Chris Hughton says his Norwich side must believe they can get a positive result when they travel to Arsenal this weekend.
The Canaries are sure to be up against it at the Emirates when they tackle Arsene Wenger’s top-four chasing side but Hughton wants points from the game to help with his own team’s relegation fight.
“The most important one is the Arsenal game – that’s the next one. And of course we’ve got to go to Arsenal and look to get something there, as we will do in all of these last six games,” he said.
Norwich are currently just four points clear of the relegation zone and take on fellow strugglers Reading, Aston Villa and Stoke among their remaining games, with Hughton insisting they will approach them all with the same plan.
He added: “The fact we are playing the teams around us has a different bearing on it because any points we get are points they don’t get.
“But it’s going to be over these six games, three at home and three away, and our approach to the away games has to be exactly the same as the home games and must give us the opportunity to get something.”
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Manchester City travel to Wembley on Saturday, fearing Tottenham may well postpone their title celebrations for at least another week. Three games ago, Pep Guardiola’s side still enjoyed an aura invincibility, but a Champions League showdown with Liverpool and a shock comeback from Manchester United in the Manchester derby has shown how surprisingly beatable this usually dominant team is when not quite at their imperious best.
So, will Mauricio Pochettino’s side deliver City’s fourth consecutive defeat, or will Saturday’s visitors provide the right response to recent tribulations? This week’s experts, Spurs-mad Sean Cook from The Sun and Bluemoon’s Ric Turner, share their thoughts and predictions ahead of the 7.45pm kickoff…
Spurs’ last defeat in the Premier League was indeed against Manchester City, but that came all the way back in December at the Etihad Stadium. Since then, Tottenham have won eleven of 14 in the English top flight, dispatching some huge key rivals in the process – Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. And yet, with Liverpool excelling in Europe and United always in the headlines, there hasn’t been much coverage of what is Tottenham’s longest undefeated run in the top flight since 1967.
What have been the key factors behind that run and why hasn’t there been much media coverage?
Sean: “The current crop of Spurs players hate losing, particularly the likes of Eric Dier. They’re passionate and genuinely care about our club, so losing to Man City only would have motivated them further. Regarding the media coverage, that’s no surprise. Spurs haven’t spent much money, they haven’t got a rich owner and they’re doing it with English players. This success is largely why we get under the skin of rivals fans. We’re doing it the right way.”
But does this Spurs side still have weaknesses City can exploit?
Ric: “Spurs are a very strong side, and there aren’t many obvious weaknesses in their team. Hopefully they will try to go toe to toe with us, as they did at the Etihad Stadium where they were comprehensively outplayed. I think Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane could get some joy running at Kieran Trippier and Ben Davies.”
City, meanwhile, find themselves in unfamiliar and uncertain territory heading into Saturday’s clash. This is actually the longest losing run of Guardiola’s career, and a far cry from the impeccable standards City have set themselves this season. At least in terms of results, anyway – barring chaotic sets of 15 minutes in each of their last three matches, City have been in pretty much full control.
Soccer Football – Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg – Manchester City vs Liverpool – Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain – April 10, 2018 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola sat in the stands Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Where has it all gone wrong for the Citizens?
Ric: “This run of games was always going to be tough, but to suffer three consecutive defeats has been disappointing. We’ve actually played extremely well at times in those games (notably the first halves against United and Liverpool at home) but some profligate finishing and poor refereeing decisions have cost us dearly.
“Clearly the Champions League was the priority, and we paid the price for fielding a weakened team against United. But Guardiola knew that was a game we could afford to lose, even if many fans felt differently. No excuses for the Champions League games though. Liverpool were deserved winners over two legs. Klopp seems to have the measure against Guardiola in head-to-head meetings, if not over the course of a full league season.”
And can Tottenham take inspiration from those wins for Liverpool and United?
Sean: “Spurs can take inspiration from their own performances against the top six this season. We’ve beaten Man United, Liverpool and Arsenal all convincingly at Wembley, with only Chelsea slipping through our fingers. Particularly in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, Liverpool flooded City going forward. If we can match that energy and attacking threat on Saturday, I’m sure we can pull off something special.”
