Gabby Agbonlahor, He's Fast As F*ck

Aston Villa's treatment of their club captain Gabriel Agbonlahor recently has been nothing short of disgraceful, and is just one more reason why the football community should rejoice in seeing the Villans' current demise.

As an Aston Villa fan, I have always appreciated Gabby Agbonlahor. Whether it be on the pitch, or all the charity work he does within the community and with the club's charity partner Acorns.

It's just a shame the club that 'Gabby' grew up supporting doesn't appreciate him.

The way the foreign loving idiots at board level are trying to force the club's longest serving player out is distasteful to say the least. To a man who gives nothing but 100% every time he puts on the claret and blue shirt no less. Sure, it doesn't always transcend into goals or assists, but the effort is still there, and as fans that's all we ask of any player.

The shift in core values at AVFC isn't just affecting the club's all time Premier League scorer, it's already had implications on the likes of Nathan Baker and Callum Robinson, who have both been bombed out to Bristol City. Young England hopeful Jack Grealish has also been cast aside, a decision by Rémi Garde that will surely cost the former youth prospect a place at the Euro's.

Shabby treatment that only seems to be dished out to a certain group of players.

The Aston Villa fans aren't absolved of blame either. They turned on the local lad long before the current Villa regime did. Back when Martin O'Neil was in charge in fact. With Agbonlahor substituted, the Villa front man left the pitch to a chorus of ironic cheers and boos during a loss to Tottenham Hotspur. Although plenty of fans later denied it.

For Gabby, I think he should leave Aston Villa, especially now he's being pushed out by all. He deserves better. He deserves a lot better. The club is rotten at all levels and will only get worse.

And Agbonlahor still has a lot to offer. How bitter sweet it would be for him to find success at another Premier League club while Aston Villa languish in the second tier of English football.

Many at Aston Villa may have already forgotten the man's contribution to the club and all the important goals and assists he's provided, and more fool them.

Well, maybe recalling his now infamous  non performance at White Hart Lane will keep them warm on a wet Tuesday night at Deepdale next season.

Woy vs. Johnny

According to recent comments made by England dinosaur Roy Hodgson, it isn't his lack of invention or adventure that is killing the English national game, nor is it his unwillingness to kick the ageing, serial underachievers out on their international asses. It is in fact, those pesky foreign imports at Premier League clubs that are making his job more difficult than it should be.

What would be a valid point if say, Glenn Hoddle would have bemoaned such luck, or even Schteve McClaren, but for Hodgson to air such a complaint, sounds like nothing more than the clueless ramblings of a short minded hypocrite.

As he is supposedly such a staunch opponent of the foreign influx into the Premier League, it's only fair to see how he, personally has attempted to combat such a worrying trend during his time in the Premier League.

Let's look at the numbers shall we?

Roy Hodgson has managed four different clubs in the Premier League. Blackburn Rovers, Fulham, Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion.

As Blackburn Rovers were his first Premier League club, it only seems logical to begin there.

During his audacious attempt at taking Blackburn from Premier League Champions to relegation contenders, he signed seventeen players. Out of those seventeen, only four were English, most notably goal-shy target man Kevin Davies and forgotten footballer Ashley Ward.

Yes, you read that correctly. Four English players out of seventeen, just four. That's around 23% of his signings that were aiding him in his fight against foreign.

After a spell away from the English game, Roy returned to England to take charge of Fulham during the 2007-08 season. His first transfer window saw him strengthen the struggling southerners with six new players. None of which were English! Not bucking such trend, Roy made a further twenty-five signings during his time at Craven Cottage, with a 'massive' count of nine players being English. Players including pint-sized left back Nicky Shorey, and injury-plagued Andrew Johnson brought in for big money.

The figures at his time in charge of Fulham read; thirty-one signed, with only nine of which were eligible to play for England. Another fail from Roy.

Moving up north and to his time at Liverpool, I'm going to purposely ignore most of that car crash, focusing solely on the kick-and-rush disciple's transfer dealings. As foreign crap like Milan Jovanovic and Christian Poulsen walked through the doors at Anfield, so did the likes Jonjo Shelvey, Joe Cole and left-back impersonator Paul Konchesky.

