Villa took the field at Villa Park on February, 27th 1999 with an all-English born team (and substitutes). The match, against Coventry City, was in a season when the club had been top of the league for much of the period until the December, but bizarrely lost this one 1-4 to Coventry. Villa thus lost any chance of getting back on top of the league that season. Coventry’s chief architect that day – the Dutchman Boateng – later signed for Villa!

The Villa team: Oakes; Watson, Southgate, Scimeca, Wright; Taylor, Merson, Grayson, Hendrie; Dublin, Joachim. Subs: Barry, Draper, Collymore.

How times have changed! We are now faced with the likelihood of a near all-foreign team, possibly in the shape of:

Guzan; Ilori, Richards(E), Lescott(E), Amavi; Sanchez, Gana, Westwood(E); Traore, Grealish(E)/Gil; Sinclair(E)/Gestede.

We may be playing with only four English players on the field at one time; maybe less.

This is in total contrast to the picture above (in 1999) and even more recently, under Martin O’Neill (2006-2010). Even Paul Lambert did not seem too keen about overseas acquisitions, but did get one or two good ‘uns from there, particularly in Benteke.

Now I’m not going to say that this is a shameful condition. It is what it is – a reflection on the fact that we just do not have enough players coming through the Villa youth ranks or elsewhere in Britain that are hungry enough. Indeed, the Villa youth that promised much have over the last 15 years in the most part have shown a tendency to think “I’m in the first team, I’ve arrived and there’s nothing more to do”. But we did let go Steven Davis and Gary Cahill, players that have proved they did possess the hunger. Craig Gardner as well – he stayed at it. In today’s squad, I have liked both Clark and Baker, but they each have their own foibles.

But what has impressed me about Tim Sherwood in his acquisitions is that he has gone for British (English) quality in the c-b positions and not (unlike Wenger and others) given up on British players in positions that (for me at least) will be best served by British players in our league. That, I think, has been Wenger’s ‘Achilles Heel’ – since Arsenal lost their English rod of iron in the centre of defence they have not been quite the same.

The big sadness for me is that no longer do we seem able to find the brave, solid British centre-forward of the ilk of Hitchens, Gray or Withe. It’s been over 30 years since Withe graced the Villa number 9 shirt: let us hope that Sinclair, his successor in the number 9 shirt (but thought to have been a scoring winger!), can at least keep scoring.

Anyhow, I’m reasonably happy with Mr. Sherwood’s work to-date. In my view he has shipped in just about enough players of reasonable quality to bring about more capability and a better balance in the team, and his main tactic is to keep on the front foot. His predecessor seemed more able to trip over his feet, so at least Tim seems to know which foot is which!

Share On:
Facebook
Google +
This entry was published on / John Lerwill. Posted in Aston Villa Blog, Columns. Bookmark the permalink.

The Author

Profile Photo
John Lerwill
I'm a Villan of more than 60 years standing and an occasional writer on Villa history. For me there is only one football club worth supporting, but I am now wondering whether I will again see anything like the pageant that was paraded under Ron Saunders or even that by Big Ron and Brian Little. My glass, however, is always half-full! Click here for my Villa website.

Comments 44

  1. Mark King

    morning john

    I think there only 2 ways we will get back to an all UK team and that is through the Academy (although we take in plenty of foreign lads these days too) or the very expensive route of buying proven talent from these shores.

    I think that it is possible to create a team from the lower leagues but its a gamble we may not have the stones for after our recent £1 shop route under Lambert. Also its a job best done in the lower leagues not the prem.

    There are certainly Westwoods out there to be had but there are plenty of Lowtons too, OK but not quite good enough. With a world wide market you get the best athletes too, something our western diet and lifestyle does not produce in Quantity any more IMO.

    With all the global movement going on we may have to re-examine what is English or even UK pretty soon anyhow 😉

  2. DarrenO

    Being Irish I don’t have much truck with this idealogy that Villa or any other football club is lessened by the arrival of foreign players, being a good footballer is a skill and the top levels are payed handsomely and it’s clearly an attraction to play in England (but its an attraction for English players too, look at the Snake). Ireland’s best/worst footballers have heavily relied on Britain to forge footballing careers. AVFC has done very well on that front and other countries as well, the tide has turned for France from Six to Amavi

    I’d rather celebrate the brilliance of the players who have played for us (or playing for us) regardless of the country of their birth. I’m proud to be Irish but I don’t support the Irish players of AVFC, I support AVFC.

