A Winter Break To Keep Us Warm!

So, we are now more than halfway through a kind of winter break before battle re-commences with a match against Leeds in a week's time. But for me this has been a break of a different kind - it seems to me that the break has brought around a distinct evolution into the Stephen Gerrard era and away from the Dean Smith era. There are specific points to make me think that way.

1. ... is almost an unnoticed issue about Trezeguet. When he came on last season and turned the game around with his two goals before going off injured, I was looking forward to his return after the long injury lay-off. But when he did come back a few weeks ago as a substitute he produced the most ludicrous penalty area dive that we could expect to see. It actually deserved a yellow card. Now we understand that he must surely be on his way on loan for the rest of the season, and probably will go during the summer.  Sad in some ways, because he did have some energy to offer and he scored some vital goals for the Villa. But Gerrard is clearly no sentimentalist.
2. ... is another outward-going loan, last season's Villa player of the year, Matt Targett. There were excuses about him carrying a pre-season injury, but he's never quite recaptured his form of last season and seemed to miss his left-sided pal, one Jack Grealish. His early window replacement by Digne seemed to make a statement about what Gerrard was feeling about his commitment, and I felt that he expected Targett to fight for his place. But no, on going up to Newcastle he almost made it sound as though he always really wanted to play for Newcastle and that, by implication, Villa was a stepping stone. Well, maybe he had to say something to keep the Geordie fans happy, but it's no respect to offer the Villa. He will go in the summer, surely.
3.  ... the retention of Douglas Luiz despite considerable attempts by two London clubs to get him; one in particular. Gerrard sees a Brazilian plan for him and Coutinho together, I'm sure ... once he's got the defensive midfielder situation sorted out ... and that is an interesting issue.
4. ... not stumping up all that lolly for Bissouma infers that some considerable wisdom exists at VP.  Firstly, the Villa may well get him much cheaply in the summer, but there's also the situation that one of the cleverest signings of the 'window' - Calum Chambers - may, just possibly, fill that slot. Chambers has said that signing for Villa was a 'no-brainer', so he must clearly feel that there's a chance for a regular spot in the team despite having to compete for the full-back and centre-back positions. 

So, there's clearly some good re-structuring of the squad taking place, and when next week arrives it might almost feel as though we have a new team in place, although parts of it were inserted early in January. And we have Bailey (still a 'new' player, really) and Nakamba to return from injury, as well as Traore.

But new players need effective practise with their new team, so what also makes me feel that time is being effectively used is the fact that Villa have made good use of the break with a match already played behind closed doors against Brentford, and another coming up this week-end against a Norwegian side.

It all makes the cockles of my heart start to warm in anticipation. This could be a very meaningful finish to the season.

UTV!