Gerard Houllier rules out Michael Owen signing
Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has ruled out signing Manchester United striker Michael Owen.
Owen is currently spending a lot of time in the treatment room and there are big doubts in the media over whether his contract at United will be extended at the end of the current season. However, Houllier
has said there is no chance of signing Owen in January.
"No, no. In terms of some strikers Emile (Heskey) and John (Carew) will come back. There is no point," Houllier said.
Houllier seems content with the attacking parts of his squad although he has admitted that one or two additions will have to be made to other areas. Aston Villa is playing a
lot of young players at the moment, which means it may take a lot longer for the team to start playing consistently.
"We definitely need to sign one or two players in January.
The only thing with young players is you need sometimes to be patient and sometimes to be indulgent," he added.
Houllier sees the main problem with his current team as a lack of experience. Captain Stiliyan Petrov is out injured and cannot control the middle of the side and help
the younger players.
This means that when the likes of Marc Albrighton and Barry Bannan play badly, they may let their heads drop, which will affect their performance unless a more experienced
player picks them up.
"I think at some stage one of them will have a very poor game, but you
must not judge on one game. It's a whole picture thing. That's what I said to young Bannan because he was distraught after the game against Burnley [Carling Cup].
I said 'hang on, you're not in the team because of one game'. He thought it was a make-or-break game," said Houllier.
Betting advice
For now be a little wary in backing the Aston Villa attack. Once the big and powerful strikers return the side will have greater fire power, which will mean a better chance
of winning more games.
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