[Football] £33 million for a championship striker, anyone?

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Aston Villa's record £33m signing Emiliano Buendia has been welcomed as a "great addition" by boss Dean Smith after signing a five-year deal.

Norwich say they were "left with little option" to sell the Argentine midfielder after he sought a move away.

Buendia, 24, scored 15 goals and racked up 16 assists last season, helping the Canaries win the Championship title.

"We are delighted to have made such an exciting signing so early in the summer," said Smith.

And he's not even a striker, apparently

 

[Hugo Rune]

We’re hopefully just about to sign another South American player for a third of that amount who’ll hopefully be three times better!

 

[Eeyore]

Wasn't Knockaert's record similar in 2016/17 ?

 

[The Fits]

Well that certainly helps with Biss and White's value.

 

[Justice]

We’re hopefully just about to sign another South American player for a third of that amount who’ll hopefully be three times better!

Champions league clubs are on the prowl for Alan now, looking doubtful.

 

[Seasidesage]

He's a very good player who also had a good season in the PL the year before. Even then its a lot of money and the reason we have gone down the road we have. We can never compete for these sort of players £33m and say £100k a week over 5 years makes this closer to £60m over 5 years! Awful lot of money on just one player...

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Buendia had a very good season in the PL a year ago and he is a bit more than just a striker. Worth every penny in today’s market.

 

[The Fits]

Yeah definitely an upgrade on Barkley. But if they lose Grealish this summer they're massively weaker whomever they sign imho.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

Champions league clubs are on the prowl for Alan now, looking doubtful.

Depends if he wants to play in the Prem or just join a Prem club. More chance of a game with us if he's good enough and it's bloody hard to come from South America at 19. Again more likely with us.

 

[Justice]

Depends if he wants to play in the Prem or just join a Prem club. More chance of a game with us if he's good enough and it's bloody hard to come from South America at 19. Again more likely with us.

We aren’t meeting their valuation which seems to be a stumbling block. That seems more of an issue at the moment.

 

[redoubtable seagull]

Watkins fee is rumoured to have been £32m with all the add ons.
Villa spend big to get their man, it seems.

 

[Seasider78]

Dispels the Covid market myth

 

[warmleyseagull]

We’re hopefully just about to sign another South American player for a third of that amount who’ll hopefully be three times better!

So punting as usual rather than proven route.

 

[The Fits]

I actually think Villa were really brave last summer and it paid off. And have been really brave getting this transfer done early.
They know there'll be genuine interest in Grealish, and they know the likes of Arsenal are looking at Buendia.
Whatever people think, we could sign a player for this much, and we could put them on 90-100k a week. But you have to do it.
Fair play to them.

Also his stats from 2 seasons were incredible. The guy is nothing approaching a striker- he is a hardworking creative midfielder.

 

[Braggfan]

I actually think Villa were really brave last summer and it paid off. And have been really brave getting this transfer done early.
They know there'll be genuine interest in Grealish, and they know the likes of Arsenal are looking at Buendia.
Whatever people think, we could sign a player for this much, and we could put them on 90-100k a week. But you have to do it.
Fair play to them.

Also his stats from 2 seasons were incredible. The guy is nothing approaching a striker- he is a hardworking creative midfielder.

In 2016 in the Championship they spent 12 million on Ross McComack, 11 million on Jonathan Kodija, and then a year later about 14 million on Scott Hogan, all while they were in the Championship. They were in all sorts of financial trouble the season they got promoted and there were all sort of stories about selling Grealish for 40 million to dig them out of a hole. Their fans were out and out saying they should just ignore FFP and refuse to adhere to any punishments that came their way.

So it might be brave to spend 33 million on Buendia early on, but I think Villa have a of a track record for being foolhardy in the transfer market. So yeah we could just go out and do the same, but it can lead you to real trouble too. I think the Albion's approach is far better than Villa's.

 

[The Fits]

In 2016 in the Championship they spent 12 million on Ross McComack, 11 million on Jonathan Kodija, and then a year later about 14 million on Scott Hogan, all while they were in the Championship. They were in all sorts of financial trouble the season they got promoted and there were all sort of stories about selling Grealish for 40 million to dig them out of a hole. Their fans were out and out saying they should just ignore FFP and refuse to adhere to any punishments that came their way.

So it might be brave to spend 33 million on Buendia early on, but I think Villa have a of a track record for being foolhardy in the transfer market. So yeah we could just go out and do the, but it can lead you to real trouble too. I think the Albion's approach is far better than Villa's.

Aye, 5 years ago they had a mare.
They're a level above us presently though.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

In 2016 in the Championship they spent 12 million on Ross McComack, 11 million on Jonathan Kodija, and then a year later about 14 million on Scott Hogan, all while they were in the Championship. They were in all sorts of financial trouble the season they got promoted and there were all sort of stories about selling Grealish for 40 million to dig them out of a hole. Their fans were out and out saying they should just ignore FFP and refuse to adhere to any punishments that came their way.

So it might be brave to spend 33 million on Buendia early on, but I think Villa have a of a track record for being foolhardy in the transfer market. So yeah we could just go out and do the same, but it can lead you to real trouble too. I think the Albion's approach is far better than Villa's.

As you may know I like a lengthy nuanced discourse, so here goes.


Fukkem. The *****. Fact.

What?

 

[Braggfan]

Aye, 5 years ago they had a mare.
They're a level above us presently though.

I guess it depends on how you define level above. Their model is very clearly throw money at the project. Ours isn't.

As Potter explained recently our approach is be one of the 5% who do things differently. We have a goal in mind, a plan on how to achieve that and a team including Potter, Ashworth, Baber and Bloom who are on the same page about how to do it. No we're not buying players for 33 million a pop. We are buying young players and developing them, and currently have the likes of Lamptey, White, Bissouma, who are all probably at peak market value of about 50 million each, we also have a line of players developing in those positions ready to replace them.

I think whether our approach is better or worse probably comes down to what camp you find yoursefl in. If you want the Albion to throw money at players, then yes Villa are probably a level up on us. If you want the Albion to be sustainable and develop players, then I'd say we're probably a level up on Villa.

 

[middletoenail]

Meh, he's no better than Pascal Gross. Don't get caught up in the Hollywood transfer fee

 

[The Fits]

I guess it depends on how you define level above. Their model is very clearly throw money at the project. Ours isn't.

As Potter explained recently our approach is be one of the 5% who do things differently. We have a goal in mind, a plan on how to achieve that and a team including Potter, Ashworth, Baber and Bloom who are on the same page about how to do it. No we're not buying players for 33 million a pop. We are buying young players and developing them, and currently have the likes of Lamptey, White, Bissouma, who are all probably at peak market value of about 50 million each, we also have a line of players developing in those positions ready to replace them.

I think whether our approach is better or worse probably comes down to what camp you find yoursefl in. If you want the Albion to throw money at players, then yes Villa are probably a level up on us. If you want the Albion to be sustainable and develop players, then I'd say we're probably a level up on Villa.

I totally agree. I'm not saying I prefer their system to ours. Simply, that actually it can be brave to spend to money. And actually we do do it- we just do it with potential (currently linked to Velasco who will cost at least 10 million, for instance).