With Friday’s loan transfer deadline day seeing Aston Villa add long-term target Tammy Abraham’s to our attack with the player making the switch from Chelsea, Tommy Elphick’s loan to Hull City saw no replacement come in despite heavy speculation that Harold Moukoudi had previously been at Bodymoor Heath for a medical and to discuss personal terms.
Come 5pm that was our lot apparently and it certainly left fans confused unless, as previously stated in the Elphick article yesterday, manager Steve Bruce is now ready to promote James Bree up to senior level or a deal fell down. We were heavily linked with Aberdeen’s Scott McKenna and the Birmingham Mail say that Bruce was doubtful Moukoudi would make the move owing to his age.
“I think the Moukoudi one is going to be a little bit difficult, mainly because he’s only young. Whether it’s the right time to leave France, I think that’s the big complication there. The likelihood is that he will stay in France. He’s the one we’ve been pursuing but as he’s still young, he feels he will be better in France.”
Surely we should’ve known that before Moukoudi became ‘the one’?
Ultimately it seems Bruce and the Board forgot the first and most basic lesson in transfer dealings – have the replacement over the line before you let someone out.
If that’s true, Abraham might have been a great start for Christian Purslow, but he’s back at square one now if it was his decision to sanction the move, which in fairness may not have been the case.
Scott Hogan finally returned to the pitch however on Friday.
Good to see you back, @ScottHogan_9 👏#PartOfThePride #AVFC pic.twitter.com/AsJHdVQ1dO
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 31, 2018
Whilst a number of fans were delighted to see him back relishing how he might now benefit from some actual football being played given his natural striking instincts as a Fox in the Box and not a big bugger who makes things happen for himself, a number of others wondered if he could replace Elphick, or maybe even take a spot as fullback so we can play somebody else out of position in the centre of defence.
Can you play CB?
— Mr C (@Dav3yAvFc) August 31, 2018
Get yourself fit and get on that pitch and get us promoted!!! pic.twitter.com/QrGLNwNaeN
— Maccavilla (@maccavilla69) August 31, 2018
I think he can flurish in this team now pacey technical team
— LNDN Ghostwave (@GhostWave_H5) August 31, 2018
Anyone else thought that Scott had been loaned out then? ????????
— Alex Hubball (@Alex_Hubball1) August 31, 2018
Welcome back @ScottHogan_9 hope you smash it this season
— Ben aka fader (@F9der84) August 31, 2018
Welcome back scotty
— Alex Vitsileos (@spartan888) August 31, 2018
Sight for sore eyes, that is????
— Thorsten Jensen (@ThorstenJensen1) August 31, 2018
Can he play centre back ?
— kurtis smith (@kurtissmith95) August 31, 2018
Best striker we have if used correctly
— Reece J (@ReeceyBones) August 31, 2018