    What is the real concern that English football has a large body of foreign players. The removal of any chance to win the WC again, the hindrance of opportunities to develop, has that stopped Grealish for example, if you are good enough and dedicated to achieve the dream then no amount of foreign players will stand in their way.

    I’d suggest a bigger concern is why the top English players aren’t being snapped up by Bayern/Real/Barcelona etc. It says to me that its either fear living in another culture and would turn down those opportunities or they just aren’t good enough.

    I’m very happy that Tim has proven his connections in the football world and gone where the greatest value is to get technically better players, this will not only improve the first team but the young lads coming through.

    UTV

  3. Clive Evans

    A good subject for discussion during the international break John. I must confess that we are now at the mercy of national teams e.g. African Cup of Nations etc – some one posted this earlier in the week to show the international appearances of Villa squad members in the next week.
    TUESDAY
    Jordan Ayew – Congo v Ghana – Stade de l’Unité, Brazzaville
    FRIDAY
    Ciaran Clark – Gibraltor v Republic of Ireland – Estádio Do Algarve, Faro
    Alan Hutton – Georgia v Scotland – Boris Paichadzis Erovnuli Stadioni, Tbilisi
    Idrissa Gana – Namibia v Senegal – Namibia
    Jordan Ayew – Rwanda v Ghana – Rwanda
    SATURDAY
    Brad Guzan – USA v Peru – Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington
    SUNDAY
    Rudy Gestede – Benin v Mali – Cotonou
    MONDAY
    Ciaran Clark – Republic of Ireland v Georgia – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
    Alan Hutton – Scotland v Germany – Hampden Park, Glasgow
    WEDNESDAY
    Brad Guzan – USA v Brazil – Boston – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
    Carlos Sanchez – Colombia v Peru – Red Bull Area, New York
    At one time selection for the national team seemed to spell disaster for domestic success for Villa players.

    Of course its not to say the introduction of foreign players has spelled disaster for Villa – I recall speaking with Rob Bishop while on holiday in Greece about a book he was writing on the subject of the different nationalities that have played for Villa. We have certainly had a few notable Irish players as well as some outstanding Scandinavians.

    I suppose the gist of your post is that we have never had so many non-UK squad players at the same time. I guess the proof of the pudding will be in the eating and TS has certainly managed to build a creditable squad within the confines of Lerner’s budget, utilising the income from Benteke’s and Delph’s sales.

    I guess there will be plenty of comment soon!

  4. Mark King

    DOR- yes the British phobia to living abroad does exist as we tend not to learn a second language at the level these lads got to in school but they also can earn more here by virtue of being good enough and a uk citizen, simple as. The likes of Bale are in a different stratosphere but could you see Rooney getting the same money abroad?

    Also I think our players just don’t suit there football where as they are beginning to shape ours.
    At one point the Italian League was the richest but very few ventured out there and made it. We had a few go during the mid 80’s to the late 90’s but not many, and only the cream.

    Charles Adcock – Padova, Triestina – 1948–50
    Joe Baker – Torino – 1961–62
    David Beckham – Milan – 2008–10
    Luther Blissett – Milan – 1983–84
    Jay Bothroyd – Perugia – 2003–04
    Franz Carr – Reggiana – 1996–97
    Ashley Cole – Roma – 2014-15
    Gordon Cowans – Bari – 1985–86
    Daniele Dichio – Lecce – 1997–98
    Paul Elliott – Pisa – 1987–89
    Trevor Francis – Sampdoria, Atalanta – 1982–87
    Paul Gascoigne – Lazio – 1992–95
    Jimmy Greaves – Milan – 1961–62
    Mark Hateley – Milan – 1984–87
    Gerry Hitchens – Inter, Torino, Atalanta, Cagliari – 1961–69
    Paul Ince – Inter – 1995–97
    William Jordan – Juventus – 1948–49
    Anthony Marchi – Vicenza, Torino – 1957–59
    David Platt – Bari, Juventus, Sampdoria – 1991–95
    Micah Richards – Fiorentina – 2014-15
    Paul Rideout – Bari – 1985–86
    Lee Sharpe – Sampdoria – 1998–99
    Des Walker – Sampdoria – 1992–93
    Ray Wilkins – Milan – 1984–87

    The reality governing the richest league in the world is money and we have to look to elsewhere for value than these shores.

