I don’t want this to be a negative article, just an interesting observation that I have made in regards to Paul Lamberts transfers of summer 2013. The youth policy continued, signing 7 players, the most expensive being Kozak who was brought in for £7 million. But only 3 of those 7 players are still at Aston Villa today and none are yet to make an appearance this season! Of course it’s been only two games, but it’s still interesting to see what has happened to last seasons transfers.
Out of the 4 players that have been loaned out, Tonev and Luna made the most appearances for the club with a total of 17. Luna scored one goal, they have both respectfully left on a season-long loan to Celtic and Verona. Meanwhile Helenius has returned to his former club Aalborg (where he has in fact already scored 2 goals in 4 appearances) and Jed Steer has gone to Doncaster.It’s believed that Celtic and Verona both have the chance to buy Tonev and/or Luna should they perform well for their clubs. Steer will most likely return to Villa to continue development and might be fighting for the number 1 spot within 2-3 years. Helenius is the biggest question mark, it’s unknown whether or not Lambert rates the young Danish forward.
I’m sure we’ll see Bacuna and Okore featuring in the League cup this week against Leyton Orient and will have their chance to impress the boss and fight for a spot in a very competitive Villa side. But out of the trio, Kozak has the best chance to make a claim. I thought he was good when he played last season, he wasn’t as affective as Benteke nor created an many opportunities. However he was a goal scorer and scored a few goals out of nothing. It will be good to see his return shortly after the International break.
I still think Kozak was a weird signing when we so badly needed a midfielder. I hope we dont have a repeat of that this week!
We did but we badly needed a 2nd striker, and did really well when Benteke went out injured the first time. It was about time we had 2 capable strikers, unfortunately that screwed up quickly.
B6, caught your Preview for the match.
It’ll be up first thing in the morning mate, cheers.
When I get back off my hols remind me to mail you about becoming an author. That way you won’t have to rely on me to catch any articles and you’ll be able to post them straight up.
its nothing new from me but i also I think Lambert has done enough so far.
Mistakes yep plenty i suppose, but in the context of the job he was given like so many have said – he has done enough. its already been said but it needs to be re-iterated, the budget spent on the players that didn’t make is a drop in the ocean when you see the transfer fees this summer, and last year.
I have read many criticisms about Lambert having had a decent budget having spent 40m in 2 seasons. .. I laughed! after two seasons 40m roughly 10 players while the club we were being compared to unfavourably had blown 37m on Lamela … Crazy in the coconut.
anyways .. a lot of those signings are not going to work out or have already not worked out.
but at 1m here and 1.75m there .. honestly pittance in the premiership.
Transfer wise we have not done brilliantly over the last 3 years, but we have had success, in Kozak, Benteke, Vlaar, Guzan ( it was Lambert that instantly resigned him) for a club up for sale and on a shoe string not bad at all.
So, if the defence can remain roughly on this level of performance for the season ( we will have our dips and losses) with Benteke and Kozak coming in … we should be fine this season which is still not where i want us to be but context and starting position from last seasons finish .. means improvement again.
very early days .. lets hope it continues, I think the striker situation will sort itself out with injured players coming back ..
our biggest problem on the field right now is creativity, Thats where I hope we can sign something or come up with a style/tactic/ strategy for playing at home.
We need to improve dramatically there.
I’m a little more optimistic than last season and felt for Lambert, his hands were tied in the transfer market, he had to cut his cloth to suit but for the life of me I can’t remember all these ‘Pro’ Lambert comments when we were deep in the shit last season.
Oh well whatever keeps you happy.
So am I BWS, the broblem is fans blame the manager every time, me include, but you know what I’ve seen the light, the blame did lie with the owner cutting cloth as they say,whether it was his matrimonial problems I don’t know,but yes ready to stick with Lambert to find out if he’s the man.
We have to vent our spleen at someone Bill. The major issue down at VP always appeared to me that we were rudderless and not in some blip but on a permanent downward spiral, now whether that was down to fatty or Randy who knows?
Hopefully Randy has seen the error of his ways and is trying rectified things starting with loosening the purse strings and the appointment of the fantastic Mr Fox.
Well as I’ve said time to get behind them now , time will tell, I don’t know if I dreamed this did one of them punters say Villa are destined for big times in the future? Hope its when I’m still on the planet, but then we have seen some good days most of the younger fans have not, I’d even say you like me travelled allover the country home and away in Villa’s hey days, proud are punch to be a Villa fan. Ho memories.
Can’t see us reaching the dizzy heights of the early eighties in the foreseeable Bill but for now I’d settle for mid table mediocrity and a cup run.
BWS I could live with that mate.
Lambert had his hands tied – imagine trying to buy a player then leaving the negotiations to fatty Faulkner, lets hope things drastically change now we have an adult CEO who knows about football !!
But just how said is it when we’re all getting excited about the appointment of a new CEO?
granted BWS, just trying to think of a positive and there must be a reason he has joined us, its not to narrowly avoid relegation each season, surely.
Feyenoord offer 400k for KEA ?
Didn’t we buy him from them for around £2m? Nice profit they’ve made from that.