bigolconnor...lol, i think perhaps a little less comedy this coming season though!....i just had a thought, back in the day when the players came onto the pitch to the tune of " entry of the gladiators " by Julius Fucik, ( circus clown music ) . Just search for it on youtube, listen to it and imagine some of the clowns we have had play for us in recent seasons. Who springs to mind? for me its the team being led out by the Ultimate clown, Roy keane....

We are do a serious season....coyb

Heskey has played over 500 games in the top flight And would be a great target man to free up the likes of chopra, Martin and baldock if he comes.
I think signing him on a one year deals makes absolute sense. Bring it on. Let's hope
This comes off.

He wasn't any good when he was good. PJ time machine again...... 'well when he was with me at Wigan'.
SIX years ago six years slower.

Haha

Ellington MK2 I'm afraid. We want young hungry players now, not over the hill players out for a last pay check. He was going to sign for the Tigers up here in Hull but wanted an obscene wage. Not for me I'm afraid.

Never rated him as much of a player and still don't but as a strong target man he would do a job, just don't expect much else from him.
Personally I think we could use the money we would have to spend on his wages on a good couple of younger players who are not just out for a final payday.

Donkey, who has forgotten where the net is, and spends most of his time on his arse.

Genuinely not sure about this at all.

I can see it could work but equally I can see it being a waste of effort and money.

Time will tell I suppose, if it happens!

I'd prefer someone mediocre who will get better not worse.

Noooooooooooooooooo! Haven't we suffered enough?

To whoever the Budgie agent is who has infiltrated Fortress Portman, enough is enough. This has gone too far now.

No no and thrice no!! Oh god thats by far not enough no's!! No no no no! Milk turns quicker than he does!!!

No!!! Have I put the vibe out that I am not really loving this rumour? Hang what was I going to say.......god it'd on the tip of my tongue...........oh yeah thats it, NO!!!

I am impressed with the way that we are rebuilding for the future as evidenced by the first three new signings....the average age is definitely coming down.
We can probably afford to have one or two short term players if they can add value to the squad. In my opinion, a fit Heskey would be a plus depending on the financial part of the equation i.e. let's not overspend on this one.

Pros: He always gives 100% is loved by his strike partners and he will put bums on seats...
Cons: past it and almost scores less often than the Pope
Conclusion: If we can get him for a good price great as he adds tactical options - if we dont get him then no regrets

Good target man and would be an option as back up in central defence!

Right just got home from work to see this!!!! and looked at the poll too before looking at this article in depth and saw 75% in favour of him joining!!!! - is somebody on a wind up?

Have to say he looked one of Villa's harder working players last season so of on reasonable wages might be a punt. Then again anyone remember Nathan Ellington?

Haven't we learnt anything from last season? ok maybe alright for holding the ball up but we're definitely looking at a player well past his best and his work rate might be better than players we got from the Premiership last season (not mentioning any names) but I really can't see much else that he'll bring. The groundsman wouldn't want him here for all the divots in the pitch caused by numerously hitting the deck. No to this, and frankly quite amazed at the amount of support on this board for him to come here!

TimmyH I too have come home and heard this ghastly rumour!!

I think there must have been a TWTD party this afternoon were everyone got blind drunk, then voted on the poll that Heskey would be a great signing right up there with great ideas like me sticking red hot needles into my eyes!

@Talbs LOL! - it was going fairly well with Chambers, Loach, Hewitt, perhaps this is just a red herring?

TimmyH and Talbs77....

Why!?

What could possibly be wrong with this apart from high wages!?
Heskey's club goal scoring records is 1 in 4.5. He has 62 international caps. He's still fit and probably has a couple of seasons in him. He work's hard, big, powerful, hassle's defenders and knows where the net is...

What's bad about him? He's always divided opinion at Premier League and INternational level but we're a million miles away from that. He'll be excellent in this division and juts what we need...

List out your negatives on him and we'll debate it.

His goalscoring record at Wigan and Villa is woeful.

Ok Keanish here goes (TimmyH help me out here in case I miss somthing)

1. For someone so massive I have never seen someone get knocked off the ball so easilly. Dalian Atkinson was his size and when he got the ball and ran at people, they were terrified. Thats what Heskey should have been like but it never happened.

2. I dont care what stats you drudge up, he doesnt score enough goals. How many did he get last season? What was his "goals ratio" last season??

3. You can stop with the "oh hes got loads of england caps" rubbish. Just because you have england caps doesnt make you a wonderful footballer. All it does is show that we have had naive manager after naive manager of england who thought he could tunr him into this superstar.

I agree we do need a big tall hard front man for Chopra to feed off but if your telling me there isnt that type of player floating around in the lower leagues who is half the money and age your having a laugh.

Keanish

1. He's just too slow (granted strong, but always on the deck as players try to out muscle him, and will certainly see that in the more intense physical Championship).
2. Very wary of ex-Prem players past their prime who have just fallen a league (although I believe he is more of an 'honest' than a certain LB).
3. Does not know where the net is! poor record (old joke use to circulate about how Rob Green kept out a 100 shots in training for England today, he and Heskey will join up with the rest of the England squad tomorrow).
4. Not sure how he and JET would fit in - if they both have an 'off day' the we're in trouble, both rather cumbersome at times and Chops wouldn't help with his work rate.
5. Let's return to playing football, I can see the midfield vacated and long balls hoofed up to him (to put it in layman's terms).
6.Would ruin the Portman Road pitch

sorry never been a fan of Heskey (only a short period when he did well for England about 10 years ago) could I watch him with out feeling the need to giggle.

I'm not saying there aren't others out there who are younger but whoever won the championship with a first 11 under the age of 30? No-one!
Experience is key to getting out of this division mixed with a good blend of youth.

To your points:

1. I wouldn't say Atkinson and Heskey are the same type of player. Not sure why you think Heskey should frighten defenders with pace and trickery when he has other attributes to his game which Atkinson didn't have. He pulls defenders around and puts them our of their comfort zone. His off the ball work is fantastic and yeah, he probably does get knocked off the ball a bit too much but i'd like to see stats on how many fouls he draws from defenders.

2. He didn't score many last season...but then Villa were poor! We're talking about Championship level defences now too, not premier league ones.

3. This is a nonsense point. Playing for England doesn't make you a wonderful footballer!? What? Naive managers? He's been in the England set-up since under 16s, that's 20 years of England Management who have selected him but some on here no better do they? Come off it...

If he comes here on low wages, that'll do me. I'd like to see Someone younger come in too, Him and Scotland couldn't really play together so i'm not sure if he brings all the versatility we need right now but i definitely wouldn't bemoan him coming here.

What's happened to the Gallagher from Leicester link as well? I want him in...
Hopefully our mystery signing!

Keanish

Can you make your mind up whether you are supporting Heskeys arrival or not as your last log completely condradicted itself were you supported him at the start then by end saying you would like someone younger to some!

Atkinson and Heskey were different types of players, yeah no sh*t, one was a strong fast skilful striker whilsyt the other one also had all those abilities yet never puled it off despite having millions spent on him in transfer funds.

As for your england point, you are talking tosh in my opinion. Last time I looked, england have been poor for the majority of the last 30 years. He played for england since he was 15, so what!! Lots of crap players have been capped by england (Geoff Thomas/Carlton Palmer). And yes EVERY england manager, bar the great man, has been very mediocre apart from perhaps Hoddle. I just cannot see how on earth he would enhance the squad.

But I do agree Gallagher would be a good signing.