ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Aston Villa- Villa's transfer strategy is troubling déjà vu

Villa's transfer strategy is troubling déjà vu

Posted by Jerrad Peters on 07/21/2010

It’s the third week of July. Aston Villa are warming up for the new season by facing the likes of Bohemians and Walsall. They have yet to make a summer signing. I feel like I’ve been here before.

The Aston Villa narrative of the past three years has become a broken record: manager Martin O’Neill makes a handful of late swoops for new, inexpensive players; the season starts brightly and fans are buoyed by a streak of positive, early results; but the squad is too small and the team tumbles in the standings after Christmas.

A gloomy synopsis? I suppose. Although I shouldn’t get ahead of myself. It’s still preseason and there’s everything to play for—both on the pitch and in the transfer market.

O’Neill, after all, waited until August 27 to make his notable signings ahead of last season. And they were terrific ones: Stephen Warnock, James Collins and Richard Dunne. Perhaps he has something similar up his sleeve again this time around.

Having said that, it remains baffling that the manager doesn’t do his business earlier, and more often. He doesn’t assert himself in the transfer market, and his squad depth suffers as a result.

If cash is an issue—and it always is—he could go after one or two free agents. Jermaine Beckford was available for nothing, but he was gobbled up by Everton in May. Martin Petrov was available on a free as well, but he went to Bolton Wanderers. Even Steven Reid—not a starter, but a decent depth player—moved from Blackburn to West Brom on a free transfer. That O’Neill wasn’t even in the conversation for these players is troubling.

So, too, is the fact that many clubs in Villa’s cash bracket have already made numerous, meaningful signings. And they’re the same clubs Villa will be up against for places in the lower top half of the table in the coming months.

Everton, in addition to Beckford, have added promising Portuguese forward Joao Silva, among others. Argentina striker Mauro Boselli was snapped up by Wigan. He scored twice in his first pre-season friendly. Mexico star Pablo Barrera went to West Ham for £4 million, joining ex-Portsmouth hitman Frederic Piquionne. Why didn’t O’Neill come in for any of them?

Where player acquisitions are concerned, O’Neill and his staff seem uncreative and at a loss for ideas. Yes, the club is restricted in what it can do after disappointing financial results in 2009. Owner Randy Lerner simply isn’t going to make a lot of money available—a troubling fact, but one that shouldn’t rule out two or three signings at a total of £10 or £12 million.

If nothing else, O’Neill’s limited budget should have forced him to consider the players available on free transfers. Slovenia captain Robert Koren is still available, but is expected to go to Blackpool. He might not be anyone’s idea of a superstar signing, but he’s a quality footballer and would have enhanced Villa’s squad depth.

And if O’Neill could have scraped together just £4 million, he could have had Mexican international Efrain Juarez, who ended up going to Celtic. Just 22-years-old and able to play anywhere on the backline as well as in midfield, he would have been an ideal addition. If the £4 million simply wasn’t available, the manager might have raised it by selling Emile Heskey, Steve Sidwell, or Nigel Reo-Coker.

Just an idea. Although funds are in short supply, there’s nothing stopping O’Neill from being creative in his transfer strategy. That is, if he has one.

Follow Jerrad Peters at http://twitter.com/peterssoccer

Comments

Posted by chris on 07/21/2010

I can't see the point in adding players to a squad if they are only there to make up the numbers. If a player is not good enough to be in the starting lineup then whats the point, total waste of money. MON will have his targets, he will leave it far too late but they will come. Money is there but he wont spend it for the sake of it, he will wait for the right player at the right price. Think will will see more youth comong through this season as well.

Posted by ARW on 07/21/2010

Well I agree with you in essence, some risks do need to be taken but your title actually negates me reading the story. I did read it.

Deja vu? Yes please, we made huge progressions after last years transfer contributions and if MON does the same again 4th really does look like it has potential.

Posted by AJ on 07/21/2010

Couldn't agree more mate. What's the point in signing for the sake of it?. None of those players mentioned would improve the first 11, so I'd wager that's why we've not been in the running for them

Posted by uglybloke on 07/21/2010

Don't get me wrong,i am after all a Villa fan but i think the same scenario of the last few seasons will come to pass. Villa will only become a big club with something they don't have,namely big club mentality. I am not entirely over struck by all of MON past signings anyway or the manner in the way they are deployed position wise.Sure buying players isn't an exact science but agreed, a lack of imagination does seem to prevail with Villa acquisitions.Some of the players you mention would be fair enough signings especially as you point out that lack of depth,and some quality has been our undoing.
That being said,while Milner is a quality player for the sort of money being bandied around i would definitely sell,no-one,absolutely no-one is irreplaceable,however if Scott Parker is seen as an appropriate replacement then in my opinion things don't look that promising.

