Villa’s back problem

Friday, 03/02/2012

by Steven Green, Shoot's Aston Villa blogger

One thing that has been clear to see for a while, and has now been highlighted over the last two games is that Villa’s full backs are doing more harm than good.

Two games, two comical own goals (one for each) and countless poor crosses are starting to become a serious concern in two positions where there isn’t much of a choice in alternatives.

Stephen Warnock has not been playing well for a while. Last season Gerard Houllier had the sense to drop him before having to leave his post due to illness and now under Alex McLeish he finds himself with the position all to himself, no matter how poorly he plays – there is virtually no one else who can take his place.

Both Houllier and McLeish have used young Ciaran Clark as a makeshift left back but it’s clear that the position does not come naturally to him and is no long-term solution.

Alan Hutton on the other hand, or the ‘Scottish Cafu’ as someone who clearly hadn’t taken their rose tinted glasses off had labelled him, has been nothing short of awful. He has pace but no ball control, he can tackle but you fear for the legs of the player on the receiving end and he lacks any real positional sense.

Put these two together and you have a recipe for disaster. Something is going wrong at the back for Villa and we’ve all come to realise that it isn’t the centre backs. Richard Dunne and James Collins aren’t perfect but they communicate with each other and will put their bodies on the line and Carlos Cuellar is the touch of class that every defence needs. They both go to ground too soon and give away more than a fair share of free kicks and penalties.

Perhaps it’s time to start playing Eric Lichaj now that he’s back to full fitness. The young American impressed when he came into the squad last season and Leeds fans have been very vocal after he did well during a loan spell there. Unfortunately there isn’t a more natural alternative at left back but it’s worth noting that when Warnock was playing so well two years ago was when he had Wilfred Bouma and Nicky Shorey breathing down his neck.

Villa are stuck with them until the summer at least. McLeish’s dismay at Warnock’s performances recently suggest that the former England international will be moving on but the manager will feel that he can get the best out of his compatriot after working with him at Rangers and at international level with Scotland.

The lack of transfer activity in January was disappointing to say the least but there is nothing that can be done about that now. The best Villa can hope for now is either a miraculous return to form for the hapless duo or one of the impressive youngsters from the youth academy makes a claim for some first team football.

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