Well, the rumor mill is in full spin now, and naturally, the big preoccupation out there for looming incomings concerns one John Terry, a man not necessarily beloved by Villans. Or likely much by anyone who hasn’t been a Chelsea supporter lo these many years.

(My favorite memory of Terry is him famously jumping up and down like a toddler in full tantrum mode after Villa netted late. Seems like a very long time ago, doesn’t it?)

Forgetting, for a moment, the other most-rumored targets at this stage—Glenn Whelan, Jack Colback, and George Boyd, and now Abel Hernandez (again), Ahmed Elmohamady (again?) and Joe Ledley—Terry is obviously the most interesting target for Villa and may well be on the books by the time I manage to get this posted.

Naturally, the first thing that will come up is age. Terry, at 36, is no spring chicken, and quite obviously yesterday’s news at Chelsea. However, that’s Chelsea. The whole side could be replaced and quite eagerly snapped up by the rest of the PL, never mind the Championship.

Which is to say, being over the hill for Chelsea might be relative. Then again, it might simply mean he’s over the hill, period.

That’s the con, obviously.

The pro, just as obviously, is that he is a true pro. A seasoned, fiercely competitive, slightly cynical winner who really has done it all. He’s someone that would command instant respect in the dressing room and on the training ground. He doesn’t like to lose. In fact, he really seems to hate it. He’s a leader. And it seems quite likely that he would virtually double as a defensive coach, lending more understanding of the modern defender’s game when played at the highest level. If he were to sign, his implicit endorsement of Steve Bruce would definitely say something to the rest of the squad.

I also don’t think this is a guy just looking for one last payday. Although if rumored interest from abroad, particularly the U.S., is turning his head, then I’ll take that back. MLS is a lovely idea for global football, but it really is a place where marquee veterans from overseas go to play out the string.

So, much as we’ve had fun not liking him over the years, for me, the pros outweigh the cons. He won’t necessarily play every week. Well, let’s just say he won’t. The Saturday- or Sunday-Tuesday combos, he won’t be playing both. But what he imparts to players like Nathan Baker or whomever else we might bring in at the back, and indeed at holding midfield, could prove invaluable. He’s the kind of player that can make everyone better in a club filled with bright lights from lesser circumstances, the sort of steady head that lends confidence. He’s also out of contract. Big plus, making the rumored £60k per week more tolerable.

For the rest, I’m rather leery of bringing in more than one player at, or over, 30 years of age (aka Whelan and Boyd), just because it seems like math that doesn’t work as far as creating a high-energy side. Which isn’t to say the players involved aren’t fully committed types of players.

On the other hand, perhaps it does create a better balance between “youth” and experience.

Hernandez and Elmohamady…is it lazy journalism? Well, who knows. Bruce has shown a tendency to go back to the same well more than once. At 26, Hernandez should be in his prime, but hasn’t really been setting the world afire of late. Elmohamady is 29, and Ledley, 30, but Ledley would be on a free, which lessens the financial implications.

Obviously, the big question for older players is how much they have left in their legs, especially since they’ll want three-year deals at least, and not inconsiderable wages. I’ve always heard, and repeated it here often, that it’s better to get rid of a player a year too early instead of a year too late.

In short, do we end up with a number of players who might well be off the pace and on the books if we get promoted? Will they even be able to hack it week-in, week-out in the Championship? We’ve seen how much intensity and fitness figure into success in this league. And of course one assumes older players are only going to be more injury prone.

Anyway, it’s started to get a bit more interesting. One hopes the Amavis, Veretouts and Gils can be cleared off the books quickly to free up funds, but Villa might be in that spot that instead of being held to ransom for having too much money, we could be getting bargained down by being in a well-publicized sell-to-buy situation.

But if the papers are any indication, Xia may have enough confidence in the money coming in to start paying money out.

Over to you…

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John Clark
John is co-owner of AVL, and has followed the Villa since the '70s. A journalist by trade, he is, by most accounts, a very nice person. You can follow me on Twitter @JClarkKohoutek. It's an astonishing experience. Or a complete waste of time.

