Aston Villa Blogs

Surely Aston Villa deserved better than this?

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:13:52 +0100

Football FanCast columnist Greg Symonds is disgusted by Gareth Barry's comments this morning and wonders what the club has done to deserve it.

When Arsene Wenger came out this morning and said he could foresee the end of the transfer system, I'm sure many weren't surprised. Such is the influence and say that footballers have these days that their highly paid contracts really count for nothing and if they want to go, then there is little that a club can do.

It has spiralled out of control and unfortunately clubs have started to take advantage in touting players within the media - apparently it is all a part of the game according to UEFA President Michel Platini, which is a little worrying to say the least.

The whole Gareth Barry affair has left something of a sour taste in the mouth for me personally and every other Villa fan, no doubt. I don't have to go into the finer details of Liverpool's underhand approach, as it has been well documented but to say that I am a little disappointed by our skipper's words this morning is something of an understatement.

Who does he think he is? Publicly criticising Martin O'Neill and accusing him or the club doing anything to make him want to stay. What is this, a cheap stunt to turn the fans against the club and subsequently blaming them for the reason he moved on. It is a cheap shot of the highest order and why he felt the need to pass judgment is anyone's guess.

So what was the motive behind the outburst? Is he panicking that Liverpool cannot come up with the necessary readies and is now trying to force the clubs hand by expressing his own discontent? I don't know how Martin O'Neill is feeling at this moment but I'm sure he is less than impressed. It is very rare that the Irishman is on the end anything but high praise and he certainly didn't deserve this.

What grates with me more than anything is that the finger of blame has been shifted onto the club. How can this be, given that for weeks we have had every man and his dog telling him how it is the best move for him, the player fuelling the fire by saying he wants to play Champions League football and yet we should be the ones convincing him to stay.

I don't know what other Villa fans feel but I for one am washing my hands of the player. His outburst this morning was just another example of how players are using their powers to force the hand of their football club and get what they want. Gareth Barry was good for Aston Villa, but we just as good for him and maybe a little courtesy and respect would have been nice.

Final Spain vs. Germany. 19.45

Why Aston Villa are right to take the patient approach

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:18:22 +0100

Football FanCast guest columnist John McCall feels that Aston Villa are right to adopt the patient approach, in their efforts to rebuild the football club.

If there is one thing that annoys me about a majority of my fellow Villa fans, then it is the way they constantly put downers on the football club and continually knock a supposed lack of ambition. I find this extremely grating, tiresome in fact and it makes me wonder if some are in need of a huge dose of reality.

People don't need to tell me about our rich history and our standing within the game, because I know it more than most. The fact of the matter is those halcyon days, when we were winning titles and European Cups are very much a thing in the past and we must now embrace the fact that after years of decline, we have to rebuild the football club.

I personally think that Randy Lerner and Martin O'Neill have done a fantastic job in repairing the pieces that the club was in under Ellis and David O'Leary. The transformation is nothing short of phenomenal and the team hasn't looked as healthy. A combination of youthful exuberance backed up with some wily old experience, took the club within pts of an automatic UEFA Cup spot and all this within two seasons under the Lerner/O'Neill constitution. The club has made huge strides, so why some Villa fans are impatient or bemoan ambition is anyone's guess.

I know there are a lot of fans who feel we should be targeting players in the upper tier of the transfer market, but how can we? What is the unique selling point at Villa at this moment - playing in the Intertoto? We are a club in serious transition at the moment, however very much in the ascendency, but at this time we are not an attractive proposition. Yes we can turn into a Chelsea and drag up in excess of £100m losses by spending vast sums of money on top players, but would that be the right way for the club to go? Is it not better to be patient and go down the way we are in order to get the club back in its rightful place among the elite?

After years of suffering, false dawns and plenty of unrest between supporters and the board, I am delighted at the progress the football club is making and I feel a great deal of Villa fans should be too.

Semi Final Germany vs. Turkey. 19.45

What type of winger will Aston Villa entertain?

Freddie Myers — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:42:13 +0100

Football FanCast reporter Freddie Myers mulls over the latest rumours and rumblings

If there is one thing that is continually being muted about Aston Villa is that there is a complete lack of ambition within the football club.

Quite where people get the substance for this view is a discussion for another day, but what I see from a neutral looking in is a football club that is extremely well run, in the ascendancy and with one of the finest managers of its generation.

Martin O'Neill has done a fabulous job in his first two years at Villa Park and has taken a washed up side, void of direction, back in their rightful place among the Premier League elite. He has achieved this, not by spending vast sums, but by investing wisely in young hungry players who want to play for the shirt.

It is a policy that O'Neill has adopted throughout his time in management and for all the millions that Lerner possesses; the manager won't throw money out on a whim. It is the right way to go about business and the club looks to re-establish it self and lay the foundation for future success - Rome wasn't built in a day as they say.