  5. John Clark

    An interesting article, John.

    Here in the states, sports like American football are basically immune to ‘foreigners’…no one else really plays the game.

    Ice hockey on the other hand is very much like the PL…The NHL, as the richest hockey league, draws the best of all players everywhere, and since there’s passion for the game in a number of other other countries, there’s an influx of Swedes, Finns, Russians, etc., to go along with a lot of Canadians and a fair, but small, number of Yanks. Baseball has seen a huge influx of Hispanic players, some Japanese, too.

    Basically, the richest league in the world is going to attract the world’s top talent…which will crowd out any one single nationality. Not sure the French players we signed actually are dying to leave France, given a choice, but with the money, TV and high profile on offer, they can hardly refuse.

    The only way to get all-English sides again is for another nation or two to host the world’s richest league(s)…

  6. John Lerwill


    Great Comments – thanks!

    JC – I think one thing I was trying to say is that perhaps British players are traditionally stronger in certain areas of the team … like the centre-backs. But also keepers (I’d forgotten to mention them in the article) and centre-forwards used to be the province of Britishers. I remember how we used to laugh at the antics of many foreign keepers, but it seems that we Brits no longer really have the appetite for playing the game as we once had. Too many school playing fields being sold off has greatly contributed to this situation, I feel.

    Mark – an interesting list you present, but how come it excludes one of the greatest exports – John Charles? 😉 There was also a little-known Villa player that went to Italy at the end of the war, but I have to find his name. Interesting that another 4 players in your list migrated from Villa – it’s another club record I think! Only Charles, Hitchens, Francis and Platt seem to have stayed abroad for any great length of time. One of the reasons why Greaves, Baker and Law came back, of course, was for the reason that British international managers were not happy about their players playing in a different style and therefore might lose their national places. Ramsay was hot on that matter and why Hitchens did not get a look in after 1962.

    BTW, “Anthony Marchi” was actually Tony Marci – of Italy parentage I believe. On one side at least.

    Clive – Yes, the influx of colourful players from overseas can only be beneficial, and that a synthesis of British and Latin styles can only be good. But, oh, for a return of the great centre-forwards. Was Shearer the last of that breed? … I’m sure that the sight of a towering and thundering header from Hateley was one of the greatest football experiences to be witnessed. And Hitchens’ cowboy style will be always be remembered by all who saw him, I’m sure.

  7. John Lerwill

    I forgot to mention that a great name in Villa’s early history (who you’ve probably not actually heard of!) – one Charlie Johnstone – said in the 1910-13 period that he foresaw that the South Americans would take over the lead in football skill. And he looked forward to that happening as a way of continuing the development of the game. He was one of the rare breed of forward thinking administrators and commentators in those days. It was he that suggested that training should include dribbling round fixed objects … and he was laughed at!

    Charlie (a schoolmaster in Aston) was a former Villa player of the early 1880s and a friend of Archie Hunter. Between 1893 and 1900 he was also on the Villa board – during the Villa’s hey-day. Coincidence?

  8. Mark King

    JL I copied it from wiki for illustration so I’m claiming no special knowledge like your own 🙂 it does show that few truly made much impact going on the amount of seasons. I’m sure as you say there are all sorts of pressures involved one being that heinz beans were not available, always makes me laugh when you hear of people taking tea bags on holiday abroad 🙂

    As Clarky says it will take something bigger to take the prems place maybe a euro or world league to restore domestic football to a semblance of what it once was. Minus the best players of course.

  9. John Lerwill

    Mark: “As Clarky says it will take something bigger to take the prems place maybe a euro or world league to restore domestic football to a semblance of what it once was. ”

    In fact I’m not too disturbed by the influx … it’s the lack of quality coming through the domestic channels that more worries me. Too many of ’em seem to think they’re kings before they’ve been crowned. Sterling was a ‘sterling’ example. 😉

    Foreign players seem to be motivated by the desire to get out of a social rut … Note that many of our new players are black (which I welcome) and it’s through sport that the black community have found an outlet for many years – whether it be boxing or football or whatever sport. That’s a driving force for them just as it was for white kids from the back streets like Bobby Charlton and all the other old stars.

