The club have made a couple of moves this week. They have officially signed the much-traveled Swiss international Phillippe Senderos to bolster the defence, and the seemingly imminent signing of Roy Keane to be Paul Lambert’s #2.
The signing of Senderos indicates a couple of things we were already pretty sure of. There will be little money available and the manager won’t be able to make the impact signings he thinks he needs for the club to improve. With Joleon Lescott still available it’s fair to assume the club can’t meet his wage demands. We couldn’t or wouldn’t compete with Leicester for Marc Albrighton, and with Lescott we probably can’t or won’t compete with West Ham or Major League Soccer.
Truthfully all Senderos has to be is a little bit better than Ciaran Clark or Nathan Baker to help the club at least somewhat. With added depth hopefully those two won’t be starting by default like they were at times last year. This may free the manager to cash in on one of them to generate some funds. Russ Goldman, who hosts a Fulham podcast, said Senderos is a decent player prone to errors at critical times. Sounds like he was born to play for Villa.
The Keane appointment makes sense on a couple of levels. I questioned what coach would want to work for a lame-duck manager at a club that’s for sale. Roy Keane already has a job with the Republic of Ireland that he will evidently keep. He also just left a job with ITV. Conceivably it a new owner comes in and blows out the manager and entire back room staff he could no back to that job. If you really wanted to look at the situation cynically, if Lambert is sacked Keane could be first in line to be caretaker manager. Given how his managerial stints went at Sunderland and Ipswich that may be his most likely path back to managing in the top flight. Call it the Roberto di Matteo strategy.
What isn’t clear is will he be effective in the role and will the new setup work? Lambert delegated a lot to Culverhouse and Karsa before becoming more involved after their suspension. Will Lambert to back to his Merovingian throne while Keane is the new Mayor of the Palace? It can’t if the new back room team is going to work better than the old.
I do think he was brought in to rattle cages amongst the players. If rumours and innuendo are to be believed lack of professionalism off the pitch was an issue. The men Keane are replacing were hard-asses too. As a manager Keane lost the plot and lost the dressing room at Sunderland. Maybe he has had time to reflect during his time away from management.
That things like this are happening makes me believe there’s nothing imminent in terms of the sale of the club. I hope stories of the price being slashed and new front runners are negotiating tactics and that things are moving behind the scenes. It’s all conjecture, nobody really knows. I am still deathly afraid for next season.
The Author
Jason Chalifour
I am a regular columnist for Aston Villa Life with my column running every Friday and have been writing at least semi-regularly about Aston Villa since 2010. I also run my own General Sports Website www.98ontheblack.comComments 32
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Hello Jason, hope all is well in Boston.
I see that even you’re becoming a pessimist, its impossible to find anything positive at VP at the moment, i can’t believe Lerner has caused so much havoc in such a short spell, it says everything about the blokes business acumen and also about his spine. As i said, not a single thing to look forward to unless Lerner sells, 3-1 on relegation at the bookies says it all.
Is it going in the right direction ? I think we all know the Answer to that
We will be watching shite like West Ham and QPR buying very good players whilst we get crap. Barry and Milner are there to get, but we won’t.
Are there any worse sides than us in the prem this season ? No
As Bob Dylan wrote ‘You Don’t Have to be a Weatherman to Know Which Way the Wind Blows.’
At least i can look forward to England being pissed on at the WC.
Ash Williams reportedly available for 4M.. Lescott available on a free.. Haangeland albeit older but available on a free..
I understand that the club is up for sale but what is happening at Villa Park is alarming and shows further proof about what i have always said.. Lerner does not have a bloody clue on how to run a football club..
We picked up a measly 4 points from the last 27 ( 9 games ) available.. which included Palace..Fulham..Swansea..Hull..Saints and co,
Yet the clueless manager has still kept his job..
With more money available for clubs this year.. everyone will be adding to the teams while we will add nothing but cheap freebies.. keep an inept manager and his woeful tactics..
Ok we are up for sale but surely adding dross won’t get us anywhere.. at least bring in some decent players..
We are in deep shite.. and anyone who thinks we are not is living in cloud cukoo land..
‘Fraid so LH, well and truly, so much for Lerners fine words, our ‘custodian’ is killing us.
Any thoughts on the WC, outsider for me is Mexico, some stat company who used computers to predict the last one and were correct have Spain to win again with England going out to Jeermany in the QF.
Steamer.. i think Argentina might do well.. if there strike force clicks.. it is frightening.. Messi Aguerro Di Maria and Lavezzi looks lethal on paper..
I have a feeling we won’t even get out of the group.. the heat and humidity will do for us sadly..