Clearly though, Tottenham will need to be at their best to beat City. Which Spurs stars will be key in that?
Sean: “The obvious answer would be Harry Kane, but we’ve seen against the top six this season that opposition defences are very good at isolating him. Christian Eriksen has by far been one of the highlights of our season, and would be a far bigger casualty than the likes of Dele Alli and Toby Alderweireld, should another club try to poach him. If he is at his best, City can do little to stop him.”
Guardiola used some intriguing formations in the defeats to Liverpool. The Anfield clash saw City line-up a 4-5-1 system that became more of a 3-4-3 with Leroy Sane often slipping into the wing-back role, while Guardiola fielded his side in a 3-2-4-1 for the return leg at the Etihad Stadium. For much of the match it had the desired effect, but at times it felt as if the City gaffer had over-complicated the game-plan against a team relying more on natural speed and energy.
Should Guardiola go back to City’s basics this weekend by reverting to the 4-3-3 setup we’ve seen for most of the season?
Ric: “The players looked dead on their feet towards the end of the Liverpool game, and there will surely have to be some rotation at Wembley. I’d be tempted to play three centre halves to compensate for the absence of the suspended Fernandinho, who is integral to the way we play, but I don’t think that’s the Guardiola way. We’ll try to play our usual attacking game, which will most likely see us line up in a 4-3-3.”
Where will this game be lost and won?
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Ric: “I’m fairly apprehensive about our chances on Saturday. The last three games have taken their toll, and the absence of Fernandinho could be crucial. Spurs have a very physical, powerful midfield and I think that could be the factor that swings the game in their favour.”
Sean: “The midfield, as always, will be crucial. Guardiola has some of the best midfielders on the planet in his squad, with a vast selection to choose from. But defensively, Spurs need to be clever. We’ll need pace to match the likes of Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling on the wing, so Trippier and Davies will need to be at their best.”
And finally lads, let’s hear your score predictions…
Sean: “2-1 to Spurs.”
Ric: “Hope I’m wrong, but I have a feeling we’ll lose this 3-1, sadly.“
There’s not a week that goes by without some sort of rumour surrounding the future of arguably the world’s greatest player. Continuously linked with a return to his former club Manchester United, it seems that Cristiano Ronaldo’s future with Real Madrid could be in some doubt if recent speculation is to be believed.
Despite scoring a hatful of goals, as well as winning all the major trophies during his six seasons with the club, the Spanish giants are being urged by some to consider selling their star man. And with the Portuguese forward cutting a disgruntled figure in recent weeks, now could be the time to consider cashing in on the three-time Ballon d’Or winner much to the delight of Manchester United.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Spanish football expert Terry Gibson last month suggested that Real should sell Ronaldo in the summer for the good of the team, with the 30-year-old’s obsession with individual achievements hindering the performances of the side. And he has a good point.
Ronaldo’s form has certainly dipped since the start the year, with his main rival Lionel Messi surpassing him in all areas during the last few months. The first signs of unrest came in January when he failed to score at the Bernabeu in the league for the first time in 15 months. His frustration was clearly visible after reacting badly to his team-mate Gareth Bale when the Welshman chose to shoot instead of pass to him.
[ad_pod id=’football-friends’ align=’center’]
February saw Ronaldo fail to score three consecutive La Liga games for the first time since 2011, and after a petulant sending off in another blank with Cordoba he drew more criticism when failing to celebrate an Isco goal off the back of an open-goal miss, clearly annoyed that it wasn’t his name on the score sheet.
And in his latest game there was more unrest as Ronaldo was left disappointed to see his acrobatic effort rebound to Bale to net the opener in a 2-0 win over Levante.
Ronaldo’s focus appears to be on his goal-scoring record and for the good of the team now could be a good time to cash in on the star. Having passed 30-years-of-age, his days at the peak of his game won’t be around for too much longer, and if they don’t sell him in the next couple of transfer windows they risk losing out on a lot money through transfer fees.
Still one of the world’s best, there would be no shortage of clubs queuing up for his signature, and Madrid would be more than capable of recouping the majority of the £80m they spent on him back in 2009. Manchester United would no doubt be prime contenders, and there’s no doubt he would be welcomed back with open arms.
