VILLA HIRE SET-PIECE EXPERT…THEN SHIP THREE GOALS FROM DEAD BALLS!
IF NEWCASTLE’S new owners believe wealth will quickly bring success, then a glance at Aston Villa’s recent history should change their minds. Though Villa owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens do not have the resources of the Saudi-backed Public Investment Fund, their combined net worth is estimated by Forbes magazine at nearly £10billion. Since rescuing the club from the brink of oblivion in 2018, NSWE have spent about £300million on new players and re-established Villa in the top flight. Yet this bizarre derby defeat by Wolves reminded them that the summit is as far away as ever. No matter how rich they are, any pretender in English football must accept years of frustration before they can compete with the elite. After Villa had beaten Derby in the 2019 Championship play-off final, Sawiris said: ‘The sky is the limit with such a fanbase
and such a great squad.’
Yet the club avoided immediate relegation only on the final day of the following season and, despite making progress last year when they finished 11th, they could not convince talisman Jack Grealish to stick around. A boyhood fan and the hero of the Holte End, Grealish was still not convinced he could reach the Champions League with Villa and joined Manchester City for £100m last summer. Even without Grealish, Villa have a solid squad, but how many of them would interest a Champions League club? Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, defender
Ezri Konsa and forward Ollie Watkins certainly would — along with John McGinn at his best — but that is about it. And on the flip side, how do Villa attract players who can help them fulfil the owners’ ambitions? Since that dreadful 2019-20 season, when Villa were lucky to beat the drop, they have got plenty right. They have spent wisely, and investment in their academy is starting to bear fruit. Yet even the most optimistic Villa fan knows it will take the best part of a decade to break into the top four. Given they have a much better squad and
nfrastructure than Newcastle, that
hould make the new rulers in the North East pause for thought. Wolves, too, have reined in their spending
ince becoming a solid top-flight club under their Chinese owners Fosun — hough who needs money when you have he spirit Bruno Lage’s men displayed in his remarkable derby?
railing 2-0 after 80 minutes to goals from Danny Ings and the outstanding McGinn, Wolves suddenly came to life. Romain
aiss started the comeback before Conor oady equalised, and Ruben Neves won it n the fifth minute of stoppage time with a free-kick that took a huge deflection off Matt Targett. Aston Villa brought in Austin MacPhee as a set-piece coach during the summer, yet that could not prevent them conceding all three goals from dead-ball situations. After winning at Manchester United last month, Villa have suffered back-to-back defeats and travel to Arsenal on Friday. By contrast, Wolves have nine points from a possible nine after opening the campaign with three straight losses. Villa boss Dean Smith planned to review the game with his players yesterday.
He said: ‘We will put this result behind us. As disappointing and painful as it is now, there is nothing we can change. ‘For 80 minutes we were comfortable against a good team.’ ASTON VILLA (3-4-1-2): Martinez 6; Konsa 7, Tuanzebe 5, Mings 6; Cash 7 (Young 79min), McGINN 7.5, Luiz 7 (Nakamba 67, 6), Targett 6; Buendia 6.5 (Ramsey 74); Watkins 7, Ings 6.5. Scorers: Ings 48, McGinn 68. Booked: Mings, Watkins. Manager: Dean Smith 6.5. WOLVES (3-5-2): Sa 6.5; Kilman 7, Coady 6, Saiss 6; Semedo 6, Dendoncker 7, Neves 6.5, Moutinho 6 (Silva 74, 6), Marcal 5 (Podence 74, 7); Hwang 5 (Jimenez 88), Traore 7. Scorers: Saiss 80, Coady 85, Neves 90+5. Booked: Neves, Coady, Dendoncker. Manager: Bruno Lage 6.5. Referee: Michael Oliver 6. Attendance: 41,951.