Alan Hutton: Losing Michael Beale a massive blow to Aston Villa
We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…
Alan Hutton feels that losing Michael Beale was a massive blow for Aston Villa after Steven Gerrard’s comments on backroom changes impacting his team.
Gerrard suggested [Express & Star, 20 September] that losing the now QPR boss wasn’t ideal for his side’s preparations for the Premier League season.
Hutton feels that it isn’t an excuse from Gerrard and that it will have definitely had an impact on Villa’s slow start to the season.
“I don’t think Steven Gerrard will be making excuses, I think it’s facts,” Hutton exclusively told Villa News.
“I think Michael Beale leaving is a massive part of it, he did all of the training and the work behind the scenes.
“He prepared a lot of the seminars for the up-and-coming coaches and he’s a very intelligent man, so to lose someone like that will be a huge blow and Steven Gerrard will be adjusting to the fact that he’s not there.
“It is down to the manager now, he’s added people to help him out but it’s about focussing on him now and being the best version of himself.
“It’s about him nailing down the formation and the personnel. The process is there but it’s not going to happen overnight.
“I know he’s spent a lot of money, but there just needs to be a bit of patience now.”
The international break could well have come at a good time for Gerrard and Villa with there being a better feeling surrounding the club after their victory over Southampton last weekend [16 September].
The extra time on the training field will be vital for the Villa boss as he looks to find a way to navigate a defensive injury crisis at the club with Matty Cash, Lucas Digne, Diego Carlos and defensive midfielder Boubacar Kamara all sidelined.
In other Aston Villa news, a position change for John McGinn could see Steven Gerrard unlock his potential