Are Our Players Really That Bad?

Looking through the current Villa squad, I've been wondering whether the players we have truly reflect our position at the bottom of the table. Below are my verdicts on each man and whether they are capable of starting games, or should be on the bench or even if they should still be at Aston Villa.

** Before anyone mentions it, I'm aware I have selected more than 11 starters! This merely reflects the payers I believe I wouldn't mind seeing starting games, not necessarily a preferred line-up.**

Brad Guzan - A once reliable, if unspectacular, pair of hands has now become a liability, responsible for costing us several points this season. However, I do not think Sherwood's handling of him can be underestimated in his decline in form. New manager, new confidence? With no other real options right now, we have no choice but to persevere. VERDICT - Starts

Mark Bunn - Pretty much unknown. The general consensus is that he isn't good enough. If Sherwood didn't even try him out despite obviously not rating Guzan, then it shows how far off the pace this guy must be. There is no point in keeping him if he isn't good enough to come in when your no.1 is making mistakes left right and centre. VERDICT - Get rid

Jordan Amavi - Needs to play. Whilst I could possibly see logic in him being dropped against Chelsea with a plan of trying to keep it tighter at the back, to continue to leave him on the bench is a mistake. Obvious quality going forward and already has claimed a couple of assists. Stats will show him to have a high interception rate, successful tackles and so on. Yet several times his marauding exploits have left us exposed. However, I don't think it's a coincidence that we have stopped scoring since he has been out of the team. VERDICT - Starts

 

Micah Richards - Probably our best defender. Yet for some reason, doesn't fill me with absolute confidence. Prone to be dragged out of position and ball watching. I'm not entirely convinced that he has a 'football brain'. In saying that, he is brave, quick and does posses ability. He will throw himself into a challenge to block the ball and that is what we need. I just worry that as a centre back whether he is switched on enough to be successful as he has been at right back, where you can get away with a little bit more. VERDICT - Starts

Joleon Lescott - A poor buy in my opinion. Looks unsteady, certainly not brave enough and turns away from the ball for fear of being hit. As a Villa fan, he should be striving so much harder to make this work for him and us. Would be useful as a backup option, but certainly not good enough to be starting each week. VERDICT - Bench

 

Jores Okore - I think this kid could be the real deal. Hopefully now injury free, I would love to see him get a run of games and impose himself. So unfortunate to get such a bad injury so soon after joining which has set him back and he was playing with an injury still towards the back end of last season. That sort of dedication cannot be underestimated and plenty of others in a similar situation would not play. Strong and quick, I think he has the potential to lead us from the back and underpin some stability in our defence. VERDICT - Starts

Ciaran Clark - At 26, he is not quite the young man everyone seems to think he is anymore. Personally I like him, in so much as I think he has grown into a capable centre back. Was outmuscled far too easily for Spurs' first goal the other night, but I would certainly have him playing over Lescott right now, but probably not Okore. Gives his all and is generally reliable. VERDICT - Starts

Alan Hutton - Not as bad as everyone would like to label him. Does a job. I like his willingness to get forwards, but the problem is there isn't much of a delivery from him once he gets into advanced positions. No world beater, but an experienced Premier League level right back until a better option can be sourced. VERDICT - Starts

Tiago Illori - Unknown! Doesn't seem to be anywhere near the first team right now, I'm not sure he has even made the bench so far this season. By all accounts a talent, but looking doubtful we will see much of him in this loan spell. VERDICT - Squad Player (but should aim for the bench)

Jose Crespo - Pretty much unknown also. From what I've seen, he is backup at best. Versatile, which makes him handy to have in an emergency, but when he did play against Southampton in the League Cup, he was guilty of backing off Yoshida for his goal and turning away through being scared of getting hit by the shot. That is unacceptable, and we have too many of those sort of bottlers. VERDICT - Squad Player

Kieran Richardson - I've got nothing against Richardson as a whole. I just think he represents a completely average level of player that shouldn't be associated with Aston Villa. He's not quick, he's not slow. He's not great, he's not completely poor. To me, he just represents the standard that Villa are operating at and I think it should be much higher. There is just nothing to get excited about when you see his name on the team sheet. Useful at the moment in our situation, but lucky to be getting a gig at Villa. VERDICT - Bench

Leandro Bacuna - I do like Bacuna. I have absolutely no idea where his best position is though. He's not a right back, he's not one to operate in the middle, so he's more winger I guess but even then in that position, we probably have better options. He is attack minded though and is capable of chipping in with the odd goal. Useful to have as a squad player with his versatility, but either needs to step up a bit more to cement a place in an attacking position or be content with playing his bit-part here and there. VERDICT - Bench

Idrissa Gueye - Started off really brightly and had a lot of energy. Seemed to be an ideal replacement for Delph, with similar box-to-box style of play. Suffered a hamstring injury and hasn't quite been the same since. No doubt we've seen that he can be a quality player for us though and hopefully we can get him fit again sooner rather than later. VERDICT - Starts

