Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: Mike Field 
Date:Friday October 30 2009
Time: 4:43PM
UK time is: 21:43:56
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Monny's Christmas Wish
Martin O'Neill has admitted he would like to be given a goalscoring midfielder for Christmas....well in fact the sooner the better.
Speaking to the Birmingham Mail Monny admitted Villa are desperate for a player in the mould of David Platt or Top man Ian Taylor, that can contribute 10 or so goals from the middle part - describing such a player as potentially being the secret to success or the missing link in our quest for glory.
Non of our centre midfielders have found the net this season, where as Ash and Milly have only done so via the penalty spot.
'I think if you are going to be successful you have to have a goalscoring midfielder,' said the gaffer.
Pointing to the fact that it's only really Milly and Sidwell who attempt to get into the box at every opportunity, he added:
'Midfielders reading situations and seeing that someone is going clear should be breaking their necks to get into the penalty box.'
It's hard to disagree, Sidwell is the only real threat we have in the centre but while he's making the runs he's yet to be successful and given our over reliance on Gabby scoring, things obviously look brighter with the goal threat Collins and Dunne have brought, but unless Monny is prepared to sign a proper dyed in the wool striker to give us another option, somebody in midfield needs to step up and start banging them away.
If they don't we are in for the performances we've seen so far, where we nick games 1-0 or rely on penalties to sneak the points.
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Your Comments
It is hard to disagree... But Who???? lol
FootyFans
It is hard to disagree... But Who???? lol
FootyFans
Sidwell is a goal scoring oportunist? Seriously?
johnnyuk
Sidwell is a goal scoring oportunist? Seriously?
johnnyuk
i think sidwell has the potential to score 10 from midfield, he has one hell of a shot on him and always wants to get forward. Apart from him ,what about petrov, he has an amazing scoring record (admittedly in the SPL) but why are we playing him as a defensive midfielder! i say play 4-5-1 with petrov in the attacking role and reo and sidwell (or delph) as defensive and alternate it like they do with the wingers. keeps teams on their toes and gives our midfielders equal chances to chip in with the goals. there is a bit too much pressure on a midfielder to score in 4-4-2 incase they leave a big gap in the centre of the park.
arc1988
Van Der Vaart anyone? Surely he will be going cheap as he is sitting for Real Madrid. What was it thought at over the summer? 6.5 mil?
TheYank
i think sidwell has the potential to score 10 from midfield, he has one hell of a shot on him and always wants to get forward. Apart from him ,what about petrov, he has an amazing scoring record (admittedly in the SPL) but why are we playing him as a defensive midfielder! i say play 4-5-1 with petrov in the attacking role and reo and sidwell (or delph) as defensive and alternate it like they do with the wingers. keeps teams on their toes and gives our midfielders equal chances to chip in with the goals. there is a bit too much pressure on a midfielder to score in 4-4-2 incase they leave a big gap in the centre of the park.
arc1988
Van Der Vaart anyone? Surely he will be going cheap as he is sitting for Real Madrid. What was it thought at over the summer? 6.5 mil?
TheYank
Other than Gerrard, Lampard and possibly Tim Cahill, I dont think there is anyone that is a goal threat from midfield. Gerrard and Cahill play as a 2nd centre forward some matches so thats why they get goals. Didnt Hokey-Cokey used to be a goal scorer in his west ham days??
VillaSlice
Other than Gerrard, Lampard and possibly Tim Cahill, I dont think there is anyone that is a goal threat from midfield. Gerrard and Cahill play as a 2nd centre forward some matches so thats why they get goals. Didnt Hokey-Cokey used to be a goal scorer in his west ham days??
VillaSlice
Sidwell is the least threatening midfielder arriving in the box I can think of - apart from threatening to give away penalties. He may hit the odd sizzler from distance, but the number of close in opportunities he has had with his head or feet only shows he does enter the area - but might as well not bother. We only have one goalscorer, Carew, when on form(and he's not). Nobody else can claim that yet and we have a shot count that is minimal and reflects both a lack of creativity and opportunism.
The excitement at the moment is biting fingernails to see if our magnificent defence holds out, and it usually does. Entertainment is less than our position would imply, but hopefully if we can inject some more guile and craft in the middle it will turn it round. Mr Downing, Mr Albrighton or someone else please come forward and invent and craft us a few chances. Ashley and Milner are great and surely will start to hit the target a bit more too, but it is not like watching Brazil .... yet.
stennyvilla
Sidwell is the least threatening midfielder arriving in the box I can think of - apart from threatening to give away penalties. He may hit the odd sizzler from distance, but the number of close in opportunities he has had with his head or feet only shows he does enter the area - but might as well not bother. We only have one goalscorer, Carew, when on form(and he's not). Nobody else can claim that yet and we have a shot count that is minimal and reflects both a lack of creativity and opportunism.
The excitement at the moment is biting fingernails to see if our magnificent defence holds out, and it usually does. Entertainment is less than our position would imply, but hopefully if we can inject some more guile and craft in the middle it will turn it round. Mr Downing, Mr Albrighton or someone else please come forward and invent and craft us a few chances. Ashley and Milner are great and surely will start to hit the target a bit more too, but it is not like watching Brazil .... yet.
stennyvilla
A goal scoring midfielder? Fine, but how about a goal scoring striker too? A bit of a novelty for Villa but I really think we should try it.
Saurat
A goal scoring midfielder? Fine, but how about a goal scoring striker too? A bit of a novelty for Villa but I really think we should try it.
Saurat
I think Milly and Ashley should be given licence to roam to the middle and get in the box, not just sticking to the wings. I am sure then both of them will score goals!
villa_de
I think Milly and Ashley should be given licence to roam to the middle and get in the box, not just sticking to the wings. I am sure then both of them will score goals!
villa_de
We need another midfielder to sit on the bench and keep Emile happy until he replaces Carew at the 60 minute mark
Doug4ever
We need another midfielder to sit on the bench and keep Emile happy until he replaces Carew at the 60 minute mark
Doug4ever
Would much prefer to see us break the bank (so easy when it isn't your bank to say that isn't it?) to get an out and out striker, needed one for years, can't put all the responsibility on Gabby. Where we get one from is another matter totally though!
The Fear
Would much prefer to see us break the bank (so easy when it isn't your bank to say that isn't it?) to get an out and out striker, needed one for years, can't put all the responsibility on Gabby. Where we get one from is another matter totally though!
The Fear
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