Surprise, surprise, once again a look at Roy's dealing shows that only 38% of them could now accept a cap from Hodgson. A paltry figure from a man who is now blaming the Premier League for a decreasing pool of English talent.

Fear not though, as his reign at West Brom showed a small upturn for the tactical buffoon. The 2011-12 season saw a whopping (for Hodgson at least) 44% of his signings being of English nationality. Players like Billy Jones and Jamie Edge helping Roy achieve a career high of four incoming players eligible to play for the England side during a Premier League transfer window.

Overall, Roy's stats read sixty-five players signed in the Premier League. Of those sixty-five, only twenty-five of them being eligible for England. Another huge fail for Roy in his apparent quest against the foreign imports.

I suppose the only thing left to state following the England man's most recent excuse is 'men lie, women lie, but numbers don't Roy!'

Aston Villa's Foreign Exchange

"If the Premier League think we will produce English players and then lose them at the age of 16 – that's not happening.

Aston Villa will now, if it doesn't change, start to go into Europe to get players to develop. We have already met with the manager and the board of directors and talked about that. My job is to produce players for Aston Villa, not for Arsenal to pinch them. What is the point in developing players for eight or nine years only to then lose them cheaply? That will kill the game and it will kill development."

Pretty damning from Aston Villa's Head of Youth Development Bryan Jones. A statement I strongly agree with.

Why should a club like Villa, who have provided a record amount of players for England put up with such BS?

The case Jones is referring to is 16-year old Danny Crowley's acrimonious move to Arsenal for a piddly £200k (as is the amount necessary according to new EPPP guidelines.)

After spending countless time and resources over the years developing such a talent, Villa's argument is a valid one.

As anyone who know's me will know how much of a staunch supporter of the local youth systems I've been. And how much I have detested the influx of Johnny Foreigners in recent years.

The realization is, like Jones, my interest is solely in Aston Villa. Not England.

In the end though, if changes aren't made, fans may never see the likes of Gabriel Agbonlahor, Gary Cahill or Daniel Sturridge breaking through to grace the Premier League again.

"You're Just a Sh*t Emile Heskey!"

A question, how bad does a player have to be, to be worse than Emile Heskey?

Ah, Emile Heskey. No player in Premier League history, has been a bigger joke figure than Emile Ivanhoe Heskey. A common target for terrace abuse, yet a point of praise from fellow professionals. Big Emile has provided such an amount of pro/con arguments and discussions like no other England/Premier League player ... until now.

So, step forward Manchester United 'striker' Danny Welbeck. With the emergence of the Manchester United player, it seems the laughable lump from Leicester may be about to surrender his joke tag.

Both players we're told by pundits are great 'team players'. But on observation, with a 'fly to light' type of attachment to the ball when in the opponents possession, yet devoid of any real ability to go on any sort of goal-scoring run, it's a mystery to see what they bring.

Forwards are, at least should be judged on goals, and assists.

Whereas Emile Heskey's record is o.k.,  Danny Welbeck's is poor. Shocking in fact.

To be fair, it wasn't always bad for poor Emile. His first 5 full years as a pro were encouraging, the sort you'd expect from a youngster breaking through I'd say. As a winger-turned-forward Heskey's first full season (the 1996/97 campaign) saw him net 10 goals in 35 games, identical to his goal tally and games the following season (he also added 2 assists). The 98/99 season however, saw the big man under the sort of criticism he'd later get used to, after only netting a relatively poor 6 goals in 30 appearances.

Despite this setback, Heskey improved the season after scoring 7 in 23 before making the big move to Liverpool midway through the season for £11m. He'd go on to bag another 3 to once again hit double figures for the season. He followed up that by having his best ever season to date hitting 14 goals in the Premier League for Liverpool, during their unique treble season.

Overall, up to his fifth full season as a pro, Heskey played 172 games scoring 50 goals (also chipping in with 3 assists.) That gives the ex-England international a goal every 3.4 games which to be fair, is a decent record.

All in all, those first 5 years (which are comparable to Welbeck's) show Heskey was decent, and showed a relative, encouraging improvement.

Welbeck on the other hand. Jeez, well ...

