Riise looking to add to Villa left back infestation

Villa's left back options currently consist of Aly Cissokho, Kieran Richardson, Enda Stevens and Joe Bennett. Antonio Luna is out on loan. Ciaran Clark and Nathan Baker have both played there regularly in the past as a defensive option. Fabian Delph has even filled in at left wing back pretty effectively on occasion. None of them are world beaters but with the arrival of Cissokho and Richardson we appear to finally have some competent players there.

All of this means we should all take John Arne Riise's suggestion that we are interested in signing him with a pinch of salt. Actually not so much a pinch as a truck full.

I should be careful before I outright mock Riise. Partly because Liverpool fans will heckle me. Mainly because he was an excellent player in his day and despite what my Fulham fan friends claim, he's probably still better than Antonio Luna. But left back is no longer a position Villa need to strengthen. We actually need to offload a couple of left backs.

You also have to consider the 'experience at the back' box has very clearly been ticked this window - so what would Riise offer? His pace is well and truly gone, along with his stamina. His defending has been questionable in recent years. Going forward he boasted a combined goal and assist total of 0 in 25 games last season.

I hope Riise can get a decent move for himself, but I'm calling him out on this one. There's just no reason for Villa to sign him and surely his time as a Premier League player has passed.