The Strategic Direction of Aston Villa - Suggestions.

[Ad@m]

To be fair he's not going to say anything else as he took the job under those conditions.  But unless he's a complete madman i doub't he's happy with his squad.

Why not?  Every other manager seems to roll out the usual 'just two more players' or 'we're always interested in players that will improve the squad', etc, etc.  In a wonderfully hypothetical world where Lionel Messi declared he was an Aston Villa fan and would play for us for free you'd like to think that would fit in to the conditions AM's working under - but what he's saying suggests he's not even looking for acquisitions.

Either AM is trying to double-bluff the rest of the league or he is genuinely happy with what he's got.  If it's the latter, then like you say, he's a complete madman.

[Dante Lavelli]

I do not expect any signings in January unless our form between now and then is horrendous.  Hopefully we'll still be scraping into the top half of the table in january and we can start blooding a few more of the youngsters.  I'd prefer to see how good (or bad) Clark, Gardner and Bannan can be rather than spending money we do not have on average players.

[Ad@m]

I do not expect any signings in January unless our form between now and then is horrendous.  Hopefully we'll still be scraping into the top half of the table in january and we can start blooding a few more of the youngsters.  I'd prefer to see how good (or bad) Clark, Gardner and Bannan can be rather than spending money we do not have on average players.

Games between now and January:

Man Utd
Liverpool
Arsenal
Chelsea
Stoke (A)

Top half after that is ambitious!

[Dante Lavelli]

Yeah, I was aware of those fixtures, my point is that I do not want Villa making panic buys, I would prefer us to try out some of our youth players and then (hopefully) have more to spend in the summer once AMc knows more about his squad.

[Greg N'Ash]

To be fair he's not going to say anything else as he took the job under those conditions.  But unless he's a complete madman i doub't he's happy with his squad.

Why not?  Every other manager seems to roll out the usual 'just two more players' or 'we're always interested in players that will improve the squad', etc, etc.  In a wonderfully hypothetical world where Lionel Messi declared he was an Aston Villa fan and would play for us for free you'd like to think that would fit in to the conditions AM's working under - but what he's saying suggests he's not even looking for acquisitions.

Either AM is trying to double-bluff the rest of the league or he is genuinely happy with what he's got.  If it's the latter, then like you say, he's a complete madman.

Look, if there's no money  its pointless him saying "the squad's shit but i've no money" He'll annoy the hell out of Lerner, provide headlines for every paper going, and not exactly endear himself to the players he has to motivate

[eamonn]

After managing the likes of Stephen Carr and Stuart Parnaby at the unwashed for the last few years he should be delighted he's in charge of the decent (if all too often underperforming) players he has here.

[ROBBO]

Buying Hutton symbalises the new expectations of our great club, playing Heskey left wing and Hutton right midfield shows how insecure AM is, there is very little upside at Villa Park at the moment.Perhaps ante depressants could be handed out at the entrances.

[oldtimernow]

Buying Hutton symbalises the new expectations of our great club, playing Heskey left wing and Hutton right midfield shows how insecure AM is, there is very little upside at Villa Park at the moment.Perhaps ante depressants could be handed out at the entrances.

A fine example of positive health intervention is always to be welcomed but what about the existing level of mood around here?

Should we start a self help or counselling group of our own?

We're all going to die
the end of the world is nigh

[Irish villain]

McLeish, 'Villa are in transition'. From the Irish Independent:

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/sport/villa-are-in-transition-mcleish-2946634.html

[phantom limb]

I could cope with us not making any signings in January as long as we can get to the end of the season without being relegated. Next summer get rid of the higher paid duds on the wage bill and try to avoid "big" signings in the future.

Echoing what Greg has already said, I'd much rather we had a team that consists of youngsters who've come up through the ranks, counterbalanced with good players with potential bought for sensible money and all being paid sensible wages. If another team wants to spunk millions on them later then let them go, and use the proceeds to reinvest in looking for more talent. This would take time though, and you need an excellent scouting system to ensure that you aren't missing out on the quality players.

[brian green]

I am afraid the excellent common sense view that our younger players should be preferred to panic buys of journeymen will never be allowed to happen.

It appears to be in Alex McLeish's DNA to be negative and to play safe.   When the relegation battles start, and they will, he will place his faith in old muscle not young skills.

We just have to get through it.

[Chris Smith]

Plenty of the younger players have featured this season, are we suggesting that all of them should start every game?

The example of Marc Albrighton's fall from grace should be enough to show the wisdom of not over burdening them before they are ready.

[Iago]

Plenty of the younger players have featured this season, are we suggesting that all of them should start every game?

The example of Marc Albrighton's fall from grace should be enough to show the wisdom of not over burdening them before they are ready.

What is the burden of playing Albrighton more consistently? And fall from grace, when did that occur?

[Chris Smith]

Plenty of the younger players have featured this season, are we suggesting that all of them should start every game?

The example of Marc Albrighton's fall from grace should be enough to show the wisdom of not over burdening them before they are ready.

What is the burden of playing Albrighton more consistently? And fall from grace, when did that occur?

He's been playing poorly for most of 2011, he appears drained of all confidence. Perhaps associated with too much expectation and being over hyped.

[TheSandman]

And his confidence has probably not been helped by not being trusted even to come off the bench in most games and being written off by some of our supporters. If I was a winger and Hutton and Heskey were picked ahead of me there I'd want to throw myself over a flyover to be honest.