Posted by karpenter on 07/21/2010

"And they’re the same clubs Villa will be up against for places in the lower top half of the table in the coming months."

Rubbish comment and the article is more of the same.
Sorry.

Posted by johnny on 07/21/2010

Earth to Villa fans: The club CAN't AFFORD to buy new players that would get into the first 11. O'Neill can only preserve the starting lineup he has by bolstering depth. That's what he's saying, and he's spot on.

Posted by john flynn on 07/21/2010

I don't agree at all that we should be buying the likes of Reid or Koren.These guys are surplus at Blackburn and West Brom (I thought Reid had retired)
Where I do agree is that O,Neil shows no imagination in the transfer market and that it feels like we have been here before.
We have been crying out for a striker for the last 2 years in which time we have bought "you know who" (sorry,but I can,t bear to utter his name)
We all know that Milner and Sidwell are going and there is no chance O'neill will get 3 decent midfield players in so we will be weaker there.
He could make it easier for himself by actually considering looking at foreign signings but I won,t hold my breath.
I,m not saying "sign a foreigner Martin" but I am saying "don,t rule them out".
Perhaps his fingers were burnt by the Salifou debacle which hints that our scouting system is piss poor.
One thing is for certain,come October, O,neill will be whingeing about the size of squad he,s had 4 years to assemble

Posted by ponytail on 07/21/2010

hy is Oneil selling curtis davis and rio coker 'have faith in these providingplayers .All villa need is a creative midfield player and good striker.Their are qualty young players coming through who are quite capable of giving the squad the depth required providing oneil has the faith and the belief to give them a chance.

Posted by Torindan on 07/21/2010

O'Neil will obviously know how many fans are feeling regarding our transfer policy, why can he not make a statement along the lines of "my aim is to sign x amount of players who will either a improve the first 11 or b improve the bench?" I appreciate he can't be too specific but so far we know next to nothing about his plans! Harry Redknap shoots his mouth off every 10 seconds but it doesn't stop tottenham signing quality players,

Posted by agchurc on 07/22/2010

Or perhaps O'Neill is counting on Fabian Delph, Ciran Clark, Nathan Delfonueso, & Marc Albrighton to fill the gaps. They are all young and have shown that they can play in the Premiership... Whether O'Neill can integrate them in the starting 11 effectively is a whole nother ball game tho....

Posted by Phil on 07/22/2010

Problem is for me tat for every Richard Dunne, theres a Marlon Harewood, for every John Carew an Emile Heskey. This wouldn't be too bad if we brought them in on average wages and could move them on quickly but we bring them in on top four wages and so the Fulhams and Wigans of this world would like them but can't afford to offer those salaries. This means the likes of Sidwell, Davies, ReCoker, Shorey, Heskey, Young will just st on the bench and wait for their contracts to run down, none of them have had the balls to ask for a transfer and none of them will. This is the real problem with Oneills transfers, he has lumbered us with a lot of very expensive deadwood!

Posted by Elmo on 07/22/2010

Nothing will happen until the Milner situation is sorted. He's a key player and whether he stays or goes and for what kind of money will guide the entire transfer strategy. It's unwise to jump into the transfer market without knowing exactly what is going to be needed.
That said one thing was/is abundantly clear regardless of the movement of current players. Villa need a striker and creative attacking midfielder. I imagine players are being shortlisted for different scenarios, depending on the need and cash available. As annoying/frustrating as it is - patience.

Posted by Anonymous on 07/22/2010

Patience Elmo ?
We,ve needed the players you describe (and I agree with you by the way) for the last 2 years at least.
Perhaps a manager who has an eye for a player is the answer ?
O'neill is talking about another Celtic player for Chrissake !!!

Posted by bill on 07/23/2010

Milner leaving is gutting. He wanted to rejoin Villa the year before he did return, but Newcastle called it off last minute. Why he wants to leave is the big question. If Villa can't keep talent like Milner who is young and improving, Villa has to hope Delph is ready if they have any chance to make the CL.At MC, Milner will be playing in the same competiton as Villa next year. But one has to wonder if Villa's lack of adding in January for the 2nd straight year was enough to push him out the door. Truth is, Milner will not play regularly next year at Man City and he may , ironically, be competing with G Barry for playing time.However,acquiuring a pure striker and true holding MF might be what Villa desperately needs . But Milner is a huge loss that devastates the fan base. It's Ellis all over again with players of quality leaving. Villa isn't a small club, but they act like one more times than not. Guess we will truly see if MON is the coach every seems to believe he is very, very soon

