Which new signing has impressed you most?
Having played six games so far this season, plus a couple in the cup, I’m pretty interested to hear which of our new signings has impressed you most so far?
We signed a fair few in the summer, and as we wrote previously it’s nice to see some real quality and depth on our substitute bench, certainly makes a welcome change. Here is a list of the signings, with most of them already making an impact:
Karim El Ahmadi
Brett Holman
Matthew Lowton
Ron Vlaar
Joe Bennett
Jordan Bowery
Ashley Westwood
Christian Benteke
Looking at it closely, and it’s quite hard to pick out a candidate. There are a few who haven’t really been given a chance yet (Westwood, Bowery) and a couple who have only played a few games (Bennett and Benteke), though this doesn’t necessarily rule them out from the esteemed, and imaginary UTV best signing award.
I’ve been impressed with the top four in this list and they all bring a lot to the table. El Ahmadi just oozes quality, and has provided a calm head and good distributor in the middle of the park, something we sorely miss with Stan out. I’d still like for him to really stamp his authority on the game at times, but it has been an encouraging start for the player.
Holman has also begun to be noticed by the wider footballing world, and after Sunday I’m convinced Gary Neville has a bit of a man crush on the Australian international. We all know what he brings, and that is a great will to win and desire to get involved, and his amazing work ethic has been well received by the Villa faithful. He lacks a bit of quality at times, but I think that will improve, and hopefully we see him getting amongst the goals sooner rather than later. He’s perfectly capable as we saw in preseason.
I have been pretty impressed with Lowton in the right back role, and after the tough time we had filling the position last season, it’s nice to see some stability. He’s adapted pretty seamlessly to the rigours of the Premiership, and save for a couple of mistakes he hasn’t looked out of place. He gets forward well, and as we saw against Swansea he can strike a good ball.
Ron Vlaar was a fan favourite when he was linked, and the big Dutchman has done pretty darn well since coming in. He was correctly named captain, and has impressed overall to date. The partnership with Clark has looked a bit ropey at times, and I’m interested to see what happens when Dunne comes back to full fitness. He has a surprising turn of speed, and as you’d expect is pretty dominant in the air. I think he was unlucky with the goal conceded against West Brom, though I’m sure some will think he might have done better. As I say though overall the player has done well.
For me, and as I mentioned it’s a tough one, it would probably at the moment be between Lowton and Vlaar, with maybe Lowton shading it. Vlaar has a decent amount of experience, but for Lowton to step up from league one and not really look out of place is an impressive achievement. Still at the end of the day, it’s nice that a number of players are doing well….can only bode well for the Villa!
How about you folks? As per would love to hear your thoughts.
UTV.
Aston Villa News 24/7
by far ron vlaar strong, committed and plays from the back. El ahmadi is far to weak as a holding mifielder good ball player though, lowton needs to be in line with the rest of the defenders he plays people on and allows people to run off him to easy, holman works his bollocks off but has no end product but i think that shall come, benteke is hot n cold but understandable but bennett, bowery and westwood cant really judge em yet
Karim El Ahmadi has been brilliant. Like Stan, he will rarely get the man of the match award, but the control and simple passing he does to create time and space for others is vital. Cool, calm, uses both feet and has good vision and variety of passes.
Bret Holman has been a great addition. Works his socks off is keen to get forward and link up with the strikers; but needs a little more composure.
I love Concrete Ron. He will be a great and popular leader. It’s early days, but he has some way to go to even be talked about in the same breath as McGrath or Laursen. I hope he gets there.
Need more time to really judge the others.
UTV
Vlaar hasnt convinced me as yet,too many errors,Holman on the other hand has,seems to be a good all rounder with a great engine !
El Ahmadi seems tidy on the ball but lacks strength in centre midfield !
The fullbacks,im not convinced with either,Benteke is a bit raw but could do well when he settles down !
[...] on today regarding which summer signing has impressed you most up until this point of the season (Link), and there were a number of different answers as you’d expect. One man that kept popping up [...]
Originally I would have gone for KEA but he hasn’t been as good since the Newcastle game. I would say Holman now. Great workrate and starting to show what he can do attack wise. Tbh, I am confident that the majority of our signings will be a success. Benteke is the one that I feel will go either way.
Annoyingly i’m most impressed by Holman because he seems to be everywhere and always looks up for it.
I say annoyingly because he wasn’t a Lambert signing!
Haha it seems that the signing of Holman, for most people at least, was one of the only good things to come out of the McLeish era. Fans will also respond to players who give their all, and Holman certainly does that.
Can I say Guzan?
A guy on our Twitter page mentioned Guzan, didn’t even click that technically he’s a new signing. Aside from that though he’s certainly been impressive this season to date.
I’d have to say Joe Bennett, slightly ahead of Brett Holman.
Young Joe looks the real deal to me. I thought he was superb at The Etihad, best full back display I’ve seen from a Villan in a long, long time.
Wow high praise! Didn’t see all of the Man City game, but thought he looked good against the Baggies. Nice that in Lichaj, Lowton and Bennett, we have three young players who all look the part, and who all could be here for a significant period. Certainly makes a welcome change.