    Maybe the poor economic conditions for the underprivileged are now returning so that our natives may start getting hungry for success in sport again? A solution for some, maybe, but not for all.

  10. Mark King

    JL what hard work? put my xbox away? go outside? must be child cruelty 😉

    Cheap proven players from wherever fills a gap instantly and stunts local players growth, that’s the problem, the stakes are too high to risk a young player making too many mistakes which as you know is the way to learn. You might get the odd player like Grealish who’s special but your average Joe like Bennett miss huge parts of there development hence the Loan scheme

  11. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    You have a point … but I reckon if local players would simply get to be good enough they’d succeed, and at no big cost to the club if they come through their own academy.

    I made the point that very promising players at Villa just didn’t progress in the years since 2000 (e.g. the Moore brothers) – and for what reason? There’s a motivational thing there that’s missing it would seem. If it was in place then that talent could and should be the solution i.m.o.

  12. Mark King

    JL maybe there is an element of poor training/diet etc in this country? the old boys club and all that. Lambert’s choice of coach attests to that I think.

    If this club is only just starting to implement what the foreign clubs were doing in the 90’s from top to bottom why would we produce top talent apart from the odd already talented individual? maybe the youngsters will benefit from contact with outside influences and diet/traning ideas.

    In recent years we have seen the french, spanish and then German style envied and talked about following in this country. Maybe its about time with the likes of Monk, Howe showing the way in this country we can invent the English way and not so many will slip through the net. I must say the foreign players generally seem to be more mature in their outlook too.

  13. John Lerwill

    Mark: ” I must say the foreign players generally seem to be more mature in their outlook too.”

    There you have an excellent point. Family values are still very strong features of many overseas countries and that requires a sense of duty. I’m afraid in this country we talk too much of just our rights and not what is right for the given community – the attitude here tends to be too casual. Thankfully, though, there can be found a good number of exceptions to that rule, and perhaps we’re slowly going back to where we should be in that regard.

  19. Mark King

    Clive- he’s just revealed his level mate, there’s a lot to be said for keeping your gob shut, he could be booed for England too, might hit home then.

    JL- watch out for those Drones 😉

  24. B62 Villa

    DoR
    I’m planning a trip to Dublin in January for the wife’s Birthday, as it’s cheaper than a lot of other options we looked at, and we have been before( Iv been about 6 times), however never really get much further than the Temple Bar area, which is the Villa pub in Dublin?? I think it’s something like Murrays ????? As we’re going with a couple of friends the bloke is a dingle.
    Onto national pride, I’m a proud Englishman and follow the national side at football, cricket and rugby union and I’m always proud when a Villa player represents the country. Although on my dads side I have Irish ancestors and loved the Irish national side full of villa!!Like everyone I want local lads to do well, but more than anything I want Villa to do well and I couldn’t care who pulls the jersey on as long as they do the business and aren’t some sort of scumbag like Johnson( sex offender) or James Maclean who wants to promote politics at every given opportunity sand is a prick. Through work ( RN) I have travelled all over the world and the reason we don’t learn other languages is because everyone can speak English to a higher standard than my school boy French/German . The currency everyone wants is the US$ . I’m going to Rome soon as I love everything Italian , beer , football, food, Roman history, women and scooters and I’m trying to cram in learning a bit of Italian to get by.
    Anyone else fed up of the noses pre the cup game, already I’m hearing how they are going to wreck VL and infiltrate every stand blah blah coming from a dribbling shower of dribbling shitheads who don’t even infiltrate there own ground, I hope we murder them on and off the pitch.

