Have we got a good squad?

[Steve kirk]

Have we got a good squad?

I live in London and was asked at work, by a West Ham fan whether I thought, as he did, that we would have a squad which was good enough for the top half of the premiership. I replied no we have average players, who were capable of performing well against the big-money teams but played poorly against everybody else. He responded by saying he thought the Villa squad on paper looked solid, because it had a mix of youth and experience, and now had  big hard men at the back, a hard tackling midfield player, and a big hard bloke upfront, whereas last season we had only one big hard man at the back, light weights in midfield, and a big bloke upfront.

Thinking about it and looking at the squad I find myself beginning to get a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach. I recognise the feeling I think it’s what top doctors, scientists and philosophers call hope.

Let’s look at the squad.

Brad – is in the top five goalkeepers in the division

Alan Hutton – was probably one of the worst footballers I’ve ever seen, yet never moaned or slagged off the club and his performance in preseason was fantastic.

Philippe Senderock – when we signed him I nearly burst into tears, after his performance at Stoke I nearly burst into tears but this time, tears of joy. If he can perform at this level, most of the season I for one will be a happy man.

Ron Vlaar – concrete has enhanced his reputation due to his World Cup performances the issue is which club will come in for him before the transfer deadline window closes.

Jores Okore – just watched the highlights from the reserve game, this man is some player and will be better than concrete and Senderock. If Ron does go then we have a ready-made replacement.

Aly Cissokho – how rubbish was he for Liverpool, and how good was he against Stoke? His crosses from the left were fantastic

Ashley Westwood – we’ve seen glimpses of what Ashley is able to do, but now that he may get to play further forward his accurate passing will be something I will be looking forward to seeing.

Fabian Delph – I predict this man will be in the England team for the next European Championships. You heard it here first.

Kieran Richardson – I’m happy with his work rate, I’m happy with his crossing, he’s versatile and can fit into a number of positions. At the end of the day you can’t complain if a player gives you 100%.

Charles N’Zogbia – still looks a little chunky, but he has started to pass the ball to another player in a Villa shirt something he failed to do consistently when he was last in the side. If he can become a team player I will be more than happy to see him get a year’s extension of his contract.

Jack Grealish –OMG just watched the reserve team game and Jack was like young Ronaldo and Lionel Messi rolled into one (if you don’t believe me watch the highlights) please sign him up on a 10 year contract. Jack you were born in England and you can still play international football for England, please help us win the World Cup

Christian Benteke – if he had been playing against Stoke we would have won three nil. With the right support he will score 20+ goals this season.

Our backup and support players are not that bad:

Carlos Sánchez – La Roca could be the difference between turning losses into drawers and draws into wins if he plays anywhere near how he  played in the World Cup.

Andreas, Gabby and Joe Cole all have an important role to play this season

Nathan and Ciaran both can’t be in the team at the same time but people forget that they’re still quite young for defenders.

Gary Gardner, Callum Robinson and Graham Burke are young but very very good players

Anyway I’m not going to go through all of the players but when you look at our first-team and some of the squad players you have to admit that you start to dream.

You must remember supporting Aston Villa is a privilege; however also remember it’s the hope that kills you.

Have we got a good squad? No but we are getting closer

Comments………..

A very positive post, well done.

[Gregorys Boy]

Not really, but at this point in time I am just concerned weather we have one good enough to finish above the bottom three, and I would say yes to that.

[tomd2103]

Not really, but at this point in time I am just concerned weather we have one good enough to finish above the bottom three, and I would say yes to that.

Three key factors for me will determine where we finish this season:

* The coaching staff find a way of playing at home that gets us results.  Our home record over the last couple of seasons has been terrible and a similar return this season will inevitably see us struggle. 

* We remain pretty injury free.  We've had awful luck with injuries for a few seasons now and they always seem to come at the worst possible time as well (not that there is ever a good time).  We really need the spine of the team to remain intact for most of the season and not having on the likes of Herd, Baker and Clark to play for extended periods.

* Christian Benteke returns and recaptures his first season form.  He really makes that much of a difference when he is on form and that kind of player is invaluable.  It would be nice if Gabby, Weimann and Bent could find patches of form through the season and contribute goals as well. 

[Rigadon]

The first team is better, largely due to having some grown ups in defence.  How we'd manage if Vlaar left or got injured would test the squad - I haven't seen anywhere near enough of Okore to know if he's any good or not).   A 10 game stretch of Lowton, Baker or Clark would likely lead to a lower points tally.

