Unai Emery's judgment about players is about to be examined as never before.
For a man who appears carefully, modest and reserved, Emery has blown the lid of his outer persona by exchanging Jhon Duran for Marcus Rashford.
Duran was considered a 'challenge' in Villa.
A product of his upbringing in Colombia but still hard work. Let up for training; Too many tantrums on the field.
Rashford did not even come that far in his last death shoes at Manchester United.
A Getupel elbow from the team. Discussed by manager Ruben Amorim for an alleged lack of application.
But his efforts fighting against child poverty suggest that his heart is in the right place.
At first glance, Emery seems to have been exchanged and have taken a gamble at a crucial time for him and his employers as for him and his employers, even the sponsors of Villa's shirt.
They are confronted with Tottenham in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday, which Rashford could see playing for the first time since December 12, after he was connected to the end of the season.
Until the last 16 of the Champions League there is plenty to focus this season.
Similarly, the requirements of fighting on so many fronts have taken his toll in the Premier League.
Villa saw two points of the last nine to eighth place.
The goal for the vast majority of managers who participate in the top competition of Europe is to qualify again the following year, because there is little hope to actually win.
That means that Villa needs a kick-start in the competition.
For this, Emery needs a dedicated team that can be trusted on week in, week out.
No shirkers, no mugs, no Dodgy Sicknotes. Otherwise they are curtains for the boss.
Emery had his fingers burned before he tried to manage distracted stars, where he poorly lost the battle with Mesut Ozil while trying to keep Arsenal on the departure of Arsene Wenger.
He inherited that situation, but nevertheless admitted that he could not change the moody German, and at the time it played an important role in the downward slide of Arsenal.
So far so good with Rashford. The day after signing on Sunday he asked to train while his teammates were eliminated.
A cracking start, but then it is usually before the expectation starts.
Rashford is in mothballs for almost two months. He has to walk on the floor and keep his nose clean until May to convince us that he is not broken at only 27.
Duran was difficult, but still achieved 12 goals before Villa made a win of £ 50 million plus by sculpting him.
The direction of traveling for the market value of Rashford is up to him, but there is so much at stake for his manager to ensure that this deal is successful.
It is possible to beat the opportunities and to let go of these bold signing sessions.
Harry Redknapp risked his reputation by signing Paolo di Canio for West Ham and then made him a club legend.
Juventus does not regret the signing of Carlos Tevez and winning the Italian league after his soap opera opera years in Manchester United and City.
The next five months are crucial for Rashford, Emery and Villas Hope to end the season on a high.
Gut … disappeared
Mathis Amougou arrived in Chelsea on the back of a contract of eight years and immediately declared his goal to impress.
The midfielder, 19, Gutste: “It is an honor for me to draw for such a large club as Chelsea.
“They believe in young players and the process they have for us to develop is fantastic.”
That is probably what Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka, Deuvel Washington, Djordje Petrovic, Cesare Casadei and Diego Moreira thought, among others, when she signed.
Most have come on loan and go and have had little impact.
Del so wrong
Derek Chisora was wrong to label a 'bastard' sport boxing.
Usually the protagonists come from checkered backgrounds, but crime and lowlife have turned their back on to become supreme athletes with incredible mental power.
Those with the courage to get into a ring and to play their lives are people of courage and dedication and with the greats of every sport.
Fairway Folics
Who had thought golf could be such a loose sport?
Organizers of the Phoenix Open in Arizona take steps to prevent a repetition of last year's chaos when 54 fans were arrested and shifted out due to drunk Rowdiness.
They even jumped bare chest across the border and 'Snow Angels' carried out in a bunker.
Where do I get a ticket?
Fan out of the flames
France will have boisterous support in an English crowd when they probably win in Twickenham on Saturday.
It was the same in Dublin last Saturday when England lost their Six Nations opener to Ireland.
Rugby is proud that rival supporters can freely drink alcohol and still mix in safety.
Of course we get the comparison of your nose with football-where that does not happen.
Manchester United versus Rangers is the newest example in which the problem is universally convicted in Old Trafford.
But there must be a simple acceptance that football is built on the most tribal sport in the world. There are some positive points for that.
Visiting fans in the home side should just sit down, keep your mouth shut and take the game. It's possible.
And those who cannot prevent them from enduring the people around them should not seek sympathy for their schiners afterwards.
Unlock even more award -winning articles such as The Sun is launching a brand new membership program – Sun Club.
Comments