Comments 37

  1. IanG

    Thanks for the writeup JC.
    Yes he could be helpful if he remains fit…
    We don’t seem to have had much luck with that with defenders in the last few years.
    Officially being still a Chelsea player until the end of the month we may not officially know until then.
    Gawd knows what the rules are for that.

  2. John Clark

    IanG-

    Me neither (on the rules). I think his presence might be the most important bit. He’s never seemed the sort to tolerate others giving less than their best, and he would certainly command respect. Whether that’s worth £60k a week, I dunno. But since it’s not my money….

  3. Trinity

    Hello, JC
    Well written piece, as ever. Thankyou.
    I was against Terry coming to Villa, but you wrote a persuasive leader, and I agree with yourself and Iang that he could be helpful. I doubt he’d be the sorry type veteran, we’ve seen at Villa in recent years. He’s got too much mongrel for that. As you said, he’s competitive and hates losing. I remember him teasing Villa for often being unfit. Apart from winning a world cup, he has, indeed, done everything in football. I believe too that he’s passionate about English football. We’ll see. He might go to the States. Hope not. He is a professional that all our players can llearn from. He has far more mana, which means more status, prestige, charisma than anyone we currently have. Bruce and Dr. X know this. Could be a real coup.

  4. John Clark

    Cheers, Iana.

    Now that I’ve gone and made an argument for him, we’ll sign him and it’ll turn out to be disaster. 🙂

    Actually, like you, at first I didn’t like the idea at all. Thought it almost farcical, tbh. Funny thing, though, was that the other night I was watching “Moneyball”. Got me thinking about the conversation with David Justice, the veteran that Bean asks to be a leader and mentor. He was definitely considered over the hill, but he brought intangibles. So…I’m thinking we could, and have, made much worse moves.

    I mean, how much money is Gabby on? And what does he bring to the mentality of the club, never mind what he can or can’t do on the pitch…?

  5. John Clark

    And on the subject of Moneyball…

    It’s often been discussed in regard to Tom Fox’s brief tenure. And a lot of folks seem to have the idea that it’s primarily about buying players that will increase in value.

    But it’s really almost the opposite. It’s about buying players who are undervalued in terms of being the right ingredients (as a group) in the recipe of a winning team. That doesn’t mean they’ll end up being worth more later (to be sold on)…It just means that they each contribute a necessary element to a predetermined “winning formula”. More men on base, more men in scoring position, more runs, more wins. Not individual superstars, but guys who first of all get on base.

    Now, as many rightly point out, baseball is a lot different than football.

    First, there’s the fact they play 162 games in a season. So statistics actually are based on a large enough sample to matter.

    Second, baseball is primarily a set-piece game, like cricket. Which means there are meaningful individual statistics independent of the other players in a team. There’s fluidity in players responding to a hit, and making a double- or triple play (ie, getting multiple runners out in one play), but even then, that fluidity is based on the permutations (and resulting positive percentages) of a given situation considering the score, stage of the game, where the runners are, and where the ball is hit. They all have memorized the right play and sequence of throws for any number of given situations.

    Football, of course, doesn’t break down like that.

    The point is that Villa, if they were indeed playing at Moneyball, weren’t necessarily trying to buy players that would increase in value. They were trying (and failed) to buy players who had similar crucial statistics compared with players who cost much more, and would allow the side to over-perform relative to the cost of the squad. Think Leicester.

    Moneyball is simply about stretching a budget in the pursuit of parts whose whole is greater than the sum. But even if it did apply to football, it requires smart people, which is not who Villa put on the job.

  6. John Lerwill

    JC,

    Good points.

    Personally I reckon that Gary Cahill should be the one to come here! He knows what it’s like to score against Blues! Er, the Blues in Small Heath. 😀

    Joking aside, I’m not sure that Terry is necessary. I feel that the team more urgently needs someone more solid in midfield … a truly attacking Bruce Rioch like figure.

  8. Heroes-and-Villans

    it’s been too long since we had a proper pro who commands respect in the dressing room and give the youngsters someone to look up too. that’s 1 plus the other is the statement of intent it brings from the dr, really is a coup if we got him.

    His wages would be paid off via extra bums on seats and merchandise sales.

    we all think of jt as a bit of a knob but the next generation idolise him, could bring in more supporters especially abroad.

