Another season, another long-term injury. Jordan Amavi the latest in the treatment room, and it’s left Remi Garde with a big decision to make. Who should fill in for him?
Now, there’s one name we’re all hoping is not the one at the top of Remi’s list, a certain Kieran Richardson. This is a man who is simply not a defender, to be quite frank I often struggle to see what it is he does bring to the team.
Richardson has already managed to squeeze enough appearances out of us this season, after bizarrely becoming Tim Sherwood’s first choice he was then sent back down the pecking order following the arrival of the new boss, and I for one had hoped that he would stay there. But that’s just our luck at the moment.
There are two standout names that appeal to me as immediate options for Garde: Joe Bennett and Aly Cissokho. Now, I am not suggesting these are anything near up to the standards of their predecessor Amavi, especially going forward, however, I see no reason why either of them should be overlooked, with the current options we have, at least until we are able to recruit a more suitable replacement in January.
Cissokho started extremely well at The Villans at the beginning of the 14/15 season alongside the likes of Senderos and Vlaar, and I think we were all considerably impressed by what he was providing us with, he would make powerful runs forward to provide us with width, and at times had a very useful delivery too.
His defending wasn’t too bad either, and there didn’t seem an immediate issue. As the season went on however he did begin to see a dip in form, and ended up being sent out on loan, we haven’t seen him since. Cissokho is currently out in Porto, but has only made one appearance this 2015/16 season, should Garde get him back?
Joe Bennett has received a lot of stick during his time at Villa, with lots unjustifiably so. He was no world beater, of course, and was hardly a shining star, however, when he has played he has offered more than many others do in his position.
I always thought Bennett looked good on the ball, and I’m sure others will agree with me that he was one of our better crossers of the ball on his left foot (not that he has a lot to compete with) and so it always baffled me when he was continuously overlooked. Joe made 25 appearances in the 2012-13 season, followed by just the 5 in the next campaign and since then has been performing well on loan, particularly on the South Coast in a Brighton shirt.
I myself am fairly local to Brighton and so have heard many glowing reports on his behalf after an impressive 2014/15 season for them alongside other Villa loanee Gary Gardner, many of whom had been pleased with his attacking contributions as well as his defensive displays.
Should we recall him from his current time at Bournemouth? He doesn’t seem to be getting a game there after all.
We’ve seen others fill in at left back in the past, Ciaran Clark seemed unconvincing during his occasional appearances there, he certainly offers very little in an attacking sense and seems to be far more suited to a central role. Or what about Ilori? Yet to be seen in a Villa shirt and can supposedly fill in anywhere across the back four, worth a try surely?
The problem is for Garde, as much as we’d all love to give him all the time in the world to find a solution, he simply does not have it, it has to happen fast.
