Big Times A-comin'?

A 100% pre-season winning programme culminated with a win on the ground of a club that finished 3rd in the Bundesliga last term, and that looks to have been the icing on the cake. However, it was mainly down to the work of new keeper Tom Heaton and also Tyrone Mings and his mostly capable crew who prevented Leipzig from taking a second-half lead before Villa took over.

It has to be said that Villa's midfield and attack did not look too effective in a lot of the match (though not lacking in commitment). They seemed to find it very difficult to play their way through the opponents' defence, and it was left to Conor's trusty left boot from free-kicks that gave Villa the boost before McGinn's very late third.

Having said all that, this is a very new team that Dean Smith is trying to put together, with several new players still to make a significant appearance. Though there are positive signs, I feel we must allow a couple of months at least before we can see what kind of progress the squad is really making.

However, let us turn to Brian Little (he who walked on water) who has said (reported in the Express and Star, Aug 2, 2019)...

"I’ve felt it for a period of time now, a real togetherness,” he said. “I have been at this club for a long time now and I have seen three big waves of momentum. The first was 69-70, coming in and seeing the club relegated to the Third Division and 12 years later winning the European Cup.

"I wasn’t here for the Graham Taylor revival in the late 80s but that led into Ron (Atkinson) being successful as a manager, me being successful as a manager and John (Gregory) to being successful.

"That momentum of a team. I do feel it now, genuinely. I think the supporters feel it too. There is a real togetherness. ..."

And he then went on:

“I know a lot of people say if you buy a lot of players it takes time for them to gel. But I honestly think if you do your work properly, you get the type of player you want.

“I’m very comfortable, watching what is going on. It is a challenge, but if you have done your homework you will get the players you want.

“They have picked players for specific roles. It is a structured plan and I think they are executing it very well.”

Dean Smith himself has said that he wanted to keep his core team with the likes of Jack Grealish, John McGinn and Tyrone Mings. And Anwar El Ghazi and Kourtney Hause are no strangers to Villa Park either! So, although so many new purchases have been made, three of those have already been at Villa Park for a good length of time as loanees, and have been well received by the Villa faithful.

With three days remaining before the transfer window closes, one or two more signings can be expected. But these are the purchases to date (click on image to enlarge):

The most alarming aspects of these signings are two-fold:

1. The sheer number being signed all at once (they amount to more than a complete team);
2. That only one of these has any significant Premier League experience: keeper Tom Heaton.

In Tom Heaton, the Lancashire media observed about Burnley's exiting goalkeeper:

Heaton's influence and importance was as much off the pitch as on it.

He was captain, a leader in the changing room and someone who shared the vision of Dyche and could translate that to the players.

A modest man, quick to praise others and with a personality that is take home to meet your mother in law material, Heaton has cemented his place as a modern day Turf legend.

What better signing to act as inspiration for an otherwise young team at Villa Park?

I am disappointed, though, that some of the brighter home-grown young players have gone out to play elsewhere this season in favour of new purchases. But I shall swallow that disappointment and look forward to a successful season - perhaps in winning a Cup!

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Interesting Stuff, But What About The Green Shoots?

I so much want to see the product of Villa's Academy succeeding, but going by the pre-season friendlies I'm afraid I can't see Green, Davis and O'Hare having sufficient impact in the PL. 

They are skilfull players, no doubt, but they have had the opportunity to shine and (to me at least) are just not taking full advantage of that opportunity. If Green had put his shot into the back of the net last night, instead of against the bar, I might be still on his side, but having worked the space to get in his shot, he missed a great chance to give a further lift to his name. For me, he seems to lack a degree of urgency, though he does work hard.

Having said all that the unavailability of El Ghazi gave RHM a surprise opportunity, and what speed and skill he has! Yes, perhaps he does have a couple of raw edges, but rather than put him out on loan I think he should be on the Villa's first-team bench and brought on as the occasion demands.

As to the performances of Villa's new acquisitions, I can't help but see the combination of Jota and Wesley with the added ingredient of Grealish developing a great understanding. Meanwhile, Guilbert strikes me as a fine raiding wing-back. The other new ones seem content just to do what's needed and are feeling their way as they go. I have no reason to think they'll do anything but settle in fine.

But the midfield is intriguing to me. McGinn, surprisingly, doesn't seem to have had so much of an impact and I'm seriously wondering whether Lansbury is a better link with Jack. Conor, meanwhile, has useful moments but I can't see him being successful in the hole in front of defence. Leastwise, not in the PL. Bikir? Mmmm... not sure; he's useful but, except as a late sub, doesn't seem to make a lot of impact.

Nevertheless, pre-season is building quite nicely, and I'm ready for more surprises in the remaining two pre-season games. And more signings, too!

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The Purchasing Message Is That We Don't Intend To Concede Goals!

Bjorn Engels follows Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa and Kortney Hause to Bodymoor Heath, leaving James Chester, an £8 million signing in 2016, potentially a fifth-choice central defender. Yet Dean Smith seems to think that 30-year-old Chester has a part to play and wants to see him challenging for selection for the first match, at Spurs.

What an extraordinary situation. The acquisition of four new central defenders (though we already know two of 'em) seems to be wildly over the top. Two were needed for certain, and Mings was a priority, but I can't help but see Chester now playing a secondary role, with Hause as extra cover for left-back.

The situation for Chester could be said to be unfair as he stood alone, carrying what proved to be a serious injury, until defensive reinforcements arrived last January. So to have played his heart out under great pressure and now to be in this situation must be very disappointing for him.

However, the secondary role could be just as important, with the return to Villa of a genuine reserve side to draw from rather than the u-23 system. Chester would surely be an example for new players coming through the ranks, and perhaps should be the reserves' captain.

With the virtually certain imminent signing of midfield enforcer Douglas Luiz in the next few days, this has been an extraordinary summer of spending, which worries me a little, especially as I do not yet see an end to the expenditure.

My "worry" is more to do with the approach of spend-spend-spend as a policy for Villa. It rarely produces great results (though the top clubs of the last 25 years could say they can show otherwise) ... unless we have a proper youth basis in place. But I feel that Villa is - based on history - a different kettle of fish to most other clubs and why journalists often don't 'get it'.

The academy seems to have let us down somewhat, not able to reproduce what came through in the early 60s and then 70s, with the odd 'success' since then. Barry was not really one of our own deliveries, nor Ehiogu.

So, in my view that's what we need to keep an eye on if we want to maintain our 'special' character. AVFC's playing success was mainly due to what was developed within the club. The character of the club will not diminish if we build from youth. To start getting into big scale spend-spend mode and acquiring players who do not develop an attachment for the club - being more concerned about their careers - is something to be concerned about i.m.o.

However, I rather think that we are not 'doing a Fulham'. The kind of expenditure taking place has sense about it for the future, and perhaps there's more that's going on that is positive than I realise.

This post seems to suggest a lot of good thinking going on.

We shall see...!

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