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.

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.

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.