Aston Villa

I am sure I mentioned it on here, but I read that all the players that Leicester and Watford signed last summer, were offered to Villa first. Not sure how true it was, but it would make sense that they would have been interested in a club the sizeof Villa over the other two. The Villa team that went down today and that has played most of the season, will be towards the bottom of the championship. Time for a firesale, try the kids and get some good pros in. The problem is Villa fans will expect more than a season of solidity, makes it a tough job for Pearson or whoever.

Hans Moleman wrote: Signing the likes of Richards and Lescott, 2 washed up has-beens, was the beginning of the end. To make Richards captain was something else altogether though. Sherwood seems to have gotten off very lightly publicly, yet I'm presuming these 2 players especially were his signings? As uninspiring as the likes of Lambert and McCleish were, appointing Tim Sherwood was almost negligent!! The one thing you would presume Villa have in place is that players have to take big cuts in wages or something along those lines when they go down. Otherwise, if they are stuck with the likes of Richards, Lescott and others for 2/3 years they will be in very big trouble. A huge clear out needed.

Denis Irwin wrote: Wouldn't be shocked if Villa went down again.

I think that also ....

I dont think they'll go down next year but they will be down and around that end. The famous Derby County team of 07-08 finished 18th after being relegated as the worst team ever and the PL was mich stronger back then.

Moyes wont be given control of recruitment because they hired a new board of directors only last month, Lerner hasn't a clue what he's doing on at all.

Edited by coyne - 17 Apr 2016 at 1:39pm

They actually have a good Championship side at the moment, with a few loan signings and a bit of investment they'll be very comfortable in that division next season and will be around the play offs no doubt. 

I cant see Villa jumping straight back up again.

They risk going the way of Leeds or Wolves. Overpaid players who aren't arsed generally don't have many suitors. They'll not be in arush to leave for lower wages either which could tie up their budget.

As for Grealish being one of only two of their players who can play at this level?? Strange he hasn't played so for most of the season in place of all the players he's better than!!

Think there are huge similarities with Wolves in particular, a lot of players who would rather be elsewhere but aren't going to take a pay cut. What players can they sell? Who will buy them? Who is going to buy Lescott, Richards, Bacuna, Agbonlahor etc and give them anywhere near what Villa are paying them? If I was a manager of a team in one of the big leagues I would look at Ayew and that would be it. Whoever comes in has to be completely ruthless and explain to the board, ' I don't know who gave these useless bastards those wages, but get rid of what you can or they rot in the reserves', which I assume is why Pearson and Moyes have been shortlisted. The next problem is building a team around kids , while justifying paying anyone new with the reserve team all on fortunes( ffp appears irrelevant ). I think anything above the relegation zone, bringing through kids and weeding out the wasters would be a good season. The problem with that is Villa fans won't and that sense of entitlement is what could leave them playing derbies with Coventry and Walsall.

Edited by pre Madonna - 17 Apr 2016 at 9:02pm