switzerland because its on club website

jclaytoravfc - i thought so. Cheers.

jclaytoravfc ... Sorry but whats that got to do with anything i asked?! lol.

This will make my year. Sidwell is a great signing, no 2 ways about it, but with bentley we can truly challenge liverpools top 4.

Barry really doesnt strengthen them that much over mascherano. And Arsenal are losing players faster than Pamela Anderson is dropping her knickers ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Bentley and young will provide so many goals a season. FANTASTIC BATTLE for setpieces. Im stuck for who i would pick, but in all honesty, just about young.

Brilliant if this happens, if, if, if.

london clubs and there fans make me laugh,,cause they come from the dump of a capital they think they have the god given right to be a big club..look at little chelsea and the next super club in the making QPR,you wait it wont be long before they think they rule the football world too...on sidwell brill if he signs ,,on bentley now were talking,our midfield with those too in it,me thinks would frighten a few this year,,finnan would be a very solid right back..lets hope we get rid of barry before rafa changes his mind....why on earth would bentley wanna go to spurs,,hes at a better club now

Darragh - it's fiar to assume that the club site would say he's flown out, but do you really expect a. them to know and b. even if he was supposed to, that he wouldn't stay or come back to do a deal or two?

it's just that the club site really is the worst in the premier league - not just the design, but the content - it's poor, inaccurate, out of date ... why would they have this right?

K4AVFC - i had an email last night saying that they met - don't know anything else, but it was from the same person who said a while ago that we'd made a bid/enquiries, a few days before it all really started about bentley - take it as you want to

So BlackBurn to Tottenham would be a what? A Vocation? What are you talking?Apart from Tripe. Jog on.

Bentley would be great, it sounds like Miguel as well, I'm getting excited and as for Sidwell- in his last 2 games for Reading against Villa he tore us apart, roll on the signings.

Prices this year seem to have gone through the Roof though, theres talk that Spuds are going to get 8m for Chimbadboy, outrageous

Damian. What "other sources" state Bentley met with MON? Don't say a bloke down the pub just as you get my hopes up. I can't dare to believe that we could sign Bentley.
Anyone see that Benitez want to sign David Villa? What a joke, the hard up scousers can't afford Barry!!!!!

Damian - a fair point. Let's just hope your source speaks the truth.

Honestly - i hate transfer season - cant handle all the 'will we, won't we'.

Looks like the Alonso deal is almost dead so they're going to be stuck with a lot of midfield players and ones that aren't going to sit on the bench. So after the games in China I think Barry will be a bench warmer for sure! So unless Liverpool go seriously into debt there's no chance of Villa going to them. They also have to realise that a new stadium will mean no big money for a few years to come. That's what's happened at Arsenal even though its turning round there with 60,000 every other week.

Bentley & Young sounds fantastic down the flanks sounds like Morley and Shaw days might return. I just hope all this happens as people will be really pi*sed off.

I agree with Damian about the Villa web-site - Very poor! What make me laugh though is they put out the rummours page so quickly every day. Like they what people to think they're busy .... ha ha

What do people know of this lad from Sheff Wed? £2 - 4m sounds crazy from a team that's been fighting the drop of late?

Also nobody heard anything more about the young lad from Leicester City we were interested in. I can't remember his name but the youngest U21 player?

fernado!!! ur a joke, ur not a villa fan!!!! damien ban this muppett

Add Miguel to that list.

I'm not convinced that Bentley will come, but I'm delighted to hear he's met Mr O'Neill. If anyone can work the magic of persuasion, it's him.

Things are really shaping up.

If Sidwell signs i will be very happy we can get the Barry stuff out of the way. Finnan would be a good bit of business solid right back but i would like to see miguel here as 1st choice Finnan 2nd choice. Some of the papers this morning suggesting 11mil get him i say then right back sorted. As for Bentley My fingers and toes are crossed ;)

That's more like it and if we got someone like Bentley people like Malbranque would be welcome to boost the numbers we just needed that bit of class. If we could just also ask for Santa Cruz to be included in the price!! All quiet on the wright-phillips front any idea if he's off? if we got him to and Lennon we would have the fastest team ever in the world ever. ;D ;D ;D

agree with most here, liking the sound of sidwell being in a villa shirt next season..bentley i hope he does come to us, our midfield would be frightning!...also agree with villfandan i wouldnt mind delfouneso 4th striker, i hope he gets a few games under his belt this season, he looks very promising.

why do this to me damian??!! i was all but convinced that bentley wasn't coming anywhere near brum but now you've got me hoping again. I just hope all this excitement and hope doesn't turn sour if we dont get him.

