After another angst-inducing win last week, we can all take a breath. The team isn’t out of the woods yet, but if they maintain their current level of play and trajectory, Villa will be closer to mid-table than the drop. With league play on hold there has been a fair bit of absurdity out there this week.
- With Tim Howard injured, Brad Guzan will make his first competitive start for the US since 2009. While Howard has been a good keeper in the Premier League for a long time, he has been outstanding for the US. Fans in the US who haven’t watched a lot of Aston Villa don’t realize how outstanding he has been. After spending years on the bench that is understandable. What is not understandable is when US based pundits and former US internationals advocating trying to get Brad Friedel to end his NINE YEAR international retirement. As great as Friedel has been and still is he isn’t playing first team football. Alexi Lalas went as far to suggest Real Salt Lake keeper Nick Rimando should start ahead of Guzan. I saw somebody tweet that this is evidence that there are shit pundits on both sides of the pond. The US has a pair of difficult World Cup Qualifiers during this international break. The team is also dealing with a rash of injuries and internal turmoil. Believe it or not, the US defense is much worse and in far more disarray than Aston Villa’s. Brad might kiss Joe Bennett on the lips after these two games.
- I forgot Nathan Delfouneso existed, let alone that Villa still owned his contract. When I saw he scored for the U-21s I thought that maybe he could return and fight for a place next season. Then I saw his record of 7 goals in 31 appearances for Blackpool. At least he scored the only goal when I saw Villa play in Philadelphia.
- Silly season has started early with this report of Norwich lining up a bid for Andi Weimann. If Norwich really was a bigger club capable of poaching our players, Paul Lambert would never have left. He hasn’t exactly been given a blank check at Villa, and he still realized that it was a better job than Norwich. I mean, if Villa were to go down, and no clubs in the top half or in the Bundesliga were interested then maybe there would be a chance if Norwich would be able to meet his wage demands.
- Another far-fetched transfer rumor is Scott Sinclair to Villa. In theory I wouldn’t be opposed to the move. Save for a brief period when Marc Albrighton was fit and in the team, Villa haven’t played with wingers all season. Having one or two around would give the manager some tactical options. Even if Sinclair took enough of a pay cut, he doesn’t exactly fit the “young and hungry” mold. Unless the club sell some players for sizable fees that is what we should expect more of this summer.
- We’ve all taken shots at him, but fair play to Alan Hutton for making the most of his loan move to Mallorca. It is in everybody’s interest that he continue to play well so he can be sold and off the books as soon as possible. I would’ve thought Cristiano Ronaldo would victimize Hutton and not be moved to the other flank at the half.
- It was a great week for the Villa youngsters as they have advanced to the semi-finals of the NextGen. Hopefully that we haven’t seen much of the U21s with the first team this season doesn’t mean they can’t help in the future. It also shows that this year’s squad is deeper than last season. It is just as well that the young players can develop at their own pace and not be rushed due to the needs of the first team.
- Martin O’Neil as accountable as ever. His Sunderland career is turning into a case of deja vu all over again.
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