Martinez to offer Albrighton a fresh start

Another winger? Surely not!

Not really the kind of player we need.

Think he could be a good alternative option, very busy winger with a good cross. Not a regular but for games against teams who play narrow, eg, Southampton. Good price as well!!

Has not realised his full potential since first breaking into the Villa side.Maybe he would with Roberto.

I thought he was a great player in his first season, good skills and an eye for goal. He has lost his way in a shit team recently but a decent addition as a freebie, especially as Pienaar must be in last chance saloon.

Al, that makes sense. Pienaar may not get much longer with the club and may have to make do with being a squad player if he stays. I wouldn't be that disappointed if he was allowed to leave.

He's right sided isn't he lads but agree at his age and with what I saw in his first year he'd be a player worth having.
I wonder would there be compensation due?

Dont know why some posters on here don't manage premier league clubs?

With all due respect how do we know "He's not the type of player we need."
Martinez has a plan and he knows what we need and knows what we don't need, let him get on with it as I think he knows a bit more about football than most of us armchair managers. (me included in that one)

One thing about Albrighton to consider is he’s definitely in the Board’s price range.

He has a really big nose. Most players with big noses are good. I'd take him, especially on a free.

A big nose seems to help. I have no idea why.

This is all about getting free/cheap decent players to pad the squad out. Who knows one of them might just be a gem. If not, they will be a squad member for our European adventure next season.

According to wiki, he named his second child Dollie-Boo. But I'm guessing Roberto would already know that.

Agree with Andy he could be recruited with the Europa in mind, who knows RM & Everton might help him rediscover his best form.

Could do worse, but it looks like were shopping in the bargain basement as per usual!

James Marshall. I take it you have a generously proportioned nasal appendage then.

James #993. If he's on a free then not be sneezed at.

This is a comment on a Villa Fan forum that generally represents the views of Villa fans

"I don't have any explanation for what happened to him last season (except he's a new dad and maybe got too involved there), but he's definitely back.

The number of people riding him when he had a dip in form was pretty disgraceful considering how good he'd been when he first broke into the team.

I agree he's maybe not good enough if we're going to win the league, but as a sub for a team in the top 6 he definitely fits the bill. Brilliant player on his day. Not the quickest, but his vision is often properly awesome. If he could complete all the passes he sees we'd have no chance at all of keeping him if he wasn't a Villa fan."

I was just sniffing round for info, like...

I like what I hear from the Villa fans David. I'll happily admit I was a big fan of his in his first season.

But it will take some Martinez magic to make him into the quality of player we need as it hasn't been there recently. But for a free, with the potential that was there, low wages and padding the squad, it would almost seem like a no-brainer if Martinez was interested.

This lad was yet another being built up as the next big thing when he looked good as a teenager. Maybe he needs a kick up the backside to relight that and would more likely get it from a fresh start elsewhere, or maybe he just isn't that good really.

No problem picking up a halfway decent talent for free.

He's good enough as is to turn out against Tractor Factory Utd of Uzbekhistan in the Europa. If he doesn't pick up under the ministrations of Finch Farms finest after a couple of seasons we can always sell him on. Remember we made about £800,000 on Lucas Neill flogging him on to the Turks after he signed for us on a free. Easy money!.

"If he could complete all the passes he sees we'd have no chance at all of keeping him"

Cackling old Corrie crone Vera Duckworth could've said the same about "our Jack". Doesn't make him a proper fucking fanny magnet though does it?

He showed initial promise for a mere 6 months or so after breaking into the first team but then quickly settled into a snug fitting career of mid to lower table mediocrity. Which is probably exactly where he belongs.

I understand the argument about simply boosting the squad numbers but I don't happen to agree with it. There's absolutely no point bringing in players inferior to those already at the club just for the sake of it. Especially wide players. Surely we've suffered enough gormless brain dead disappointments sprinting down the wing at Goodison in the style of Sloth from the Goonies: Oster, Blomqvist, Alexandersson, Mcfadden, Simon Davies, Van der Meyde, Bilyaletdinov, Jimmy Sorheim's son etc.

Isn't Roberto's transfer strategy going to be to use whatever cash he has to sign players to improve the first eleven and pick up the likes of this fella from Villa to improve the squad as a whole?

This sounds like the type of player we should be looking at.Past the adolescent stage of his career where he might have taken things for granted but still with his prime years ahead of him at 24 with something to prove. Similar to the Cahill, Arteta, Pienaar, Lescott, Naismith and Jagielka type signing. Seems to have some talent and pace as well, well worth a try if on a free as a squad player.

Squad player only for me as I am not convinced he is skillful enough overall to make up for his athletic shortcomings.

Not one to improve the first choice eleven, but may be useful for rotation.

Garth Barry, Jack Colback, Marc Albrighton... the freebie links are starting to add up. I don't mind, because it's low risk. Steven Naismith was free, it took a year but he's finally come good. If we were to sell him now he'd be priced at a few million. So it can work, and we need strength in depth.

Dave Lynch, your comments are spot on, I'm sure Roberto knows more about the Villa lad than most of the fans questioning his interest.

From what I have seen of Aston Villa though this season, the player I'd take from their team realistically is Delph. Keeping in mind the amount of cards he picks up, I still think he is a talented footballer who wouldn't cost too much and would add a bit of Barry like steel in midfield as a backup.

This lad looked very decent in his first season, but hasn't really done it since, if I am not mistaken, the club have loaned him out recently as well?

I think he has talent & is still young & if anyone can get the best out of him, Martinez can. I wouldn't be too disappointed if we signed him.

I agree Kris #366, Delph has really come on at Villa, I like him, he looks like he could be a top midfield player. great goal he scored against Chelsea not too long back.

Albrighton officially released by Villa.

A good old fashioned winger and a class up from McGeady.
Having said that Redmond is way better than either of them and should have been snapped up from Brum last year rather than tossing money away to train up Delboy for Barcelona!

Malcolm, I'm the unofficial head of the Redmond fan club. I think we should start a petition or something before the Redshite or Spurs get him.

He blew it at Villa.

Dave Lynch...the point of these forums is to give opinions. Premier League managers make plenty of awful ones, and waste millions upon millions each season.

He did look good when he broke into the team, but has failed to make an impact in recent seasons, and that is as much to do with him as the management.

I would see Albrighton and Colback as two very sensible if unspectacular signings. Both have Premiership experience but are young enough to be molded to the Martinez philosophy.

Neither would be on large wages and I think if motivated and given confidence by the gaffer could become very useful squad members next season when we will have a lot of games.