Last season for Aston Villa was one of the worst they had endured in the Premier League; Alex McLeish had taken over at Villa Park joining from arch rivals Birmingham City. The fans automatically before he was even offered the job staged a protest reacting angrily to rumours Lerner was set to offer him a contract. McLeish accepted the offer from Lerner, the fans anger wasn’t just at the club he had joined from but they believed he was tactically inept to manage such a big club. He had however won the Carling cup with Birmingham City after beating favourites Arsenal 2-1; this was short-lived as the club were relegated to the Npower Championship. The fans were on his back from the very start of the season, low attendances for what usually is a rocking full house at Villa Park. The fans worries began to surface, poor performances at both home and away, squad selection also began to raise eyebrows with Warnock and Hutton playing out wide as wingers and even some occasions misfiring striker Heskey was played out wide. McLeish and his negative tactics were not welcome at Aston Villa, the fans vented there frustration with banners and choruses of boos met the Scottish manager at half time. His plan of trying to contain much better opponents for 90 minutes continually backfired and Villa would come off losers, this wasn’t because they were a poor side on paper they should of easily been hitting he top half instead they were fighting relegation. The season ended with Aston Villa sitting in 16th place just two points off relegation, this was too close and Lerner called a meeting with McLeish where he was sacked from his post. The Villains will be hoping they can get back to their best where they were fighting to get in the top 4 alongside Martin O’Neil, can Paul Lambert do the same.
The squad McLeish had at his disposal last season didn’t lack quality, Agbonlahor, Nzogbia, Ireland, Given all experienced players that should of helped Aston Villa to a much stronger position last season. The youth academy at Aston Villa has produced some brilliant youth players; Gary Gardner is one of the brightest prospects at the club although he is currently out for the season with a serious injury. Paul Lamberts transfer activity this window was intriguing to say the least, instead of going for older experienced professionals who have played for some of the top teams he has gone to the lower leagues and signed youngsters with an appetite to succeed. This is great for English football, lower league players are being given a chance at some of the most illustrious clubs in the Premier League. Matthew Lowton signed for Aston Villa from Sheffield United, the right back is only 23 years old so has plenty of time to mature and improve in what looks to be a fruitful career. Joe Bennett, Ashley Westwood, Jordan Bowery and Christian Benteke are the remaining of Lamberts new recruits at Villa Park, with all four of them not breaking over 22 years of age there plans for the future, right? Lambert has already thrown Lowton into the premier League and his faith has been restored with solid performances. Lambert seems to be a firm believer if you’re good enough then age and experience don’t play a part in his selection. These signings are also relatively unknown to those who don’t follow anything other than their own domestic leagues with Westwood playing in the third tier of English football not renowned for world class talent. Benteke was recruited after a rather drawn out saga from Genk in the Belgium League, Lambert is looking to unfavourable leagues to pick up young talented players for a third of the price that would be paid for big name players in the more well-known leagues.
So, is this an example more teams should follow. It will help not only to improve the national squad because of the amount of English players now turning out for teams in the Premier League but the finance from these deals to smaller sides will help them in improving there infastructure. This could help them to be sustainable in the future and advancements in youth academies could mean the production of talent through the ranks could increase in quality; all of this will only help to improve the lower leagues. Broadcast companies such as Sky and ESPN could then look to sign lucrative deals with teams as the standard of football has improved more people will enjoy watching it; this also ties in with finance with smaller teams the money can then be used to once again improve the club. Another plus for young players coming from unknown teams and less favourable leagues is they have a huge appetite for the game. Older players have experienced everything in the game and with huge contracts that will keep them financially sorted for the rest of their lives which can mean they may not put in the required effort. Young players want to impress, they will run for 90 minutes to show the manager that they are good enough and will do anything he requires of them for the team. Lambert has recognised that and with Hutton and Warnock’s exclusion from the first team has clearly meant that they don’t have the required ability and enthusiasm for the game as his young apprentices do. Brendan Rodgers was quoted saying
“Young players will run through a fence for you older players will look for the whole in the fence"I think Lambert clearly has a plan in place he feel he can achieve at Aston Villa it will take time to adapt to and time needs to be given to him for it to be achieved. I’m sure Aston Villa fans would prefer to see younger less experienced players giving 110% rather than older players giving 95%. Aston Villa fans what do you think of lamberts philosophy do you agree leave comment below. Football fans do you think the whole of football will benefit from younger lower league players being given the chance on the big stage leave a comment below on your opinions.
