The Alpay Debate - a view from the Terraces

Today, Sat 20 Sept, Villa park witnessed  a player in Villa colours booed by their own fans yet again. Not for the first time the player on the receiving end was Turkish international Alpay.

Once the darling of The Holte End, Alpay has become the number one enemy of the burberry boys. But where does the average fan sit on this issue. I can only speak for myself, whilst acknowledging that this is a hotly debated topic.

 Alpay is the architect of his own demise. Since his exploits in the last world cup he has consistently expressed his wish to leave the club and further his career elsewhere.  His performances on the pitch have been mediocre to say the least. This from a player, acknowledged by FIFA in their world eleven. His fall out with Graham Taylor was well publicised but we were led to believe that David Oleary had spoken to him and resolved the situation. In pre season we heard nothing but glowing reports from the Villa camp. Alpay now wanted to stay and fight for his place in the team under the new regime. He wanted the fans to give him another chance.

However publicly Alpay has been committing verbal suicide. His constant slagging off of England's chances of qualifying for Portugal has begun to strike raw nerves. For a player who plies his trade in this country he would of done well to keep his mouth shut. Imagine Beckham openly running down the Spanish national side, not clever! Then comes the revelation that he wants out again this time to Germany.

With both Villa's first choice centre halves out with injuries David Oleary was left with a dilemma. Should he play a player who openly expresses his disrespect for the club but is probably the strongest man in the squad to fill the void. My answer is no he shouldn't have played.

Given the facts I think Villa should get shot of him. He's not going to sign for Villa when his contract expires and given the chance he would have left already. That being the case Oleary would have had to look elsewhere, and he would have done and should have done.

Today Alpay was given the chance to put the record straight, if indeed that was the case. What he has actually done is fuelled the flames. Whilst I can't and won't condone the booing of our own players Alpay's reaction to the goal today was unforgivable. The sooner he goes the better.

Comment by Mathew Stevens

Vassell Set For £2Million Pound transfer.

The papers have speculated that Aston Villa are prepared to cut their losses and sell  Darius Vassell for a fee in the region of £2Million.

Vassell's agents have been locked in talks with Villa representatives for some eighteen months. The talks seem to have stalled on the issue of Vassell's wage demands. Indications are that Darius is looking at a figure in the region of £30K a week. When one looks at other high profile players at other clubs and taking into account his England exploits this on paper does not seem to be too excessive.

Villa on the other hand have seemingly imposed a wage ceiling believed to be in the region of around £18K a week. Having reported losses in the region of £11Million last week there seems little room for manoeuvre.   

On first inspection the situation looks cut and dry. However I would like to put things in a different perspective. If the speculation becomes reality and Vassell is sold Villa stand to lose a club asset in the region of £10Million plus. In order to replace that asset Villa would have to go into the transfer market and spend that amount to replace him. Villa would argue that this could be achieved by dipping into the youth.

Vassell is still young and a great talent and in my opinion can not be replaced with the youth we have. As it stands he is still a Villa player and so would cost nothing in tranfer fees to retain him on a new contract. Therefore the only cost is an increased wage. Good value for a player of his ability and good business.

If Vassell is allowed to go this will seal the belief that this club lacks ambition. A recent report from the city cited that the successful football PLC's were the ones that were prepared to spend in order to progress in the major tournaments and in turn generate income.

Players should not be allowed to hold clubs to ransom on the other hand and with the Vassell saga in mind compromise and common sense must prevail. Vassell must stay.  

Comment by Mathew Stevens

Ellis Out - ???? In

Now I hate to be a party pooper but I must question, not the genuine enthusiasm, but the point to Saturdays "Ellis Out" march and protest.

3000 fans turned out to march claiming they had the support of the majority, but failing to point out that the other 28,000 didn't march. On another site, who will remain nameless, someone who had shouted at the marchers "support the team" was called a twat for doing just that!

The same "fans" would call me pro-Ellis, but that is too simplistic. I like many fans would like to see a viable alternative to the current regime but have yet to see one tabled.

The last week has seen various players call for calm and the need to get behind the team. They have commented on the fact that all this negativity helps no one. Some would say that they would say that considering who their paymasters were, but they could have chosen to stay quiet instead of expressing their opinion.

Unless Villa have a multi-millionaire waiting in the wings, not some optimistic rumour that continues to persist, to feed the hungry animal that is ambition, what is the solution. Until that can be found I and others like me will continue to support the status quo and turn up week in week out to support the team be it at Old Trafford or Rotherham. How many who marched the other day can claim that hand on heart?

Comment by Adrian Marsh

The Sunday Times 21-09-03

The Villa team applied themselves and showed enough quality to suggest that they might yet be good enough to avoid another relegation battle.

This appears to be the sum of the clubs aspirations this season and suggests a remarkable lack of ambition. "Its important to take points from teams you're going to be competing against" said David O'Leary afterwards.

With due respect to Charlton the Villa fans expect to be competing against better resourced clubs than the Addicks

The Times 25-08-03

David O’Leary, the Aston Villa manager, emerged equally satisfied from his first home match since succeeding Graham Taylor in May, but he does not have to think of titles. Rebuilding is the name of his game, an improvement on the sixteenth place of last season and an end-of-term finish above Birmingham City. Compared with Houllier, he has an easy life.

 "I was delighted with how we played," O’Leary said. "I don’t know what’s gone on here before but that’s the type of high-tempo stuff that I want to see."

O’Leary received a warm reception as he walked along the touchline towards the dugout before kick-off. And after half-time, too. He milked the applause, perhaps in the knowledge of how quickly his fortunes could turn sour. The Holtenders can be the most unforgiving of souls and will be if their prayers go un-answered. Villa roused them, though, in an entertaining first half. It may have been lacking in technique, with Liverpool similarly culpable, but a series of feisty challenges and defensive errors amounted to a mildly pleasing spectacle.

Vassell Signs New 3 Year Deal

It has taken twelve months of negotiations and resulted in endless press speculation but today, August 21st 2003, Darius Vassell signs a new three year deal.

This was a deal that needed to be tied down.. For the last two years and under Graham Taylor's nose, Aston Villa had gone on a cost cutting exercise. The players for the chop were those on high wages. The likes of Ginola, Merson, Schmeichel, Stone etc. Villa had made an open declaration that they would not be in the market for top quality, expensive  talent.

Graham Taylor went shopping to the car boot sales and picked up two or three out of contract, cheap Players. The rest is history.

Last season Villa struggled. There was various schools of thought to the reasons. All were valid in some way, but one could not ignore the fact that this team lacked a bit of depth in quality, especially in midfield. Villa had stood still whilst others had progressed.

By contrast just down the road at St Andrews Steve Bruce was building a team, with the backing of the board, that would not only insure their Premiership survival but would trump the Villa home and away. Pre-season they have set their sights higher. Villa for the first time in a long while are in danger of losing their Midlands crown.

I believe last season was a rude awakening for this club and its board. We finished three points above West Ham and they got relegated! In The Premiership you have to build to stand still. We dismantled. It was a strategy that nearly cost us dearly.

Vassell had to be signed. If we didn't keep quality self grown talent we were not going to encourage outside quality here. Hopefully with this signing and Gavin Mcann and Sorensen we have turned our back on the past. Today Mark Ansell stated that funds would still be available if the right deal came along. Lets hope so! 

Comment by Mathew Stevens