You’ll all be aware by now that Luke Young and Jonathan Hogg left Villa, joining QPR and Watford respectively, over the weekend; both signing three year contracts. Although I missed it at the time, Young’s move did warrant an announcement, Hogg apparently slipped away in the night.

I noticed during pre-season that Hogg had been removed from the squad pages on the official site, perhaps that’s got something to do with it. Then again, they’ve currently got Gary Gardner listed as a first team striker so who knows?

Young, while still extremely capable of being our first choice right back (and indeed was our first choice right back), was in the last year of his contract, is 32 years old and has fancied a move back to London for some time.

I’m sorry to see him go, I don’t think he’s always been treated as fairly as he deserved, but I don’t think his exit leaves us dramatically weakened.

Hogg was some way down the pecking order in a long list of central midfielders. A better player than many fans give him credit for – a cruciate ligament injury possibly keeping him off radars when the likes of Albrighton, Bannan and Clark were making names for themselves – he was unlikely to see much action this season.

He made his Watford debut in yesterday’s 2-2 draw against Birmingham City; on loan Andreas Weimann providing an assist on one of the goals.

So, with all due respect to both players, all the best for the future, but your exits don’t break my heart. However, there’s apparently one more behind you who might.

Jean II Makoun

It was only in February that I described Jean II Makoun as the “new ticking heartbeat of Aston Villa“, so the imminent confirmation of his season long loan (with an option to make it permanent) to Olympiacos is something of a heart breaker. Metaphorically. For me anyway.

Now, Makoun has his doubters – understandably so – but his exit signals some concerns for me; he’s one of the most technically proficient players we have and the potential of teaming him up with the likes of Delph and Bannan, when they’ve acquired more experience, was a tasty prospect. The alternative, something a little more, how shall we say – traditional – doesn’t fill me with excitement. Sorry, it doesn’t.

I hope this move is motivated more by finances than football though. Unfortunately, Makoun is one of the few assets among the congested midfield that can be leveraged to make room on the wage bill. I’m sure I wouldn’t be alone in preferring to see Stephen Ireland earning his sizable crust somewhere else, but if you can persuade another club to take his contract on you’d also be able to sell ice to the Eskimos.

Or sand to the Arabs.

You get the idea. Basically, good luck with that.

However, it has to be said that Makoun is hardly a McLeish-type, there is something of a no-brainer about the whole thing. A shame, but it is what it is.

Greek football isn’t something I watch, but I’ll keep my eye on Olympiacos in the Champions League; they’re grouped with Arsenal, Marseille and Dortmund, so there are some interesting games ahead to glimpse what might have been.

*sigh*

So that’s three more players gone, two of them earning senior wages, plus Weimann on loan until January. McLeish said that no one would be leaving without replacements coming in, these recent exits have to mean at least a couple of new faces are waiting in the wings.

Right? Anyone?

The transfer window closes on Wednesday. Tick tock, Mr McLeish. Tick tock…