  26. Mark King

    B62 judging by the last game against the shite those that invaded the pitch to goad the Villa supporters must be nearly 11 now so we will have to watch out 🙂

  27. B62 Villa

    I was in oz for the Ashes for the 1/4 final at the sty which went global because of the scenes, however I went to a couple of the league games and they are retarded, really dirty scruffy twats that look like they belong on benefits street all gobbing off like they are harder than Bruce Lee , when we all know the biggest firm in brum is the old bill

  29. Mark King

    B62 Wales lost 2 of there best players, halfpenny and Webb, shame but should see us out of the group stages. England’s wingers were excellent today in the Rugby can’t wait for the world cup.

  30. Trinity

    JL
    Thanks for the fine article. It certainly looks like Villa will be very multinational for a long time to come.
    The rugby world cup will be interesting. There’s a few teams that can win it because they’re all capable of defeating the others on the day, and after the pool matches, it becomes a knock out competition. There might be the odd upset, too. Can Fiji beat England or Australia?

  34. DarrenO

    Hi B62, Yeh Murray’s is the Villa pub, go upstairs if there’s a game on the weekend you are over, it’s at the far end of O’Connell Street from the River Liffey. Let me know closer to the time and i’ll be happy to meet up with you for a pint, I’m trying to use the message function on this site but keep getting an error message to give you my email/mobile.

    Happy to give you better pub and restaurant options away from Temple Bar. And even some tourist attractions depending on how long you are over.

  36. Mark King

    JL doesn’t that just show the fallacy of Southampton’s youth system being this great help to their team, 3 players to play 25 games since 2010/11 is not a lot, where they have had success is in cashing in. We on the other hand have had to play ours.

  38. runtings

    Really good leader John

    base at what i have witnessed at youth level i think the training is very robotic and there is far too much focus on size and strength
    there have been a number of skillful players who were told they are too small which i always thought was puzzling considering they had more skill than there team mates and the ended up on the scrap heap in favor of the more athletic lads

    Of course natural ability plays a big part but i dont think britian is exactly a breeding ground for skillful kids

    if you thik of the likes of best – moore , charlton , marsh / mortimer and the list goes on for days – a lot of these guys were clearly born to play football as is our jack

    the 1966 and 1970 england team played like barca do now

    it makes you wonder were it is all going wrong but i think until we focus more on skill than anything else like other countries we will not produce as mant footballing gems i we prehaps should be doing

  40. John Clark

    Certainly desire/motivation can play a large part in youth coming through…But I’m sure passion for the game hasn’t died out with kids.

    I read something years back talking about “yob culture” in English football being a root cause.

    For me, if you’re training them up the right way, it shouldn’t be a problem. Skills, close control, composure, positioning, being open to give and receive passes. Not sure what happens at schoolboy level in England, but our coach back in England in the 70s, had two basic principles…Fitness (“We’ll win a lot of games in the last 15 minutes”) and 45 mins of probably 8 on 8, where the rule was two touches only: control, pass.

    So, seems difficult for me to believe that these basics aren’t getting covered. Maybe there are too many sporting alternatives pulling players away from the talent pool, but I can’t believe a nation with England’s population can’t produce 25 players capable of beating anyone else. If the Belgians can field a better team, then there’s something purely structural at work.

  41. John Clark

    Also, when people are talking about the kids at a certain age who are bigger, stronger, etc., getting the nod, I think of baseball in the States, where a lot of highly skilled kids get dropped as the levels go up because they don’t meet a certain physical profile: not tall enough, not “strong” enough.

    I can understand if teams are picking players to win right at a given moment, but there has to be a long view, and if you’re not picking the skillful, undersized players, you’re obviously missing the Messis, Matas and Hazards.

    From my purely unscientific point of view, it’s generally the case that the bigger a person gets, the less coordinated they are, especially with the feet. Fine margins, but shorter legs, lower center of gravity, quickness, turning radius, etc….all the best ball handlers are not built like Toure or Benteke.

  42. John Lerwill

    JC: “… it’s generally the case that the bigger a person gets, the less coordinated they are, especially with the feet. ”

    You’ve obviously seen my bio JC! 😉

    6′ 4″, size 12 feet and long legs. No wonder I didn’t get too far!!

    But, hey, Jack Charlton made it!

  44. Mark King

    JC I agree there shouldn’t be a problem but then you get Hutton??!!

    maybe the old tradition of playing football with a tennis ball at school Playtimes/ in the streets has died out? hours of skill practice there.

Leave a Reply