The word on the street is that Habib Beye is on his bike, albeit on loan, to Ipswich Town. This would pretty much herald the end of a less than illustrious career with Villa for Beye and this would mean yet another of the Martin O’Neill signings being shipped out to any taker.
The Beye signing was a classic Villa/O’Neill capture. Beye never really on anyone’s radar, was ‘Player of the Season’ in Newcastle’s relegation from the Premiership. If there can be such a thing. At the time we faced tough opposition, from wait for it, Hull City to acquire his signature. It’s worth reminding ourselves that we were trying to break into the top four at the time – and in the same transfer window made successful moves for Stewart Downing and Fabian Delph.
Beye’s Wikipedia reveals he has made just nine appearances in two full seasons with the club and references his being subbed on his debut after a dismal showing against Wigan and his sending off against West Ham. On that basis, one can hardly provide a glowing reference, but I cannot recall much wrong with the other seven matches!
The biggest problems seem to be age and attitude. Beye has been consigned to the reserves since Houllier identified him as not “caring” about the club. If that’s true, and there cannot be much argument as the discontent was aired in public, then it’s only right to attempt to offload a 33 year old trouble maker.
Beye, like so many of O’Neill’s signings was handed a long and lucrative contract which expires in 2012. It seems that looking back we loaded ourselves with expensive average signings (Sidwell, Warnock, Harewood etc) that prevented us from being able to afford the type of player that would have elevated us to fourth.
Best of luck to Beye – and fingers crossed Ipswich take his weekly wage off our hands.
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