  9. Heroes-and-Villans

    John

    agree, defensively we are ok ( if we get a keeper in)!

    Need another adomah on the left and like you say another mid. Also need to work out how to get the best out of hourihan and Hogan.

    Hogan could and should be bloody brilliant.

  10. James Gill

    johnl
    john terry is wrong man wrong time again at villa,madness is doing the same thing time after time expecting different result
    fixtures are out and its so depressing milwall sheff utd and burton are our fixtures yet mighty HUDDERSFIELD AND BRIGHTON are playing chelsea man u/city
    our squad is so bloated yet our starting 11 is short 3/4 main men
    KEEPER we missed a trick on stockdale
    CENTRE HALF terry is a waste of 4m
    CENTRE MIDFIELD /LINKMAN as much as jedi is a favourite ,i dont think you can build a team round him, would do as sub to close out game
    WIDEMAN/WINGER
    would love if we go play 442 and have squad that can change to 451 or 433 easy
    SQUAD
    KEEPER NEW NUMBER 1 plus sarkic steer
    FULL BACKS bree delaet taylor
    CENTREHALF chester baker PLUS NEW SIGNING
    MIDFIELD lansby houriane jedi birr tish PLUS NEW SIGNING
    WIDEMEN/WINGERS green adoamh grealish NEW SIGNING
    STIKERS kodja hogan ross rhm davies
    thats about 19 plus 4 new pllayers big enough along with a few more youth
    MOVE OUT
    bunn hutton richards elphik amavi bacuna gardner vertout gil gabby most of them have stank out this once great club for far too long

  11. Heroes-and-Villans

    yeah think we will rotate 442 or 352. The clear out will happen. expect 10 or 12 to go. players and managers still on holls at the mo. give it a few weeks.

    james

    stockdale after doing some research is awful. great vine on twitter winding the blues up…has more errors than guzan!!

  12. Heroes-and-Villans

    im going to say this and don’t say it lightly…..gabby will have a positive season for us!! there I said it!

    don’t agree with signing that hull chap emhady..pointless.

    not fussed about being in the championship….the prem is awful. you have the top 7 and any of the rest could easily be in the championship. don’t miss it at all.

  13. John Clark

    JL,

    Don’t disagree Cahill would add more on the pitch…not sure what he brings to the dressing room. Which is where I would expect Terry to have the greatest impact.

  15. Canadian Villan

    JT will be a great signing if it happens. Lets be honest here, Cahill as much as we all love him became twice the player once under Terry’s wing, even for England he doesn’t look as good with out JT besides him. I read comments we don’t need him if Tom, Dick & Harry all come good, well who better than JT to give them the kick up the arse they need to perform at their best. I can see this being a great deal, and if there’s an offer of coaching involved which I can see as the main reason he maybe looking at us, all the better. As long as the lads all keep their WAG’s under lock and key should be a good fit all round, bring it on.

  16. DarrenO

    Sorry but the negatives around John Terry have clouded my judgement, he’s on a par with Joey Barton for me, selfish, arrogant, and lacking control of his actions/words, just something the club doesn’t need. Yes completely agree the club needs professionalism and a winning desire but these can be found in other players that don’t bring any baggage with them.

    I’d much prefer Bruce finding a way to play to our players strengths, as De Laet, Chester, Baker, Taylor is more than sufficient as a back line with cover in the centre back positions required but not the immediate need when you look at how few goals we shipped, our issues is moving away from parking the bus and being more coherent in attack.

  19. Mark King

    thanks JC,
    signing JT just looks like desperation and seems to back up what I was told about cracks in the camp. We are bringing in a 36 year old to the toughest league by far to inspire the troops? is that not SB’s job? quite sad as it takes us even further away from where I would like us to be as a club and the emphasis away from the real problem, the way we play. The other touted signings are just saying desperation to win with ex winners past their best, like ground hog day.

  20. Mark King

    JC- hear what your saying about money-ball, Huddersfield spent £3m net went up and how much are their unknowns worth now? Some of the Germans he brought in were real class and disciplined athletes in there own right, no need for uncle Terry

  21. John Lerwill

    JC: “Don’t disagree Cahill would add more on the pitch…not sure what he brings to the dressing room. Which is where I would expect Terry to have the greatest impact.”

