Aston Villa’s heavy and embarrassing defeat to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane last weekend has brought a number of topics back to the fore and put them front and centre stage once again.
The future of manager Steve Bruce is certainly one of those debates but it’s also fair to say that summer signing Orjan Nyland hasn’t really covered himself in glory yet. Yes he’s still looking to settle in a new country and a new division and all that brings with it, which can’t be ignored, and he’s probably getting some unfair harsh treatment from fans given the lack of stability and balance in our defence.
But he hasn’t helped himself at other times either. Andre Moreira hasn’t fared that well either in his couple of outings as he’s also settling in.
With Jed Steer not putting a foot wrong really in the opening day victory over Hull City, plenty raised eyebrows when he was loaned out to Charlton Athletic – especially as he’s actually out of contract next summer.
Nyland 28 next week. Johnstone 23 when he joined us. Johnstone is miles better. Even Steer is miles better #avfc https://t.co/IXTW9u02PW
— The Droyd (@The_Droyd) September 3, 2018
I would like a nice, new attacking style mind you.Bruce should go as much for his treatment of Steer, Green & Elphick #avfc
— Jonathan (@jonconnett) September 3, 2018
Not sure on the rules?
Is it possible to directly get Jed Steer & Tommy Elphick back? Mind you, they might need some persuading#AVFC #UTV
— Had Enough (@RussellBeard433) September 3, 2018
You need a goalkeeper who’s going to earn you 12-15 points a season… and Nyland is no better than Jed Steer, and looks quite considerably worse #AVFC
— BRUCE OUT (@charlie_cox6) September 2, 2018
He saved us against Brentford more than any other player. He will be fine I think its the defence in front of him thats the problem. We have far more problems there.
— Dave Cartwright (@DaveCavfc) September 3, 2018
Nyland is nowhere near good enough. As good as we've signed in the window with other players, sending Steer and Elphick out on loan was pure stupidness by Bruce. Nyland makes constant mistakes and is a liability. He then puts Jedinak infront of him….???? #Avfc
— Johno (@AvfcJohnson) September 2, 2018
What doesnt fit is the amount of younger players that have been pillaged from the squad. Clark, Green and Steer all could have had more than a role to play. And its that that makes me fear the ethos from the top down hasnt changed at all.
— Scott (@CaptainScott87) September 2, 2018
All in all it looks like another bad decision and whilst there’s plenty of sense in trying to get Steer through a full season of games without injuries hitting, bringing in both goalkeepers as late in the day as we did, wouldn’t it have made more sense to lead with Steer and let them settle and if Nyland or Moreira had then made a greater shot at the shirt – get Steer out then for greater game time.
All we seem to have achieved is in frustrating one man whilst throwing another in at the deep and we’ve lost either way.