Why Steve Bruce has made a backwards step with this January addition
COMMENT by Amir Mir
It was the first January signing made by Aston Villa and one that was pretty high up on Steve Bruce’s wanted list. A new goalkeeper.
Sam Johnstone, the Manchester United academy product, was the player tasked to help erase the club’s continual costly mistakes between the sticks.
The 23-year-old was drafted in on loan and was instantly given his debut against Premier League side Tottenham during an FA Cup clash.
Despite his team’s poor display, the youngster stood out and showed promise that he can deliver the goods for the Championship promotion hopefuls.
However, Johnstone has since proven that he is no different than those before him because, in the space of four Championship games, he has already cost the club a costly six points.
It seems now that Bruce has taken a backwards step in adding Johnstone to his ranks and it won’t be any surprise if the club opts against bringing him back in August.
As harsh as it may sound, Johnstone needed to instantly and consistently deliver for Villa, rather than learn as he goes on, else what was the point in loaning out Gollini?
The club’s goalkeepers in recent years have perhaps summed up Villa’s fall from the top tier of English football to the second tier – a complete catastrophe.
From Shay Given, Brad Guzan, Jed Steer, Mark Bunn, Pierluigi Gollini and now Johnstone, all have proven to be costly additions.
Either give a youngster a chance to make mistakes, learn and prove himself, else the club will carry on to try and fill the boots of their last great shot-stopper, Brad Freidel, who left seven years ago.
In other Aston Villa news, Paul McGrath has praised the club’s ace after a Twitter dispute.
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