The First Step
After a week of unorthodox transfer dealings and a useful point against difficult opponents, Dave Woodhall looks back at events at Villa Park.
The last few days might prove the most significant since Randy Lerner took over at Villa Park. After the disappointment of the first two league games and a straightforward League Cup win over Tranmere, the impending closure of the transfer window inspired a frenzy of trading as the deadline drew ever-closer. Villa needed a left-back, midfielder and forward, and got them all, with another forward as a bonus. As to their identities, I doubt if even Paul Lambert would have guessed this time last week who his four signings would prove to be.
Villa have undoubtedly taken a gamble by touring the lower divisions and more unfashionable European leagues for new players. If they get it right they’ll have proved a few supposedly knowledgeable commentators, and Robbie Savage, wrong. They’ll have also shown that not all the young talent in football is tied up in the Premier League or on the books of agents trying to persuade clubs that a YouTube clip of their client proves he’s the next Messi.
What I particularly liked about Villa’s dealings during the week was that they didn’t hang around trying to get the price reduced if a club turned down their initial offer. For years Villa’s transfer policy appeared to centre on chasing one player at a time and hoping his club eventually matched our valuation. This reached its apogee with the saga of Benni McCarthy, who Villa hung around like a lovesick teenager for what seemed an eternity, bemoaning Celta Vigo’s refusal to drop their price because we’d raised our initial offer. Randy’s initial desire to pay whatever was needed to bring in the right player might have led to the quick and easy arrival of such targets as Ashley Young but it also gave rise to the financial problems we’ve had to contend with over the past two years. Finally, the right balance of pragmatism and flexibility seems to have been reached.
Villa enquired about Ipswich left-back Aaron Cresswell, negotiations broke down so we bought Joe Bennett from Middlesbrough. Charlton’s valuation of midfielder Dale Stephens was unrealistic so on we moved to Ashley Westwood of Crewe – and anyone who comes from that particular goldmine of talent over the years usually has a better than average chance of making it at a higher level. Genk were messing around with a fee for Christian Benteke, Villa agreed a fee for Fulham’s Clint Dempsey and Benteke was suddenly available at the right price. By this time we’d already snapped up Chesterfield striker Jordan Bowery, whose scoring record doesn’t seem too great but forwards mature at different ages and £500,000 for a 21 year old is worth the gamble.
Not all Villa’s new signings will go on to be big successes; that would be too much to ask for. But they seem to be players Paul Lambert has been tracking and who he thinks will add to the side. Money has been made available and the indications are that more will be there in January if needed. For the first time since Martin O’Neill left there seems to be a plan in place.
The season proper started on Sunday up at Newcastle. Villa drew a game they could have won, and would have lost last season. Although minor knocks and late registrations meant none of the new arrivals played any part in proceedings there was a different spirit even to the performance against Everton last Saturday. It might not end in success, it will certainly be difficult and there will be setbacks along the way, but life at Villa Park promises to be interesting once more.
Wolves have just axed Terry Connor after 13 years !
It may be that this ruthless action is what is needed, but everyone in the Midlands says he is an utterly decent man. Perchance a future boss/coach at Walsall or Coventry or Kidderminster.
It will be fascinating to see whether the Villa manager can coach/manage the team he has rather than the team he would love to have.
He needs to deliver a profit AND be consistently clear of any concern about relegation this season and gain the trust of a Chairman who feels he was taken for a mug by other people.
In fact Villa’s woes come down to one big thing. Houllier’s health was not up to his proven ambition, legion of French contacts (think NEWCASTLE strikers’ origins), and ability to get the mobiles/emails to talk direct to the right people.
Houllier might have had a top Athletico Madrid striker at the club. But his health was always a known risk (as well known as Michael Owen and Hargreaves’ injury rates).
It is a shame Houllier was not kept as a genuine Director of Football, or even as a Director. a wise well connected advisor with clout in Europe.
Can the new Villa boy find gold among his lower league contacts to go with his ambition ?
Well if Scott Dann, Matty Fryatt, Anthony Gerrard, start to be considered as January signings, I will become a believer. Fabulous players in poor teams they struggle to carry. Ditto Danny Fox at Southampton. Yes I know they are all ex-Walsall but they would all bust a gut for Villa. There would be no lazy performances which is still a hallmark of the vastly overpaid average Villa squad player.
Getting lower league gems is much harder said than done because Villa fans will boycott (pick and choose carefully in this economic climate) if they do not see ambition/value/flair/goals in the opposition end.
I wish all West Midland managers well.
David Moyes has proved to be someone who can manage his resources over a decade, even though he also has had seasons well outside the top 6.
He would be on average be six places higher if he were manager of Villa with the same resources previous managers have had.
Mick McCarthy was a man who at Sunderland and Wolves lacked the Premier League striker, and defenders, to have a viable chance in the top League. He might have prospered at Villa or Albion. His tenacious management style masked how awful Wolves were and how underfunded for the top League especially as regards star player wages/transfers.
Villa still pay excellent wages to stars, and still overpay players who would not make the squad of the top 6.
Albion have made slow but sure progress since they only escaped relegation to Division 1 when Ray Grayden’s Walsall failed to get the one extra win they needed in 2000.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999-2000_in_English_football
Yes West Brom in 2000 got 49 points in the second tier of British football. So you assess the present Chairman from this baseline. He is a star. WBA were a full league below Watford, Wimbledon, Sheffield Wednesday, Bradford, Derby, Coventry, Middlesborough in 2000. Their Chairman has pulled them up in a genuine longterm plan.
Villa need the present Chairman to get a vision for 2020 or 2022. Then stick to it.
Let the others become the new Premier League clubs to slide down the table as
Watford, Wimbledon, Sheffield Wednesday, Bradford, Derby, Coventry, Middlesborough did.
Wolves need crisis management and if they do not start winning, they may be joining Walsall.
Walsall could do worse than employ Terry Connor as a coach. His contacts with young Wolves players could come in handy.
Birmingham just bewilder me because they seem for two decades to have the most nationally/internationally known owners as far as the media is concerned but absolutely no famous players which someone in London/Bournemouth could name since Bob Latchford and Trevor Francis. If only it were the other way around.
Villa have a chance to progress as others regress (Liverpool) but the longterm vision is the key. Albion are where they are because of the vision shown since 2000.
Had they fallen in a league below Walsall, they may now be non-league.
Give God thanks for your Chairman WBA fans.
Maybe Doug was not the worst option, Villa fans ?