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We were promised some squad “trimming” by Roberto Di Matteo, but as the season lurches ever nearer, one can’t help but feel that we are are increasingly light on the ground.
Despite having brought in three new signings Gollini, Elphick & Tshibola, it has been accompanied by a number of failures being released and the vultures are also now beginning to circle to pick the bones of a dreadful Villa squad.
Whilst The Villa Underground believes that a squad overhaul is an absolute necessity, it is taking place as the new season dawns.
Yes, the Recon Group takeover and appointment of Di Matteo was delayed, but what on earth has the hold up been since?
One of the least surprising is the free transfer of inadequate and inconsistent goalkeeper Brad Guzan to Middlesbrough. The American will be best remembered for one good season (in eight) and infamously telling Villa fans to f*ck off last season at Wycombe.
Villa certainly need to move on indifferent players such as Guzan, but we also need to develop strength in depth. The USA international was never under any pressure to perform whilst at Villa. Similarly, newly acquired Italian ‘keeper Gollini will hardly lose any sleep with Mark Bunn challenging for the number 1 spot either.
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Carlos Sanchez and Jordan Veretout, both expected to leave the club this summer, appear to be stuck in B6 due to wage demands. French Ligue 1 side Marseille have been hovering, but their interest has cooled as both sit on prohibitive Premier League salaries. [La Provence]
Veretout is also heavily linked to La Liga outfit Real Betis, where a stumbling block will presumably again be his large wage demands being tied into a long deal at Villa Park.
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Villa also appear resigned to losing Idrissa ‘Gana’ Gueye. The diminutive midfielder, who statistically shone in the Premier League last term, was on Merseyside for a medical yesterday.
Everton have activated his £7.2m release clause, and despite Chairman Wyness’ attempts to deter interest via a Twitter statement, the fact’s seem to point to a departure.
Gana showed great initial promise for Villa, but after getting injured, rarely showed the quality first suggested. From the point of view of The Villa Underground he is not only replaceable, but for the task at hand in The Championship, a committed and consistent performer is required at the heart of midfield.
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