Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: Mike Field 
Date:Friday June 6 2008
Time: 2:54PM
UK time is: 12:30:06
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MON's Routledge and Salifou Plan
Martin O'Neill has hinted that Wayne Routledge and Moustapha Salifou will play an important role for Villa next season.
It is expected that both players will feature heavily in our pre season plans and that should bring them both up to speed.
Speaking to the Evening Mail, O'Neill said:
'I think Salifou had an opportunity to get used to the game over here but he was always trying to catch up with players who had been here for the full pre-season.
'Let's not forget the players in midfield also performed very well over the course of the season.
'Wayne Routledge came in in January and as I said at the time it was a case of restoring the confidence he had in his time at Crystal Palace.
'He had quite a few games for the reserves and just the one substitute appearance for the first team. Now I'm looking for him to come back in a determined mood. That's what I want from everyone.
'Everybody will get a chance in pre-season and the challenge is there for the two of them.
'It will be their first chance to get a pre-season under their belts at this club so in a way their Villa careers start this summer.
'They've worked very well and both impressed at different stages last season. It's just a matter now of going into pre-season, getting a chance and taking that chance.'
There were times last season when it would've been conceivable to give both players some time on the pitch, but if Salifou hadn't impressed I doubt he would still be here as he was only a years contract to begin with and given reserve reports Routledge seems to have found his feet again and could add a good dimension on the right for us.
Especially if Maloney keeps whinging and failing to perform.
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Your Comments
Salifou has had rave reports for the reserves and we wanted to see what he could do. Routledge looked a cracking player when at Palace, but again The Villa faithful wanted to see him in action but didn't.
We need a SQUAD so they are good players for this but all this pap about getting a pre-season under their belts is rubbish. After all there are things that are called injuries that happen randomly through the season and especially at pre-season when people are trying to impress. All the time they had had since joining and they still aren't fit??
spit-fire
Salifou has had rave reports for the reserves and we wanted to see what he could do. Routledge looked a cracking player when at Palace, but again The Villa faithful wanted to see him in action but didn't.
We need a SQUAD so they are good players for this but all this pap about getting a pre-season under their belts is rubbish. After all there are things that are called injuries that happen randomly through the season and especially at pre-season when people are trying to impress. All the time they had had since joining and they still aren't fit??
spit-fire
I'm waiting for everybody to do the sarcastic woo, they're really gonna set the place alight...and then i will laugh when Salifou kicks arse and makes new signings Milner and Sidwell look rubbish. (that end bit is purely fiction)
industrial_musical
I'm waiting for everybody to do the sarcastic woo, they're really gonna set the place alight...and then i will laugh when Salifou kicks arse and makes new signings Milner and Sidwell look rubbish. (that end bit is purely fiction)
industrial_musical
I would think they will play a bigger part than last season, there are more spaces on the subs bench for a start and the squad has shrunk somewhat (yes I know it will increase), but anyone get the feeling not by the 8 or 9 it needs?
fatloser
I would think they will play a bigger part than last season, there are more spaces on the subs bench for a start and the squad has shrunk somewhat (yes I know it will increase), but anyone get the feeling not by the 8 or 9 it needs?
fatloser
Both players will want to play a much bigger part in the new season ahead, not least because if they dont, then their days at Villa Park will be numbered. From what limited amount I've seen of both Routledge and Salifou, they certainly have possibilities, but their expected emergence shouldn't hide the fact that we're still way short on both quality and numbers.
glensider
Both players will want to play a much bigger part in the new season ahead, not least because if they dont, then their days at Villa Park will be numbered. From what limited amount I've seen of both Routledge and Salifou, they certainly have possibilities, but their expected emergence shouldn't hide the fact that we're still way short on both quality and numbers.
glensider
If MON doesn't bring in new players then yes, Salifou and Routledge will certainly have to play a part next season.
Saurat
If MON doesn't bring in new players then yes, Salifou and Routledge will certainly have to play a part next season.
Saurat
without sounding like a transfer window whinger, this sort of statement by MON is a bit of a worry. shouldn't he be concentrating on other priorities, like building the squad rather than this sort of bulldust?
leftfoot
without sounding like a transfer window whinger, this sort of statement by MON is a bit of a worry. shouldn't he be concentrating on other priorities, like building the squad rather than this sort of bulldust?
leftfoot
Really looking forward to seeing what Routledge can do, used to really like him at Palace and some of the Spurs fans also seemed disappointed when he left so he must have impressed them at times as well, just Aaron Lennon kept him out of the team.
The Fear
Really looking forward to seeing what Routledge can do, used to really like him at Palace and some of the Spurs fans also seemed disappointed when he left so he must have impressed them at times as well, just Aaron Lennon kept him out of the team.
The Fear
Yea this does sound to me like MON has resigned to using these players next season as h will NOT be able to get the players he wants!!!! Just think we will have a bench full of Kids, Gardner as our right back, the poor sod!!!! Not amused so far.
erv2005
Yea this does sound to me like MON has resigned to using these players next season as h will NOT be able to get the players he wants!!!! Just think we will have a bench full of Kids, Gardner as our right back, the poor sod!!!! Not amused so far.
erv2005
I want to see Salifou in full flow, wasn't he called the African Zidane? (even though Zidane's family came from northern Africa - Algeria I think, make of that what you will) I have a feeling Gardner would take Barry's position if he left.
industrial_musical
I want to see Salifou in full flow, wasn't he called the African Zidane? (even though Zidane's family came from northern Africa - Algeria I think, make of that what you will) I have a feeling Gardner would take Barry's position if he left.
industrial_musical
Well we have both salifou and routledge, so lets give them a chance? How would u feel if you were either of them and people were bought infront of you and hadn't even been given a decent run in the first team to show what u can do. I agree with MON on pre-season front. Lets see how they do and if they're not up to it, then we can think about replacing them. If they can hit the ground running in pre-season, then they have a good chance of starting the season in the best possible mood! Good luck lads!
notaspur
Well we have both salifou and routledge, so lets give them a chance? How would u feel if you were either of them and people were bought infront of you and hadn't even been given a decent run in the first team to show what u can do. I agree with MON on pre-season front. Lets see how they do and if they're not up to it, then we can think about replacing them. If they can hit the ground running in pre-season, then they have a good chance of starting the season in the best possible mood! Good luck lads!
notaspur
I sincerely hope Routledge and Salifou both have a part to play next season. We won't be as lucky as we were this season with injuries, and we need them both firing on all cylinders, able to step in whenever needed and do a good job and, hopefully, try and prove they're worth a starting spot.
romanianvillain
I sincerely hope Routledge and Salifou both have a part to play next season. We won't be as lucky as we were this season with injuries, and we need them both firing on all cylinders, able to step in whenever needed and do a good job and, hopefully, try and prove they're worth a starting spot.
romanianvillain
Routledge in particular should have a lot to offer. Hopefully his form and confidence will be better come pre-season. He could solve our wide-right problem.
glensider
Routledge in particular should have a lot to offer. Hopefully his form and confidence will be better come pre-season. He could solve our wide-right problem.
glensider
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