Evaluating Aston Villa's Summer Signings at the Quarter Pole
Paul Lambert's Aston Villa have survived a challenging opening to their Premier League campaign, having earned eleven points through the season's first ten games.
With a quarter of the season behind them, Lambert's summer transfer signings have performed with mixed results. Some new players have become regular fixtures in the starting XI while others have struggled to get on the pitch.
This article will rate the new Villa players on their performances so far, comparing their rating now with the grade given to them after the transfer window closed.
The primary criteria for evaluating the players will be their overall performance on the pitch, their contributions relative to their transfer price and how the player fits a need for the team as a whole.
Aleksandar Tonev
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Signed for £2.5 million from Lech Poznan, winger Aleksandar Tonev has been largely disappointing in his young Aston Villa career.
The Bulgarian has featured seven times for Villa (five of those appearances as a substitute), and he has frustrated the fans with his poor decision-making and wild shots from distance.
Perhaps most troubling is that he has failed to complete a single cross in the Premier League. As a winger it is essential for Tonev to improve in this area and to offer dangerous crosses for the aerially dominant Christian Benteke to convert.
Although he has been unimpressive so far, Tonev is just 23 years old and is one of the few wide players in the Villa squad. If Tonev can show more composure and discipline then he may find success at Villa Park.
Current Rating: C+
Jores Okore
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Danish defender Jores Okore arrived at Villa Park with a great deal of anticipation surrounding his £4 million signing from Nordsjaelland.
Okore was expected to be a major boost to a defense that had greatly struggled in Lambert's debut season. Unfortunately for Villa fans their excitement has been tempered by an ACL injury that has left Okore sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Nonetheless, Okore's combination of physicality and talent were displayed during his few appearances in a Villa shirt and the centre-back will be welcomed back with open arms upon his return from injury.
While his injury may stall his development, Okore is still a tremendous prospect that the Villa Park faithful will be eager to see return to action.
Current Rating: A-
Leandro Bacuna
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Little was expected of Leandro Bacuna when the Dutch player signed from FC Groningen for just £1 million. For a relatively low transfer fee it seemed a reasonable price for a versatile, if unheralded player.
Just ten games later, Villa's lowest profile signing has had the largest impact of the Villa newcomers. Having displaced Matthew Lowton at right-back, Bacuna has seized the opportunity to impress.
The Dutchman contributes equally in attack and defense, produces dangerous crosses and has even bagged a goal from a free kick against Manchester City.
Having already displayed his versatility by featuring at both full-back positions, as well as central midfield, Bacuna has been a bargain signing and a tremendous asset for Lambert's team.
Current Rating: A
Nicklas Helenius
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Nicklas Helenius has had an uncertain beginning to his Villa career so far; he has yet to start a match and has made just three substitute appearances.
The Danish striker, who was player of the year in the Danish Superliga, signed from Aalborg for £2 million during the summer. A crafty player, the skillful forward seemed an enticing complement to star striker Benteke.
Unfortunately, the Villa fans haven't seen enough of Helenius to properly gauge his potential. In the limited action he has seen, the Dane has displayed strong footwork and passing but has not demonstrated the goalscoring abilities expected of a striker.
Helenius, another young player at 22, has plenty of time to prove his worth. But he was unable to break into the team during Benteke's injury absence, suggesting that Lambert does not yet fully trust the Danish striker.
Current Rating: C-
Antonio Luna
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Antonio Luna, the scorer of the game-clinching goal at the Emirates on opening day, was always going to find it a challenge to improve upon such a memorable debut.
While he has experienced his share of growing pains, the Spaniard has successfully integrated into the team as its new starting left-back.
At time, he has been troubled defensively by the likes of Andros Townsend, but his performances indicate that he is a significant improvement over last season's starter, Joe Bennett.
Signed for £2 million from Sevilla, Luna has been a solid, if unspectacular addition to Lambert's squad that has improved upon the team's greatest need coming into the season.
Current Rating: B+
Jed Steer
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A former player under Lambert at Norwich City, goalkeeper Jed Steer came to Villa Park on a free transfer from Carrow Road. With Shay Given out of the first-team picture, Steer has become firmly entrenched as Brad Guzan's understudy at the club.
Having only played thus far in the Capital One Cup, Steer has had little time to display his talents. As a free transfer that the manager has experience working with, Steer was an ideal acquisition to serve as a reserve keeper and he fits Lambert's mold of young, hungry players.
Current Rating: B
Libor Kozak
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The deadline day signing of Libor Kozak was a shock to many. Arriving for the relatively hefty price of £6 million, Kozak was the Europa League's leading scorer last season for Lazio.
As Villa's most expensive signing of the summer, the Czech striker has failed to live up to his transfer fee thus far. In his six appearances he has scored one goal, the winner against Norwich, but he failed to positively impact the team in most other areas.
A physically imposing player, Kozak is more experienced than many of his teammates. But his technique and hold-up play are in need of improvement if he wishes to break into the starting XI with regularity.
With Lambert's team desperately needing a creative influence, it is puzzling why the Scottish manager elected to spend heavily on another striker, especially a player as one-dimensional as Kozak.
Current Rating: C-
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