Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Abdoulaye Meite’s new deal hope
Wednesday 16th March 2011, 4:18PM GMT.
Albion boss Roy Hodgson has challenged revitalised defender Abdoulaye Meite to win a shock new contract.
But the head coach warned the Ivory Coast international he must first nail down his place in the team.
The Baggies boss believes Meite, who just weeks ago looked certain to leave this summer after an unhappy spell at the club, could now earn an extension to his current contract.
The 30-year-old’s deal expires at the end of the season but the club have an option to keep him for another year.
Hodgson said: “There is a great opportunity for him to try to earn a stay here next season.
“But first of all he has to play well enough to keep himself in the team because he’s under pressure from the two that aren’t playing at the moment , Gabriel Tamas and Pablo Ibanez.
“But if he can continue to do as well as he has done in the last two games alongside Jonas Olsson – and the two of them play well together – there is no reason why we would be looking to break that up.
“His fortune, I suppose, is that I came in with a fresh start and gave him his opportunity, which he’d not been given before.”
Meite suffered an injury-blighted first season at the Hawthorns under Tony Mowbray, figured regularly in the first half of Roberto Di Matteo’s Championship promotion campaign but then lost his place to Tamas.
And Meite slipped out of contention completely in the final months of Di Matteo’s reign.
Hodgson said: “If you’re a defender that can often be the case, unfortunately. It’s hard because if you don’t get games how can you persuade the coach you’re better than the guy who has got the shirt?
“If you’re a forward or midfielder you get more chances because you are subbed more often. If you’re a full-back or centre-back you tend to either play or not play.
“If you’re playing and the team’s doing well, the poor guy who’s waiting for his chance has to keep waiting.”
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