Many Aston Villa fans cried when Christian Benteke left.
OK, that’s slightly more melodramatic than the reality of what happened, but losing Benteke did feel different, as though the Belgian international left a big gap to fill – physically and metaphorically.
That Villa managed to get £32.5m for him felt like it softened the blow a little, but his loss will be felt, even with the new additions.a
Looking toward the additions made to the club since Benteke and He-that-shall-not-be-named left, there’s a lot to be optimistic about. Whilst references of Rudy Gestede as the Belgian Benteke seem a little over the top at this point in time, the Benin international has certainly shown he can score goals, as well as create them, although the Championship is – understandably – a different level to the Premier League.
Of all Villa’s recent captures, Jordan Veretout is the player many fans have been most excited about – a talented and effective midfielder who, if reports are to be believed, turned down opportunities to join the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
All that said, the general feeling for the players brought in, be they Jordan Amavi, Jordan Ayew, Jose Crespo, Micah Richards, Scott Sinclair, or even Mark Bunn, have me feeling cautiously optimistic. I have to tack the word “cautiously” on the start of that phrase as, you know, I’m a Villa fan – too much optimism is a death wish/recipe for reaching for the bottle (delete as appropriate).
Ayew, for example, displays a lot of solid qualities that should – at least in theory – lead him to do well as a striker in the Premier League. Ligue 1 players also seem to adapt quickly for the most part, although there are obviously exceptions.
What matters most for Villa in the short term is building that cohesion from the ground up. Few can argue that Villa were desperately in need of an overhaul – how can you finish in the bottom six for the past four years and think that squad is good enough – but there are overhauls and there are revolutions. Tim Sherwood, to put it bluntly, is gambling on pulling together a group who have had little time to play together.
Which isn’t to suggest that Sherwood can’t make it happen. His natural exuberance/arrogance/swagger makes him instill a belief that anything can happen. This is, after all, the man who captained a Premier League winning team, and a fairly unfashionable one at that – Blackburn Rovers.
Similar to Rovers, Villa are unfashionable, at least in recent times. This isn’t to suggest by any stretch of the imagination that Villa have a chance of a title challenge – they don’t – but there’s a growing feeling that the club could be one of the dark horses this season, similar to how Southampton have succeeded beyond expectations in recent times, although the Saints academy has been a foundation for that success.
For the sake of the fans, Villa need to hope that the rebuild goes the way the aforementioned Southampton rebuild went as Ronald Koeman replaced Liverpool bound players with as-good-if-not-better players. Similarly, they have to hope that the money is spent in a more effective way than the jackpot Sherwood’s former employer Spurs was invested post-Gareth Bale.
If things settle down – and Villa capture another striker and centre half – there’s cause for optimism. After years of underachievement and the horrendous consequences of poor direction and spending gone wrong, Villa fans sure deserve it.
The Author
Matt Turvey
Matt is the owner of, and chief writer for, Aston Villa Life. He is also a columnist for the Wolverhampton Express & Star, appearing in the Kick Off pullout on Saturdays and the Final Whistle pullout the Monday after Aston Villa play, as well as every Thursday as a blogger on their website. He has previously been featured as a writer on Football365 and Life's A Pitch, and was a regular pundit for Sports Tonight TV on Sky.Comments 29
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Fair write-up, Matt.
Overall, I’m excited that something bold has been done. Tim said there were a lot of losers who wouldn’t be around, and he’s been shipping them out, true to his word.
Naturally it may be a bit of rough start, but we just have to accept that. I like the types of players we’ve bought, and I have to think we’re going to be a more physical and better footballing side than we’ve been for a while.
So, it’s a gamble, but we’ve been a shambles so we really have no other choice. Simply tinkering with what we had was a sure path to eventual relegation.
i think everyone is a bit nervous about the defence,,, the midfield ,, and errr the attack,,,
seriously though we have bought some good players,,, but it will take time for every one to gel
plus gil kozac gardiner are like new signings ,, and bacuna looks to be now a winger/midfield
so there is a lot of work to be done,,,,
but its an exciting time for us villans
Hi matt
what has happened this summer seems to be for most villa fans what we have called for, some money spent on quality players but like all drastic change it requires more than a little bravery. TS could of spent the money on a QPR style overhaul, thank god he hasn’t. This is the outline for villas future being laid out. Southampton are the Model but we can be proud that if we succeed we are the 1st to achieve such a turn around in the top flight
Hi Matt
yes indeed we are going into the unknown this season , which for me is better than the recent season when we mostly all new that staying up alone is as much as we could hope for,.
