Check out the forum! There are 25 members viewing right now and 49 visitors today.... Click here to join in!

Aston Villa's Deadwood?

So, if you were Martin O'Neill who would you chop from the current squad?

An unfair question of course since it depends who he can bring in, O'Neill is famed for his motivational skills and if anyone can bring out the best in players it is him.

In recent years our recurrent problem is consistency. One season Barry looks world class, the next mediocre, one season Mellberg is so good we are all afraid he will be headhunted, the next season we probably couldn't give him away. This inconsistency is more serious than a normal run of bad form because it is to do with attitude, self-belief, coaching and leadership, all of which I think O'Neill will deal with.

But I've seen enough of Jlloyd Samuel, Liam Ridgewell, Lee Hendrie, Peter Whittingham. Thanks very much guys, but if I was manager, you would be history. I also have issues with Juan Pablo Angel and Gavin McCann but for the moment, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. As forPatrik Berger, Matthieu Berson and Martin Laursen, who knows, we have barely seen them, but I still have big hopes for Laursen who is a thoroughbred defender when not in the treatment room.

The purchase of Berger always smacked of desperation and I don't see any future for him now. Perhaps Martin can resurrect some of these players, but - hopefully - with a new owner and decent transfer budget behind him, will he need to?

By Saurat

Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for Spain

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.

Writer: J P Fear

Date:Sunday August 6 2006

Time: 9:12AM

Your Comments

the first out the door should be Berger, to often on the treatment table. The jury is out on Berson and the Djemba twins, although i think Berson looks classy. I hope MON can get Angel back to his form of a couple of seasons ago.

Donzarra

Under Aston Martin i think Barry, Mellberg & Davis will flourish. Who knows, with a couple of decent midfielders to supply we may even get a couple of 20+ strikers out of Baros and Angel.

AVwhite

Personally I think the striking department will MON'S first port of call. Nobody in the current squad is the combative target man, which O Neil favours.

qKing

Trouble is his hands are tied until this darn take over saga is completed. If he does get the £50 million that is being reported in the Sunday's is anyone safe? A complete new midfield may be the order of the day. The only true world class player we have is Milan Baros. we have some out standing youngsters, as we all know, Davis, Gaby etc. However if we had the money to strengthen would they get a look in. Hard to tell. Berger is a waste of rations and was brought 3 years to late as was Phillips. Ridgewell is in the team because lets face facts who else was available until Cahill emerged later on last season. McCann is a Championship standard player, Hendrie ill discipline will not fit well with the Clough educated O'Neill.

still skeggy

I’m sure Ridgewell will be on his way in January, Mellberg will be top class this season, most of his poor performances are when he’s playing with Ridgewell, you can see he doesn’t rate him as he tries to do everything. Every club has confidence players and we’ve had our fair share under O’Leary, coincidence they struggled under him (Vassell anyone?). With a manger that will work really hard to get the best out of them and then the below average players will soon be replaced. I do think Angel, Samuel, Mellberg, Baros, Davies and Barry will only improve next season, obviously some more than others.

deano_t

I'd offload Berger without a seconds hesitation, and allow KP to return to Sunderland if the guy wants the move. I think his premiership days are probably behind him. Otherwise I'd leave the squad as is, bringing in a few new faces to improve the quality of course. Lets see what O'Neill can bring out of the current group. Some will flourish, while others will inevitably fall by the wayside, and in January we can start shipping out the non-performers. Hopefully his arrival will persuade our unsettled players to stay. Keeping Milan Baros will be a huge plus, particularly if we can bring in the big target man that O'Neill favours.

glensider

Can MON get rid of HDE? Think he is deadwood and as he tries to do everything at VP it wouldnt surprise me if he has registered himself as a player!

sk1nner80

I think he'll be able to get the very best out of players who haven't always looked great - perhaps players like Samuel and I'd hope he could lift Luke Moore to the next level and for him to be a really good player consistently. But I have my doubts about Angel. I don't think O'Neill is the type of manager who will put up with one good game in 5 when the talent is there but the effort isn't. I think he'll be one of the first he'll lose patience with.

