Three players who have gone out on loan this season will return to Aston Villa this week and will be asked to report back to training for the remaining 2-3 weeks. Tim Sherwood wants to assess the talents of Gardner, Bennett and Robinson before making a decision on their futures. Sherwood wants to analysis their traits and decided whether or not they have a place in Aston Villa’s team next season. Gary Gardner and Joe Bennett who played for Nottingham Forest and Brighton respectfully have all returned to Aston Villa with their club seasons already concluded. Callum Robinson will feature for Preston North End in their play-off games in the coming weeks.
Both Bennett and Gardner have 1 year left on their contract, and should they not feature in Sherwood’s plans both players won’t be short of suitors. Bennett has had a decent season for struggling Brighton and Watford has been linked with Bennett. While Nottingham Forest are keen on keeping Gardner.
‘It gives me an opportunity to have a look at them. I think it helps them out, helps the club out, helps every one out, for me to be able to do that. They haven’t got to wait till pre-season for me to give them a decision.
‘I remember seeing Gary Gardner years ago, he scored twice in an 18s game I watched against Arsenal – box to box player. I’ve watched him a couple times this season, he has been playing as more of a holding midfield player.
‘He’s just like his brother, likes to shoot anywhere on the field, both feet, good ball striker, I need to assess him at close hands.
‘I will know within ten days, two weeks whether he’s for me or not. I’m hoping he is and I’m hoping Bennett is as well – and Robinson depending on when he comes back.’
‘I think it’s been a very good loan. Simon Grayson and Preston have been excellent for him. He’s played first and foremost but he’s done well.’ – Tim Sherwood
Its positive that Sherwood is willing to give the likes of Bennett and Gardner a chance to impress the the new manager and sneak themselves back into Sherwood’s plans for next season. Unfortunately neither of these players can feature for Aston Villa in our remaining few games as neither player is registered. I think that Sherwood would be keen on keeping Gardner, I still believe he is a quality player and has scored some cracking goals for Nottingham Forest and has adjusted his play to a more defensive manner. Bennett would be competing and be compared to Villa’s other 3 left-backs, Kieran Richardson, Cissokho and Luna. Where does Bennett stand between those 3? If Bennett has matured enough he may have risen above Luna, so far it doesn’t seem as though Sherwood is convinced by Cissokho. But as of now, I think Bennett will be leaving the club at the end of the season. Robinson will certainly be rated by Sherwood, he is a young striker who has talent. He will be given some game time next season.
Meanwhile Darren Bent has not been asked to return to training after his loan with Derby has expired. But the situation around Darren Bent is much more complicated. Bent’s contract expires at the end of the season and Sherwood’s recent quotes neither support or reject Bent’s chances of a new contract. Bent is currently earning £70,000 and it will remain to be seen if Sherwood would rather spend that wage money elsewhere. Talk between Bent and Sherwood have already occurred but will most likely meet one more time after Aston Villa’s campaign ends in June.
“(Some of them) will come back before the end of the season. I know all about Darren so he’ll go on holiday (now). I don’t need him back, I can’t play him any way. These other boys I need to find out about, I need to assess them at close hands. I don’t need to know anything about Darren Bent.”
Fans may interpret this quote in two different ways, the first interpretation is that Sherwood rates Bent. He knows all about Bent, he terrorised Premier League defenders not too long ago and is a natural goal scorer. There is no need for Sherwood to assess Bent and knows what sort of player he is. Bent would most likely reduce his wages if he is keen on staying on with Aston Villa. The other interpretation is that Sherwood knows that Bent is not in his plans and his presence would not be beneficial. Perhaps is a sign to other clubs that Bent is available and give Bent to opportunity to begin negotiating with other clubs. I’m not sure where Sherwood stands, but I think it’s time to let Bent go. He doesn’t add anything to Aston Villa and I rate Kozak, Agbonlahor and Benteke above Bent. Callum Robinson is an up and coming player, I’d rather see Robinson gain more playing time in favour of Bent.