the important change for me is the types of buying – much rather young up and coming stars (possibly) than washed up journey men – many of which we still can’t shake off
Takeoever looks like it will happen – and it seems it was the prefered chinese that turned down the chance to take over the club
more change and hopefully progress to come
not getting over excited and our short term prospects for the team as i reckon it will be a struggle for this team finding its feet especially if we do not make a few experienced additions at the back and in attack
looking forward to the big kickoff thou
viva la revolution
someone rates Gestede other than me and Ree 😉
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/13525164.Gary_Bowyer__Blackburn_Rovers_have_lost_an_unbelievable_striker_in_Rudy_Gestede/?ref=mac
Hello Matt,
Yes, I agree with the tenor of your article.
However, whether we need another striker is a moot issue for me. We seem to have several, now, who brand themselves under that description and if we get too many we’re soon going to get complaints from one or two that they’re not getting a game. Having said that it does look as though Adebayor is coming on board.
The defence is the area – for me – that needs more attention. Especially at r-b.
There’s two ways of looking at this, If we had kept most of last seasons team and added players we might of ended up with the same ingrained shite. As it is we have a clean slate scenario for TS to mould
Or We are about to see the most confused bunch of players in the prem, I’m praying for the first and I think we will get it.
Bournemouth might be a tough game for every team at their patch its a small stadium and they play good footy. The advantage we may have is we are much like a promoted team ourselves, full of players wanting to prove themselves against the best. This could work for us in the early part of the season until we gel.
On the takeover, maybe it never went away? obviously we have no new chairman installed which was Lerners promise wasn’t it? could be this spending is being sanctioned by a third party and not Lerner? the question we would all like answering is would this of happened without losing Tekkers and Delph? I think it would of myself.
I read on Newsnow (because the Benteke saga is over) that the breakdown of the Chinese bid on the Baggies was down to the implosion of the Chinese stock market, as a banker this is a lot bigger than the Greek issue in terms of scale and potential impact. I’d suggest that Villa were being more diligent with potential buyers than merely looking at the cash being waved.
But a transfer deal is back on the cards and given the excellent work in terms of backroom staff and playing staff, a new owner would be the icing on the cake. Shame Lerner may actually miss out on Villa’s real potential if as Matt suggested we are managed in the Saints’ model.
I don’t see any weakness in the team beyond Hutton and Guzan but we’ve bought in Crespo for the right back position so if he doesn’t perform his spot goes to Crespo or vice versa. I’ve not seen anything of Bunn to know if he’d push Guzan, clearly Given didn’t push hard enough until there was no choice but to drop Guzan but who knows what Guzan we’ll get this season and may be a better defence in front of him will help.
Midfield and forwards are awash with talent/potential and there is such competition for places, those in the starting 11 will be pushed hard which is only good for us.
While Bournemouth will be ecstatic about their first prem league game and it should be a party for them they’ll be approaching this very seriously now it won’t be a top four challenge but if we come out of this with a decent 2-0, 3-1 win it will set us up nicely. Come away with a draw or a loss and panic will set in with the fans but with the ‘losers’ mostly gone I don’t think it would have the same psychological effect as previous seasons.
My glass is half full and can’t wait for the game, is this going to be an internet job or has any TV station picked it for being Bournemouths first game?
UTV
JL is right about right back. It was only a friendly and he only played half an hour, but Crespo struggled at Forest on Saturday until he was injured, and the thought of doggy Hutton filling in there frightens me to death.
I’ve seen a couple of the pre-season friendlies and there are plenty of positives there: Amavi, Richards and Gueye will all improve us. Gueye especially looks like an excellent signing. Westwood and Sinclair also played really well on Saturday and I’d have happily binned both of them at the end of last season.
It will be interesting. I’m glad I’m not picking the team on Saturday.
Matt,
I’m not sure whether it’s the Villa fan in me, or that I am a genuinely pessimistic person, but how are we better off than we were?
He that shall remain nameless (Voldermort), slithered off after taking a huge dump on VP. Also Tekkers who whether we like it or not did the same thing, he may have gone about it a different way but the result was the same!
2 players who were as good as we have seen in recent times chose to go, even with the possibility of better times ahead. I don’t blame them, hell; I’d have gone last season had I been in their position, but the truth is they saw no prospects!
Moving on to their replacements, if they show any signs of greatness they will be off next transfer window, and so we have to begin again. Ok, we may get more than they cost financially, but loss to the team is far greater. We are a top six feeder team, that is all we are, a stepping stone for players who have ambitions.
