Aston Villa are in a spot of bother in the Premier League.
Unai Emery has watched his team slip into the bottom half of the Premier League table and there is now huge pressure on everyone.
On Wednesday night, Aston Villa host free-scoring Brentford at Villa Park, days before they also welcome newly-promoted Southampton to the Midlands.
If the eight-game winless continues, then the reaction from the fanbase isn’t going to be pleasant.
Many are trying to work out what has been going wrong in the Premier League because Villa have kept four clean sheets in the Champions League and still have a strong chance of a top-eight finish.
Gabby Agbonlahor rightfully pointed towards the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and Financial Fair Play (FFP), which meant that the club were forced to sell key players in the summer.
Douglas Luiz joined Juventus – with the now-loaned-out duo Samuel Iling Junior and Enzo Barrenechea heading in the other direction.
All-action winger Moussa Diaby also moved to the Saudi Pro League – only 12 months after moving to Aston Villa from Bayer Leverkusen.
As a result, Villa brought back Jaden Philogene after his successful season with Hull City and nabbed the experienced Ross Barkley from relegated Luton Town.
Gabby Agbonlahor deems Jaden Philogene and Ross Barkley not good enough for Aston Villa
Even though Barkley had a spell at Villa under Dean Smith and Philogene worked under Emery when he first came in to replace Steven Gerrard.
The duo haven’t started many games as they would have liked – between them they have started seven matches in all competitions.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Agbonlahor claimed that Philogene is ‘not at the level’ of those in claret and blue, and also questioned the signing of Barkley.
“You get top four, you want to go again, you want to fight for top three or two, whatever,” said Agbonlahor. “But you have to sell your best player, Douglas Luiz. You have to sell Diaby.
“You bring in Barkley. Decent player. Just been relegated with Luton. Philogene, decent player, not at the level of what Aston Villa need, from Championship Hull. This is what I am talking about and you expect Aston Villa to go in the Champions League, in the Premier League and fight on both fronts. It’s impossible.
“Philogene, a decent young player, but not at the levels of Aston Villa, I am sorry to say that.”
Show Philogene and Barkley respect
Agbonlahor was right to mention the financial side of things and how Emery lost all that stability in the summer – Luiz and Diaby – that I agree with, no doubt.
But to state that Philogene is ‘not at the level’ of Villa is a low blow and simply pathetic, to be honest. Perhaps Agbonlahor needs to look back at the latter years of his career and helping relegate the club?!
Just because Philogene came from the Championship doesn’t mean that he isn’t worthy of wearing the shirt – and the same applies to Barkley, with his relegation.
Remember, Morgan Rogers signed from Championship side Middlesbrough last January, yet now he is being lauded and applauded. He is an England international and helped the club to the Champions League.
Youri Tielemans signed from relegated Leicester City – during a summer when a host of midfield players were going for £100m+ – Villa paid nothing for the Belgian star.
Once again, he played a key role in the team getting into Europe’s elite competition and he has been the best player this season.
So, whilst you can rant about PSR etc and be correct about it, don’t disrespect Philogene, who was excellent against Bayern Munich when he was handed his first start of the season, and has only had a few starts since then, on top of injuries.
Yes, Philogene was poor against Chelsea, but that doesn’t mean you write him off after only a few months back.
And if you watched Villa’s games, you will notice how well Barkley has played, especially when coming off the bench, he provides that control and Emery needs to start him a lot more!