We’ll know more after achieving PL survival,will the lure of the TV money be too much for Randy to hang around a bit longer.how long has Everton been up for sale now????
Really don’t know the ins and outs of this one but Pat Murphy reported it on the BBC and that might mean something….or not.
Just thinking about 3 points tomorrow and nothing else. Another crucial game but I really think we’ll do it. One more win and we should be there, especially if Everton do us a favour and beat Sunderland.
UTV
Pat totally agree priorities first MATE,3 points Saturday a must.baggies should dispose of Sunderland.I’ve got a feeling Burnley will do hull.onwards & upwards UTV
I meant Everton not the baggies FFS
Think the baggies will be in their flip flops and mentally on the beach. i can see Sunderland getting something, even a win there, despite being a shambles. A win against West Ham would be enough for us I think.
On the offer for the club, I finally feel there is some truth in the rumours. Clearly, staying up is crucial. If we get relegated Lerner will be stuck with us and vice versa.
Once our Prem status is confirmed, this will all hot up, and there may be some competition to buy us. I’m not getting too excited about it though, as i feel it is at least as likely to make things worse as better.
Bottom line is that no matter who’s in charge because of FFP there is no way of ever seriously competing again for major honours.
‘Seriously competing for major honours’????
What the f*** is the FA Cup then if not a major honour? And I think we’ll seriously compete for it.
As for the league I’d settle for a couple of seasons of mid-table mediocrity while TS builds up the team.
Might even be better though, TS has got us winning games without spending a penny what might he accomplish with 30-40 million?
Sherwood won’t sustain it. We won’t win cup not a chance and FA cup is no longer a major honour finishing 4th is more imp ESp as it will be Emirites cup next season says it all.
Ooha stop being defeatist it don’t suit you.
Realistic is the word giddy
Agree these capitalist vultures will be no better if not worse than Lerner. Expect them to spend reasonably in summer to get us all on side then it will be the usual 5-10 m to keep us up while the greedy bstards take in sky money
Last word on Roy Keane. Response from TS via the BBC a few minutes ago –
Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood has cheekily hit back at comments made by the club’s former assistant manager Roy Keane.
In his updated autobiography, Keane claims Sherwood was turning up at matches at Villa Park to position himself for the role should the club’s former manager Paul Lambert fail.
But Sherwood believes he went to 30 to 40 matches, spanning a number of clubs, and added: “If that’s a formula to get work then next time I’m out of a job I’m going to turn up at the Nou Camp or the Bernabeu.”
Touché.
Lol! Tim rocks!!!
Lerner has flown in was at bodymoor this morning and spoke to Sherwood club say it was a a pre- arranged visit the plot thickens
I am fairly certain that Tony Adams will be at Wembley. I suspect a chant is already being Ehoned by those Holte end fog-horns concerning which of the clubs he thinks is worth buying.
But on the subject of a purchase, the technology is already in place to have perimeter advertising which is coded to camera, meaning that the spectators in the stadium and those viewing television feeds on different cameras see different adverts which are all ‘there’ simultaneously. Chinese Gambling sites, Yankee insurance and Thai breweries for example. The revenue for the adverts seen on Sky, BT sport or MOTD as well as the paying fans will be controlled by the current TV deals to avoid conflicts of interest, but the adverts going abroad will be a revenue stream for each club. £150 million is peanuts, expect more bidders if that is a price at which Lerner will sell.
Bid being reported on BBC and Pat Murphy quoted as saying it’s being taken seriously in ‘the City’ – make of that what you will.
Consortium led by Paul Smith ex Chelsea Director and an expert on revenue producing deals with a high profile deal record in the Prem. Supposedly backed by blue chip investors.
Article says Adans would be brought in re ‘footballing affairs’ but no threat to TS.
Who knows except I suspect the way TS has us playing has woken the market up.