8 players released

[mike]

I regard him as walking proof of the need to incorporate psychological evaluation in the fitness tests of incoming players.  Every muscle, bone, ligament, sinew and corpuscle of them is examined in the most minute detail but nobody ever thinks to assess their brain.

I agree in principle, but can you imagine How hard it would be finding anyone with the skill set and patience to psychologically assess the average footballer, let alone one robust enough to do it on a regular basis. Think Blackadder teaching Baldrick to count and Father Ted explaining the mysteries of Christianity to Dougal.

[brian green]

Agree Mike but at least there should be some sort of subtle probing of the mental make up of somebody whose transfer and wages will cost tens of millions of pounds. Perhaps something along the lines of inviting a prospective player out for a meal or a walk around a golf course.  Chat and draw him out. Explore any potential for disfunctional behaviour - drinking, drug taking, womanising, woman abusing, violence, gambling, racism, homophobia - done by the right person at least some sort of mental bill of health could be deduced.  At the moment there seems to be nothing.  Fifty million wasted on a narcissistic idler?  Oh dear, who'd have thought it?

[Steve67]

Some clubs employ a sports psychologist, probably not a bad idea but for me, the signing of CNZ and his subsequent 'performance' is symptomatic of how Villa have been run during his time at the club and a lack of management grip in being able to motivate him. Yes, motivation should come from within but the club's shit management is equally to blame.

[brian green]

Very much agree Newby. The N'Zogbia story could be enshrined in a document advising football clubs how not to approach the engagement of players.  We got every aspect of buying him wrong.  McLeish wanted him at Small Heath but did not offer Whelan enough money.  Once we were bankrolling McLeish he went back and threw money at Wigan and the player.  Because McLeish was Lerner's petsonal choice as manager (having got a letter from Ferguson) the proposed expenditure on N'Zogbia was agreed without demur.  N'Zogbia failed to deliver anything like value for money but instead of reading the signs of his malingering and shifting him for whatever we could get, we allowed him to become a big fat leech for the entire duration of his contract.  An absolute classic example of how not to buy and sell players.

[Zouch Villa]

Agree Mike but at least there should be some sort of subtle probing of the mental make up of somebody whose transfer and wages will cost tens of millions of pounds. Perhaps something along the lines of inviting a prospective player out for a meal or a walk around a golf course.  Chat and draw him out. Explore any potential for disfunctional behaviour - drinking, drug taking, womanising, woman abusing, violence, gambling, racism, homophobia - done by the right person at least some sort of mental bill of health could be deduced.  At the moment there seems to be nothing.  Fifty million wasted on a narcissistic idler?  Oh dear, who'd have thought it?

I usually agree with you Brian, but think you are over simplifying the difficulty of vetting a players suitability. 

Just think of all the flawed former players who might have failed such a test - McGrath, Merson, Yorke etc might never have pulled on a Villa shirt if we insisted on a base level of morals, intelligence and lifestyle.  Yet it probably wouldn't have flagged NZogbia as a potential waste of space.

Agree there should be some form of psychological appraisal, but more so we can identify how the club can support and nurture the player, not so we can moralise at them.

[peter w]

Plus, the problem with this approach is that we're turning players down on what they may do in the future not what they are in the present. It's all very minority report and also quite elitist, not to say Aryan, to say that we'd only buy those of proven sanity of mind solely judged by our criteria of what is and isn't acceptable. Terrible idea in practice although I fully understand the actual point you're making Brian.

[wittonwarrior]

Feel a bit  sorry for Richardson when  you think the likes of Lescott, Bacuna, Richards, Sinclair and Guzan are still earning  a crust on the back of  their  own less than  acceptable performances and outbursts.

[Ormy Droid]

I've been reading Moneyball again for about the sixth time now, and when the Oakland A's were drafting players, the guy's 'make-up' was a massive consideration. As well as being scouted and having his stats analysed, the people making the decisions about who to bring in to the ball club have a fairly good idea of what the player's like as a person (character, drink/drug habits, etc.) If there's a problem there, he's out. And this is just when they're drafting amateurs into the farm/youth system.

Now, you'd assume that a football club planning to spend millions in transfer fees, signing on fees, agent fees, wages, bonuses, etc would at least do a fair amount of due diligence on player they want to bring in, his 'make up', or 'what's he like?' being prominent. N'Zogbia's performances for Newcastle, when he similarly could not be bothered really should have been flagged up, but were overlooked, probably because he'd gone back to Wigan and done well again ("He's a more mature player now," is what I imagine McCleish thinking to convince himself.)

One other thing about Moneyball is its highlighting of the really dumb decisions made by dumb General managers (the guys who make the trades) to do some really incredibly dumb deals for their baseball club. During Randy Lerner's reign, Aston Villa were dumber than most.

[ez]

The H&V thread headline I'm waiting for is:-

'4 Players Eliminated'
Aston Villa have eliminated Richards, Agbonlahor, Lescott and Baccuna.

That's the new bomb squad right there.

[myf]

To be fair there was plenty of evidence in N'Zogbia's case he had an appalling attitude. Irrational optimism inevitably kicks in with new players (and managers and owners come to think of it) and you think maybe it will be different for us.

For what it's worth, nzog was apparently model pro at bodymoor. Always in early and hard working I've been told. No idea why he was always so lazy on the pitch

[supertom]

Isn't Robinson out of contract this summer?

As for Rico, his legs went years ago. Was only ever an average player. He did try he just couldn't run for more than 45 minutes and had no pace left whatsoever. That being said he did have a cracking game against Liverpool in the semi to be fair to him.

Zogbia can just fuck right off. He'll end up getting paid too much somewhere overseas where he can get away with coasting.

[not3bad]

Bye Charles. If there is one last thing I would say to you it would be for fuck's sake try looking up sometimes.

[SheffieldVillain]

Isn't Robinson out of contract this summer?

According to the retained/released list, he's been offered a new contract.

[Ron Manager]

Isn't Robinson out of contract this summer?

According to the retained/released list, he's been offered a new contract.

He is worth another year. Looked very promising especially when he went out on loan the first time at Preston. Has regressed since but has enough in his locker to be a success in the future.

[ldavfc4eva]

Robinson will be another Stefan/Luke Moore,delfouneso for me. Pace and potential but ultimately just not good enough, see also agbonlahor Gabriel although he is the exception as he has been on the gravy train for years whilst producing the sum of fook all.

Be nice if I'm wrong though,