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Doc's Late Diagnosis: Villa vs Liverpool
Tuesday, 02 September 08, 08:10 AM · Comments (26)
It was tiresome that all the talk before the game was about what is increasingly being called "the Barry saga". Frankly, whether O'Neill was going to shake hands with Benitez or not was always
going to be less amusing than what insults the Holte End could make up for the Spaniard. And the likelihood of Gareth Barry "freezing in the headlights" was, quite frankly, never any sort of
likelihood at all.
So I guess I can understand that for the neutrals amongst us, this game was about as exciting as Olympic dressage.
But it was nothing like the unmitigated tedium of the 0-0 draw two seasons ago, when both teams had their heads in Ayia Napa. No, this was a very hard fought game indeed - in which both
managers did their best to out-think each other and both sets of midfields fought for supremacy.
Okay, okay - so Gerrard was missing. But try telling me that Mascherano and Alonso wouldn't present any central midfield in Europe with a sizeable obstacle and you'll be wasting your breath.
With Barry's calm distribution and a snarling performance from Stiliyan Petrov, Villa were more than a match for the Reds in that department.
Many will be confused at why James Milner didn't start on the right, and why MON persisted with Nigel Reo-Coker out of position on that flank. I have a feeling that O'Neill knew Rafa would play
Robbie Keane on the left and I think Reo-Coker probably held that berth to stop him getting any change down that flank. Liverpool mirrored the strategy on Villa's left, suffocating anything
Ashley Young did on his favoured wing.
Sure, the first half may have been more about tactics and fight than breathtaking football, but both Curtis Davies and John Carew could - and probably should - have scored in those 45 minutes.
How different the comments would be if those attempts had gone in.
With Torres gone and Keane up front, Liverpool looked a far greater threat and, as the game stretched, Villa started to look shaky and a lot of the defending started to look last ditch. Had NRC
not bravely stopped a Keane breakaway, at the severe risk of a penalty and red card, Keane surely would have put the Scousers ahead.
But I can't remember Liverpool hitting the target all afternoon. And for that, a great deal of credit has to go to a very new back four superbly marshalled by Martin Laursen and to great
battling performances from Reo-Coker and Petrov. It isn't fashionable amongst the Villa cynics on this site to praise the latter two, but both played excellently yesterday.
On the whole, Villa shaded it and should have edged it. But it always looked like a game which both sides were desperate not to lose - and, especially given the sieve-like nature of our defence
in recent weeks, we have to be impressed that Villa have registered their first clean sheet of the season against one of the big 4.
If O'Neill wanted to stick one to Benitez, then Villa beating the Reds would have been the way to do it. However, nicking their 100% record and keeping a clean sheet will just about do it for
me.
Villa: Friedel 7; Young 7; Davies 8; Laursen 8; Shorey 7; Reo-Coker 8; Barry 7; PETROV 9; Young 6; Carew 6; Agbonlahor 6.
Doc's Man of the Match: PETROV, a strong, running, battling performance to anchor the midfield, stop Alonso and defend the back four. 2nd half volley had hearts in mouths.
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Posted by Doc Bowles
| Comments (26)
26 Comments · Add yours
Although Doc did sent this in as 'late', I've got to hold my hands up and say it is later than usual, because I'm still getting used to say few things here.
Sorry Doc. Won't happen again.
Petrov played better than how plays,it dosent mean hell be great on his next match but i hope he does!
UTV
agree with petrov mom - feel he will be dropped though the minute everyone is fully fit.
disapointing performance by us though and liverpool. we only tested reina once properly in the whole game and against any team however good they are at home that is simply not enough.
thought reo coker did well tho, desrved motm as much as laursen did
Davies MOTM for me.
I agree Doc, good analysis. Reo C and Petrov were excellent and good to see they are being appreciated.
Do you have a view on why when we brought on Milner and Gardner, the full backs came off with GB and Reo C moving to LB & RB respectively?
Also, I think we are so used to playing down the right we missed a couple of really good runs by Luke Young running into space in the first half. I'm sure this team is going to get better and better.
Petrov has been quality the start of this season, following his good form in the last 7 or 8 games last season. Im really happy for him because he deserves it. Never throws his dummy out the pram when hes left out or not in form, just keeps going. True professional. (Unlike people such as Sorensen!)
) , he wont like it at all. Hes that kind of character.
I think Davies will be a bit of a problem if he gets dropped for Cuellar or Zat (latter v.unlikely
As for Reo-coker, he was amazin against Liverpool with his never say die attitude. His runs from the edge of our box were unbelievable and that last ditch tackle..well lets just say he earned us the point there!
UTV!
Perfectly put mate!
Iv said it in the last few weeks worth of blogs on here about NRC. Really couldnt understand why ppl were getting on at him for just trying to help the team out of position. I dont think he ever believe's like the rest of us that he's a match winner out on the right wing, but we needed some1 before JM signed and he was happy enough to do it for the team - the sort of spirit u need in your side.
He was a revelation last yr, probably the most succesfull tackler in the prem (no stats to back that up but just a hunch). Its his sort of play in the centre of the park that gives Barry the chance to distribute as he can and Ash to turn on the style.
When we start getting on his case when out of position we sound like them bitter West Ham fans who were happy to see him go - and the arrival of Dyer & Parker - great work! And even more recently the bitter "milners not good enough anyway" Newcastle fans.
We have a squad to be proud of, something we havent had for years!!
