Aston Villa, England, Global, Premier League

With so many foreign players being exhibited each week in the Premier League, it was refreshing to see Aston Villa, a historic club with strong traditions, field a side containing eight English players this week.

Whilst building the defence around experience of Laursen, Mellberg and Bouma, Villa were able to field a side against West Ham on Saturday with a core of English talent. This is mainly due to the traditions and beliefs of their current manager Martin O’Neill. O’Neill has been touted as a future England manager, and it was widely thought that he would succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson after last year’s disappointing World Cup in Germany.

England’s loss has been Aston Villa’s gain. Thought of as a sleeping giant, the Midlands club have made a steady start to their new association with O’Neill and the signs are looking good for the future. Despite bringing in some experienced journeyman immediately after O’Neill took charge at Villa Park, this was seen as only a temporary fix until he was able to assess the requirements of the club. Players have come and gone in the first year of his tenure and the present squad boasts an array of fine English talent.

“It is refreshing to see a club like Aston Villa invest in some of the best talent that England has to offer”

Although current market forces have made O’Neill arguably pay over the odds for certain individuals - captain Nigel Reo-Coker cost the club £8.5million and Curtis Davies could cost the club £9million if his current loan deal is made permanent next season - the £8million paid for Ashley Young looks like a shrewd piece of business with the exciting youngster starting the season in exceptional form and, as a consequence, he is surely close to a full England cap.

The Aston Villa manager has also been able to blood exciting academy players Luke Moore and Gabriel Agbonlahor into the first team with great success, whilst it has been goals from Craig Gardner that has secured the points for the Villans in their last two league outings.

The question of Aston Villa’s possible challenge to the monopoly of the top four remains in doubt for this season although it is clear that the inspirational Irishman is looking to build a team capable of challenging in the future. O’Neill’s side will undoubtedly have a core of English players for the foreseeable future and it is of no coincidence that Gareth Barry looks like becoming an England regular under his stewardship. On-loan goalkeeper Scott Carson, who performed well in last summer’s under-21 European Championships, may also be seeking a permanent contract at the club if discussions over his future with Liverpool continue to falter come the end of the season. Paul Robinson’s recent misdemeanours for club and country could even open the door for Carson to become England’s number one for next summer’s European Championships, should they qualify.

Much has been made of the dearth of home grown talent coming through the academies at Premier League clubs and graduating into the first team. With international investment at an all time high in the Premier League, clubs are able to attract the best young players from all over the world with extensive, well-paid contracts at the expense of young English players. It is refreshing to see a club like Aston Villa invest in some of the best talent that England has to offer, as well as developing the skills of academy players.

With the American investment of Randy Learner behind him, O’Neill will be determined to prove the doubters of the quality of young English players wrong and move Aston Villa forward. They could be at the start of an exciting chapter in the club’s history.

Will Villa benefit from picking English ahead of foreign players? Share your views by leaving a comment below.

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