Posted by Tru Villa Fan on 07/25/2010

@ the end of the day, Villa need a Quality True Striker & an Quality Attacking Mid-fielder, for the Last 3 plus years, We have been Under achievers!! Other teams that are fighting for the TOP 4 Positions, have made & are making their Transfer moves!! We are waiting on the sidelines for Mr Right & @ the Right Price!! Its not going to happen, unless you believe in Fairytales!! Their has to be some sort of Urrgency!! I'm not talking just sign any old Player, but sometimes you gotta let your intentions be known!! Players are flattered when they know a team is truely interested in them!! I'm a true Villa Fan, & i suffer when March rolls around & we take our foot off of the Pedal & Allow other Teams to catch & Pass Us!! 2 yrs ago, we could'nt Win a game in March & early April, Arsenal came from behind & took 4th place, this yr Mar, the Whole Squad was TIRED!! It doesn't take a Rocket Scientist,to figure it OUT!! In Order to make MONEY, you gotta Spend MONEY!!

Posted by zack on 07/26/2010

MON is in a tight spot with a tight budget. Its hard to keep top players when Villa is not challenging for the various silverwares and more importantly, Champions League. Its a chicken and egg situation. Unlike the likes of Man City and Chelsea, huge salaries can compensate the desire for players and attract them there. I suppose like any business, a processed approach has to be done. Re-evaluating the current position, MON in my opionion would need to first look at having a minimum of two players for each position. Keeps up competition internally and provides a certain depth. Further on, since Villa's game is largely based on lightening fast counter attacks, any recruitment especially for youngsters should be based on physical aspects and dexterity. Following Wengers approach of buying strong and fast player and then nurturing and polishing the creative aspect of their game.

Posted by bill on 07/26/2010

What people don't seem to get is that BIRMINGHAM is not a small city. It's England comparison to Chicago. Villa should not be acting like a small club. In fact, Birmingham City will pass them in 2 years tops if they don't start keeping their better players and bringing in quality. MON hasn't even sold Sidwell, Reo, etc.as of yet. This is a bad sign because it means he is afraid he will not have depth when the season comes. Milner, despite all the Deja Vu Barry flashbacks, is still their best player. If it can be resolved for the year, Villa can make a push with adding a quality striker and MF.....but the Milner soap opera has to be finished one way or the other soon. If he goes, MON semingly needs the money to buy. Better do it soon if they are to sell him. 24 Mill will buy quality in 2 positions.Otherwise, it's back on the mediocrity merry-go-round, just like the good ol'days of Ellis, O'Leary, Taylor. etc.

Posted by brian on 07/27/2010

First of all let me make it known that I am not a Villa supporter but that I do enjoy watching them play as they are not a rival to my club. It seems the problem with Villa is MON is afraid to pick and choose when to rest his starting 11 over the course of the season. So, in the later half when the same starting 11 has gone out there from Aug-Feb they begin to break down.
In all honesty the time to sell Milner is now. Never again will his stock break the 25M mark and in reality it should be closer to 15M.
With that said, Villa have a light squad and city have an excessive one. Why don't Villa think of taking 2 or 3 players as part of the deal? Taking an SWP (8M valuation) would give you 3 quality wingers, Ireland (12M) could fill that CAM role in a 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 (which you should play against the bigger clubs) and Onuha (5M) could provide some cover at RB or CB. The only thing you would then truly need would be a classic CF to link the play (a la in the tevez / robbie keane mold)

Posted by Tru Villa Fan on 07/30/2010

This year is do or die for MON, I like him, but I LOVE Aston Villa, He has Strengthen Our DEFENCE, thats great!! But thats No good if we can't win the ball in Mid-field, or score any goals!! teams are afraid of Our conter attack, but they kill Us in the middle of the field!! which in turn puts way too much pressure on the Defence!! Birmingham isn't a small city, if we BUY the Quality Players, & start WINNING, more fans & supporters will come to see EXCITING Games!! Which in turn, puts more MONEY into the Club's Hand!! I'm not saying don't Sell Milner, but If we keep selling Our young talented Players, what will we have? We need to keep Our young Players & add QUALITY around them!! If you want to Crack the TOP 4, play in THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, thats what needs to happen!! Look @ all the top teams in Europe, their fans come out because they WIN, on a regular basis!! Granted We don't have their deep pockets, but We can take their BluePrint & make it Ours!!!!

Posted by Shiv on 08/02/2010

Stop shouting please. All sound and fury.

Simply - as the article alludes to in part - Lerner just won't put out for cash when in this day's game it is fundamental to spend in order to win. He would much rather spend his money on the awful excuse for an American football franchise - the Cleveland browns - who have never won anything of importance in over 9,000 years of existence. Let's face it fans, if the midland giants are to finally awake from their decades long slumber, they will need an owner at the helm that has more than a passing interest in the balance sheet and ticket sales.

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