The squad lacks creativity and a bit of firepower at the moment, as others have said.  Cole could provide the former if he remains injury free and still has 'it' at this level and getting Benteke back fit is crucial I'd say.

The jury is out,  but things are looking a little less daunting than they were.  Newcastle (at home) will be a good test as the pressure will be on to perform in much the same way it was last season when they came to our place after we'd impressed in an away game right before.

[paulcomben]

"Carlos Sánchez – La Roca could be the difference between turning losses into drawers"


I have been doing that for the last 4 seasons and now my chest is HUGE.

[Matt Collins]

We look stronger than last year to me in defence and central midfield

The glaring weaknesses are in attack

We don't have a single player who's been a good attacking midfielder in the last three years

Until benteke and kozak are back we don't don't have a single striker who's scored goals in the last three years

I'd have thought we should be trying to get two players in these positions, even if only on loan. Or the football isn't going to bet much better than last season

Most teams play 4231 now and we may now be solid enough to play it regularly, giving more width. But the options for the 3 are pretty depressing:

Gabby and Weimann not technically great - play one of them maybe to give us thrust but not both, especially at home
Cole is well past it
N'zogbia is frustrating
Richardson is average
Grealish is very young and untested
Delph could maybe play there but it's not really his position

A proper winger who will cross it and a player who will thread passes would be my priority

[Matt Collins]

Brad Guzan is not one of the best 5 GK's in the league. De Gea, Cech, Courtios, Lloris, Hart, Krul, Howard, Begovic, Vorm.... are all better.

I think De Gea is vastly overrated. Hart has been off the boil for a couple of years too. Guzan and Howard are about on a par. Vorm hasn't been as good as his debut Prem season.
The Goose is up there.

I'm actually slightly concerned about his form. Just have a feeling he's going to chuck a couple in shortly

[martin o`who??]

Brad Guzan is not one of the best 5 GK's in the league. De Gea, Cech, Courtios, Lloris, Hart, Krul, Howard, Begovic, Vorm.... are all better.

I think De Gea is vastly overrated. Hart has been off the boil for a couple of years too. Guzan and Howard are about on a par. Vorm hasn't been as good as his debut Prem season.
The Goose is up there.

I'm actually slightly concerned about his form. Just have a feeling he's going to chuck a couple in shortly

Unfair on Brad, most of those play behind far better defences than Guzan does, and as for De Gea, is that the same De Gea who was Pillioried at the start of last season for his mistakes???....

[martin o`who??]

If everyone was fit/on form and on message, better than we think, Hmmm, - we`ll see.

[Mister E]

"Carlos Sánchez – La Roca could be the difference between turning losses into drawers"


I have been doing that for the last 4 seasons and now my chest is HUGE.

very good, Paul! This made me titter quietly to myself.

[rob_bridge]

The short answer is No.

We have 4 definite first teamers who are in Guzan, Vlaar, Delph and Benteke.

We then have Sanchez, Okore & Kozak who I am confident can reach the standard on a consistent basis.

Westwood, Lowton, Weiman and Bacuna have the next few months to prove whether they belong at this level or whether in the case of the former 3 it was just a very good 3months for them back in spring 2013.

Senderos, Cissoko and Richardson remain to be seen whether they can offer depth and consistency or here for a payday. Initial signs are promising but then again Stainrod, Six and Bertrand looked great on their debuts.

Gabby, Shay, Bent, Cole all strike me as (well) past their best and all are injury prone. And they really don't come cheap.

Baker and Clark are IMO hopeless at this level. Too many mistakes - most of them avoidable.

Bennett, Tonev, Helenius and Luna have been passed off for a while. Doubt they will be missed.

CNZ - I don't know. A sad inditement after £9 in wages received.

Grealish - I don't know. Yet

[Legion]

I'm not surprised for just £9.

[rob_bridge]

I'm not surprised for just £9.

I missed off the subsequent 6 Zeros.

[paulcomben]

"Carlos Sánchez – La Roca could be the difference between turning losses into drawers"


I have been doing that for the last 4 seasons and now my chest is HUGE.

very good, Paul! This made me titter quietly to myself.

Cheers! I once saw a sign outside a furniture shop in King's Heath advertising 'chester draws'...

[eamonn]

Chester Draws...wasn't he the poor sod whose wife Arthur Atkinson was 'aving it off with ("Oooh, where's me washboard?")