Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: J P Fear 
Date:Sunday June 17 2012
Time: 10:39AM
UK time is: 00:02:57
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Ian Taylor On The Need For A Midfield General
Sir Ian Of Taylor told Mat Kendrick at The Birmingham Mail that we need a new midfield general like Gareth Barry once was.
"It`s definitely an area where we need to strengthen because we really could do with someone in there who can influence games."
He says once Stan was out ill, we missed him and had no experience in the middle.
(get well soon skipper)
"We really haven`t had anyone with the presence in there to make the team tick." Adding, "It`s been a difficult position for us in central midfield since Gareth Barry and James Milner left and it is a position where you do need somebody who can be the heartbeat of the team."
He also says that it is great we have so many young players coming through but it has to be balanced with experience.
The report also mentions the return of Jean Makoun II
Forum thread: Click Here
See also: Fresh Start For Jean Makoun II
And: Jean Makoun Profile.
He will apparently get a clean slate at Villa, which judging by what we paid for him, he should be. McLeish seemed well out of order shipping him straight out and then moaning through the season he didn`t have the depth in his squad!
Taylor says: "Sometimes it can be difficult for players to settle and that seems to be the case with Jean. Villa need to make sure he is happy off the pitch as well as on it if we are to see what he is capable of in a Villa shirt. I watched him a few times the season before last and you can see what his qualities are. His calmness on the ball and his passing and I think he could be effective alongside the type of dominant midfielder I talked about earlier."
Full Taylor comments on Makoun: The Birmingham Mail
And on that note, with no other articles due, I`m off to get ready to go to VMF. One of the best places in the world!!!!
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Your Comments
If Jean is up for it then it will be just like a new signing. I for one hope he does get the chance to slience the doubters. If he then subsequently fails, far does, as long as he's had a fair crack of the whip, you can't ask for more.
Pride of Lions
Some interesting 'free' transfers in central midfield who I think could give us some needed 'depth'..Danny Murphy, Nigel Reo-Coker, Diamme (the lad from Wigan) and Danny Guthrie..A couple of those plus Makoun, Ireland, Gardner, Herd and Bannan would not be too bad..but I think we do need a player of the Lassana Diarra type and hopefully PL will have one of those in mind..Definitely the MAIN area to be sorted, with a MINIMUM of two new players needed in that department.
krfeskivilla
It's always about the belly with that one. Not Makoun, I mean Fear! Would love us to find another Taylor!
mike_field
After a bit of experience and probably bulking up a little, I think Delph could play that role. Hungry when tracking back and can move the ball decently, I'm just not sure about his aerial ability.
VillaHippo
Providing he can stay fit as well of course. I just don't want him turning into an Isaiah Osbourne.
VillaHippo
Delph looks like he'll be a carbon copy of Reo-Coker to me - will work hard and break up play, win back possession only to give it away with a bad pass!
revolutionatlast
Yeah he does frequently try the Hollywood cross-field pass (and fail) but hopefully he'll learn with experience!
VillaHippo
Would love to see Delph fill the role, but i'm not sure if he can. Chris Brunt???
VILLA 4 LIFE
Brunt is a blinking great shout. Best recommendation so far in ALL of the links. Personally I wouldnt mind seeing Gary Taylor Fletcher too. I know he's a tad, er, well nourished (??? ;-)) but he's quality and does the basics well.
koolbill
Not having a go at anyone here but I do find it interesting that before Stan got ill there was an awful lot of criticism towards him for the job he did in the middle of the park. I could never understand that for me it was really clear how much we missed him both last year and the year before under Houllier. We just looked so much better with him in the side to me. I also seem to recall the criticism dished out to players doing similar roles in recent years i.e. George Boatang and Kevin Richardson. I guess it goes with playing that role within the side but they are all the kind of players you notice when they're not there more than when they're actually on the field.
For me its absolutely vital we get someone in that role as I don't see anyone we've got who's going to step up to the mark at the moment. Maybe Fabian Delph but I got to be honest, I'm just not convinced he's the man.
Matt B
How's about Graham Dorrans? He might be reluctant to leave the Baggies though.
VillaHippo
Brunt is a great shout, but the bagheads are unlikely to sell unless their new boss has other ideas.
Madirish
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