Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: villavillavilla 
Date:Monday January 7 2008
Time: 9:45AM
UK time is: 02:58:21
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What Happens To Olof Mellberg
If we get a right back, where would Olof play?
Even though Olof Mellberg has done very well whilst playing at right-back this season, I was wondering where he would play if we were to sign a real right-back in the transfer window?
I believe that the major downfall to playing Melly at RB is that he often lacks the killer instinct and can not cross to save his life. Against Tottenham there was so much space down the right hand side that we could have taken advantage of is we had a natural right back.
If Curtis Davies continues to play like this then it is very unlikely that he will be dropped for Melberg to go back into a position that he hasn't played in for 6 months. And in my opinion Zat Knight will need some type of miracle in order to become a first team regular once more.
To be honest I don't think that I would be too bothered to see him leave. He is thirty now and is obviously not 100% committed to the club as he has done nothing but do nothing to silence the persistent speculation linking him with a move to Juventus. I would definitely be much much more upset if it emerged that Martin Laursen were to leave the club.
Bosingwa seems almost 100% certain not to be plying his trade at Villa Park next season and other links such as Seville's highly rated RB, Crespo are also unlikely has he has just signed a new deal to keep him at the club until 2011, which has a 10m release clause. Valencia's Portuguese RB Miguel has also been linked.
My personal favourite would be Justin Hoyte, fast, strong and can attack well plus the fact that he ha been trained all his life with the magician that is Arsene Wenger.
villavillavilla
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Your Comments
I'd say Melly is pretty safe as even if we do sign a right back it will no doubt be a panic buy now and probably as cover for Mellberg. :(
DeanoVilla
Well MON said back in the summer that he couldn't get his target until the winter and it was almost a done deal but God knows who it will be if anyone. Mellberg has been our captain and an excellent servant but is nothing more than a solid centre back and can't cross or take players on down the wing etc. and you can't teach a 30 year old new tricks. MON must be planning for life without him.
Villan444
I wish Olly all the best in the future, he's been a great servant for the Villa, but it's clear that his days are numbered in birmingham.
The thing is, with a real top class club like Juve, a team that's clearly at the level up from where we are, can you see him having the skills on the ball to be able to make the grade?
lorenzo
I asked the same thing on the forum last week, and I still haven't got the answer. Despite MON's hopes that he'll be able to persuade Olof to pen a new deal, in reality that doesn't look likely, so I guess that this month could really see the beginning of the parting of the ways. If, and I still think that its a big if, we sign a specialist right full back this month, no doubt he and Olof will compete for the starting position, while the latter will also be in contention for a central defensive role. All very sad, but time stands still for no one, and we all have to move on.
glensider
As a central defender the writing is probably on the wall for Olof, so who knows, maybe this season at right full back has inadvertently extended his Villa Park career by a season.
glensider
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