His departure would help to bring the best out of the likes of Bale and James Rodriguez, who have more than enough talent to help fill the void he would leave. There’s no hiding the fact he would be a significant loss to any team, but Madrid are not short of attacking quality, and they would certainly be able to recruit further quality to bolster their front line with his transfer fee.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Messi aside, there isn’t a player who can match his record in front goal. But no matter how important a player is, when they fail to embrace the spirit of the team in celebrating goals, it certainly leaves the club with a big decision to make about what outcome will be most beneficial to the team and their success going forward.
It’s important to take note of the rise of Italian football since Juventus reclaimed the Serie A title last season in emphatic fashion. Sure, Italy’s league might not be as fashionable as it once was, with many outsiders looking to it as defend first, excite later. But you can’t hide from the rise in talent over recent years, with a great deal of players attracting attention from foreign clubs.
Both Arsenal and Tottenham will be in need of addressing a number of weaknesses in their squad, and the Italian league could prove to be a good hunting ground this summer. It’s the need to look to a market which can be exploited for one reason or another; Serie A may be experiencing a renaissance, but that doesn’t mean other clubs have to look on without taking action.
Juventus will prove to be the runaway club for the second consecutive year, and there is much to admire about the Champions League quarter-finalists. But they’re the tip of the iceberg, and there is plenty of talent to be found especially for teams like Arsenal and Tottenham.
Click on Marek Hamsik to see the full list of transfer targets
In his pre-match press conference Leeds United manager Paul Heckingbottom has defended striker Caleb Ekuban after another match in which he failed to score on Tuesday night.
Losing 2-0 away to Fulham, the striker missed a golden chance to hit the back of the net but failed to properly test Marcus Bettinelli.
The 24-year-old has scored just one goal in 15 English Championship appearances this season and fans are growing concerned he’ll never score on a consistent basis for the Elland Road side.
There’s also frustration he is currently getting a regular game ahead of Pierre-Michel Lasogga, who has netted 10 times this season.
Supporters are worried that Heckingbottom continues to rate the player, believing that if they go into next term with him leading the line that they are doomed to suffer another inadequate season.
Can he turn things round in the closing stages of the Championship, starting with Sunderland this weekend?
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on it all…
The summer of 2013 now seems like an eternity ago. Liverpool were very much a team in ‘transition’ and Diego Costa was a little heard of striker plying his trade for Atletico Madrid in the shadow of Radamel Falcao. Oh how, times change, while the following 18 months have seen the Reds go from title challengers back into the same state of limbo, Costa has blossomed, firing Atleti to the La Liga title and Champions League Final – which they came within minutes of winning – before securing a £30m+ move to Chelsea – which looks set to end with another title and another massive haul of goals. And the third part in this, Falcao, has slipped almost off the radar at Manchester United, via an injury ravaged spell at Monaco – but we can forget about him for now.Oh how different it could have been, though. Costa was heavily linked with Liverpool in that fateful summer, and now he’s revealed just how close he came switching to Anfield:“I was close to leaving Atletico,†he said when talking about his 2013 off-season.“Liverpool are a great team, but after fighting so hard and overcoming difficulties to get my place at Atletico, how could I leave?“I thought it was very important to keep growing with Atletico and to play there for many years.â€
Costa’s words prove how close the deal must have come to going through, and had Liverpool had Champions League football behind them instead of a seventh-placed finish, the Spain international may well have been lining up alongside Daniel Sturridge at Anfield against Blackburn yesterday rather than resting with his league-leading Chelsea team.
There are a lot of ifs and buts aligned with the whole saga, and maybe the best way to go about assessing the difference Costa could have made right now is to compare him to the man he would most like drop in for on Merseyside now: Mario Balotelli.
As the numbers show, unsurprisingly, the Brazilian-born hit-man walks all over his Italian counterpart, averaging more goals and assists, a better striker record, and even fewer yellow cards per 90 minutes. Quite a difference.
Last term the Reds did not miss the impact of such a player – Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge netted 51 league goals – but they may even have got over the line ahead of Manchester City with Costa heading up a front three with ‘SAS’ either side of him. We’ll never know.
