Former winger Steve Froggatt has claimed that Aston Villa's current squad are simply not good enough.
The Midlanders have scored only once in losing six out of their last seven games to slip to 16th in the Premier League, and Froggatt has admitted that the reliance on Christian Benteke for goals is a major problem.
The ex-England international stressed that it is not a lack of effort that is currently letting down Paul Lambert's side, but conceded that the Villans are short of quality, particularly in forward areas.
"The concern is that it is still seven games without a victory and one goal. And the biggest concern is that lack of goals," Froggatt told the Birmingham Mail. "Christian Benteke was terrific against Spurs and it just shows you how vital he is to the team because we haven't got natural goalscorers.
"Sometimes you look at a teams' body language and the one thing I will always defend the boys with is they do always look like they are playing for the manager.
"I've seen teams who have just given up the ghost and you can tell that they are just not trying a leg. But I genuinely cannot say that about the Villa boys. They work their socks off, it is just that the problem is they are just not good enough - that's the reality."
Benteke faces a three-match ban following the red card that he received in the 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, who are reportedly interested in signing Fabian Delph - one of Villa's few internationals - in January.
