A transfer done Cleverley

Whenever we sign a new player, expectations and hopes are high. Good performances – a decent input on a regular basis – top the wishlist of requirements for every new addition to the squad. After all, we want every player to be remembered for having made a positive contribution. While only time will tell if our newest acquisition, loan-signing Tom Cleverley, will be a success, he will be someone with an unforgettable start to his Villa career.

When was the last time Aston Villa, or any other club, signed a player seventeen hours after the transfer deadline? I can’t remember too many of them and while this alone makes the transfer a very special one there is a lot more about this signing that has caused heated discussions among us Villans. The fans of his parent club, Manchester United, were delighted with his departure and it was hard to miss their constant criticism of the midfielder, who apparently was “the worst player” they have seen in a long time. The cricticism did not stop there, as many supporters of the Three Lions have a similar point of view. So, has anyone ever had something positive to say about Cleverley? Well, our manager certainly does, as do Cleverley’s previous managers, including Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Martinez. It isn’t too hard to guess whose judgement on Cleverley I would trust more, especially as almost everyone seems to agree that he is indeed a “tidy” player with good passing skills and a passion for the game. Additionally, he is twenty-five years old so has the ability to improve further, is, as stated before, an England international with lots of experience, plays in a position in which we were short of players and we’ve signed him on favourable terms. In my opinion, this signing looks like a very good one, Cleverley done.

The way he has signed, with his agent heavily involved, high wage demands a strong possibility and another club being mentioned as his preferred option, isn’t the best way to be introduced. How much to believe from the numerous and contradictory media reports regarding his loan deal is completely up to every individual. However, we now have photographic evidence that he is a Villa player and therefore he should be backed by every Villa fan. That people now make fun of him because of said photographs is nothing short of ridiculous and highlights that he won’t have it much easier at Villa Park than he did at Old Trafford if things should not go to plan.

Cleverley’s transfer had to go through late and very quickly. As a result, it is only a loan deal. However, that might be better for all parties involved, especially as we have an option to buy him. He has time to settle down and impress staff and fans alike and, should he do so, we can then pay the fee we would have paid this summer and secure his services permanently. In case he should not be able to fulfill expectations by January, he could return to his parent club at no additional cost to us and we would have saved a large part of our transfer budget while he could search for another club. In both scenarios, this seems to be a very good deal so we should offer our thanks to the Premier League officials for letting this deal happen.

I very much hope that Cleverley will become a happy and successful Villa player and I think this is possible. With his passing skills, he will be a welcome addition to our midfield and could play an important role in central – or attacking – midfield, depending on our tactics. We should allow him to get forward as playing him too defensively has held him back in the past. I do not worry about him getting freedom as an attacking-minded midfielder is exactly what we have been waiting for and I think he will fit in perfectly.

Helping Cleverley to settle at Aston Villa Football Club is partly our responsibility and, even if his arrival wasn’t the easiest to arrange, he wants a fresh start so we should give him just that. I think everyone will benefit if we consider this signing in a positive manner. Let’s make it a good start! Welcome to the Villa, Tom!