The Aston Villa trio have experienced a subpar Championship campaign.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce can point to a set of emerging positive signs despite his team’s inconsistencies this season.
Since taking charge of the Midlands club in October, Bruce has led Villa from 19th to 12th position in the Championship table and has started to place his influence on the side with the January transfers of Henri Lansbury, Conor Hourihane, James Bree, Sam Johnstone, Neil Taylor and Birkir Bjarnason.
However, Bruce may be far than enamoured with the displays of three of his most disappointing performers – including one man signed for big money with the remit of firing Villa back to the Premier League.
Ross McCormack
The striker was signed at the start of the season by Villa due in part to his impressive track record in the Championship – where McCormack has scored more than 100 goals in the division. However, despite a large outlay, McCormack has disappointed both on and off the field of play.
The Scotland international forward managed three goals in 20 league games for Villa before being shipped out on loan to Nottingham Forest for the remainder of the campaign. McCormack has also been involved in a high-profiled disagreement with Bruce in relation to missing training, and the striker’s attitude and application; cementing the 30-year-old’s status as an expensive mistake.
Jack Grealish
The talented winger’s experience of Championship football is a fine microcosm of Villa’s inconsistencies since dropping from the Premier League. Grealish has made Villa’s starting XI on just 18 occasions and has been suspended for more games than he has goals this season.
After previous controversies, Grealish, who showed significant potential upon breaking into the first team under former boss Tim Sherwood, has cut a divisive figure having been the focus of further indiscipline this season – as the BBC reported that the 21-year-old was subject to an internal investigation by the club earlier in the campaign, in addition to being suspended for violent conduct after a Championship clash with Wolves in October.
Leandro Bacuna
Another Villa player who has missed valuable playing time via indiscipline is Leandro Bacuna – who is currently serving a six-game ban after an altercation with an official during Villa’s recent home victory over Derby County.
Bacuna, who upon relegation from the Premier League at the end of last season suggested that Villa was a stepping-stone for his Champions League aspirations, has flattered to deceive during his time in the Championship; with the title of utility man perhaps best befitting the 25-year-old.
Whether one, two or all three of the disappointing trio have futures at Villa Park remain to be seen – but McCormack, Grealish and Bacuna have certainly underperformed and failed to meet expectations throughout 2016-17.
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