dn1982

Think we may need 2 transfer speculation threads soon. One in one out. I'd like to keep Westwood but £6m is a lot to turn down for someone we could replace for free ie Huddlestone (I don't think he's signed anywhere yet) 

12 hours ago, TRO said:

Its gods will he is alive.....lets hope its gods will for him to play.

hey! but I'm just happy he still with us.

I take it it was Gods will to give it him in the 1st place?? Stan is the man who fought against the odds It's Stans will and desire that's made him go through hell to get fit enough to take part in pre season. Hopefully he has one final hurrah in his career, Top bloke Top Professional. 

16 minutes ago, Zatman said:

he be 27 by end of next season, I think his time has passed for him as a Premier League player and not potential anymore

He's a lower end PL player but we aren't in the PL so no point in selling him now unless replacement lined up. I'd agree next summer we should look to replace him but Westwood will be good in Championship. It'd also give Tshibola time to grow and get used to playing regular. 

7 minutes ago, Gary Thomas said:

 

Well I'm not analising that performance 

Anybody got a YouTube video of Andrew Stone?? 

He's an improvement on what we've got. it also seems it's been nailed on for a while as he tweeted about us signing Elphick on the 20th June. 

19 minutes ago, terrytini said:

I can't believe that.  Of course nobody knows for sure but straight into the First Team I would expect.  As Trent said earlier, £5m for a 'future' player ?  In our position ? I can't see it.

Clarke knows him and, IMO, has said he's someone who will perform for us straight away.

He was 1st choice in a championship side last year even though it was curtailed by injury. I think we have to judge like that from now on. Like we know Gardner can perform at this level so even if squad player you keep him. The same can be said for a lot of our loanees. 

43 minutes ago, John said:

We know he can do it there as do they. I want to know whether he can do it with us before we consider helping someone who is now in the same division that we are. Selling him will make Forest stronger I think keeping him might do the same for us this season.  

Even if Gardner only turns out to be a squad player he'll be worth it we can sell him next summer. He's proven in the league something everyone was crying out for before. 

Having just been the shop the kits are great as are all the leisure wear. A lot of stylish simplistic stuff and some lovely training gear. I look forward to the next 5 years of good kit. 

6 minutes ago, PieFacE said:

One thing that is a little concerning is that Elphick was apparently recommended by Bond. The goalkeepers are apparently recommended by the new GK coach. I can only assume Tshibola will be recommended by Clarke .......... so who is it RDM wants to sign? What's his take on what we need? 

 

Why is it concerning?? Clarke worked with Tshibola so knows his qualities and as for a Goalkeeping coach recommending a goalkeeper surely that's exactly what you want! Someone who knows what it takes to be a keeper judging a keeper! RDM looks at the squad and judges where we need improvements. He'd be stupid not to ask his staff their opinion. Football is more than just ability it's also attitude that's why lots of managers take former players with them. 

12 minutes ago, maqroll said:

Petrov was a thinker's footballer. Not fast, not strong, not advanced technically. But he was crafty. He views football as culture, not a paycheck. That's why he's back. Judging by that photo with him and Robinson, he's at least 15 lbs overweight. He has a massive mountain to climb to make the team, IMO. I would **** love it if he did. One way or the other, he needs to be on the bench with this team this coming season, either as player, coach or positive presence.

15lbs overweight??? There's a photo knocking about with his top off and he looks trim. Robinson is a skinny CF. if Stan gets his match fitness levels up he'll do a job probably as a squad member easily for us next year as long as he has younger legs around him. I totally agree with your last sentiment his overall presence will be beneficial but how much does he want to be an actual player again??? 

38 minutes ago, TrentVilla said:

Goals are the only thing that can help Gabby now, words are too little too late and ultimately meaningless given his recent past. If he goes and scores 20+ for us this season then that might help his cause because little else will.

Exactly he either turns into a player that is unplayable in the Championship or he goes. We have a strong management team in place. We have a board that wants to achieve things. We have an all time great striker having an input. Gabby will not be allowed to disrupt the dressing room he will not be allowed to get away with the crap we've seen before. He has to score the goals to secure our return or he'll be gone. If we got a bid for him I'd take it but I doubt we will. Saying all that when he nets 2 winners against Blues I might forgive him completely!! 

