Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: Mike Field 
Date:Saturday July 21 2012
Time: 10:57AM
UK time is: 03:20:30
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Delboy Determined To Step Up This Season
Nathan Delfouneso has said he is determined to step up to the plate this season after never really building on the early promise he showed.
Speaking to the Official Site after finding the winner against Philadelphia Union, the striker promised to give this season 'everything (he's) got' in terms of impressing Paul Lambert and proving he is good enough to play an important part at the club as we look to rebuild under the new gaffer:
'For whatever reason, it didn't happen for me last season. It was frustrating but I'm forgetting about that now, it's a fresh start and I'm looking to the future and hoping to impress the gaffer.'
His early record when called on in cup games under O'Neill was pretty good to be fair, and he certainly seemed to have that knack of being in the right place at the right time, but under the recent two managers when he has been given a chance in the team, he hasn't shown much improvement in terms of offering anything else to the front line, often looking obviously bereft of confidence, but also ideas and the desire to really go at the defence.
To his credit I think this pre season he actually looks like he has bulked up compared to previous years, so hopefully this will help him to run a front line and be more of a pain to centre halves in the future.
Pre season wise with finding the net he's definitely made a good start, but now he really does have to kick on and show that he is as good an alternative as Andreas Weimann when it comes to options upfront.
'I want to get myself in the team this season and impress with performances and goals. I am looking to push on, stay concentrated, get my head down and go out there and give it all I have got, and hopefully it will pay off this season.'
If Delfouneso does impress Lambert enough to keep him on board, he does have to make an impact now. He's been in and around the first team long enough to know that if it doesn't come off this year, it's probably time for him to drop a level so he can start progressing.
His loan spell at Burnley wasn't a roaring success, but you do wonder if he'd benefit by going out until Xmas so he can get a good run of games and hopefully play himself into some form.
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Your Comments
Now is the time agree Mike, i have always had faith in the Fonz's ability asi remember him first playing for the first team in the europa league at VP when he scored a very good goal from the edge of the box against CSK Moscow i think im notsurewho, and him scoring against Pompey to win us the game so i know he can do it and in the previous two seasons its no wonder many of our youngesters have struggled as all the first team has, i would still sign a big striker like a Kenwyne Jones or similar stature to give ussomething different but keep Fonz and play him in the cups and if Gabby gets injured as Lambert seems to prefer playing two strikers, Weimann and the Fonz could save the club millions if they step up like they are showing.
ClivetheVillan
Never going to make, simply not good enough for the PL
We're Not Fickle
Watched the Union game on AVTV..I thought the system played with mobile forwards and the midfield players closing down high up the pitch seemed to suit the Fonz..He looked very lively, great movement, but missed a couple f good chances before he scored a fine goal.. As previously said, this is 'make or break' at this level, but I do think with Lambert's apparent style of play he may move above Andi Weimann in the pecking order. Interesting to watch the Chicago match
krfeskivilla
How not good enough We're Not Fickle? When have we seen him get a genuine chance in the PL? The alternative is sign the next Allback, Harewood, Balaban who all failed for a variety of reasons and cost an arm and a leg in the process.
villaiain
villaiain has made a really good point here, it's all right knocking players and saying ''they will never make it'' when in truth if a manager does no pick them and givethem confidence to go out on a matchday and give it all they have got then no player in the world would make it, its all about if Lambert see's Fonz having whathe needs and wants in a forward and develop him further, lets hope Fonz does make it ay then the money would be able to go onto another area of the team etc
ClivetheVillan
Cheers krfeskivilla for telling us how the sysytem was played, its interesting that we all thought Weimann may be the next big thing and the Fonz not could be turned on its head lol wha do we all know ay ;) Nah i think its wise to use Weimannas DB9's understudy and the Fonz as Gabby's, but would stilllike us to sign a big six plus footer to bring off the bench when we need a goal against the stoke's wigans etc
ClivetheVillan
1. We have to remember that Weimann was not - McLeech simply had no other option but to put him (or The Fonz) into the line-up.
2. The Fonz is 6ft 1 and only 12 stone and a bit. He has definitely got taller in the last couple of years and clearly can add some muscle yet and maybe even more height. He has the potential to become a big striker without being carthorse-slow (taxi for Mr Heskey....!)
3. Apropos of not much, which idiot mgr was it that told Gabby to add weight.....? Cant remember if it was MON or GH.....but he needs to lose it again because he lost pace immediately. I think it has a lot to do with his loss of form (that and the inability of the last two managers to work out how to play him with Bent).
malacaxeta
Unless he really impresses pre-season and gets in the mix for sub appearances he should go out on loan to get game time - but the club needs to be chosen carefully; his last 2 loans have been to clubs with well established pairs of strikers so he's been stuck on the bench or out of position. He has everything needed but must push on now or it will be too late - 2 wasted years already.
distefano
Can't see Fonz stepping up to the plait, I don't think he's good enough.
Pride of Lions
he is too young still and has had too few chances for people to just write him off. *****es me off how everyone says they want the kids to come through then after a few glimpses they are written off! He has a chance, if he doesn't quite make it, he'll still have a decent career in footie imho.
The Fear
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