Author: Matthew McMahon

Signing full-backs should be Villa’s main priority this summer. If any transfer business is to be completed in the coming months, the main concern has to be strengthening both the left- and right-back positions. With the club seemingly in “lock down” mode in terms of any tranfer deals being concluded until a new owner is found, Villa fans could see the majority of deals being finished closer to, if not on, deadline day, with the exception of free agents. Ryan Bertrand occupied the left-back position for the majority of last season. The twenty-four-year-old has now returned to his parent club,…

The news that Jores Okore is reportedly just weeks away from full recovery is great news for many Villa fans and for Lambert, who will be looking to tighten things up at the back for the remainder of the season. A centre-back partnership of Vlaar and Okore will have our fans purring as both Baker and Clark have failed to impress many of us this season, with unconvincing performances week after week. I have to say, when the season began I was unsure whether Vlaar would be able to lead at the back, but he has most certainly proved me…

Paul Lambert is interested in signing 20-year-old striker Moussa Konate, according to TalkSPORT. The youngster plays in Serie A for Genoa after being loaned out by his parent club FC Krasnador, a Russian league side. It is rumoured that Konate could be on hand to replace Benteke in the summer if a big club decides to make a move for the Belgian international. Konate has only netted once in sixteen games for Genoa this season so it seems strange that Lambert would want to line up a move for such a young and inexperienced striker to fill Benteke’s boots if…

It was reported by ‘The Sun’ yesterday that club Chairman Randy Lerner is willing to sell Aston Villa for a price of around £200 million. In 2006, Randy Lerner said, “If I can’t make it work, I will do what others did, move on and let someone else try.” Is it time for a change and how might we benefit, if at all, if a takeover happens? Clubs such as Fulham and Cardiff have recently been bought over by rich businessmen. This does not always guarantee success or mean that the club will be run in an efficient way; we…

The forgotten right-back has been linked with a move away from Villa Park numerous times, with nothing ever developing. Now it is looking more than likely that the Scot will be on his way as Paul Lambert attempts to get rid of another member of the ‘bomb squad’. Rumours of West Brom and Blackpool preparing to make a move for the 29-year-old will be music to many Villa fan’s ears as another unwanted player could be on his way out as part of Lambert’s plan to reduce our ridiculous wage bill. Many thought that Hutton had effectively been sent packing…

Watching Aston Villa perform brilliantly in the second half of the loss to Arsenal and the 2-2 draw with Liverpool has brought back hope just as negativity was beginning to creep in. Some fans were asking for the sacking of Lambert and complained that the Scot’s signings this season were not good enough. Over the last week, Lambert has brought in two new signings – Bertrand and Holt. Both players are on loan to Villa and I have a feeling that there are more signings to come before the window shuts. There is much for fans to be positive about.…

Witnessing Aston Villa being dumped out of the FA Cup by a bottom half League One side yesterday afternoon did not really come as much of a surprise to me or to many other fans. If there was going to be an upset in the Cup yesterday then my money would have been on Sheffield United coming to Villa Park and progressing to the fourth round given that we cannot seem to buy a win at home this season, having won only two of ten games played at Villa Park. So what has changed from last season? Have we really…

Having seen Aston Villa slump to yet another defeat at the hands of Stoke on Saturday, I was praying for a wonder goal to save the day, perhaps a repeat of Matty Lowton’s volley at the Britannia last season. This was not to be. Instead of replaying the game in my head, I focused my thoughts on what Villa can actually do to save this season of ups and downs, with inconsistent performances week in, week out. Boasting wins against Arsenal and Manchester City as well as putting in dire performances against the likes of Fulham and Sunderland, it is…

First it was Robbie Savage who criticised Roy Hodgson for choosing to overlook Fabian Delph for a spot in the England squad and now Jamie Carragher believes the same. The 24-year-old central midfielder has had a tremendous season thus far, having recently netted his first goal for Villa in a 3-2 win against Southampton, proving to Villa fans that he can find the back of the net. Delph has caught the eye of many professional footballers, who believe that the midfielder should be in Hodgson’s plans for the 2014 World Cup, as he has the drive and pace that England…

Marc Albrighton made an appearance in the 71st minute in the 0-0 draw against Sunderland yesterday, after the winger’s loan spell at Wigan ended earlier in the week. Having watched Albrighton play the last twenty minutes of the Sunderland game, I have to say I was quite impressed with what the winger produced in the time he had on the pitch. He put in a few brilliant crosses and on another day a striker would have been in the right position to find the back of the net. He looked energetic and tried his best to make something happen for…