However, the one thing we do know from the whole tale is that Liverpool seem unable to get deals over the line. In the same summer as Costa escaped their grasp, now Dortmund ace Henrikh Mkhitaryan proved unattainable, while the securing of Champions League football for this season as still not enough to lure Alexis Sanchez to the North West over the bright lights of London – and the video below shows just how costly that miss has been, too.
All of the events suggest that Liverpool are having trouble attracting the type of player needed to keep pace with Chelsea, both Manchester clubs and even Arsenal, which has contributed to the slid this term. Sturridge has impressed since his return, but the added goals and sheer presence of a player like Costa may have them in the title run-in now, instead of a desperate scrap for fourth – which they’re only involved in since Jesus appeared up at Anfield to hand Rodgers a Christmas miracle.
Simply put, Costa was the start of a worrying slide at Liverpool, and one that has signalled a changing of the times. Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson have both rejected new contract offers in recent times, while big names look away from Anfield In search of greater prospects and, probably, larger salaries. Fenway Sports Group may turn a profit, but look at the North East towards Newcastle and you’ll see the ill-feeling the shift towards making accountants smile has on supporters and football clubs.
Whomever the new Costa may be this summer, Liverpool should probably do a bit more to get him…
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The biggest transfer rumour doing the rounds at the moment is that Liverpool forward Luis Suarez is right at the top of incoming Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola’s summer shopping list and while at the moment that is merely conjecture, how the club deal with the issue could hold the key to its immediate future.
Fenway Sports Group (FSG) have by and large got plenty of big decisions wrong during their time in charge of the club so far, ranging from spending ludicrous amounts of money on relatively unproven players, to hiring a manager that had been out of the game for far too long to dithering hugely over the stadium issue. Even when they have tried to show leadership over certain matters, they have often chosen the wrong path and the business of football has been a completely alien environment to them with a steep learning curve to boot. The likes of John W. Henry and Tom Werner seem inherently cautious people when it comes to their dealings with the club, which is why the future of the Uruguayan striker is such a cause for concern.
There’s a very real worry that they will see the offer put on the table for Suarez, which would have to be in the region fo £40m for them to even consider selling, judge it a reasonable one and consent to his sale, which could have a potentially damaging impact on the team’s fortunes in the short-term and whether they will be capable of competing with the top four and slowing down the regression they have been guilty of in recent years.
As the old saying goes, ‘no one player is bigger than the club’, but it’s a cliche of little substance by ex-pros clearly clueless on how to deal in anything other than meaningless, empty platitudes. The 26-year-old has been absolutely key in the club even competing for a final league position inside the top eight this season, and without him it’s not even worth thinking about where they would be. His departure could hurt the club more than any single sale since the one that saw Xabi Alonso leave for Real Madrid.
Liverpool have a history when it comes to dreadful negotiation tactics; with Alonso, Rafa Benitez practically backed him into a corner with such a public pursuit of the clearly inferior Gareth Barry as his replacement, while Roy Hodgson couldn’t even get Javier Mascherano on the phone during the summer to address his future, leading to the player refusing to play just before a game away at Manchester City.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is often a leading light when it comes to tough negotiating to the extent that it looks like he’s willing to walk away from the table at any given moment is certain deals aren’t met. This saw Real Madrid have to fork out north of £30m for Luka Modric in the summer and sign a landmark ‘commercial partnership’ package which has the potential to be worth just as much over the next few years in terms of sponsorship deals.
[opinion-widget op]
Granted, the club could have sold Modric to Chelsea for £40m a window or two earlier, therefore strengthening a direct rival for a top four spot, but in biding their time and refusing to compromise below the £30m mark that Madrid deemed too high, they got a deal that allowed them the freedom in the transfer market to go out and sign Mousa Dembele, Hugo Lloris and Jan Vertonghen.
Sometimes there is an argument to be made that the amount gleaned from such a big deal outweighs the value of a player as it allows you to rebuild the side and strengthen more than two or three positions at once, but Liverpool have had enough of shopping around the bargain bin in the past and the transfer bracket of between £8-12m, with very little success. For once they have a player of genuine quality and he is more important than any single figure at the club at this moment in time.
