http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Karim-El-Ahmadi-c20353 and Ron Vlaar performed highly in the 2011/12 campaign for their respective Eredivisie clubs, and the English Premier League side would be hoping that the trio perform brightly in the upcoming
season as well while wearing Villa colours.
After a dreadful 2011/12 campaign that saw Aston Villa finish 16th on the league table, it was expected that the Villans would be bringing in reinforcements to their squad before the start of the new English Premier
League season.
Although, the club has thus far managed to lure five players to Villa Park, three of the signings really caught the eye last season in Dutch Eredivisie, and Bettor.com takes a look at them.
Brett Holman:
The Villans first signing this summer was the Australian ace, who had been plying his trade at AZ Alkmaar since the summer of 2008. The 28-year-old had an expiring contract at AFAS Stadion, and the Villa management managed to lure
him to Villa Park earlier this year on a free transfer.
Holman had a bright 2011/12 campaign while wearing the jersey of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AZ-c38571, netting five goals while setting up 11 more in 30 league appearances, and the Australian ace has thus far performed impressively for the Villans in their pre-season
games.
The highly-talented winger has phenomenal work rate, and has always shown his nose for scoring goals. In addition, the former Feyenoord attacker has a keen eye to bring his teammates into play as well, and has shown great understanding
with his new teammates at Villa Park in the pre-season fixtures.
Should Holman manages to build on to his current form, he could become one of the best signings of the ongoing summer transfer window.
Karim El Ahmadi
The Villans’ poor showings last term was mainly due to their poor midfield’s performances, and it was evident that the club would be bringing in a quality midfielder to Villa Park before the new English Premier League season kicks-off.
El Ahmadi, who had been performing consistently at the centre of the park for Feyenoord Rotterdam in the past couple of seasons, was earmarked as one of the main candidates to fill in Villa’s midfield before the new season commences,
and was lured successfully to Villa Park earlier this summer.
The 27-year-old midfielder, who has thus far played close to 200 league games since making his debut in the 2003/04 season, will play a key role for Villa in the upcoming season.
The Moroccan international showed great composure on the ball while plying his trade at De Kuip Stadion, and also showed impressive range of passing.
Although, it will certainly take time to adjust in the fast pace competitive English Premier League, the former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Twente-c39233 midfielder is expected to be one of the most influential figures in Villa’s midfield in the 2012/13 campaign.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ron-Vlaar-c31697
Following the departure of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/James-Collins-c17687 to West Ham United, Villa were in search of a central defender, and saw Vlaar as a perfect replacement at the heart of the Villans’ defence.
The 27-year-old, who was plying his trade at http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Feyenoord-c39258 Rotterdam for the past six years, has performed consistently for the past few seasons. His presence at the back-line, his aerial ability and his commitment to stop imposing
strikers makes him one of the best defenders in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Netherlands-c753.
The Dutch international’s arrival at Villa Park has certainly strengthened Aston Villa’s back-line, and has boosted their chances of finishing in the top half of the table in the upcoming season.
Disclaimer: Views and opinions expressed in this article are of writer’s own and do not reflect the editorial policy of bettor.com.
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