Send(eros) in the clowns

Typical look of despair from Philippe

Just when you think things can't get worse at Aston Villa, the club are on the verge of signing erratic Switzerland defender Philippe Senderos on a free transfer. The player has been released having spent the back end of last season at Valencia making just five appearances.

The player spent a large chunk of his career at Arsenal where he was plagued by both injuries and inconsistent form. He was dubbed "Swiss Tony" by a section of the Arsenal support due to similarities between his style of play and that of Tony Adams.

Unsuccessful loan spells at AC Milan and Everton followed and he joined Fulham on a free four years ago. Again injury and variable form hampered his progress. He could look like a quality defender one week and one who would struggle to make the local pub eleven the next.

Fan opinion seems to be split between those who think he'll be an improvement on Nathan Baker and Ciaran Clark and those who've actually seen him play.

The move is more puzzling at a time when Fulham released the far more consistent and technically superior Brede Hangeland.

The player has shown Frank Spencer levels of accident-proneness while picking up over fifty caps for Switzerland, suffering ankle and shoulder damage and picking up a broken nose.