Express & Star

Blog: Where are the Villa goals coming from?

Published
Last updated

Aston Villa struggled - and failed - to overcome a League One team in Leyton Orient this week, writes blogger Matthew Turvey.

more

That Villa are out the Capital One Cup isn't, in itself, overly surprising, but there were worrying signs that a failure to score goals is going to be the club's primary issue this season.

Perhaps the biggest shock of the whole situation was the fact that Villa played with just one recognised striker.

There is an argument for why the likes of Andreas Weimann and Gabriel Agbonlahor were rested.

But playing with a solitary man up front showed a lack of optimism, as though Villa were actually playing a top European side.

It is this kind of choice that leads an increasing number of fans to the conclusion that manager Paul Lambert is too defensively focused.

His attitude is no different to his predecessor, the negative football that was forced on us by Alex McLeish.

In reality, such a judgment would be rather harsh, though the lack of chances created since the start of the season sits in single figures.

No, Villa are not exactly known for swashbuckling football, but those statistics can't be ignored - having the best defence in the world won't get you anywhere unless you can score goals.

With that in mind, much hinges on the return of Christian Benteke, though hanging all of the club's hopes on one player is surely a sign of desperation.

The reality is that Villa - as a team - need to improve if they are to progress this season. Perhaps some of the necessary impetus will come before the closing of the transfer window.

The transfer of Tom Cleverley is the latest link to the club. The Manchester United midfielder may not be a stellar signing, but he is arguably a good supplement to the squad if he does arrive.

That said, in an era where money is relatively scarce at Villa Park, many will question whether the touted £8million is the best way to spend that sort of money.

As a comparative, Benteke cost less, as did all of Lambert's prior purchases.

Can Villa progress? The honest answer is there's no clear view, but there is a need for investment in the team.

Fans are, understandably, frustrated with years of (comparative) mediocrity, so something must change in a positive manner, though how that will occur is less than obvious.

You can follow Matt Turvey's regular opinions at his own site, Aston Villa Life at http://www.astonvillalife.com, via the site's Twitter account @astonvillalife, or via his own Twitter account @mturvey_star.