Alex McLeish says Aston Villa's summer business left them vulnerable
Wednesday 23 December 2015 12:52, UK
Former Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish thinks the Midlands club are struggling this season due to their failure to replace the goals of Christian Benteke.
Belgium international Benteke banged in 13 goals for Villa last term but they still finished just three points above the drop zone.
Benteke then moved on to Liverpool in the summer, when the Reds met the price that activated his release clause, and his former club have struggled badly in his absence.
Ahead of the Boxing Day visit of West Ham, Villa have accrued just seven Premier League points, and they are five points adrift at the bottom of the table.
Manager Remi Garde has been in charge since November and says he and his staff have been working hard to improve the squad's fitness.
When you lose a player that scores you 10 to 15 goals a season, it is going to be very, very difficult if you can't replace that guy.
However, McLeish thinks Villa's problems are more personnel-related.
Asked what he thought of Garde's comments about fitness, McLeish told Sky Sports News HQ: "It is possibly one that a lot of managers use when they go into a club and they take over from someone.
"The first thing they tend to look at is the fitness levels, and they make the players run a little bit longer and harder.
"But, when you lose a player that scores you 10 to 15 goals a season from your team it is going to be very, very difficult if you can't replace that guy.
"I think that has been a big factor in Villa not being able to win games, not getting the goals from Benteke."
Villa did spend in the transfer market last summer but the new boys have struggled to make an impression and McLeish is concerned that proven Premier League ability is in short supply.
He said: "When you recruit a lot of guys, talented they may be, and they may prove to be brilliant, but they are unproven in the Premier League, unproven sometimes even in their own leagues.
"It is difficult for these guys to settle in and hit the ground running straight away.
"That is why it has not surprised me that Villa have struggled this season. I think they need some experience."