1 hour ago, theboyangel said:

not having that, it takes self discipline and motivation to keep your shape and fitness.

he has had every chance and the best facilities to keep himself in the right condition for selection but gabby simply couldn't be arsed.

it looks like he's trimmed up for preseason but as club captain he should never have let himself get into such a state. He was an embarrassment to the club and totally disrespectful to the fans.

I'd be happy to never see him represent us again and not buying his recent comments.

What happened last year for him to look so fat? He's been bulky for years but it was muscle. He is at fault but so are the management for not getting him trim. If it's solely the players responsibility why have a fitness coach? 

3 hours ago, av1 said:

One of the reasons he was dropped was because he became fat and unfit, due to not giving a toss. Ergo, he downed tools. 

Not sticking up for Gabby but a PL footballer getting fat says a lot about the state of the club. If you're paying someone that much money they eat what you say and train when you want. They should be the perfect specimen of a footballer physically hopefully now with have a proper fitness coach and strict management team this all sorts itself out. 

Gabby didn't down tools he was dropped as he wasn't doing much but he's been like that for a few years. He isn't a centre forward anymore but he can still do a job for us in the FL. I can't see him being bought so we have to utilise him. 

1 hour ago, av1 said:

I can't agree with this mate. Fitness/stamina isn't a problem, Micah is an outstanding althelte. The problem is, and has always been, that he is positionally atrocious, he doesn't have the brain or the discipline to play in a defensive unit. 

 

He isn't athletic at all he's just muscles. Gabby is the same it doesn't help in a high aerobic sport. He wants to play CB so he can have a breather as he cant get up and down like before. If he wants to stay it'll only be as a RB as you're right positionally he is awful at CB but I think he can still be a very good RB. Play him RB with Elphick talking to him and keeping him in position and he'll be fine.  

We have a top notch fitness coach now If he got hold of Richards and slimmed him down and got him fully fit he'd be a cracking right back still. I think all that time injured bulked him way too much and he lost his stamina. He is still young. Has he the desire? Will he sulk if he can't play centre half? Either way for me he either become a fully fit athletic right back or we get £5m to get someone who will. 

I just hope we take maximum allocations for every away game. I doubt they've got the same rules as the PL so shouldn't be a penalty if we don't sell them. 

11 minutes ago, sir_gary_cahill said:

I disagree about Hepburn-Murphy, I think he needs a loan in order to develop as a player, he's still only 17 years old, he turns 18 on the 28th August. He's a very good talent though, make no mistake about that, I'm proud to say I've had the pleasure of meeting him also, I shook his hand at an u21 game and it was a proud moment in my life, he's a very nice guy and well spoken

Give him pre season he might be a Rashford who hits the ground running but totally agree if he isn't gong to get 15/20 games next year loan him out. It toughens them up playing against men. The same goes for Toner, Suliman, Green etc 

19 minutes ago, dont_do_it_doug. said:

Has left the club by mutual consent. Xia intercepted an email where he mocked his tailor.

Well if he slags off a Villa legend he deserves to go. 

13 minutes ago, bobzy said:

In the same list as Guzan here:

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/galleries/4584/The-10-worst-goalkeepers-Europe-season-based-statistics/1-Brad-Guzan-Aston-Villa-502205

Gollini is 5th worst goalkeeper, Guzan is the very worst

Most relegated keepers would finish in the list. If Bartra likes him he must have decent attributes so that's good enough for me. 

Just now, It's Your Round said:

Elphick is right footed. We need a replacement for Lescott/Clark to provide the balance.

Does he definitely play right side though? It's common for right footers to play left side but not the other way round. I think we need a tall 6ft 3+ centre half

Stan is nearly 37 I'm sure he just wants to play one more season and to be a role model for others. I hope he proves his worth on the pitch and he does that with us as just having him around the club would be brilliant for all concerned. I can think of nothing better than him lifting the Championship for us and then retiring. It'd also be great as I've played against him the last 2 years in the over 35's! Good luck Stan. 

What side of defence does Elphick play? We seem to have a few left sided ones who probably aren't good enough and only Okore for me that's any good right side. We need a proper centre back pairing something we haven't had for a few years. If we can keep Amavi add in Elphick we need a good right back and a partner at centre half. And a keeper. Not much for RDM to do then!!! 

Amavi has always wanted a close relationship with the fans at his clubs so I can see that's why he retweets. I think his lack of football last year may actually work in our favour. He is still unproven it the PL so doubt many will gamble on him. He also seems quite loyal so hopefully he'll stay here at least until January when if we are in a good position he'll stay.