Villa Park has been a hive of transfer activity in the last few days as Fleet Street look to spend O'Neill's funds for him. Today has seen plenty of speculation from our friends at the Daily Mirror and Express, who have us linked to no fewer than three wingers.

Shaun Wright-Phillips, David Bentley and James Milner are all quality players and very much in the mould of O'Neill's type of signing. They would arguably improve the football club and take it up the desired notch and take some much needed pressure and attention of Ashley Young, who will undoubtedly be a marked man next season given his performances of last. Neither should command a fee greater than £10m and will certainly be value for money.

So who would you like to see brought in on the right hand side? The tricky SWP, or the distribution brilliance of Milner or Bentley?

Will midfielder be a welcome addition at Aston Villa?

Rob Facey — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:29:17 +0100

Football FanCast columnist Rob Facey reacts to the news that Aston Villa have finally taken steps in the transfer window by securing the services of Chelsea outcast Steve Sidwell.

Aston Villa came within a whisker of securing UEFA Cup football last season, only to be let down by a small squad which had players filling in out of position regularly after the Christmas period.

The news that skipper and heartbeat of the team, Gareth Barry is likely to be leaving in desire of Champions League football has been disappointing for Villa fans, although Martin O'Neill's new signing will go some way to appease them.

The Times claim that the two clubs have a £5.5 million fee for the sale of Steve Sidwell which almost certainly means Gareth Barry will be leaving Villa Park for Anfield.

Sidwell and Barry are different types of players but the former Reading man will be a fine addition to the squad at Aston Villa. The only worry for Martin O'Neill will be regarding Sidwell's relative lack of competitive football during the past year.

In Reading's debut season, the Ginger midfielder was the teams star performer but, like so many promising talents, was blinded by the bright lights of West London and has since fallen off most football fans radars - Unless, of course, you have a manager with an eye for a player like Martin O'Neill does.

Like Scott Parker before him, who failed to make the grade at Chelsea, Sidwell will relish the chance to reinvent himself at Villa Park. He will have big shoes to fill but, along with Nigel Reo-Coker, Sidwell now makes up one of the most promising English midfield duos in the league.

Will he do a job at Villa? Is his signing a panic buy to keep morale at the club up with the impending departure of Barry, or is O'Neill hopeful that Sidwell can recapture his Reading form and take the club on that extra step?

Quarter Final Portugal vs. Germany. 19.45

Are Aston Villa playing a dangerous game in holding out?

Rob Facey — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:54:13 +0100

Football FanCast columnist Rob Facey wonders if Martin O'Neill's rejection of Liverpool's third bid could cause Benitez to cancel negotiations - but would this be a good thing for Aston Villa in the long run?

Liverpool's latest bid for Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry, believed to be in the region of £13m, has been rejected by the Midlands club as manager Martin O'Neill stands firm with his £18m valuation. However, if Villa continue rejecting Liverpool's advances then it is likely they will end up the biggest losers in the deal.

Not only will they miss out on £10m+ of valuable spending money but they will also have a player on their hands that has publicly stated that he wants to play for their Premier League rivals, a fact not lost on O'Neill.

"He's more than intimated that he would fancy going to Liverpool and that's obviously a big setback to us," O'Neill told the BBC.

"But he was the last person to have the captain's armband for England and so the offer Liverpool have made us is just not acceptable."

But how detrimental could Martin O'Neill's rejection to be the Villa cause be?

The famously indecisive manager is already dragging his feet in the market, made worse by the fact that he is currently working as a pundit. He knows that he has a talented squad but it is obvious that it is too small to seriously compete in the Premier League.

If he had more strength in depth then they could have pipped Everton last season but injuries meant that players had to play out of position for weeks on end ensured that they would fall short.

"It's frustrating because we finished sixth last season and he was a major part of that and he is a splendid player.

"Just when you think you are improving matters, this happens. But if Manchester United are having a struggle to keep Cristiano Ronaldo, then it's going to be difficult for the rest of us."

The point about United is valid, but any player in the world would jump at the chance to play at Old Trafford if asked, yet the same can not be said about Villa Park.

O'Neill needs to decide what is best for the club here. He has done a great job so far but I feel that he may be doing more harm than good in trying to ward off Liverpool's interest.

If Liverpool do not return with an improved bid, Villa will be left with a captain who wants to leave and will be out of pocket - should they sell Barry if the next bid is higher, regardless of whether or not it meets the asking price, or should they stick it out and hope to keep the player at the club, albeit against his will?

NB - Rob Facey is competing in our Bloggers Euro Championship so if you can give his article a rating in the voting box, it would be greatly appreciated.

Grp C Italy vs. Romania. 17.00

Grp C Netherlands vs. France. 19:45

Or for some alternative entertainment from Rambo...

Why are Aston Villa dragging their feet in the transfer market?