baros10

Angel is a class act when he is playing regular you cant blame him if he dont get any service, we need a playmaker who can make things happen we dont have that yet! McCann is a ball winner the problem is getting him fit as for the rest mentioned they can all go

samtozer

I think it is more of a case as to who Martin can bring in! How much money will he be given if none of the takeovers happen?

merlin

Even before Martin O`Neill came I would have liked to see the back of McCann, Djemba-Djemba, Whittingham, Hendrie and Berger. The only one I would like to give a 10th chance to is Hendrie, and I have been a big critic of his. But why have one of the best Managers in the Premier, then dump a player who should be a regular. I would still like Milner at the club, £3.5m ?

Fletch

I'd get rid of Angel, Berger and Djemba non of them are up to the job anymore.

Burnsy

I think b4 we offload anybody we need to bring in replacements & midfield has to be the place to start - Bring in Owen Hargreaves to get rid of Mc Cann. Stylian Petrov from Celtic would provide the perfect tonic for supply to Angel & Baros who I feel with good support & a decent run in the team would work well together under O' Neil.

laminax

Berger must prove his fitness to stay, but the same can be said of Laursen.Everyone else deserves a chance to prove themselves. The jury looks to be out on Djemba-Djemba,but I remember how atrocious George Boateng was when he came(missing his kick & falling on his arse in front off the Holte End).Though it must be said Sir Alex doesn't let to many good 'uns go.My big worry is Sorenson, at times brilliant, but too much of the time a liability, his consistancy must improve or we may as well buy back David James

Willie Willie Anders

Have Your Say

Recent Articles

Lambert Thanks Fans For Vociferous Support (Sunday May 19 2013)

Stats: Wigan v Aston Villa (Sunday May 19 2013)

Wigan v Villa - Team News 19/5/13 (Sunday May 19 2013)

We Deserve To Finish Higher (Saturday May 18 2013)

Pre Season Takes Shape (Friday May 17 2013)

Something For The Weekend (424) (Friday May 17 2013)

Lambert Sticking To His Policy - No Big Signings (Friday May 17 2013)

Shaun Maloney Speaks To Vital Wigan About Stan (Friday May 17 2013)

Mystic Mug Sits On Fence To Beat Lawro! (Friday May 17 2013)

Clark Ruled Out Of Wigan Match (Thursday May 16 2013)

Archived Articles

Vital Villa Articles from 2005
Vital Villa Articles from 2006
Vital Villa Articles from 2007
Vital Villa Articles from 2008
Vital Villa Articles from 2009
Vital Villa Articles from 2010
Vital Villa Articles from 2011
Vital Villa Articles from 2012
Vital Villa Articles from 2013

1.	Pride of Lions	850
2.	The Fear	652
3.	BodyButter	432
4.	kefkat	365
5.	CDX_EIRE	309
6.	ClivetheVillan	244
7.	thefacehead	239
8.	Villan57	239
9.	DeanoVilla	196
10.	mike_field	180

Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
12. Fulham	38	11	10	17	-10	43
13. Stoke	38	9	15	14	-11	42
14. Southampton	38	9	14	15	-11	41
15. Aston Villa	38	10	11	17	-22	41
16. Newcastle	38	11	8	19	-23	41
17. Sunderland	38	9	12	17	-13	39
18. Wigan	38	9	9	20	-26	36

Choose your club

Other Sites

Network Navigation

Vital Partners

Aston Villa's Deadwood?

Writer: J P Fear

Your Comments

Have Your Say

Recent Articles

Archived Articles

Vital Members League (view all)

League Results (view all)

League Table (view table)

Breaking League News

Current Site Poll (view all polls)

Latest Results
Wigan	2	-	2	Aston Villa
Aston Villa	1	-	2	Chelsea
Norwich	1	-	2	Aston Villa
Aston Villa	6	-	1	Sunderland
Man Utd	3	-	0	Aston Villa
Aston Villa	1	-	1	Fulham