Where Next?

With July almost upon us, it is as good a time as any to reflect on what we might be expecting next season. Depending on which fans you speak to, you will get a wildly different view of how next season will pan out. Some will suggest we can break the top six, and others will say we are going down. Quite a difference.

So the question is – where next? With Ashley Young already gone and Stewart Downing likely to follow should the right offer come in, Villa are at a junction for their future. Down one road is the path to success, and to the other a path to obscurity. That said, it isn’t as simple as walking down one road or another, as it depends on how you think these paths are achieved. For some, it is by spending heavily on star players, and for others it is about using youth. Both pose their own issues, as one involves convincing a player that Villa Park is the place to be, whereas the other offers no guarantees at all.

Youth vs Experience

So where do I stand? Well I have my own thoughts that focus on a bit of a mixture between the two. I think success involves both – we need to buy more players of the calibre of Darren Bent, but we also need to find talent and bring youth through. What I do know though is that we need to make moves in the transfer market as the current squad is both threadbare, as well as containing some over-paid players.

If we could get rid of players who aren’t going to play, specifically the over-paid ones like Beye and Ireland, then we will have a better platform to build from. The issue we have though is that we may not be able to start building on that clear ground as selling over-paid players is a pretty tough task. So we are going to have to make do, or ask Mister Lerner to make some bridging loan style movements.

Why? As much as trimming the wage bill is good for the future of the club, the attitude taken may be a tad on the severe side. Nobody is questioning the fact that Beye, Ireland, and other over-paid players should be sold, but there is a big question about how you can build a depleted squad based upon severe financial austerity.

Money really is needed

So Randy really needs to make a statement. He needs to convince fans of some ambition. Some, including myself, have faith in Randy’s control of the club, but I understand why a large group of people are panicked. They see players sold, and they see gaps in the team that will need to be plugged. Whilst some of those slots may be filled by the likes of Barry Bannan, Marc Albrighton, and Ciaran Clark, we can’t expect youth to play in every position.

If we do, we’ll be destroyed. Seriously. Sure the player have a lot of potential, but Villa Park always seems to bring with it over-expectation and disappointment. We look at every new young player and vaunt them as the next big thing, and we’re mostly disappointed. You would think we’d learn.

So, sure, I say we should bring through a lot of the youth via substitute appearances and cup ties, but to expect them to become a brand new first team? A tad optimistic.

In my opinion we should be getting a top drawer goalkeeper, a centre half, and a defensive midfielder. With a spine of those three plus Darren Bent, we will have a solid foundation with which to use youth on top of. Buying those three might cost, what, £35-40m, but they are going to be a foundation that allows the youth to thrive and gives a chance to create our own renaissance just like Manchester United in the early 90s.

So does it take youth or experience? It takes both.