Rob Facey — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:48:03 +0100

Football FanCast columnist Rob Facey is amazed that Villa have not yet reacted to the blindingly obvious fact that Gareth Barry will not be at the club next season and says they need to get busy in the transfer market sooner rather than later.

As the Gareth Barry transfer saga reaches the tedious heights of the Ronaldo affair, the question has got to be asked: Why doesn't Villa do something about it? They have got to build on their ludicrously small squad if they have any hope of improving on last season's impressive finish and moaning about Barry leaving will not help.

Today was the day that, to the surprise of absolutely no one, Barry finally officially stated his desire to swap Villa Park for Anfield, with his club releasing the following statement:

"Gareth Barry has stated in discussions with our manager he would like to leave Aston Villa to join Liverpool."

Never saw that coming. However, the statement hinted that this will continue to run with Liverpool's initial bid being rejected, although they are expected to make an amended offer with 48 hours.

"Liverpool's bid for the player has been rejected and they have been informed of Villa's continued position in this matter."

The fact that Barry is leaving has hardly been a secret, if were being honest, but why are the club not planning for the future? This has hardly caught the club off-guard, so why the sluggish response?

Is it not a sign of the reliance and expectations the club have placed on the player that all other transfer activity has halted until this has been resolved? But why should they stop looking elsewhere, in the hope to retain a player who no longer wants to play for the club? They've got to stop playing the victim and assert themselves if they expect to build on last season's impressive finish.

Why is it taking the club so long to act?

Grp A Czech Republic vs. Portugal. 17.00

Grp A Switzerland vs. Turkey. 19:45

Is Aston Villa boss right to play down their chances?

Rob Facey — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:33:32 +0100

Football FanCast columnist Rob Facey asks what next for Aston Villa after Martin O'Neill admits that captain Gareth Barry is almost certainly moving to Liverpool.

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill leaves for Austria today to take up his place on the BBC sofa seemingly resigned to the fact that Gareth Barry saga will be playing for Liverpool next season. A contract has still yet to be offered to the England midfielder and it now looks only a matter of days before he finally joins close friend and international colleague Steven Gerrard at Anfield.

O'Neill has sided with Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan and said that with the Big Four so far ahead, it is almost impossible for players that are challenging for the UEFA Cup spot to compete when it comes down to making a choice between the two.

He claims that, like Newcastle, Villa are just too far behind and it would take more than a sudden cash injection to change things.

"To go that big leap into the Champions League is a real big order of events," O'Neill admitted to The Mirror.

"Kevin Keegan has already said he doesn't think Newcastle can and that might put it into a realistic perspective. They are a massive club who played Champions League not so very long ago.

"So if Newcastle, who pay big wages and who average over 51,000 people, can't and are thinking it is going to be hard, then maybe it does put it into perspective."

Is this a defeatist attitude from O'Neill, forever the optimist? Or is he merely justifying a transfer in which there was only ever a slim chance of the player staying? Is O'Neill right in his analysis? Are Villa just too far behind the bigger Premier League clubs to have any hope of realistically holding onto their star players?

Villa are expected to be holding out for £15m, but should this involve a player too? Who would you like to see make the move from Anfield to Villa Park as part of the deal?

Without their talismanic captain, what is the best Villa can achieve next season?

Why Aston Villa must not sell themselves short!

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:10:51 +0100

Football FanCast columnist Gareth Symonds looks at the latest developments in the Barry & Liverpool saga and wonders what the best deal will be for Aston Villa.

I don't think a day goes by when there isn't another development in the Gareth Barry/Liverpool saga. Whether it is Steven Gerrard shamefully touting his desire to play alongside Barry, Patrik Berger or some ex coach - everyone seems to have an opinion on where the players future lies and all we now need is his ex Cub leader to come out and approve the move and we will pretty much have the complete set.

In truth it is an utter disgrace the way this whole episode is being carried out and we really have been hung out to dry. I personally would love to see a Barcelona or a Milan start touting Torres for a move and see how they like it - football should never been conducted this way, but I guess it is just the sign of the times and shows the lack of class at Anfield these days.

One thing we have to accept as Villa fans is that Gareth Barry will not be at our football club next season and we have to make the best out of a raw deal. Liverpool have apparently come out today and claimed that they are prepared to up their money to secure his services, while other reports suggest that O'Neill has requested a cash/Crouch deal. What is the best deal for Villa - should we not just hold out for more money?

I have to say that I have never been a fan of Crouch and still haunted by his first spell at the club. I fail to see how he would be a good signing, especially when we already have John Carew at the club. I don't think there are any squad players within their club that I will happily take in exchange. Riise has past it, Carson is not good enough and Jermaine Pennant - do me a favour.

So what is the best move for Aston Villa and should we just up the asking price to nearer £20m? Would you welcome an exchange deal - if so who would you like to see arrive? It will be a sad day when Gareth Barry leaves this football club, but I guess we must embrace ourselves for the inevitable.