Misguided Players At Villa?

Villa have said they will start contract talks with defender Olof Mellberg and midfielder Gavin McCann after the Everton game on the 2nd of April.

Martin O’Neill confirmed: ‘I’ve said to them I will speak to them shortly after the Everton game. Gavin will be around but Olof is away on international duty, and we’ll get the Everton match out of the way and then that clears us up. I know we’ve then got two games in quick succession after that, but we’ve got an opportunity, and the players know we will be discussing their futures.’

He also hints that although the players have tried hard, some aren’t quite good enough, or at least that is how this reads to me and is something I’ve been arguing most of the season, it is ok for them to give their all, but if their all isn’t good enough, then Villa will remain mid-table tryers at best, and that isn’t what the ambition of the board and manager now is.

‘This season, regardless of what our abilities are, I could not fault the effort of the team. We’ve been found wanting on a few occasions this season without doubt, but in terms of effort on the field, it’s been there – even if it’s misguided.’

Good to see Olof is going to get an extension, sorry but I’m not convinced that Gavin McCann is the quality, despite the fact he always gives us 100%, to take us to the next level. I think you get what you get when you take players from relegated teams as we did with McCann when Sunderland went down. Will he be satisfied as a squad player when we get new arrivals? He can’t be seen as the future surely?