There’s no getting away from the disappointment of our failure to beat Man Utd at the weekend, we’re out of the FA Cup, and once again we know we can’t win a trophy this season and its only January, writes Villa blogger Gregg Williams.
However, our target this year has always been European qualification, and with such a small squad we were always going to struggle to win a trophy and maintain our league position.
I don’t think Man Utd are unbeatable, the difference on Saturday was the size of their squad, experience, and a bit more class.
We looked tired, and they were able to bring on experienced internationals when they needed a lift.
I think that we’ve continually improved over the last 18 months, and as each transfer window comes along we’ll get stronger, while it’s hard to see how Man Utd could improve on what they already have.
People are talking like it’s a disaster that we haven’t beaten them at Villa Park for so long, even the supposedly mighty Liverpool haven’t beaten United at Anfield since 2001.
I hope that this window will see Martin and Randy repeat the performance in the transfer market of last January.
Back then we managed to bring in John Carew, Ashley Young and Shaun Maloney.
If, for example, we were to sign Goran Pandev, Giles Barnes and Justin Hoyte, who would bet against us finishing in the top five?
We need another striking option, the balance that a right winger would provide, and a right back to cover for Mellberg or to allow him to move infield.
I’m sure that Martin can see what I can see along with all the other Villa fans, and hopefully, having built a strong foundation of a squad already, he is set to take some calculated risks in order to take us onto the next level.
At the moment the team is continuing to improve, and we can’t ask for more than that.
I fully expect that as each year goes by under the stewardship of Martin O’Neill we will get better, and who’s to say we won’t be talking of revenge this time next year when we inevitably draw United again?
Villa fans, what do you think? Have your say below
5 Comments
Hey Gregg, I agree, we looked laboured, and tired. There was no option on the bench, no flair player that could come off the bench and turn it for us like Shrek did for Man U.
There have been a number of people within the media circles that have stated that the xmas football programme is too much, that the new years day fixture could be scrapped. Especially with the FA Cup 3rd Round so soon afterwards.
But this is nothing new, this fixtures pile up has exsisted for years. Removing a fixture here or there won’t make any difference. It all comes down to what quality options we have within our squad, but this could be a double edged sword. The word that springs to mind is rotation. This will divide opinion no doubt, but you only have to look at the state of play at Anfield, Rafa has by far a larger squad than us, and uses the rotation system to keep players looking/feeling fresh, having the ability to bring on some quality to change a game. But what we have developed with our current squad/starting 11 is an understanding. The players have all played together for such a length of time that, apart from the game on saturday, we look confident, playing with purpose and more often than not excitement. Settled performances week-in, week-out, battling performances, hard work ethic, and how many times have we gone behind in seasons past(especially before MON) and there was no tactical know-how to turn things around. Now we are doing that. Scoring, winning away, playing good football.
It has gone relatively unnoticed at the Park, the quality of some of our small squad, slowly but surely people are looking our way, Fabio in the stands, calls for young fresh blood in the england set-up including Gabby and Ashley, Barry cementing his place with quality solid performances for the three lions as well as for the mighty claret and blues.
I want nothing more than quality signings that will do nothing but improve what we already have, but my worry is that an impulse buy here or there to please the fans may result in another Harewood. I can understand why MON went down the route of another physical presence up front, but it hasn’t worked, now we have been linked this morning with Defoe, again. This is not an impulse buy, this is goal scoring quality. But i am slightly worried with some of the other names that been mentioned. We want to strike the balance, if not this month, then definately in the summer.
I think there is only one prority this month, securing the services of Mellberg and Laursen. They have proved invaluable. After that, its a right back to allow Olaf to move back into the middle. Then maybe if we can pull it off, Defoe or Martins.
Let Harewood away out on loan, Moore can go. Then we can move forward. In the summer, then we can look at midfield. Dependant on our league position will effect who we can get in. Some flair, creativeness and effective thinking on the ball which is what we are missing, Barry can only do so much!
European football will change it all.
I have always said though, last season, MON would find his feet, weed out the drift wood, bring in some support, this season would be a refining period, hopefully a good cup run(not gonna happen now!!) or a good league finish(European position would be great) but next season is where we should be looking.
Keeping the faith - Up the Villa!!!
Agree with most of above comments. Seems to be quite a serious link with Doyle coming to Villa. Believe it or not, this could sort our right winger problem out as he can deliver a mean cross and is pretty nippy to boot!! Not sure about Hoyte?? seen him a few times this season and have to say i haven’t been impressed, would prefer to see Stearman from Leicester.
Good post Greg and I agree with your comments completely. Having no trophies to go for again so early is a blow but hey, we could still be owned by Ellis, managed by O’Leary and staring relegation to Division 2 in the face (having gone down last term)!
Not sure about Pandev but if MON chooses him and with the other two we have a really realistic chance of getting that European spot in fifth.
Watching us grow the way we are is everything a Villa fan could ask for. If it takes the 5 years that we were told at the start then who cares as it’s only getting better and better as time goes by.
Mace
I think to get is into europe we need signinings such as martins to play RW and gudjohnson or defoe to play with gabby (good strike force with young). Bosingwa for RB and risse for LB. And reserves such as kevin doyle,stearman,barnes and maybe more to get us into europe!!
villa all the way!!!
with regards to ben butlers comments, the reason martins wants to leave the toon is because they are playing him out of his preferred position. They are playing him on the right, where he considers himself an out and out striker, why would we buy a player who wants to leave for that reason and employ him in the same role, in fact why would he come to villa to play in the same role as he is being employed now?
As for Carew stating he wants a long term future with villa, where he has been labelled a journeyman in the past! It would appear that Juventus are showing an interest, coincidence or not? All i can say is watch this space! At the end of the day the way i look at it, we want to be pushing for europe this season, if not then definately next season, why would we sell our best players or let them go on a free (Olaf to Juve, Laursen to Spurs or the Toon!!??) when we are hoping to be competing with those teams in the not too distant future? Madness! Secure them, do it now, give them what they want, they are the players that are going to make the difference, the experience, the quality.