Taylor gives Alpay a second chance

Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor has decided to give Turkish international Alpay a second chance and blasted the player’s advisors for unsettling him.

Taylor believes Alpay had his head turned by agents promising him glamorous moves to the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid after returning from a successful World Cup when he was named in the FIFA team of the tournament.

Alpay slapped him in a transfer request in August and this season has played only four games – the last of which was against Southampton on October 21 – with Taylor questioning his commitment to Villa.

But Alpay has now pleaded for a second chance and Taylor has left the door open to a possible first team return, although he will give the player no guarantees.

Taylor said: “This may come as a surprise to people but I do have a degree of sympathy for Alpay because, if I went to the World Cup at the age of 29 and was voted in the top 16, then I would have been susceptible to what everybody was telling me.

“Alpay was led to believe by advisors and agents that Barcelona and Real Madrid were coming in for him.

“They were saying ‘we’ve got this move and that move for you son’ and they hadn’t done.

“Everyone was saying what they could do for him – and they did nothing for him. All they did was unsettle the player.

“I don’t know if what has happened since is a reality check but we’ve had two transfer windows since he asked for a move and have not received a firm bid.

“He and Juan Pablo (Angel) requested to leave and have had to face up to the fact that is not going to possible.”

Taylor added: “We have had a chat with Alpay and he has told me he wants to get another chance.

“But he does know that he will have to fight to get his way back into the side.

“I’ll only pick what I think is the right side and the spirit within the club has got to be right.”

The Villa chief has also hinted that Alpay would have to make his peace with his team-mates, some of whom have been less than impressed with his attitude and commitment in recent months.