Jordan Veretout - By all accounts, the kid has struggled badly with adapting. Was living in a hotel up until recently, with his girlfriend giving birth pretty much straight after he moved here. Not ideal at all and those things will not have been easy. The language has been tricky for him also apparently. Considered something of a coup for us when he signed. Has shown in glimpses some quality and I believe that he will turn out to be a good player for us, and perhaps will benefit most out of everyone from having Remi Garde come in. VERDICT - Bench/Starts

Ashley Westwood - A decent passer of the ball, but I'm not sure what else he contributes. Doesn't break up play, isn't a supplier of goals, doesn't control the midfield, too lightweight and a poor set piece taker. Disappointed to see that a flailing arm the other night against Spurs was enough to see him concussed and unable to carry on - it was hardly a haymaker. VERDICT - Get rid

Carlos Sanchez - An absolutely terrible passer of the ball; even the simplest 5 yard pass seems to be a stretch too far for Carlos. However, he is our best enforcer. He does get stuck in and is our most physical presence that we have in midfield. I think he has to play to give us some strength in the middle. Overall, he can be frustrating, but let's not forget that he is a regular in a very good Colombian national side. I think he is steadily improving and could be an important player for us. VERDICT - Starts

Gary Gardner - A lot of Villa fans seems to had their hopes pinned on this kid for a long time. I think though, at 23, if he hasn't made it by now, he's never going to. He has had terrible injuries which have probably stopped him from becoming the player we hoped, and despite good spells on loan at Brighton and Forest, I don't think he is Premier League class. For his own sake, he needs to start his career elsewhere properly. VERDICT - Get rid

Carles Gil - Should be one of the first names on the teamsheet right now. An absolute crime that he is continually overlooked and ignored, seeing as in his limited spells he has changed games and looked a real threat for us. It isn't easy to keep coming off the bench and being able to have an impact more often than not warrants a sustained run in the side. VERDICT - Starts

Adama Traore - Everyone is dying to see the true talent of the boy from Barca. After an explosive start came an injury. There are now tales of fatigue and also of a bizarre contract situation by where his wages rise to £75k a week if he plays a certain amount of games for us (reportedly as little as 10). If this is true, then firstly, what the hell are we playing at agreeing to such a ridiculous clause. But secondly, bite the bullet if that's what is agreed - he needs to play. He is raw and will make mistakes, but his pace is blistering and he has tricks to create chances. Villa fans are excited about him and we need to see what he can really do. VERDICT - Starts

Jack Grealish - Undoubted talent and loves the Villa. Good to see him holding his own in the first team and doesn't look out of place. Superb range of passing and excellent touch on the ball. He's actually probably at the stage where we now expect a little bit more from him - chipping in with a few more goals and some assists is his next target. VERDICT - Starts

Scott Sinclair - One of our better performers this season. Tricky winger with pace and a good signing for us. Has shown an eye for goal already, although we shouldn't be relying upon him to be our top scorer. Seems willing to take players on rather than a safe pass sideways or backwards which is refreshing. VERDICT - Starts

Gabby Agbonlahor - I think every Villa fan feels the same about Gabby. Thanks for the memories, but it's time to make way. He has never been prolific and I've always said he was more athlete than footballer. His finishing has always been pretty poor but this has diminished into deplorable status. His pace was by far his biggest asset but at 29, and having bulked up so much, this is beginning to show signs of decline. He has moments of brilliance, too few and far between for everyone's liking however. I wouldn't want to see him bombed out completely just yet, as his pace is still considerable and could be used late on in games but there is no way he should be starting. VERDICT - Bench

Charles N'Zogbia - Oh Charles. Very entertaining on Twitter, but clearly does not give a flying f*ck about his career. Frustratingly, everyone knows there is so much talent there. The attitude is all wrong though. We know there will be no consistency if he makes a comeback and a parting of the ways is only a matter of time, especially with those wages he is on. VERDICT - Get rid

Jordan Ayew - Growing on me more and more each time he plays. Struggled at the beginning and looked as if he was a duff signing. Works hard and at least is always looking to get a shot away. Pacey and deceptively strong. Unsure whether he is an out and out striker, but he should be looking for around 10 goals this season. VERDICT - Starts

Rudy Gestede - The proverbial 'good touch for a big man' does not seem to apply to Rudy. However, his presence in the air is immense. His headers against Bournemouth, Liverpool and Blues were all superb; full of power and his runs timed to perfection. We probably haven't given him enough service, certainly since Amavi has been withdrawn from the first team. Capable of disappearing in games and looking like a donkey at times, but when he's up for it, he can bully defences and gives us a physical presence. VERDICT - Starts

Libor Kozak - Incredibly unlucky to not be given a chance in the first team. Although pre-season is not a real indicator of things, he did look decent and notched a few goals. I think there was certainly an opportunity to give him a chance earlier on in the season. Gestede probably stays ahead of him at this moment, but I'd like to see him come off the bench a few times and see how he does. Seems a decent player who could get us around 10 goals in a full season, which is not to be sniffed at. VERDICT - Bench

 

And after all that I may as well have my say on a preferred line up, so here it is: 

 

 

 

 

@lovespud83