Aston Villa’s Deadwood?

So, if you were Martin O’Neill who would you chop from the current squad?

An unfair question of course since it depends who he can bring in, O’Neill is famed for his motivational skills and if anyone can bring out the best in players it is him.

In recent years our recurrent problem is consistency. One season Barry looks world class, the next mediocre, one season Mellberg is so good we are all afraid he will be headhunted, the next season we probably couldn’t give him away. This inconsistency is more serious than a normal run of bad form because it is to do with attitude, self-belief, coaching and leadership, all of which I think O’Neill will deal with.

But I’ve seen enough of Jlloyd Samuel, Liam Ridgewell, Lee Hendrie, Peter Whittingham. Thanks very much guys, but if I was manager, you would be history. I also have issues with Juan Pablo Angel and Gavin McCann but for the moment, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. As forPatrik Berger, Matthieu Berson and Martin Laursen, who knows, we have barely seen them, but I still have big hopes for Laursen who is a thoroughbred defender when not in the treatment room.

The purchase of Berger always smacked of desperation and I don’t see any future for him now. Perhaps Martin can resurrect some of these players, but – hopefully – with a new owner and decent transfer budget behind him, will he need to?

By Saurat