macphisto

I'm not going to start suggesting players as I don't know enough about the European markets (if you had asked me in January about midfielders then I would never of suggested Bruno) but I would say Howe views it as a crucial position in the team as we did bid for Digne and Gosens in January, French and German internationals. I have no doubt there will be plenty of other players out there who offer more going forward than Targett; whether they are as good defensively may be a trade-off Howe is willing to make. Regarding the last sentence, I'm not sure what point you're trying to make? I inferred TAA is not a great defender by saying Targett is better defensively. I'd also like to think that after this summer we will not be defending 60% of the time next season.

Based on this rationale then you wouldn't sign the equivalent of Trent Alexander-Arnold at left back if there was one available? I'd say Targett is better defensively than TAA.

If he is not what Howe is looking for then you are essentially espousing a philosophy of putting individual players before the system of play which almost inevitably leads to dysfunctional clubs (Everton, Man U, PSG). Yes, Targett is a great defender but he offers little going forward, you can't get away from his stats. I would much rather have a player who is not as solid a defender but offers more going forward if he fits more into Howe's style of play (the system of play is more important than any player). That way the club gets used to a style of play and when we do upgrade, we are only upgrading the player and not upgrading the player and changing the style of play at the same time. To be fair to Howe, his priority next season should be developing Willock, Joelinton and ASM and seeing if they can be incorporated into his system of play in the future. Essentially we already have enough players who need to adapt to what Howe is after without buying new players unsuited to his style of play (if that applies to Targett). @greydos We don't need to be afraid of the top six if we had more of an attacking fullback, only the top two. Take away Man City and Liverpool and I would fancy our chances against any of the other teams next season, particularly at home.

He hasn't scored or had an assist in 11 matches for us. Villa 2019/20= 28 matches, 1 goal, 2 assists Villa 2020/21= 38 matches, 0 goals, 2 assists Villa 2021/22= 17 matches, 1 goal, 1 assist Those figures tell you why he's available for £15 million. Good defender but offers little going forward.

It's not about the level of player but more type. Do you buy a player that is not the type you're looking for? This is not about Targett as such but more the principle of buying players to fit a system. If there is someone out there more suited to what Howe is looking for then it would not make sense to buy Targett; that is if Targett isn't the type of fullback Howe's looking for. The next few years are going to be so crucial to embedding a style of play in the team and it looks like fullbacks are going to be crucial in Howe's style of play.

All true but that doesn't change the fact Howe might be after a different type of full back. Targett has played every game apart from Villa and he hasn't scored a goal or had an assist. Some managers would be happy with that if the player is defensively sound whilst others would prefer more of an attacking threat at the cost of the odd defensive lapses. In all fairness to Targett we don't know his instructions, maybe he's been told to hold back because of ASM. I am convinced that if ASM left this summer then we wouldn't sign Targett.

But if you look at a lot of the top teams, the creativity and attacking play often comes from the fullbacks, Liverpool the prime example. The Hendersons of this world are there to allow the fullbacks to bomb forward. I agree about the balance of players but if Howe sees attacking fullbacks as key players in his system then I can see why he might look elsewhere. Maybe Howe wants the solid players in other areas of the team. I do think people are underestimating Henderson, he's several levels above Targett. He's not the most glamorous player but look at his England caps, player of the year, captain of Liverpool (after Gerrard), etc. As I say, happy for Targett to stay but if it is key attacking position for Howe then I can understand him looking elsewhere.

Target is a good player and I wouldn't be against him staying. At the same time he's not the same quality as Bruno or Trippier as a player. Now with the threat of relegation banished, I would fully understand if the club went for a policy of only buying players of a certain quality or potential. Quality over quantity would fit with the notion of evolution over revolution.

In the article, Waugh highlights the importance of attacking fullbacks for Howe. That's why we were after Gosens and Digne in January; they want the same attacking quality of Trippier on the other flank. A lot will depend on ASM staying at the club. If he stays then Howe might opt for Targett as they would need a more defensive minded player. Exciting times whatever happens and I trust the club if they look elsewhere. It shows as well that the clubs ambitions for this summer are higher than a lot of people think.

I wonder if he posted that from The Raby?

Whatever the number will be, I'm confident that players will be bought to fit into the team and not like PSG, Man U, Everton and Newcastle under Ashley where they just buy individuals without thinking about the needs of the team.

No, look at Man City's list of sponsors

The article in the Northern Echo about Newcastle being in for Eriksen just about sums up what journalists know. "Newcastle’s Saudi Arabia-based backers will continue to provide strong financial assistance, but as was the case during the January window [we were the 2nd biggest spenders in Europe and could have spent a whole lot more], Howe and the rest of the Magpies’ recruitment team will not be issued with a blank cheque........The Magpies will offer the midfielder a significant increase on his current wages at Brentford, and will be willing to match or better any other offer Eriksen receives from his other Premier League suitors.[that is almost the definition of a blank check]" Do journalists not realise that they keep on contradicting themselves like the article above or will talk about a limited budget one day and then bids for Botman etc. the next.

How times have changed!

I saw yesterday or maybe today was the day the bloke punched the horse after the Sunderland match.

KDB was on the radar of a lot of top clubs back then. He went to Man City for over £50 million 7 years ago. That would easily be £100 million+ now.

Irrespective of the club now and in the future, surely you would stay away from Pogba as he is now and those players in any circumstances?

Liverpool are renowned for their use of data and transfer committee, that is the main reason for their success in the transfer market.

Really no idea how the January window will pan out with the World Cup, the break is from the 14th November to 26th December. Clubs will essentially be making decisions in January based on their position from November.

That and investment behind the scenes where they have gone and, from what I've read, recruited in Ashworth one of the best Directors of Football out there.

I don't think so, obviously helps but also the fact that Man City are outward looking and have hired some of the best people in the business has a lot to do with it. I suspect their use of data, like Liverpool, is good too. Man City essentially looked at the best in class not long after their takeover, Barcelona, and hired their whole backroom team. Txiki Begiristain, Director of Football at Barcelona from 2003-2010 and Ferran Soriano Vice-President of Barcelona from 2003-2008 both joined Man City in 2012. Man U on the other hand, though a huge club, are very insular and are not prepared to put money into the infrastructure of the club (Ashley on a much bigger scale). It says it all that their Technical Director is Darren Fletcher and their Director of Football, John Murtough, was an internal appointment. Going back over the last few years, Carrick, Phelan and Ole were also prominent. As a club it's institutionally stuck in the past and stale. I'm not saying you shouldn't have ex-players around the club but you need fresh outside ideas too.

It doesn't matter, Villa still spent the money to improve the team. They also spent a lot the season before that too. The only things we need to be concerned about are: 1) Getting value for money 2) Conducting as much scouting as possible on our targets 3) Signing players with a cohesive strategy in mind with regards to the overall style of the team I would not be worried about breaking the wage structure for the right players. This is now by far the best club any of our existing players will ever play for, if they want to leave then see you later. They're not going to get more anywhere else or have a better chance of competing in the future.

This is a great point. We're not talking about anything that out of the ordinary when people mention £200 million, particularly when you look at the squad pre-takeover. It's only a ridiculous amount when compared to us under Ashley.

Undoubtedly Bruce and Carver at the bottom based on the fact that they are from Newcastle and to work for Ashley is inexcusable as they knew the harm he was doing to the club and city.

Worth noting Nunez has recently changed agents to Jorge Mendes so the paper talk might just be his agent trying to start a bidding war.