MOM davies for me as well, took the bull by the horns and made a statement of intent, "You will have to fight me for my place" and this is healthy for the club likewise Barry, Reo and Petrov all improve or your place is lost good news all round. UTV
Reply to RM4:
u are not serious. a revelation that wham managed to get so much for him. he is a good tackler, and i didnt want to ahve a go at him cuz he'd played well. but i have never seen a central midfielder at a top half club give the ball away so much. do u actually watch him in matches? fantastic attitude, fantastic engine. poor skills, poor passing. he has player badly so far in his villa career. im confident he will improve, but he has a long way to go.
Thats exactly what was needed, competition all round. Its definately raised a few player's games recently. I wouldnt know who to pick in midfield at the moment. I rate all of them. bet its hard for O'Neil too but I suppose bit easier for him....depending on who playing/tactics n stuff.
Now, I only watched this on MOD, so it was a little biased to the scousers, but i thought NRC just looked a little unfit and his final ball was poor.
I would go as far as to say he was out of his depth when surging forward. Defensively it was a much better performance, but i still think that had they been at full strength, we'd have been turned over.
The signs are positive, and the team need time to get to know each other again, cant wait to see what Coeller brings.
Also why is Gabby so inconsistent?? and i am sure that big JC is struggling with his fitness.
All in all i'm happy with a point!
Good article Doc, and I totally agree that Petrov was MotM, he was solid in midfield and roughed up Alsono and Mascherano all game. Quality tackle by NRC secnd half and good performances from most of the team, although I am still mystified why Gabby wasn't replaced with Harewood with 20-25mins left! What are your thoughts on the formation going forward, who will be our starting midfield be?
I agree with that diagnosis, Doc. Petrov was very good - I was surprised how much he's come on in terms of skill on the ball. For me, Laursen was man of the match though.
It will be interesting to see who gets picked when everyone is fit.
Reply to celtic_villain:
Yes, i get your point but what im saying is he's not employed as a right winger and thats where the comments first originated from. he's not the most skillfull player in the team either, but he has his role in the side and does it very well - in being the ball winner! I do watch him in games and thats why i know how important his tackles, breaking up the opposition attacks and just generally annoying the flair players of the opposition by being on top of them all the time!
You saying about he lacks skill but id love to see how many times Robinho puts a tackle in this season.
Its all about complementing what u have in the side and in my personel opinion he complimented Barry very well last year! Not to say i think he should start in the centre - thats sidwell, barry for me - i just couldnt get the stick he was getting (like Petrov did) when he was helping out on the right. thats all.
Petrov was ok but no better ( which is a lot better then what he usually is like so maybe thats why people think he was MOM) but he is just too slow to play in the centre. We are crying out for a proper playmaker in the centre. For all the possession we had againest a poor Pool team we created 1 or 2 chances in the whole game. Serioulsy lackin guile in the middle of the park. But im sure MON will address this by 2015.
Sorry meant to add i thought that NRC was MOM. He really gives everything and was full of energy but just lacks the footballing abilty that would make him a great player.
I think Ashley Young n Petrov have been our two best players so far this season, but Petrov has shaded it the last few games. It was a MOM performance against liverpool. It will b interesting to see who will make way for James Milner. On this form, MON shud not drop Petrov. id rather see him drop Barry, he has not played to his usual standard this season.
On the Reo Coker front, the job he does for us is massively underrated. The fact that he cant pass the ball is the only thing stopping him being one of the best midfield generals in the prem. I have a feeling he will b dropped instead of Petrov to make way for Milner.
Barry was put in his favoured position last couple of seasons, was given the armband and MON gave him the confidence to go out there and become an international midfielder for England and all he got was a slap in the face for his efforts...
I say stick him back in left back and get a midfield together that will be here after Barry skulks off to Arsepool or where-ever in jan or next summer....
young-NRC-Sidwell-milner...
NRC has been very under-rated....
when we murdered chelsea last season it was MOM, and he was all over the pitch on sun...he was like Houghton except without the passing....aw, what i'd give to have a houghton in there!
Im really excited about this season. Dont care that people moan about our players, like someone said earlier, Im proud of our squad. I really think we have a lot of quality. And it seems people have forgot we were 3rd highest goalscorers last season, and that Gaby AND Carew can both score goals, as well as Young, Laursen. Not to mention Milner, Sidwell and even Cuellar will most probably chip in this season too!
One goaless draw n people think we have no goal scorers. Bit shallow really.
here my line up for spurs,
-----------------------fridel--------------------------------
---l.young-----davies----------laursen------------shorey-----
---------------------reo coker-------------------------------
--milner----------------------------------------barry--------
---------------------petrov----------------------------------
----------------------a.young--------------------------------
------------------------------gabby or carew-----------------
it reckon that could be a good formation????
Two cagey sides cancelled each other out. Villa had the best of the midfield battles for the most part, NRC and Stan were massive. In defence ML was his usual "I head rocks in training" self. Either Liverpoor defended well or our final balls weren't that good, because I thought we should have created many more opportunities than we did. Perhaps against other sides we will create more, with the added threat from of JM. Also, we have begun to see the potential of the legend called Moustafa Salifou.
MOM? Close between NRC, Stan and ML - you choose.
Good analysis Doc, as usual.
Reply to AVFCBlog:
I think Vill played well enough to "deserve" a draw but surely not even villa fans can ignore the fact that it was a penalty and red card. I mean a good set of prescription glasses, cup of tea and a replay clearly showed he didnt get anywhere near the ball. Even the commentators agreed on that in the end. for the record, contact occuring outside the box and continuing into the box as in this case is still a penalty. So although villa can feel satisfied in deserving a draw deserving and getting are 2 entirely different things : )
what a borefest
liverpool view on the villa game
LINK
Never a penalty. Reo went for the ball and not the player. As u can see in the replays Keane got his shot off before contact was made so the challenge did not stop a goal scoring opportunity.... it just made it harder.