A well-timed international break for a squad stricken with illness and a seeming lack of chemistry, and everyone can finally breathe a big sigh of both relief
and exhaustion as the busiest and arguably most pivotal transfer window in the
last decade has finally come to a close.
It certainly wasn’t short of action and interest, and you’d be forgiven
for thinking the forums were discussing a trip to West Midlands Safari Park
than the Villa, with talk of Snakes, Beasts, Frogs, and now Elephants running
wild (Sorry Joleon).
Signings have ranged from signing Mark Bunn to Barcelona wonderkids, and
most refreshing of all we seem to have finally found adequate replacements for positions
needing upheaval for years.
An all-rounder, confident left back in Jordan Amavi; a game-changer in
Adama Traore; and a box-to-box powerhouse in Idrissa Gana Gueye.
All the uncertainty around Sherwood’s first opportunity to buy players
proved to be misplaced, and only our very own fantastic Mr Fox could turned
losing our two best players and a cup final into yet another August of optimism.
This isn’t an absolute certainty however. Amavi’s mistakes against
Palace and Sunderland have arguably cost us 3 points, Idrissa seems to run out
of puff in pivotal moments of games, and Traore may well be too raw to risk
against premier league full-backs.
This aside, 4 points from 4 games isn’t a bad return from a side many will have
tipped to go down, and most importantly we haven’t been playing badly. The
points dropped certainly aren’t due to a lack of chances or trying, promising
in itself. If not for jammy deflections and Micah Richard’s knees resembling a
50p coin we could easily be in a far healthier position on the table.
The team are passing with more confidence and certainty with every
coming game, well-balanced by Clark and Richards looking like a formidable force
at the back, Adding the experience of Joleon Lescott will undoubtedly strengthen
the teams resolve – hopefully we’ll see less of the errors that cost us at
Selhurst Park.
What’s impressed me more than the new signings, however, is the continuation
from the current players to free themselves from the Lambert-ian football that
plagued the club recently. Ashley Westwood has pushed on further up the pitch
like we all knew he could, Alan Hutton is continuing to prove himself worthy of
the ‘Scottish Cafu’ moniker, and Carlos Sanchez proved against Sunderland that
the ball-winning, long-passing, hard-hitting ‘La Roca’ we thought we’d signed
is still in him.
Things aren’t all positive though.
Gabby continues to look a liability, Gestede may have a few goals in him
but is nowhere near enough a replacement for Benteke, and Ayew and Veretout
have gone missing when given the chance on centre stage.
Scott Sinclair's form has been nothing short of inspiring, but we won't be able to rely on him for goals all season. The likes of Grealish, Gil, Westwood, and Bacuna need to start chipping in with a few more from midfield.
Scott Sinclair's form has been nothing short of inspiring, but we won't be able to rely on him for goals all season. The likes of Grealish, Gil, Westwood, and Bacuna need to start chipping in with a few more from midfield.
I’ll always be optimistic, and there’s plenty to be singing about right
now – but what concerns me most are Sherwood’s comments about the players
needing time and asking for patience. It’s a completely valid angle to take but
after season after season of transitional periods it gets to a point where
results simply need to start coming.
With a hatrick of Midlands derbies on the horizon – what a chance to get
off the mark and put any doubt to bed.
