"I thought he walked into a spider's web there (Aston Villa), and he's got caught in it now. People might think he didn't do his job , buy I think he did the best job he could". " I don't think the players are giving any manager who
walks in there the respect that they deserve and Remi was just one of those who got caught up in the web. They don't respect the club they're playing for and that's the problem", was the statement made by Villa Legend Paul McGrath vindicating sacked Aston Villa's coach Remi Garde .
Remi Garde took over the Aston Villa job from Tim Sherwood on 2 November 2015. By the time Garde left the club by Mutual consent on Tuesday, he won only two games, drawing six and losing 12 in his 20 Premier league games in charge . As a result Villa are bottom of the league (nine points adrift of 19th placed Newcastle United) with eight games to go.
While Garde might not be entirely exempted from blame, majority of the blame should go to the board of Aston Villa who have gradually seen the demise of the once European Cup Champions. Season after season, Aston Villa for three years now have fought relegation since the time of Paul Lambert in the 2012/2013 season. Also Aston Villa have sold their best players while signing less average players as replacement. The likes of James Milner, Ashley Young, Stewart Downing and James Collins have all left for huge fees yet no better replacements signed.
This season alone, Aston Villa's recruitment was flawed with the likes of Christian Benteke (£32m) and Fabian Delph (£10m) all sold to both Liverpool and Manchester City. In came injury prone and inconsistent, Adama Traore (£7m) from Barcelona and also on £40,000 a week wages , Jordan Ayew and Rudy Gestede (combined £14m) with little or no attacking impact felt. All together this season , Villa made 12 signings, yet none have proven a descent signing.
It is clear that all previous Aston Villa managers from Paul Lambert to Tim Sherwood to Remi Garde all fought internal battles which distracted and drained them from concentrating on the more important on-field matters .
Such was the grace to grass fall of the Midlands club that Club Chairman Steve Hollis acted quickly to dismiss Sporting Director Hendrik Almstadt and Chief Executive Tom Fox, long after the axing of Head of Recruitment, Paddy Riley.
In defence, tested and failed English players Jolean Lescott and Micah Ricards were signed on free transfer and the pair's abysmal form have shown the reasons they came on a free with no club ready to sign them.
With little or nothing to play for, Aston Villa must surely prepare for life in the Championship as interim coach Eric Black probably might not be able to overturn a nine point deficit and guide the team out of relegation . Surely American owner -Randy Lerner's absenteeism style of management might have worsened the situation .
Aston Villa are clearly the team on the low and must overhaul it's club structure to make any on and off-field progress , starting from next season.
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