Tony Cascarino: ‘Predictable’ Villa Need to Invest to Improve ‘Mediocre’ Defence After Wigan Defeat
Wigan’s win at Villa Park was the surprise result of the weekend as few expected Roberto Martinez’ side to play as well as they did after the sale of a number of their star players. I honestly thought Aston Villa would come out all guns blazing on the opening day but it just didn’t materialise as the Latics outplayed them for much of the game.
Aston Villa have some good attacking players but their defence does not resemble what you’d expect from a top 6 side. The current Villa backline is pretty mediocre; players like Cuellar, Shorey and Davies are not top players. Former captain Martin Laursen has not been replaced either in terms of being a good defender or as the team leader which means Villa at the back, are there to be got at.
Martin O’Neill has built a team based on pace and power with a direct style but they lack the real top quality and guile to open up defences which is needed at the top end of the table. If you stop Ashley Young and his crosses then you take away a lot of Villa’s attacking threat as there’s little else to hurt the opposition. The team is extremely predictable in the manner of their play and unless O’Neill can bring in some real quality, they are not going to have the same impact they did for two thirds of the 2008/09 season.
The collection of forwards O’Neill has at his disposal are good but don’t really provide anything different. Emile Heskey is a good player but doesn’t provide anything out of the ordinary which is the same as John Carew. Gabriel Agbonlahor has pace to burn but I wouldn’t view him as top class just yet. If you are solid at the back when you play Villa, then you will always have a good chance as defensively they are little more than average.
Tags: Aston Villa, Martin O'Neill, Tony Cascarino, Wigan
August 19th, 2009 at 10:02
Although Cascarino often speaks complete tosh, he has hit the nail on the head here. I’m afraid without significant strengthening, particularly as noted at the back, then Villa will struggle to get into the top ten let alone the top six. It appears the money just isn’t there for MON to spend.