Instead of being one of those top six teams, we have been starved of the chances to shine by a tight arsed regime that’s headed by a moron who knows nothing about football or its fans. All this club was and is to Lerner is a cash cow, an opportunity to make money.
So far we still have about £3.7 mill to break even on players in Vs players out that’s our negative net spend. Another season of no investment and balancing the books looms large.
Another thing, is Sherwood here for the long haul or just to improve his CV so he can get a lucrative London job when the chance arrives?
Money has destroyed the game I love and there is no way back, I may attend one or two games this season, (if I can afford it!), but the fact remains the game is up for Villa. We are the old fat man who thinks he still has a chance with the ladies, but in reality goes home alone!
Sorry for the downer but that is how I feel!
no-one really knows what the 1st 11 but I reckon after another week of fitness work we will go with
Guzan
Hutton richards clarke Amavi
Gil if fit/Bacuna westwood Gueye
Ayew Kosak/Gestede sinclair
Roderick- your definitely miserable not so much glass half empty as pint stolen at the bar before the first sip 😉
we have signed these new boys up to 4-5 year contracts if they do go it will be for big money as they have had an incredible season, if that’s what they want they will pull their fingers out to stand out, that’s got to be better than struggling?
we sell 2 pull in £50 mill buy 4 quality players and get better. Eventually if enough lower half clubs follow this pattern the top clubs wont have it so easy and things could even out. We win more fans worldwide get more money begin to compete. Southampton have created a model that could at least make the prem slightly less predictable.
Rod, we’re better off because Richards is an upgrade on Vlaar, Amavi is a genuine wing back who can cross a ball, Gueye/Veretout will prove to be better combination than Delph/Cleverley, and collectively we will score more than 31 goals next season.
I honestly don’t think we’ll be watching the same old rubbish next season. I’m not saying it will be great, just better than the dross of the last couple of seasons.
The other thing that appears to be happening is getting the likes of baker, clarke, westwood on to renewed contracts. the days of losing a prem player for peanuts or nothing had to stop.
Hi Sam
Agree we are a selling club but we have to look at the positives in this, if we get our act together and identify talent that is off the radar of the top 6 and develop them and earn a profit on their sale, then we can buy better again and keep building. This is the way we will have to operate until such time if ever that we get back to consistent European football and challenging at the top.
The bindippers are on the border of this process, guaranteed European football, can challenge the top 4 but eventually have to sell their best and re-group, we’ve benefitted from this in terms of the sale of Benteke but may have unearthed the next gem in Ayew and (despite Ree 🙂 ) Gestede could also be that gem. They do a job for us and in 2/3 years we sell them on.
Obviously we’d already like to be in the top 4 or if not making our way there but after too many austerity years, it will take us a few years to climb back. There is no loyalty in football beyond the fans so don’t get attached to players in the same way we could years ago as they are the commodity to make Villa great again. Yeh Benteke was good and scored crucial goals but he has an investment value that may be of more benefit to Villa
My starting 11 (basic 4-4-2)
Guzan
Hutton Richards Clark Amavi
Bacuna Westwood Gueye Sinclair
Kozak Ayew
And by the time we are finished the game (switched to 4-5-1) swamping midfield and closing out space for Bournemouth
Guzan
Hutton, Richards, Clark, Amavi
Gil, Westwood,Gueye, Veretout, Sinclair
Gestede
http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/truth-behind-transfer-window-rumour-mill-those-itk?
Morning folks.
Another good article Matt, and agree with MK on the probable line -ups for Bournemouth, after being at Forest with the Somerset Lions (thanks Bob and the gang) and seeing the game, which was good to watch. It showed the potential of players, once they start to gel, as well as the mishaps, when people do not really know each other.
Just hope Crespo does not turn out to be another Tony moon. Certainly by the end of his time on the pitch, Richards proved what a tremendous asset he is going to be to us, as was Sinclair. Just for once, we may have done our best business with City.
Bunn also gave good account of himself in goal, and was confident in the air. I am not so worried about the defence, as I am sure that TS will use his strongest and most experienced to start with, and bed the newcomers in gradually.
It may take several games before Villa really show what they can do, but once they really gel and find their rhythm, they are going to be a fantastic team to watch and support..!!!
UTV VTID.
Morning all
Not long now, the excitement is growing huge now! I think the vast majority of Villa fans are optimistic going into the new season, lets not get carried away though. We still need another couple additions plus we have a squad that needs to be cut down to 25 over 21 players. Meaning there will be a lot of outgoings, probably most on loan.
