The great Aston Villa clear out
Wednesday, 04 April 07, 02:38 AM · Comments (16)
For most, the football still looks like last season and me I'm a little miffed. What's needed is a huge clear out at Villa and no doubt most will think I'm crazy but we've had this problem for so long now, it just has to change.
It's no coincidence that every manager that has managed Gareth Barry has never really found his best position. First on my list is Barry. He's not a winger and he's too slow to be a defender and we don't need another lumbering central midfielder.
Don't jump the gun, think about it. Ashley Young terrorising the left wing or Barry with his pull back and cross from 35 yards? Or, Shaun Maloney taking it past players from central midfield or Barry, pulling it back and playing a cross field pass from 40 yards? Barry offers more than some but I think we can do better.
I know it's harsh but sometimes you've got to do the things that are the most surprising. When it comes to managers you sack them if they're not working. Players are different and they go on a transfer list and along with Barry are quite a few senior players.
First on my transfer list every time is Gavin McCann. McCann has just never done it for me. I live in the North East and a few Sunderland fans watch him now, see exactly what they saw when he played for them but now understand. It will take McCann moving on for us to all understand why he had to go.
Others on the list include Sorensen, Mellberg, Bardsley, Angel, Samuel, Delaney and Laursen. It's not that they're not all good enough for Premiership football it's that they're not good enough for Aston Villa and have spent too much time at the club.
I watched Liverpool last night and I don't think there was one time that Jamie Carragher kicked long from centre back and Reina is clearly a different class to Sorensen. Great teams build from the back and for me Sorensen, Mellberg, Samuel, Bardsley, Laursen and Delaney are just not great.
Like I said it's not about sacking them but if they are placed on the transfer list most will get picked up. For a lot less than most think they are worth because while some are considered 'decent' you'll not find many clubs wanting to spend big.
All the players I've mentioned, except Bardsley, have become multi millionaires at Aston Villa and for me none of them have really developed into great players. For many Barry and Mellberg are great players and I see glimpses but you need more than that. I just don't understand the game any more that some average players get paid so much for doing so little.
We've had change at the top, we've got a new manager and back-room team, a number of new players and things still don't look like changing. It's time to move on some of the players and while it won't be nice it's for the best of Aston Villa Football Club.
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16 Comments · Add yours
To some extent I agree. In Carew we've finally got a player we should build a team around or at least we have a clear attacking strategy. Maloney and Young are big talents and with more money getting spent in the summer I guess things can only get better.
Would we get much cash for those players though?
I agree 100% with the defence. All those players you've mentioned need to go for the club to move forward.
Barry is close but not quite the class player we need.
rumour has it there is a mass clear out at villa park on the cards anyway .. the plan is to compete and to do that most have to go
barry is the most consitant player at villa get rid of him and you got a bunch of lets play good now and again players. That is why he is in the team at the minute, we can't afford to to get rid of him. Bouma is better than barry at defending so it leaves the left flank.
the other night barry fitted in quite nicely with petrov in the second half .. i can see where kev is coming from though but i wouldn't want to see barry sold off just yet. lets see how he plays with better players around him next season
I agree about Barry having to go, Young on the left is the way forward, we need to get rid of Angel,McCann,Laursen,Delaney,Samuel and bring in ReoCoker,Barton,Bellamy(Defoe and Keane would be my next choices),and an experienced international commanding centrehalf
I would rather see Petrov move on than Barry, as for the rest of them Mellberg to stay as cover, get rid of the injury prone players, get bardsley in on a season long loan before we make a permanent decision on him. MON will have to get busy if we survive this season as there is a lot of work to be done but we have the right men at our club to do it.
Of the list, i'd agree, i'd say Sorenson, McCann and Mellberg are liabilities, i'm not sure about Barry, and I think Bardsley could become permanent because he has 'potential'. Laursen should be given one last season, if he can stay injury free, then he could be an asset, he's a better defender than Mellberg.
In a way i'm disapointed with these players they should have a long hard look at themselves. Steve Guppy said that when MO'N took over at Leicester his words were "I'm not sure if I can make this work, but trust me if I can't you'll all be gone before I am", and the players who failed last season, haven't done themselves any favours this season. MON is no mug, and he'll be as cheesed off as we are with the poor performances, he looked absolutely livid on Monday night.
Maybe this will get me some stick, but my experience with englishmen is that they are too easily stunned by wide players with pace, blinding them from seeing other attributes. Look at other leagues, with fair pace they get by (Italy) etc. Barry has lots of skill, always availible, good cross. Vs. Everton our attacks came from left, remember.
What you guys are saying is absolutely nonsence.How can Villa get rid of Barry?, He's been the most consistant player over the last 4 or 5 seasons for Villa proving to be the best player in the last 3 seasons.McCann has under performed every time i've seen him play, he should be moved on to the championship.Mellberg great central defender and Cahill and Ridgewell are learning from him.Petrov is one player im extremely dissapointed with since we signed him its like he's gone under the Villa Curse and just doesnt care to play or win.If MO'N has done something right then Its swapping Lazy Baros for the Hulk Carew.He's been absolutely Superb since signing for us.BUT he needs someone to run onto the balls he knocks down ie Keane?,Henri Camera?,Defoe? Or Lukie Moore?.
Are Man City fans talking about getting rid of joey barton because he underperforms?.England player been called up a few times to get experience.Sounds like the same situation with Barry to me.So stop moaning and get behind Bazza.
I agree partially. But not at all about Barry. To me and my nephew he is about the only consitant good player we have. He should be in the England team. When you compare him to Stuart Downing, he´s miles better!
As regards Angel, McCann, I agree with the way MON is doing it. The quiet way. He is leaving them there with the chance to compete for their place in the team. Look how that has worked with Berger. Against Everton, he looked to me to be the Man of the match. I can see him being a starting midfield player from now on instead of McCann.
Name Team Index Score
1 cristiano ronaldo Manchester United 559
2 didier drogba Chelsea 550
3 frank lampard Chelsea 534
4 wayne rooney Manchester United 510
5 mikel arteta Everton 483
6 gareth barry Aston Villa 479
7 dimitar berbatov Tottenham Hotspur 450
8 rio ferdinand Manchester United 443
9 steve finnan Liverpool 437
10 andy johnson Everton 433
G.Barry comment over.
Just to keep things fair the scoring for Gareth Barry is a little unfair. For over half the season he was getting scored as a defender (I believe he is now getting scored as a midfielder) but scoring all those penalties he has as a defender puts that score out a bit. Defenders get more points for scoring than a striker or midfielder ...
I agree that we need players, probably in all departments but definitely midfield! Quality and creativity with vision (a Merse type player) and probably another, hard as nails that will win the ball for us regularly, especially in a tough away game (like Boaetang used to do "splitter").
But who, given yhey have got to be two or three times better than what we have currently got..? Where will they come from - the premiership? Europe? We keep relying heavily on our young players who need someone of class to lean and learn from.
Sure- let's give away our most consistent player, whose play has been more than a little bit affected by Ash Young's insistence at running out to the left wing while playing striker. I'd be more than happy to watch him run rampant over us for the Barcodes or even the Blues.
You prat.
Villa need a completely new squad for next season. its firstly vital that we get a new goalkeeper! Frey, Boruc or Cudicini would be my pick. Defenders would be Kompany, Vanden Borre, Bridge and Bardsley. Midfielders would be (including Barry!)Whilhelmson, Arteta, Snejdner, SWP and D'alasandro. Strikers, Defoe, Saviola and Bellamy.