    Ah, that was just a flippant aside from me, John, about Cahill. A kind of joke. I don’t for one minute think he’d come at this juncture, but it’s worth remembering that we let go of him so easily.

    But I rather agree with Darren about Terry. I’d much prefer to see star quality pushing the team towards scoring more goals. Mind you, Tarry has a record of scoring a few.

  22. John Clark

    Terry does divide opinion, doesn’t he?

    For me, I don’t think bringing in Terry and getting a more cohesive attack together has to be mutually exclusive. Now, the wages might create some either-or scenario that could be impactful. Don’t really know how that would all pan out.

  23. John Clark

    JL,

    I know…but didn’t come across in hurried cellphone response!

    Like I just said, don’t think Terry (or any other CB/defender) coming in has to be mutually exclusive to getting more goals out of the side.

    As some are angling at, for me, I think that the dressing room clearly needs a commanding presence, and often it’s a player that provides it, and leads by example. It could be a desperation move looking to Terry rather than someone else. It could be a fantastic move. Me, obviously, I think it would improve the “team” in a way a manager oftentimes can’t.

  24. John Lerwill

    JC,

    You’re right – the two aspects don’t have to be mutually exclusive, but in these days of (again) more care about spending, can we afford an expensively paid midfielder as well?

    Of course, if Jack suddenly becomes the finished item then the problem goes!

  25. Mark King

    JC- Terry might get something more from the squad, the only recent star we have brought in for discipline was Keane and that ended badly. When you can only bring in 4 players they need to be very good players that improve the side. At present we have Elphick who can leave, baker whos injury prone, Richards who’s useless and injury prone, Chester the captain (the quickest cb we have and maybe soon to be ex captain) Jedinak injury prone old and slow but good in the air (remember Bruces words on his future) and Terry, very old, very slow , injury prone and likely to wonder whats going on? when he plays with us.

    https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/john-terry/verletzungen/spieler/3160

  29. Trinity

    Mark-I have had a rethink on Terry, he will fit in well as he wont have to come out of our box for 90% of the game LOL. Pretty witty. I can see you and OV having fun over the next season.

  30. Heroes-and-Villans

    Haha Mark, like it.

    I like the pressure Bruce is going to be under, challenge for top 2 or see you later. He knows it too…very interested to see how it pans out.

    Not an easy opening set of games either.

    Agree about pace. we need more of it across the pitch.

  33. Mark King

    Hello folks, I read somewhere else that JT is no Paul McGrath (who is) and he could be another Lescott. For me considering that two CB’s will potentially go (Elphick and Richards ) ones CB injury prone (baker), De laet who can do a job there (coming back from injury) Jedinak (injury prone) as stand ins and chester is not a base you would want to throw an ageing JT into. If he was 32 no problem. I will be very surprised if he comes here to be quite honest.

    Iana- lol, I’m sure something will turn up to cheer my miserable self up 🙂

    Andrew- yes what a boost that would be if he manned up, I am now not holding my breath.

  34. Clive Evans

    I think we are wasting our time discussing Terry as he will go to a Premier club – Albion are already sniffing as are Swansea.

    I’m sure we will get some news once the managers get back for pre-season and Dr Xia fully recovers from his operation.

    I see Dean Hoyle has confirmed his promise that every Huddersfield fan who held a season ticket since he took over in 2010 will get their first Premier League ticket for £100 instead of £199, or £110 to spend in the club shop or donate their £99 refund to the club charity with Hoyle adding £26. That’s 4,000 supporters. Not sure Villa will do the same!

  36. Trinity

    Jame Gill
    Indeed. That was a bit of a classic. Not surprised by Liam William’s break, he was doing that on Wales’ tour to NZ last year. I thought the Lions’ centres played really well. The Lions had the better lineout. The ABs had the better scrum and Reiko Ioane, whom the Lions will be glad to see the last of.
    Clive posted this:
    https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jun/20/how-englands-first-wave-of-heavy-metal-football-conquered-europe?CMP=share_btn_tw

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