As for Dark horses.. think Columbia could do well.. Belgium have a lot of talent too..
Jason, you’ve written well.
As you say, there’s lots of rumours flying around about a lack of professionalism off the pitch. It wouldn’t surprise me. Perhaps, a few players need to be put on work experience at a pig farm for a couple of weeks on minimum wages.
All the rumours, uncertainties, lack of communication and innuendo is indicative that the club is virtually rudderless and “nondescript”.
Clive
England played with passion. Outdone in the end by a team that is no one trick pony.
Afternoon Jason , a very interesting artickes which begs the question what on earth is going on at VP.
Firstly , what is going on with the players . Two months ago they were enjoying “an improved training atmosphere” after the alleged bullies were sacked. Now their training is to be overseen by RK ???????????? Saucepan and fire ????
Why does PL choose an assistant with a higher profile and controversial reputation. I can’t see RK as an assistant as he is too strong and singleminded . His natural tendency is to lead so Pl is in danger of being undermined if RK doesn’t agree with his way .
Or has PL chosen him as he wants a tough guy in the camp to share the pressure and take the spot light off him?
RK needs to have learned his lessons if he isn’t to make a desperate situation worse. The club is crying out for experienced and proven football coaches . RK is too much of a wild card and it makes me wonder if this avoidance of employing staff with experience mirrors the reluctance to use the experienced players two seasons ago .
What is the “unprofessional behaviour ” the players have displayed btw ?
Trin,
Perhaps, a few players need to be put on work experience at a pig farm for a couple of weeks on minimum wages.
But could Blues afford them ?
Do they need their cages rattled or is there a more obvious reason like most of them aren’t good enough and the ones that are , aren’t been given the opportunity or the proper coaching . Just a thought .
Agree Jen,
Serious shortage of goolies at VP but Keane would crush them even more, we’re in trouble and we don’t have a single fighter, leader or role model to get a grip, Randy Lerner make Charles Hawtry look like Arnie.
John L – neatly avoided my Sendrosa question last night
LH,
I think Argentina produce the best players in the World but have doubts about Sabella, anyone who can omit Tevez for Di Santo must be a bit ropey.
Belgium just seem TOO good, so much talent.
Charles Hawtry.
Posted too soon – was supposed to be Charles Hawtry
With a 🙂
Jen,
S75’s trying ( very ) to get enough lifers for a mini bus or similar for Chesterfield if your interested. It should be a real laugh, SWV may be up too so obviously anyone’s welcome. Bit worried about S75 at the mo, he seems to be morphing into Susan Boyle.
in a high voice ………….maxwalls in a vice
I dreamed a dream ………………………….
What the hell, ST75 and Susan Boyle for manager and coach
Jenny: John L – neatly avoided my Sendrosa question last night
Nope! I said (on the previous thread)…
Ha! Jenny, you ask a leading question!
No, he doesn’t quite fit the vision I have of midfield majesty showing silky skills and helping the kids to know when and when not to use them! 😉
But perhaps Slendours might fit into the Frank Barson prototype – a tough man who was able to lead by example.
We certainly need more captains on the field.
Didn’t Petrov lead by example?
Ian
Stan did, but is no longer available …
Frem,
Are you Harry AVFC over on TBAR ?
Just a quick hi from sunny tenerife, i see sweet FA is happening down the Villa, old Randy is now willing to knock off a big chunk of his asking price, and is willing to accept the payment in installments, we’re gonna have a few chancers linked now, Fuck me it just keeps getting worse, oh well off for another San Miguel.
Frem
just ahd TC on phone he wants some decking lights fitting this week and told me to bring you , are you away this week in turkey …
I am mate yes. What ever you do don’t say a take over isn’t close on there or they will moan at you. Don’t say it’s going badly at Villa, they don’t like it. Say it’s all rosey and things are running smoothly
Indeed, at first I thought Randy would sell us to someone he knows would treat Villa with respect but now he will probably sell to the chicken farmers if he could
I’m going tomorrow mate. That’s a shame, want to see him TC again. How is he doing ?
How’s Tenerife ?
Frem,
Have a good holiday mate, come back de-stressed and ready for the new care free season.
B62,
Green Shield stamps next mate, i’d get yer ST cashed in if i were you.
ok frem , have a good break , think l know one of the owners of tbar , known as the hooligan groupie , wants to know them all , but if it kicks off he does a disappearing act , me and him dont mix lol
daughters at 1D concert at wembley , so time to hit Prox’s tipple methinks , see you in the caff tomorrow ,
jenny xxxxx
Keane, Hoolahan, Lambert and Randy all to be at Villa come the opening game of the season
Season ticket sales must be awful