I see the Baggies being linked with Praet now. Is this the classic transfer rumour started by the parent club ‘leak a story to the press linking him with a rival so that the deal gets pushed ahead faster’ ala Benteke to Utd. Hope so, and I hope we do get a move on in that regard.
Cant wait to see the new boys in action and watching the team gel!
UTV
DO’R:
Your starting line-up:
Guzan
Hutton Richards Clark Amavi
Bacuna Westwood Gueye Sinclair
Kozak Ayew
In view of what’s transpired so far I’d agree with that … although Gil has impressed I believe … and what about Grealish?
I think Gil is injure, and Grealish is just coming back from injury having no playing time. That line up looks about right to me, although I really dont like the right hand side plus I dont like the formation at all. I hope we revert to a 3 in midfield soon enough. Maybe Veretout has a chance of starting?
Ree- this could be a possibility if Gueye adopts the cleverly role
Guzan
Bacuna Richards Clark Amavi
Gueye Westwood Veretout Sinclair
Kozak Ayew
Don’t like the right hand side or the formation myself Ree but based on who has played in pre-season albeit Bunn should probably start given Guzan’s lack of pre-season but I’d much prefer my 4-5-1 but with 3 subs I couldn’t replace Hutton for Crespo :).
I just need to see how quickly the players will gel before getting to experimental with the side, if it was me. But I do think two up top to stretch Bournemouth is the way to go at the start of the game, loads of running in Ayew then switch to 5 in the middle to secure the win and ask different questions of Bournemouth.
DOR to be fair there’s a lot of movement in that team strikers that like to go wide and drop into midfield and Sinclair vertout amavi Gueye all like to get forward. I think Gestede would bring more structure up top but I reckon Tim will go with Kosak but we’ve been surprised before.
I dont think Gueye would be effective in that role Mark, if anything put Veretout there seeing as he is the more attacking of the two. We could potentially put Ayew on the right in a 433 even tho he’s better suited on the left probably. Or we could bring back Nzogbia, although he hasnt had much playing time this preseason? Could do a job for us though. As could Bacuna but I just dont think him and Hutton are on the same wavelength. Plus the fact that they are in direct competition for the RB spot might stop them combining as well as they could.
Not sure Gil is back yet, hopefully he is. Maybe we will see him instead?
Gil would be the answer for me Ree but haven’t heard anything yet.
Been thinking about the ideas around who is replacing who in the new look team. Tim inherited Lamberts side so can we truly say any of the players were his type of player to begin with? sure he bigged them up but that’s just flannel to get the best out of them. We are busy making direct comparisons and thinking we need to replace certain players when Tim might not have that in mind at all.
That said Gueye was bought while Delph was still here and looked like a cleverly replacement for what its worth 😉
Evening all. Not been on for awhile.
Can’t believe the new season is upon us. I’m still feeling dejected after the cup final hence no renewal of season ticket and I’m not at all excited about Saturday. I am dreading it.
I believe TS is taking one hell of a gamble, but to be fair what choice did he have, with the crap he had at his disposal last season.
For me, my biggest concern is the defence. Hutton less said Bacuna crap defender. Richards great buy not sure if he is a CH he switches off too much. Clarke is improving, Amavi unknown but is promising.
So for our and Tims sake I hope this team can gel and gel very quickly or it’s going to be a very long hard season.
UTV
Excellent article Matt and I agree – we have gone from the flogged dead horse to the dark horse – an improvement as we do have more hope than before . The signings seen better quality than the “young, hungry cheap versions of the Lambert Ira and we have a manager who is a better motivator – and as you say has a swagger verging on arrogance . In this respect, he has been unusually quiet other than to imply that our signings from France were largely engineered by the new directors /scouts and whilst he was responsible for Rudy , having watched him at Cardiff. We can assume he still has connections at Blackburn too maybe .
Like you say , he didn’t have any option really than to replace the majority if the team , given our stagnation bumbling round the bottom for the last 4 seasons. What is a relief is that there seems more of a plan (buying players from France with La Ligua being the closest to the Premier League according to Tim) and that these players were scouted before last season – no trolley dashes like the MON and Lambert iras. If we are to emulate Saints then we need to get the coaching right so these new young players improve and grow together. That’s not just up to Tim but all the other coaches at VP must improve on the standard which has contributed to our position.
It’s intersting what you say about replacements Mark – Tim has said that Rudy is Benteke’s replacement – the others we will have to see.
I was so pleased to see Benteke’s brilliant goal on his debut for Liverpool after they’d all been saying he wasn’t good enough for them .