‘Goes under the radar’: Paul Merson says duo who left Aston Villa in summer a big miss

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Paul Merson has stated that the departures of Richard O’Kelly and John Terry this summer have been a huge miss for Aston Villa boss Dean Smith, as he told Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports (30/10/21 at 1:20 pm).

The TV pundit thinks them leaving Villa has gone ‘under the radar’ amid the club’s poor start to the new Premier League season.

Terry re-joined Villa as a coach when Smith took charge of the club three years ago, whilst O’Kelly has worked alongside the Villa boss from day dot and since their days in England’s lower leagues.

The Chelsea legend left before the start of pre-season, whilst O’Kelly headed for the exit door days before the opening day of the new Premier League season – both were planned.

Given Villa’s struggles, Merson agreed that we are quick to forget how much of an impact the above duo leaving has had on the club and Smith himself.

“Oh, very much so,” said Merson. “I think that goes under the radar. It’s a big part of it, for how big a manager you are.

“You watch Sir Alex Ferguson over the years, he was great, but he always changed the coach after a couple of years. A different voice.

“But them two are very good. One is a very experienced coach in O’Kelly. Then, another one is an up and coming one in John Terry. I think that’s a part of it.

“He is caught in between now. He went to a three at the back and it started off well – now they have lost three on the trot playing three at the back. Do you now go back to a back four?”

Craig Shakespeare is still at Bodymoor Heath, after joining last season, whilst Aaron Danks was the fresh face brought to the club this summer.

Then there is Villa’s new set-piece coach, Austin MacPhee, who has made a difference in how the club operates from dead-ball situations and throw-ins.

The coaching staff isn’t the issue, but the call to play three at the back, which just isn’t working.

With the ball, Villa can’t keep possession, play in a fluid manner and pass the ball with speed.

Then, without the ball, they aren’t pressing in the manner in which they can, the team ends up dropping too deep and starts to concede too much play in their own defensive third.

With in-form West Ham visiting Villa Park later on Sunday afternoon, the home fans will be hoping that Smith reverts to a 4-3-3 or 4–2-3-1 formation and those dreaded wing-backs.