Hopes for the January transfer window?

by **PorkChop** » Dec 11, '14, 4:20 pm

Ideally I'd want Villa to declutter and reinvest. The real time for that kind of thing is the summer window, but I think work can definitely be done.

If Vlaar is sold, I'd try and drive his price up as much as possible and invest the money in another defender and an attacking midfielder or creative striker - Villa have been crying out for a proper number 10 for the past few seasons. I wouldn't mind seeing some deadwood gone either, such as Alexander Tonev or Yacouba Sylla, could get a bit of change for them and put it towards somebody worthwhile.

What are your hopes for your club?

by **prophet** » Dec 11, '14, 5:19 pm

For Liverpool, literally anything. It's tough because Rodgers made a ton of transfers in the summer and is struggling to play them and as I've said I'm certain he'll only play the likes of Markovic because he's feeling pressured into doing so. Realistically there's going to be no one available to help solve the defensive problem and really goal scorers are hard to find at the best of times so I'm not sure what the best option is.

Were it me I'd be trying to cancel Origi's loan early. I'm not saying he's going to revolutionise our season but he's already a Liverpool player and has bundles of potential as he's shown repeatedly again this season at Lille. Get him blooded early in the league and he'll be bang up to speed come August. Why buy another waster for an extortionate price when you've already bought a young striker?

by **AkydefGoldberg** » Dec 13, '14, 2:48 pm

Ideally - despite our defensive issues - none.

I don't want us to go and issue a stopgap with Vlaar for an over inflated fee when Villa are probably desperate for someone to pay big money for him. Hopefully, Smalling/Jones/Evans can be fit for a longer period. Attacking wise, we're fine. Strootman to United won't happen, if it does, until the summer.

He's coming off a cruciate and he's not getting gametime at Roma to get his fitness back so not expecting that in January unless Roma are willing to sell him less for the reported fee they are wanting, £40m.

In other news, if someone needs a striker - Torres is available. Feel for the bloke.

by **PorkChop** » Dec 13, '14, 3:02 pm

^ I have no sympathy for Torres. He was a fan favourite at Liverpool and was easily the best striker in the world for a significant amount of time, but he sold his soul by moving to Chelsea. Now he's shit, and I can't say I'm even the slightest bit sorry for him.

Of course, I'd take him at Villa in a heartbeat.

by **AkydefGoldberg** » Dec 13, '14, 3:14 pm

PorkChop wrote:^ I have no sympathy for Torres. He was a fan favourite at Liverpool and was easily the best striker in the world for a significant amount of time, but he sold his soul by moving to Chelsea. Now he's shit, and I can't say I'm even the slightest bit sorry for him.

Of course, I'd take him at Villa in a heartbeat.

Ha, really? I assume you mean as back up to Benteke.

Liverpool fans, rightly, can feel aggrieved by Torres leaving considering what he had done for them in terms of goals scored in his first couple of seasons but tbh, they did very well out of the deal. Were able to spend money a player who performed better in time (Suarez, despite his behaviour), but spunked £35m on Carroll.

Torres, despite not having had a major role, has a CL, EL, FA Cup winners medal so doubt he regrets owt. I felt for him purely because I liked him before he joined the Scousers, and felt for poor Vidic who Torres nailed on a few occasions. Fergie was right in his book about Torres, that latter had that cunning about him and in a short speed burst, was fearsome.

by **PorkChop** » Dec 20, '14, 5:35 pm

After the recent performances by Jores Okore and Ciaran Clark I would absolutely sell Ron Vlaar in January.

There's talk that Liverpool are after Delph as a replacement for Gerrard though, which would unsettle the team should he leave in January but he deserves to go to a big club. At this point in their careers Delph is much better than Gerrard. I'm no Gerrard hater, but Delph has been sensational for some time now. I think a partnership between Henderson and Delph would be brilliant too, for club and country.