DREAM PAIR ... Barcelona superstars Lionel Messi and Xavi
Last Updated: 02nd February 2013
PAUL LAMBERT has hit back at critics of his low-key January signings by asking: Who was I meant to sign... Lionel Messi and Xavi?
Aston Villa’s efforts in the transfer window were so far under the radar they barely registered a blip.
QPR’s Harry Redknapp was able to spend £12million on defender Chris Samba and also brought in Jermaine Jenas and Andros Townsend.
Meanwhile, Lambo was trawling the depths of the French Second Division for unknown 22-year-old Clermont midfielder Yacouba Sylla.
And he also borrowed 25-year-old winger Simon Dawkins, who has not even made a Premier League appearance for Spurs.
That led to criticism from former players, including former winger Steve Froggatt who went on Twitter to rap: Villa transfer window beyond a p***-take.
But Lambo hit back: “It doesn’t bother me what ex-players think. They should know better. If they have a problem they should come and see me.
“The fans have been great and I do understand their frustrations. Ask me if I’d like to sign a Messi or a Xavi then, Jesus, yes I would. But you can only work with what you’ve got.”
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The Villa boss admitted he had spent nowhere near the £1.7m quoted for Sylla’s transfer and confessed Stoke and Newcastle could outspend Villa.
He added: “I saw a figure of what Sylla was meant to have cost and it was wrong. The fee of £1.7m is wrong and Dawkins came in on loan. Randy Lerner has been great and I knew the remit. But we couldn’t afford anyone massive.
“Can we compete with Stoke and Newcastle? That’s too high for us.”
Lambo stressed he is not jealous of Redknapp’s multi-million spree in West London.
The Villa boss said: “I don’t get embroiled in what someone else can do.
“If Harry wants to do that and thinks it’s right for QPR he’s got to do what he thinks is best.
“We tried to do a few deals for a defender but the salaries were way too high.
“There has got to be some realism at the minute and the fans have it. I think they are with us because they can see what’s going on.” The Villa boss says he will have no hesitation hurling his new boys in at Everton today.
He said: “The two of them are ready to go now and I wouldn’t have any fear about throwing them in.
“Sylla is a strong lad who will add a bit of steel and some bite in the middle of the pitch. He’ll get stuck right in. You need players to do the dirty work.
“Dawkins will surprise people in the way he creates and makes things happen. He was incredible during his spell in America and has been in great form.”
Lambert knows few will give 19th-placed Villa a chance against in-form Everton, where David Moyes has been working miracles on a limited budget for a decade.
He said: “Davie has done a fabulous job there for the last 10 or 11 years. There are not many managers doing that.
“There are some great players at Everton — but no one thought we would go to Anfield and win.”
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4774776/Paul-Lambert-Was-I-meant-to-sign-Messi-and-Xavi.html#ixzz2JlCjGCQm
