In 0, Out 2

By Mat Kendrick on Feb 2, 10 11:41 AM

SO, not so much as a Wayne Routledge then...

Once again the January transfer window creaked shut at Villa Park with a sense of anti-climax. But is anyone surprised?

I'm not.

The manager openly admitted that funds were not being made available last month and his body language when asked 'Why not?' was that of a man anxious to quickly change the subject.

The answer to 'Why not?' is probably the fact that chairman/owner Randy Lerner has already coughed up more than £140million of his own cash, according to figures published last week - and wants to see a tangible return on his significant investment (in terms of trophies. Or top four. Or both) before he digs deep once more.

Therefore, the only way manager Martin O'Neill was going to build up a transfer kitty was by selling some of his unlucky fringe players/deadwood, depending on which way you look at.

No disrespect but the sale of Craig Gardner, Marlon Harewood (if he was fit and could seal a deal to multitude of clubs supposedly after him) and Habib Beye (if Sunderland were willing to match the big money he is on at Villa) was never going to bring in oodles of cash.

So, this superstar centre-forward, to take the pressure off Gabby, that the fans craved - and that O'Neill would have loved - was always going to be a long-shot.

Robbie Keane would have been ideal for Villa but Harry Redknapp is far too long in the tooth, and in the face, to have allowed the striker to join Tottenham's top four rivals.

Michael Owen was pure fantasy. So that leaves Villa 'as they were' with Agbonlahor, John Carew and Emile Heskey as their only fit and available senior strikers.

O'Neill is reluctant to burden Nathan Delfouneso with a regular Premier League role, fearing it could be too much too soon for the promising youngster.

Fingers crossed Agbonlahor will stay fit, fatigue-free and in-form and Heskey and Carew will make a real battle of who should partner him up front.

But, failing that, I wouldn't be too surprised to see a return to 4-5-1 during the closing stages of the season - or even Ashley Young employed in the more attacking role he played in the FA Cup win over Brighton.

As for the rest of the squad, O'Neill seems blessed with quality first choice players in all of the other positions and decent enough cover. That's with the possible exception of left-back.

Nicky Shorey's departure on loan to Fulham for the rest of the season suggests Stephen Warnock's shin injury is not as severe as first feared and we should get an update on that when we catch up with the manager tomorrow.

Also, Freddie Bouma's encouraging return to reserve team action in the win over Chelsea suggests that there is light at the end of the tunnel for the Dutch defender.

So Villa go into run-in with largely the same group of players that got them to the Carling Cup final, FA Cup last 16 and within touching distance of the Champions League places.

Personally, I'm convinced that, even without additions, the quality is there to prosper on all three fronts. Because it is just as much about confidence, belief and learning the lessons of last season as it is about big-money, high-profile signings.