The great thing about football is everyone sees things a little differently, and I’m sure whilst we will all agree to back Lambert’s judgement this summer, I also have no doubt that every Villan will have his own idea of players he’d like to see at Villa Park. Within reason of course – I think we’d all like Messi and Ronaldo, but it ain’t gonna happen.
I have tried to avoid putting forward players I think Lambert should look at, but it is inevitable that once you start mentioning how the team might do better, you’ll start stating names.
So I’ve put across who I would like, and I am asking you all who you might be interested in so we can gather a consensus.
My first proposal for Lambert is to raid Tottenham Hotspur, although this time not for a hairless right back, but for a couple of young, bright sparks in Jake Livermore and Steven Caulker. Both of them are young, British players and are “hungry” for first team football. They have experience and will surely only get better. I imagine £8-10m would get us the pair of them and they would be on around £25-35k a week wages.
My next choice would be Gastón Ramírez, a 21 year old playing for Bologna. He’s an attacking midfielder with size, power and pace all on his side. Bought for €2.5m last summer, the player would command a fee of at least £7m now, but this kid i honestly think would rip the Premier League up. I would compare him to Gus Poyet but more physical.
In my opinion these three positions are important to Aston Villa’s progress – a proper dependable spine is what this Villa team have missed over the last two seasons.
Now subject to some of our existing players leaving, then various gaps will have to be filled, so I have listed several players below who I think could do a job:
Maximiliano Moreira – A Uruguayan left back. I watched this lad last year at the U17 World Cup and I have to say WOW. Potentially cheap and a star of the future.
Steven N’Zonzi (Blackburn) – I think is a player of real power and potential. Given Lamberts experience in that role if we can get this lad and get him playing up at the next level, he could do a job for us.
Stuart Holden (Bolton) – A player with limited ability but a fantastic attitude and would add a real work rate and dynamic to any team he comes in to.
Chung-Yong Lee and Marvin Sordell should be considered too, both apparently available for £3m and both exciting players.
Daniel Ayala, John Ruddy and Grant Holt are the players I’d consider from Norwich. Ayala may raise some eyebrows but I think he has the ability to go far. Holt is a luxury we could afford if some big money comes in for a player like Stephen Ireland, but I don’t think I could justify him as a “main buy”
There is also a consideration of available Bosmans although free transfers aren’t always as good value as they may appear when wages and signing fees are factored in, but here are some players I would be looking at:
Craig Gordon (Goalkeeper – Sunderland)
Maynor Figueroa (Left Back – Wigan Athletic)
Gennaro Gattuso (Central Midfielder – AC Milan)
Mohammed Diame (Central Midfielder – Wigan Athletic)
Tonel (Central Defender – Dinamo Moscow)
Robert Koren (Central Midfielder – Hull City)
Peter Lovenkrands (Left midfielf/striker – Newcastle)
Ricardo Fuller (Striker – Stoke City)
Julien Faubert (Right Wing/wingback – West Ham)
Amir Zaki (Striker – Zamalek SC)
Ivan Klasnic (Striker – Bolton Wanderers)
Christian Pander (Left wing back – Hannover 96)
Jaime Gavilan (Left midfield – Getafe)
Daniel Larsson (Striker – Malmo)
Wesley Verhoek (Right winger – ADO Den Haag)
Nacho Novo (Striker – Sporting Gijon) –
Danny Swanson (Right Winger/Attacking midfielder – Dundee United)
There are certianly some options out there but as for suggestions like Juan Manuel Vargas and Antonio Cassano, I don’t think they will fit in with what Lambert will try to do, and I think we’ll be seeing quite a few more younger, and lesser known players.
Many though, would want Lambert to go out and make his own “marquee” signing but i don’t think this will happen – there will be no one “star buy”. I do, however, think we will be pleasantly surprised by the quality of the player Lambert buys in the long term.
I had a quick chat with a Norwich fan this weekend (a customer) who said that Lambert’s signings never really got the pulses racing until you saw them play – “He can pick a player” was the message i got from him. So don’t expect fanfare with player transfers, but expect proper performances on the pitch.
Also don’t be surprised if we see names like Gary Gardner, Derrick Williams, and Samir Carruthers on the teamsheet come August. Lambert is a great believer of “if you’re good enough, you’re old enough” and will put the kids in when he feels they’re ready. He also likes to spring the call on them to so they don’t spend the night before worrying about it – a sensible plan.
So little things I have seen and heard about Lambert tell me we’ve got a class act. He’s not changed anything major yet, but he has made subtle changes for the positive. Add into this the way he is speaking about the club – fans, players, and the manager acting as one unit, and this is a real positive, and something I have called for since Martin O’Neill left.
So it’s over to you now – who do you have your eye on? How much do you think they will cost in wages and fees? Answers below.
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