It might not sound fantastic to be so beholden to a player and it takes a certain amount of pride to admit as much, but Liverpool are not in a position of strength at this moment in time, rather a period of transition and whether it be £40m or £50m, they need Suarez more than he needs them. From the player’s point of view, you can hardly argue with a desire to test himself on the highest stage of the Champions League on a consistent basis playing under a manager like Guardiola, particularly when Liverpool are clearly incapable of offering him a similar package for the foreseeable future. Demanding loyalty in a game where none exists is simply unrealistic.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
It’s not only his goals this season that have stood out, Suarez’s leadership when things aren’t going the team’s way has seen him become alongside captain Steven Gerrard the one player that everyone else looks to, while his versatility and ability to create chances from open play mark him out as a much more complete player than they even had with the world-class Fernando Torres during his superb spell on Merseyside.
Just as Robin van Persie leaving Arsenal in the summer for Manchester United was widely seen as a statement of intent from Old Trafford as much as it was a signal that the Gunners lacked ambition, should FSG refuse to keep hold of Suarez due to the lure of money, even putting aside the substantive damage, the symbolic gesture alone could crush a fragile regime built on soft foundations.
United States youngster Indiana Vassilev has been tipped to make an impact at Aston Villa after finally joining the Championship club on a permanent contract.
The 17-year-old had been on trial with Villa since November 2016, but has now been handed a professional contract by the English outfit.
Vassilev’s former coach at the IMG Academy is Kevin Hartman, and the American has claimed that the future ‘is boundless’ for the teenager.
The Birmingham Mail quotes Hartman as saying:
“He understands what’s going on around him and it allows him to not only be better himself, but it makes the players around him better.
“He’s got great leadership qualities and he’s got an undying desire to win every time he plays. That competitiveness is an attribute that I think every coach is going to be looking for and it really drives development.
“His future is boundless. He has all the physical capabilities of a top level player. The attributes and the characteristics that he has within are the ones that will drive his development. I don’t see a limit to what he can achieve.”
The Birmingham Mail has described Vassilev as ‘a technically sound player who is comfortable across midfield and even in attack’.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Villa boss Steve Bruce has not been afraid to hand first-team minutes to youngsters this season, and Vassilev will be eyeing a future role at Villa Park.
Villa, whose supporters have recently been commenting on the future of John Terry, have lost their last two Championship matches, but they are still comfortably inside the playoff positions in fourth spot, and will be looking to return to winning ways when they travel to Hull City after the international break on March 31.
Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri has revealed he rejected the chance to join Manchester United before opting to sign for their rivals Man City from Arsenal.
Nasri completed a controversial £24million from the Emirates to the Etihad Stadium, a move that Arsenal fans have struggled to forgive him for, but, speaking to BeIn Sports, Nasri revealed it could’ve been Old Trafford if he had gone along with Sir Alex Ferguson’s request:
“We met with Sir Alex in Paris, in a hidden place, out of sight, so as not to fuel the rumours.
“But there was one thing that was a problem; I was asked to go to war with Arsenal to be able to join. I could not see myself doing it, especially with Arsene Wenger.
“After Man City showed their interest. Mancini called me every day during the holidays. I then decided that they really wanted me.”
“Manchester City was the first club to show interest.
“I had some doubts about the evolution of the club. Then I thought they really wanted me. They were about to sign [Sergio] Aguero and there was already [David] Silva, [Mario] Balotelli, [Carlos] Tevez.
“I had a discussion with my agents. They asked me if I wanted to make history or be a player like any other at United.
“I said “Go ahead”. I won the title in my first season, so my choice was the right one.”
Nasri, who joined Arsenal from Ligue 1 outfit Marseille in the summer of 2008, has made 109 Premier League appearances for Man City bagging 14 goals and 27 assists during that time.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The Frenchman will face his former manager and employers this Sunday when Arsenal make the trip to the Etihad Stadium to face Manuel Pellegrini’s side in the late Sunday kick-off – a win for Nasri and his team-mates would see Man City extend their lead of Arsenal to 14 points.