Hi Damian, just wondering whether you knew that Damian Bellon has gone to newly promoted FC Vaduz in the Swiss Premier League and that Erik Lund has left for former Uefa Cup champions IFK Goteborg who are in fact Swedish League champions. To be honest i never really knew a huge amount about either although i heard that Lund was meant to be quite a promising youngster.

Miguel would be a top-class signing (y'know, one of those we were promised two years ago), and a first team place would allow him to compete with Ferrera and Bonsingwa (spit!) for a place in the Portugal squad.

The Bentley rumour is sounding more likely by the day - and I would seriously hope given between us and Tottenham he gives the Villa serious consideration - we're more likely to offer first team football, we finished higher and we have a manager committed to fielding young English talent.

The Barry deal is looking sour - I'm expecting it to fall apart now that Alonso looks to be staying and Liverpool are in the chase for David Villa.

Sidwell is a done deal - pretty much a bargain in any case. Let's see some more striking options, please, Martin!

Yep, would be happy with Sidwell in midfield, would love to see Bentley at Villa Park but i just can't see it..I think he wants to go back to London, if he signs then great but im not convinved.If we can't get Bentley then we should make a move for Wright-Phillips or N'Zogbia..I just hope this ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Barry deal is done and dusted asap..Get Finnan down here,good player and back-up hopefully for Miguel.

Just seen on the official site (though not sure I should talk about that after reading people's comments above about how rubbish it is!):

O'Neill talking about the club captaincy, saying that he'll delay who to give it to, as he has many contenders at the club and [b]maybe some NOT at the club yet.....!![/b]

While I agree that it has been time waiting for signings - I haven't seen many other teams really getting lots of signings in either (though obv. understand we're a smaller squad), but this does sound positive - that we're likely to get in players of a possible captain/leader role/quality.

Sidwell signs subject to medical.... On SSN now!!

Sidwell confirmed on club site... subject to medical. I'm excited now! He will be just what we need

[b]WEVE GOT HIM!!!1[/b] :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Hooray - at last! Its on the official site - Sidwell is signing - subject to passing a medical.

Taddy is a very, very very happy boy!!!!!

"John carew carew hes bigger than me and you he's gonna score one or two john carew carew"

Sidwell's a done deal... just posted on the official site!

Finally, keep em coming Mart!

WE GOT SIDWELL LADS OFFICIAL WEB SITE SAYS SO !!!!!

SSN have just said he's completed the medical but the result is not yet known. Glad I worked at home today!!!!

Forget Bentley, SWP next, please. Sidwell is great news at £5 million watched him play against the Villa when Reading beat us 2-0 and he was all over the place, can spot a pass as well.
Fernando, Unless your club is L pool, the correct way to sign a player is to agree the fee with the selling club and then agree terms with the player, so dream on, You have Lennon and Jenas anyway so with players as good as that.... why would you need Bentley? ;)

I'm hoping Sidwell will officially sign his contract on Friday - that way my prediction of the first signing of the year being on 11th July would be bang on... ;D

Great news on Sidwell! Website says it right - Daily Star predicted it seven weeks ago! All the best for new season

MON was with the squad at Brum Airport yesterday. So I doubt he met Bentley yesterday

Taddy said: Hooray - at last! Its on the official site - Sidwell is signing - subject to passing a medical.
Taddy is a very, very very happy boy!!!!!

How sad, It's no wonder MON gets away with showing no ambition in the market. We have a billionaire owner and signing a squad filler who played a total of about 80 minutes of football last year is great news.
Where is the ambition and desire to challenge and win things?
MON is running the club like wea are stoney broke. Is Randy not interested or is MON a serial underspender.
I dont think MON can take the pressure of being succsesful?