Since breaking into the Man Utd senior squad, Danny Welbeck has spent the majority of his professional career thus far in the Premier League. (His only time outside of the top flight being a 8-game stint at Lancashire minnows Preston North End.)

After playing 8 Premier League games for Man Utd in his first two years as a pro, a fresh faced 19 year old Danny Welbeck joined Sunderland on loan for the 2010/11 campaign.

From what many considered a successful campaign, Welbeck scored 6 goals, and claimed an assist in 26 appearances.

Sir Alex Ferguson must have seen something in him while in the North East as he gave the forward a bigger role for the 11/12 campaign, Welbeck's best to date in fact (although he still failed to hit league double numbers). He netted a fairly impressive 9 in 30 goals as Man Utd finished runners up in the Premier League.

Many had hoped Welbeck would push on for the 12/13 season. But he flopped, badly. 1 goal in 27 is a telling tally indeed. Lucky for the Red Devils that they had just bought Robin van Persie and had Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernàndez in reserve.

Welbeck fans like to point to a game Welbeck had against Real Madrid  as proof of Welbeck's quality (like Messi bashers do with the Bayern/Barca tie). Keep hanging your hat on that though reds fans, as the facts tell a different story.

Those facts being Welbeck has played 99 games, and scored a piss-poor (for a forward at least) 17 goals, (adding 8 assists) which gives a goal ratio of a goal every 5.8 games, nearly twice as worse as Heskey. 

So back to the original question, how bad does a player have to be, to be worse than Emile Heskey? The answer - as bad as Danny Welbeck!

Wodwell? What About Cork and Westwood, Woy?

Back in May when Manchester United's Tom Cleverley had shied away from England's fairly meaningless double header with Republic of Ireland and Brazil, surely there was only one midfielder who deserved the senior call-up?

Well, I suppose in Woy Hodgson's small mind there was. Woy, after giving it much deliberation, and spending countless minutes looking through the squad sheets of Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool, decided on the injury-plagued Jack Rodwell.

Jack Rodwell's talent is undoubted. If he gets over his injury problems he can be one hell of a player. (Big 'IF' though for a player with his fitness record.)

Regardless, if the England boss was to pick players 'on form and merit' like he'd vowed when appointed, Rodwell wouldn't be under consideration, surely?

11 games this season, with only 6 being starts hardly screams 'pick me'. At seasons' end, the 22 year old boasted a mightily impressive 90.1% pass completion, but looking further into that, suggests the number isn't quite as impressive when taking into account that he averaged a paltry 23.8 passes per game, (along with a shoddy 0.1 key passes per game ratio.)

Also, a quick look at his defensive displays when out of possession, 0.7 tackles per game, 0.6 interceptions wouldn't fill the average England fan with much confidence when placed alongside the defence negligent Frank Lampard.

In his very few games this season, Rodwell has at least looked competent when more advanced. Averaging around 2 shots every 3 games, and his 2 goals vs. Norwich (and subsequent Man of the Match) performance also suggests this.

Looking at his overall contribution to Manchester City's failed season though, Rodwell has been below par. A poor acquisition for the amount paid.

His 'no-form' season, would pose the question, to Woy at least, 'How did he merit a call-up?'

So then, who did merit a call-up?

I have two alternatives. The first is Southampton's Jack Cork.

I've touched on the 'Southampton Syndrome' already, but regardless of the FA's strange reluctance to cap Saints' players, I think Cork deserves a chance.

Despite coming through at Chelsea, Cork has spent most of his time as a professional in the Lower Leagues. He's also played at all but Senior level for England too, including the Great Britain Olympic team.

So, what makes Jack Cork, a League One player just 2 seasons ago, deserve an England chance?

Looking at this season, Cork's first full season in the Premier League, the 24 year old clocked up 28 appearances, with all but 4 lasting the full 90 minutes.

In what can be classed as a successful campaign for Southampton, Cork was instrumental. His calmness and concentration in midfield provided the Saints with a platform to attack.

Averaging 52.8 passes per game with a completion rate of 83.6%, with a key pass per game in his locker, statistics more than back up Cork's claim.

Defensively, he excels where Rodwell falls short. With an average of 4 successful tackles and 5 inceptions every 2 games, with a couple of clearances added per game too.

