It would be the performance which would be the main worry for Aston Villa last night. A performance void of passion and belief, it is hard to see where the next win will come from. Houllier's side last won on 10th November when they beat Blackpool reserves 3-2.
The timing of it all did not help either, with Houllier being announced as manager on 8th September, after the transfer window and after Villa's squad of 25, effectively managing someone else's team. He brought in 37 year old Robert Pires to add some experience to a very youth-orientated side. He can't make that side his own until January.
He publicly criticised Steven Ireland for 'not working hard enough for the team, neglecting his defensive duties and squandering possession too readily.' Other players are not pulling there weight, players like Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonglahor and John Carew are not performing well this season. They will have to step up their game to haul Villa out of relegation trouble.
Brad Friedel is 39 years old and needs to retire, or at the very least let Brad Guzan have his chance at being number 1. Friedel is getting to an age where Premier League football is leaving him behind, and his performances are showing his age.
How do you solve a problem like Aston Villa? I don't know. I don't think Houllier knows either.
Ever heard the expression "too good to go down"
ReplyDeleteAs a city fan, yep heard it been there got the T shirts etc - several times. Well this is how I see villa.
Villa used thr thrive on being solid at the back, clean sheets then Gabby using his pace to grab the winner. Villa are just not firing anywhere.
If Gerard Houlier can get a couple of Solid midfielders to assist the Dunne - Collins partnership, then they may be ok, becuase luckily for them there are 3 worse teams by may.
But as we know if you get dragged into a relegation dog fight, its very hard to get out.
I hope Villa dont go down, but this leads to another question - Will Randy Lerner make the required investment or rely on the youth policy.