Following the embarrassing loss Premier League relegation fodder Leicester City last weekend, the calls for Aston Villa to sack manager Paul Lambert have turned up a notch, and though they’re certainly not going to quiet down when Liverpool visit on Saturday, the club may want to pause a moment before making a decision on what to do with the struggling Scotsman.
The Villains may be without a win in their last six league outings, but they always seem to give the Reds, who visit on the back of a less than convincing win over Sunderland on Saturday, a bit more bother than they ever plan for. Liverpool, much like their hosts for the weekend, have struggled in front of the net all season, but unlike his counterpart in Brendan Rodgers, Lambert has moved to address that short-coming by bringing in attacking midfielder Carles Gil from Valencia — a player who could be thrown right into the thick of things.
“I have no problems starting Carles, that’s for sure. His last game was over a week ago in the Copa del Rey. I will see how he does. He will train tomorrow and then we will see” said the Villains manager when asked if his newest signing could feature against Liverpool on Saturday. “He gives us something that I think we’ve been crying out for – that creativity and spark – and that’s what I think we’ve needed to finish off the work. We needed someone like him to unlock doors and make things happen. But I’m not going to put masses of expectancy on him – he’s just here, he’s 22, has great potential to be a really good player.”
While Liverpool fans might be prone to having a little moan about their 29-league goals so far this term, their rather meagre haul still contrasts sharply to the eleven goals that Villa have claimed thus far. With Daniel Sturridge set to return by months end and an early return from his loan for Divock Origi looking all the more likely, the Reds could have their problems sorted out in due time, but Lambert didn’t have a choice but to dip into the market, though if Gil’s enthusiasm matches his performances on the pitch, they too could be on an upward swing shortly.
“Once I knew that this club was interested in me I wanted to join. I am really looking forward to playing here and showing the fans what I can do” he said after completing his move from La Liga. “I can play on either side or in the middle of midfield and I like playing as part of the team, making things happen for my teammates. This is a very historic club in England, a very important club in the Premier League, and I am looking forward to playing for such a great club in a league that is the top league in the world.”
Though it’s hard to fault the Spaniard’s optimism, the Midlanders go into the weekend a mere three points off the drop zone and on the back of a terrible run. Talented or not, Gil won’t turn around the clubs fortunes on his own, and though the boss has become a popular whipping boy for supporters and pundits alike, Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan has been quick to point out that he isn’t the one responsible for putting the ball in the net.
“When you go through difficult times everyone has got to take their criticism. The manager has been brilliant in defending us but we are the ones who have to score goals. He can’t go and score for us and the coaching staff can’t score for us” he said in the build up to this weekend’s meeting with the Reds. “Us players have to take responsibility and I know the fans are unhappy, we hear them during the game, but they need to realise it’s a difficult moment for the players and fans but we need to stick together. We are trying to score goals. We’re not purposefully going out there saying: ‘Let’s just keep the ball and forget about trying to go forward’.”
Keeping possession but not doing anything with it? Is he talking about them or us?
–Steven