On May 14 2012, the entire country was battered with gale-force winds after every Aston Villa supporter let out a collective sigh of relief. The news that the much-loathed figure of Alex McLeish had departed was met with rapturous applause, especially when Paul Lambert was announced as his replacement, having just guided a mediocre Norwich City to unimaginable heights.
Alas, six months later, the club is still wallowing at the wrong end of the table after securing just four Premier League victories all season while boasting the worst goal difference in the division. A demoralising festive period saw the Villans concede a startling 15 goals during three consecutive defeats in which they also failed to score. A potentially season-defining set of fixtures remain in January, but can Lambert’s young side finally fulfil their potential?
A number of underachieving clubs have already flexed their financial muscle during the transfer window, in an attempt to reverse their ailing fortunes. Unfortunately Villa cannot afford this luxury, with Lambert revealing he can only bring in ‘on or two’ players this month. A burning desire for loan signings has also been extinguished, with chairman Randy Lerner refusing to substitute the wages of any temporary solutions.
Lambert can have no cause for complaint after frittering away his transfer budget during the summer. Of the eight new faces he drafted in for a combined figure of nearly £20m, only man-mountain Christian Benteke can be considered a success. Having spent well over £200m in six years, it’s no surprise Lerner seems reluctant to dig further into his pocket.
[cat_link cat=”aston-villa” type=”list”]
Two years ago, Lerner caved into the demands of former manager Gerard Houllier and funded the £18m+ purchase of Darren Bent. The move effectively helped steer this sinking ship away from the drop but there will be no repeat performance this time round, with supporters and staff both in agreement that the club cannot risk their financial future.
In truth, the accounts have slipped further into the red ever since the ‘successful’ reign of Martin O’Neill. The club did achieve three successive sixth-placed finishes, but never managed to qualify for the Champions League or win a trophy and was therefore unable to sustain its expensive pursuit for glory.
O’Neill is often credited with the profitable signings of Ashley Young, James Milner and Stewart Downing, but few remember the £8.5m dumped on Nigel Reo-Coker or the £10m on ‘future England defender’ Curtis Davies. The club’s wage bill has been slashed but still carries the likes of Alan Hutton and Stephen Warnock, while fellow detrimental signings Charles N’Zogbia and Stephen Ireland have hindered rather than helped proceedings.
There is further bad news in the money-saving quest to find a buyer for Darren Bent, especially since Harry Redknapp finally lured Loic Remy to London. If a suitable destination fails to materialise he has to be allowed back into the first-team. Villa have scored just 17 goals this term – the joint lowest in the league – and even though Bent’s immobile presence goes against everything Paul Lambert is trying to implement in his new side, his name will still regularly dress the scoresheet.
With Villa unable to buy their way out of trouble, Lambert must revive his squad of adolescent starlets struggling to cope with the pressures of the Premier League. Unfortunately his inexperienced defence, which had an average age of just 22 in the defeat to Southampton, is in desperate need of experience. Never did I think the likes of Richard Dunne or Ron Vlaar retuning from injury would be deemed so important for a top-flight club.
Lambert’s insistence on gifting opportunities to lower league players proved fruitful with the Canaries but his team lacks the grit and cohesion of a side that has battled its way up through the Championship. While the likes of Anthony Pilkington continue to play above and beyond all expectation, I can’t think of a single Villa player that is currently playing at the top of their game.
In a recent poll, 53% of voters were convinced Villa would be relegated, a split-decision that serves to embody people’s perception of the club. There is undeniable potential within the squad, which rose to the surface in the memorable 3-0 victory at Anfield but their inability to find consistency will inevitably end in disaster.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The prolonged absence of captain Stiliyan Petrov is a painful reminder of past glories but the distinct lack of fight displayed by the current group of players is arguably more painful. The supporters are subdued yet restless as the club drifts somewhat aimlessly from one match to the next and the current stale atmosphere is in stark contrast to the air of optimism that exists among every other relegation candidate in the league.
The upcoming fixture against West Brom is rather daunting considering the pair’s contrasting league positions and while the cup games offer a nice distraction, the prospect of overturning the scoreline against Bradford and a trip to the New Den will be anything but a reprieve. At present, the club are the only side still competing in every competition they’ve entered but fans will only be satisfied if they are still in the Premier League come May.