[b][/b]Looky Here Right, Sidwell is a good signing!, maybe not the 1 that some of us really consider to be a big top four signing...but look Chelsea signed him, need I say anymore really and he only did not get the appearances because he had Ballack and company to contend with.

Now Bently I recon WOULD fancy a Villa move. we can offer the same if MORE than Tottenham could.
But he don't strike me as someone to pick a club for location...he signed for Blackburn did'nt he!? lol

I have my fingers crossed that many more will arrive!!
Almost positive we'll get Robbo too.

sidwell bentley great ,lets get downing in aswell on the left .young can then have a free role with carew up front or bent

pls guys keep calm.... hahhah... actually F£cK it up the villa!!!

please please lets get Bentley too and Robbo and Miguel and Anton, if we do i will wear a skirt to work for 5 days.

COME ON THE VILLA !!!!! F**k I FEEL GOOD

I can't believe how little it takes for people to become overenthusiastic and truly irrational. MON hasnt got the spending power or he would have been attempting to sign players already. Weve increased the suad by one very average player and people are going mental.
I dont think Randy and MON are discussing money, ambitions and targets. I concerned that Randy has

We wont sign bentley because martin will make to much of a fuss about his price tag and then lose out on him

You have to remember martin is addicted to the waiting game but players arnt they want there future sorted out quickly

Sidwell good signing and glad we got him i only think martin signed him tho because he was cheap

yerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ;D ;D

if i keep sayin to myself bentley is not comin to villa, then i wont be dissapointed when he goes somewhere else!! seriously, bentley at vp wud be superb an cant see a bigger transfer for us this summer.

yhyh, all is gr8!
and according to skysports this morning we've made an 11 million bid 4 Miguel the Valencia Right Back
he would be a world class signing, even better than Bentley
imagine Villa signing Bentley and Miguel
our right hand side would be amazing! not may in the premiership coul match that right hand side! ;D

yeah my mate went to get our season tickets this morning and saw sidwell and bentley at the club... but iv heard hes recently bought a house in london... so im 50 50 on it... but better to see him at the ground than not i guess!

Sidwell will prove to be a great signing, lots of energy and quality to pass the ball to from the sounds of it.
Bentley, I agree with many others Im not sure how likely it is we will sign him but one things for certain, MON is showing signs he is willing to start spending all that money he has! If Bentley is our 2nd signing of the summer thats 21m already and the legend himself has been quick to keep reminding us we need quality additions and were light on numbers. The statement I really liked was when he said he hopes we will have a squad the size of say Evertons! We will be much better quality of course and I cant wait for the likes of Miguel to add to what could be an expensive shopping list this summer, I hope he doesn't come over for negotiations this week though this weather is a real turn off :D

Has anyone considered what might happen to Gareth Barry if Liverpool pull the plug. Is there any way back for him, could he ever play for MON again. Too good to leave in the reserves and expensive at £42k per week.

I wonder if MON is trying to make cheeky bids for Aimar and Gudjohnsen. Gudjohnsen realistic and could play attacking mid in a midfied 3 with Reo-Coker and Sidwell or up front. Aimar v unlikely but he'll definitely move and none of the big teams have gone in for him yet, so no reason not to try especially if we could get him for under 10m.

I hope Gabi makes the starting XI next year, although I've always preferred him as a right winger. I'd rather move him back there (but cutting in and joining the attack in the way Ronaldo does). So I'd rather go for a top striker (Gudjohnsen) to play with Carew over going for Bentley.

This is great news for AVFC - IF we sign both players that is.....

sidwell will be great
bentley would be a bonus ;D ;D ;D ;D

as there appeared to be no expiry date on that competition to guess the day of the first signing...

I CHOOSE SIDEWELL TO SIGN ON THE 10TH JULY 2008.

Hey i want the shirt... and im in canada with no credit card....

If Liverpool pull out we should keep him, a little chat with MON should do the trick, like he did the first time with Berger.
Then we should go for the champions league like never before, battle for every point knock one of the big four out of the top four, problem solved UTV ;D