But in a reverse, where Rodwell showed some competence, Cork lacked. No goals or assists, with a tendency to shoot once every two games, Cork offers less going forward, which is understandable considering the deeper role he has at club level. Still, as proven in the past, he can play forward to better effect, as was the case during his Burnley stint.

The second alternative, and maybe I'm a little biased, is former Crewe Captain and Player of the Year Ashley Westwood. A deep-lying playmaker in the 'Carrick mould' Westwood made the jump from League Two/League One to the Premier League with a certain ease.

Making 28 Premier League starts for Aston Villa, Westwood had a somewhat mixed first few weeks. By the end of the season, Westwood had fully established himself as a Premier League player and an integral part of Lambert's team. Aston Villa fans would be hard pressed to name a player (bar Benteke) to have finished the season in finer form.

Let's break it down to numbers. With a modest pass average of 44.5 per game, an 84.8% completion rate (in one game peaking with an unmatched 98% pass completion), Westwood clocked up 6 assists. That's with inclusion of his average key pass per game and 3 successful long passes per 90 minutes, displaying the young playmakers range.

Defensively, Westwood is strong. 3 tackles, 3 clearances, a block and 5 interceptions every 2 games back this up.

Again, similar to Cork, Westwood isn't as potent offensively, though his 6 assists isn't to be sniffed at.

Regardless of all those stats, neither get much recognition outside of their own clubs. Both deserve a chance at least, in my view. Either deserved a chance in the double header ahead of Rodwell.

As an Aston Villa fan though, I'm torn with being pissed off Westwood gets no recognition from England, yet pleased he isn't called up. As in the past, when one of our players goes on England duty, they either get injured or tapped up.

The Curious Case of Adam Lallana

So, what exactly have England and the English FA got against Southampton Football Club?

During the Saint's original stint in the Premier League in the mid-90's, it was the naturally gifted Matt Le Tissier who was continually overlooked. Now it seems to be the likes of Ricky Lambert, Jack Cork and of course, Adam Lallana being given the International cold shoulder.

Nothing new it seems though, for club stalwart, and captain, Adam Lallana. Since his breakthrough season in 2008/09 campaign (clocking up an impressive 43 appearances), Lallana has gone from strength to strength for club.

Even relegation from the Championship couldn't halt Lallana's development. The youngster, showing such character, and a maturity beyond his years took the club by the scruff. Thriving from the extra responsibilty placed on his shoulders, the midfield ace bagged a very impressive 20 goals in all competitions. (The first player since Saints club legend Matt Le Tissier.)

Lallana had arrived.

In the seasons that followed, minor injuries began niggling him, yet he would still play a vital role in Southampton's next 2 campaigns, hitting double figures in both the assists and goals columns, contributions that went a long way in sealing back-to-back promotions to the Premier League.

Despite Southampton's cash injection, Lallana, now 25, has remained a vital member of Southampton Football Club. His fighting nature seems to run through the team in his presense. Whether it's goals, assists, short passes, crosses, or putting his foot in, Lallana has it all in his locker. The grit to match his technique.

So why then, has such a talent been left by the International wayside?

Solitary caps at U18, U19 and U21 levels is nothing short of a disgrace. It's bad enough when the eligible Germany-based Lewis Holtby went under the radar until he'd finally opted for his homeland, but for a player of Lallana's quality to be overlooked while players like Jermaine Jenas and Kieron Dyer collected caps like Merlin stickers, is quite simply, BS.

The average likes of Jonjo Shelvey, Jordan Henderson and the ageing Leon Osman have jumped ahead in the pecking order, but here comes the sickener. Jake Livermore, the rightful whipping boy of the Tottenham Hotspur fans has won a cap, and not too long ago either. Jake bloody Livermore!

It baffles the mind.

The only recognition Woy and the incompetent FA have shown Lallana was a last ditch call-up vs. Ukraine, following his Championship season. Woy it seemed was scratching around for players to patch up a depleted squad.

Lallana though,  wasn't deemed good enough to even make the substitutes bench.

Depite that previous call-up, and a successful Premier League season with Southampton under his belt, a senior England cap still alludes the Saints' man.

I guess, even from the days of the magical Matt Le Tissier,  the Southampton Syndrome lives on.

