Sylla out of the Villa

[Legion]

There has been a 'policy' of buying 'young and hungry' (or whatever the phrase was) which has proved largely ineffective as there has been little balance with quality and experience.

[N'ZMAV]

This young and hungry will get us relegated.
The experience we have has very little quality. Gabby especially.

[KevinGage]

There has been a 'policy' of buying 'young and hungry' (or whatever the phrase was) which has proved largely ineffective as there has been little balance with quality and experience.

Well yes, that's the issue.   And it was my concern last summer.  Were we going the young and hungry route as a club philosophy - targeting players who actually viewed the club as a step up and would be desperate to make a name for themselves?   Or were we just stockpiling players on the cheap?  It increasingly looks like the latter. 

Nowt wrong with signing younger players - but they do need to actually be good enough to make the transition.  Not all will be, but you probably need a 60-70% success rate to make it viable.  We are nowhere near that. 

Turning our noses up at deals for experienced players like Gareth Barry has proven to be folly too.

[Legion]

I agree with the vast majority of what you have said, but I'm pretty sure that GB was not interested in re-joining us.

[Ads]

He is not part of my plans.

[PaulWinch again]

I agree with the vast majority of what you have said, but I'm pretty sure that GB was not interested in re-joining us.

Agreed, and reastically why on earth would he have been in our current state.

[not3bad]

According to Charlie Nicolas didn't Lambert want GB but was prevented from signing him because of the wages?

[adrenachrome]

Paul Lambert: Yacouba Sylla must do his utmost to get back into the side

Boss understands wantaway midfielder's frustrations at lack of action but challenges him to force his away ahead of competition in the Villa squad

Apr 29, 2014 22:30
By Mat Kendrick

Paul Lambert has challenged Yacouba Sylla to fight for his Aston Villa future after insisting the midfielder was wrong to moan about his lack of action.

Sylla has become increasingly frustrated with the claret and blues after making just six starts and seven substitute appearances this season.

The former Clermont Foot player revealed he has been left confused by his lack of game time at Villa and wants to return to France on loan in the summer.

Sylla, who played a part in Villa’s late season survival revival a year ago, claimed he did not come to Birmingham to be a tourist.

But Lambert has advised him to prove he deserves to oust Karim El Ahmadi, Ashley Westwood or Fabian Delph for a regular midfield role.

“I understand people’s frustration at not playing,” said Lambert.

“I think that’s normal at any football club. You wouldn’t expect people to want to sit there and not play.

“I think that’s normal so you’re glad in that respect. Should he have spoken out? Probably not but that comes with experience and I’m glad he’s feeling disappointed at not playing.

“The three lads in the middle of the pitch have been playing really well for us so Yak’s got to do his utmost to get into the side.

“He’s got a chance here. He’s got to try and force his way into the side.”

The Mali international, whose last start came in the mid-December defeat to Manchester United at Villa Park, still has two years left on his contract.

Sylla claimed his agent was already speaking to French clubs about a possible loan for next season but Lambert insists that is far from a formality

“No, not at all,” he said, “I don’t know who his agent is. He’s probably got about 15.”

[Gregorys Boy]

Wow Six pages for Sylla! That is much more attention than he is getting from Lambert right now

Agree with most than he looked decent last season and had hoped that he would be a big part this season, but just hasn't stepped up and right now isn't good enough to be first choice.  I think he is one we can let go.

[villasjf]

In the Express and Star today Lambert has challenged him to get in the team and says the midfield 3 having been playing really well for us. wtf.
http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/aston-villa-fc/2014/04/30/no-sylla-surprise-paul-lambert-throws-down-gauntlet-to-villa-midfielder/

[PaulWinch again]

I'm sorry there might have been some reason individual performances, but to say our midfield 3 have been performing really well is nonsense.

[not3bad]

You don't get 1 point from 6 with a midfield performing well.

[Clampy]

The midfield hasn't been anywhere good enough since the Chelsea win. Delph's form has dipped, KEA was playing ok until he picked up that injury and Westwood is picked regardless of how he plays.

[IAmTheOneIanOlney]

I agree with the vast majority of what you have said, but I'm pretty sure that GB was not interested in re-joining us.

Have it on good authority that GB was very keen to come back. An old friend of mine, who I caught up with after a few years a while back, has become good friends with a very recent ex-player in the intervening time (they are neighbours and their kids have become best mates. He is minted, hence why we don't mix in the same circles any more...) and, so I'm told, GB contacted said player to see if the deal could be done.
My friend didn't say why it didn't happen - the intimation was it was more Lambert's decision, but then I imagine he knew straight away that he'd be stymied by the potential wages and dismissed it.

Never bothered to post it before because these things always look like BS written down, but no reason whatsoever to doubt what I was told. Also, it doesn't matter now.

[frank]

There has been a 'policy' of buying 'young and hungry' (or whatever the phrase was) which has proved largely ineffective as there has been little balance with quality and experience.

Young perhaps, but they've shown very little hunger in the last few games