Fabian Delph's season coming up, oh no, not another injury.

[maidstonevillain]

It's not worked out (yet) but I'm not going to hang MON for that particular signing.  I think these are the sort of players we need to be looking at, hoping they achieve their potential rather than signing too many 30 year old (because you can't be bothered  to coach).

I agree. He was an expensive youngster with bags of potential. A calculated gamble. Just like Young was. One came off, the other does not appear to have done so. I don't think MON can be criticised too harshly.

[Dante Lavelli]

It's not worked out (yet) but I'm not going to hang MON for that particular signing.  I think these are the sort of players we need to be looking at, hoping they achieve their potential rather than signing too many 30 year old (because you can't be bothered  to coach).

I agree. He was an expensive youngster with bags of potential. A calculated gamble. Just like Young was. One came off, the other does not appear to have done so. I don't think MON can be criticised too harshly.

...on this occasion.

[PeterWithesShin]

There's plenty to of things MON did that he deserves stick for. Signing Delph isn't one of them.

Having said that, overall i've been disappointed with Delph, although injuries and being played as a defensive midfielder probably didn't help.

[dave.woodhall]

http://blogs.birminghammail.net/astonvilla/2012/02/fabian-delph-faces-a-critical.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BirminghamMail-AstonVilla+%28Birmingham+Mail+-+Aston+Villa%29

Nice piece.

[KevinGage]

Looked a liability when he played, wasn't near anything like good enough when he played, injury prone (little wonder the way he went in for tackles), couldn't pass and terrible first touch. We will get no return on our investment.  A disaster, a complete disaster. 

I don't see that at all.

I remember his debut v Fiorentina, when he was the best player on the pitch.  Taking their players on, good eye for a pass and not afraid of the physical stuff either.  Even their manager commented on his performance after the match  "We knew about Ashley Young, we didn't know about Delph,"  or words to that effect.

Against Man U at home in the league in his first season he was our man of the match and definitely looked the real deal.  Since then, he's had a potentially career threatening injury and a stint at the back end of last season when he was more involved (and we played some of our best football of the campaign).

This season he started okay, but from about Oct/ Nov onwards he looked badly out of touch and low on confidence.  He's still young enough so I'm not going to write him off just yet.  I do think he may have benefited from starting wide on the left though - his positioning lets him down at times, knowing when to hang back or when to attack.  Out wide might provide the opportunity to see him integrated into the first team without leaving us exposed. Though not a winger in the true sense, he can take players on and beat them and his distribution is usually better than what we witnessed earlier in the campaign. Then - with more awareness and more experience-  he can move back towards the centre when he's say 24/25 (he's only recently turned 22 remember).   Gareth Barry only started looking comfortable there at the age of 26.

I'm not going to discount the possibility of him being a failure - and a lot will depend on the player himself.  If he wants out (and he did talk about wanting to make his loan move back to Leeds permanent)  that's a different story. But like Maidstonevillian, I'm not going to blame MON for signing him.  This and the Curtis Davies deal were the type of deals we as a club should go for - promising young England players (seemingly) on the up. The competition we had to fend off to land both would indicate it was a reasonable gamble to take.  Unlike stupid money at Sidwell, Heskey, Beye and co.   

[SoccerHQ]

I really can't see it working out for him here.

I think I'd move him out in the summer if we get a bid of 3-4m.

[TheSandman]

http://blogs.birminghammail.net/astonvilla/2012/02/fabian-delph-faces-a-critical.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BirminghamMail-AstonVilla+%28Birmingham+Mail+-+Aston+Villa%29

Nice piece.

Indeed. I'd say he's called it absolutely spot on. The problem is how we get him to rediscover his confidence and form once he's back fit as he has been trapped in a vicious cycle. He loses confidence, tries too hard and loses more confidence. Too much pressure, too many injuries and too little confidence.

[KevinGage]

Flavour of the month syndrome perhaps, but I wonder what someone like Brendan Rodgers would do with the likes of Delph, Albrighton, Bannan, Gardner and Ireland to build a midfield around.


Both Delph and Albrighton have struggled for us this year, but I think they are comfortably a notch or two up on the quality of player Swansea possess.

[SoccerHQ]

Not even Rogers but even Martinez would've done better I'd say.

[eamonn]

Very good article by Kendrick, pretty much summed everything up.

McLeish was noticeably waxing lyrical about Delph pre-season and it was no surprise he got a run in the team at the start of the season. I think he suffered from being given the job as anchor-man while Petrov was left off the leash a bit (in fairness to Stan he proved his worth there with his goals this season).

I think Delph is better going forward, that over-zealousness in the tackle always had me watching through my fingers. If he is successful with his rehab, (and as the article alludes to, he could probably do with some psychological mentoring aswell) hopefully he'll get one more shot at shining for us.

[KevinGage]

Don't think it was any coincidence that some of his best form for the club was during Gary McAllister's stint as caretaker manager. 

Not saying I'd want him back, but a manager who actually wants to have a go at the opposition (rather than one who sends sides out to keep the score down) would benefit most of our attack minded players I'd have thought.

[django]

I'd be amazed if anyone offered us anything like 3-4 Million this summer after the way things have for him here. He definitely has potential but the longer it goes undeveloped the less likely it will ever come good for him.

It was a big money move and a big step up too and either of those factors can crush a players confidence (See Torres/Carrol) let alone both. Really hope it works out for him here and if it doesn't it wont be due to a lack of effort.

[hawkeye]

I dont think he is good enough, he lacks basic technique.

[VillaSpen]

He may be another case of YouTube making a player look like a world-beater or it may be that his body simply isn't cut out to perform at the level you need to in the top flight. Either way I agree with a number of people on here that can definitely see why the lad was brought in. It'd be a real shame if he doesn't cut it.

[Mister E]

http://blogs.birminghammail.net/astonvilla/2012/02/fabian-delph-faces-a-critical.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BirminghamMail-AstonVilla+%28Birmingham+Mail+-+Aston+Villa%29

Nice piece.

Indeed. I'd say he's called it absolutely spot on. The problem is how we get him to rediscover his confidence and form once he's back fit as he has been trapped in a vicious cycle. He loses confidence, tries too hard and loses more confidence. Too much pressure, too many injuries and too little confidence.

Agreed, and the confusion over his best role in the team needed to be resolved.