Ron Doe or Ronaldo?

What is modern day football's fascination with a foreign name?

And what I mean is, well, let's take Roberto Martinez as an example.

The Spaniard recently relegated Wigan from the Premier League. A feat no other Wigan manager has reached, heck, not even close. Yet Martinez did, and that's after flirting with the drop year upon year. Yes, he's put the FA Cup trophy on the table of 'Uncle Dave' Whelan but at the huge expense of Wigan and their Premier League status. Which in turn, has cost the club around £70m in new TV money. The sort of figure that could make or break a small club like Wigan.

Yet, because Martinez has the Latin charisma, the exotic name and swaggers about the touchline in a nice suit, he's heralded as a great manager.
'Performed miracles at Wigan', 'One of the top managers in Europe'. Part of the Top 5 in fact, according to the annoying, loose lipped Dave Whelan.

We constantly get told of Roberto's philosophy of great football and his ability to unearth gems. All of which proved futile and somewhat false. The fact is he took Wigan down. End of.

And then jumped ship to blind admirers Everton.

So why then, did it take Scottish manager Owen Coyle so long to get another job? The man who 4 out of 5 seasons finished above Martinez. The cynic in me can't help but think it's because he was born in Paisley, Scotland and not Balaguer in Spain.

Tracksuit clad Owen Coyle, has always had his teams playing the right way, and had it been for similar FA Cup luck as Wigan, could well have had Bolton's name on the trophy at the end of the 2010/11 season.

As it turned it, Bolton eventually suffered the drop and not long after Coyle recieved his marching orders. A real contrast to Martinez who was rewarded with a Top Premier League job.

After a while out of the game, Owen Coyle has recently been named, coincidentally, as the new Wigan Athletic manager, following Martinez's distasteful leap to Goodison.

Now, don't get me wrong, such bias and favouritism towards the foreigner isn't exclusive to the English football family, journalists, pundits and whatnot, it's an unfortunate trait that has trickled down to the heartbeat of football - the fans.

Players too, can often find themselves victims of such sketchy views.

A quick look at my own club, Aston Villa, last summer, Ashley Westwood and Matthew Lowton were brought into the club, to very little fanfare. Disgruntled noises on message boards became a theme during the summer. Fast forward 12 months and the same fans are getting giddy as the likes of Leandro Bacuna and Antonio Luna join the Villa ranks.

The effects of such a modern dismissive nature runs deeper in football, but to be honest, I don't care enough about the FA's around the UK and their national sides at the moment to delve any deeper, so for now at least, on the surface I'll scratch.

And on that surface, take Harry Forrester and Dale Jennings. Two names that are not well known. (To the average Premier League fan at least).

After Forrester's contract ended with Aston Villa not too long ago, he was offered a deal with Ajax after impressing in the Hong Kong 7's tournament.

Subsequently, the exciting Forrester turned down Ajax's offer (as he was reportedly apprehensive of a move abroad) and ended up moving to Brentford. No offense to Brentford, but how was it no bigger team on these shores could claim his signature? Probably because teams like Fulham were too busy stockpiling Johnny Foreigners into their squads, that's why. Now, as it turns out, Forrester has just had a breakout season with Brentford and is now linked with a move to the Premier League.

Dale Jennings' situation was a little different. Jennings was rightly placed in the 'exciting prospect' category at Tranmere a couple of seasons ago. But when push came to shove, no club in England obviously thought he was exciting enough. Their loss, Jennings signed for Bayern Munich. This summer however, a homesick Dale Jennings headed back to England. Highly rated by the staff at the current European champions, Jennings must surely have had many suitors vying for his signature? Aston Villa? Arsenal? Liverpool? No, no and no.

After being linked with Huddersfield, Jennings moved to Barnsley for a very modest fee, signing a 3-year deal.

Rankles a bit when you see that Premier League cannon fodder Sunderland have just brought in three 'Johnnys' and look likely to sign more. Even Aston Villa's Paul Lambert has succumb to the horrible trend and done all his shopping abroad so far.

Unfortunately, it's British players like Harry Forrester and Dale Jennings, and British managers like Owen Coyle who are being pushed aside for mediocrity, just because that mediocrity is from overseas.