PMP: Aston Villa starting to look like a top four team
Sunday, 14 December 08, 10:49 AM · Comments (34)
Maybe all the talk in the week that Ashley Young is a world class player, on a par with Messi and Ronaldo actually helped, because yesterday, it was his day and he took a step closer to maybe becoming that player Martin O'Neill sees.
I don't think he is there yet but I think he can get there and I don't think he has that far to go and maybe all we need is for him to continue doing well and playing the way he is playing and you know what, playing in a 4-5-1 formation seems to be starting to work, but I'll get to that later. Now to the papers.
The Papers
Stuart Barnes, The Observer: "Aston Villa are up to fourth with a rousing victory and on the evidence of their accomplished form going into the festive programme, they look to have a genuine chance of staying there."
James Corrigan, The Independent: "Not only did they overcome their own indifferent home form and a belligerent Bolton side who have, of late, emerged as the division's away-day specialists, but also a refereeing gaffe that was absurd to the point of being comical."
With both teams stringing five across the centre, the Villa Park midfield was as crowded as Woolworths last week. This meant the penalty areas were as crowded as Woolworths next week, until Agbonlahor and Young wreaked havoc after Bolton took the lead."
David Harrison, News of the World: "O’Neill should stop worrying. If there is a team now capable of breaking the monopoly of the Big Four, then his men look like the best candidates. They have choked on the chance to overtake Arsenal in previous weeks but, this time, they grabbed it with both hands."
Player Ratings
Brad Friedel: 7 - when called upon to do his job he did it and if we hadn't conceded two, this would have been a higher score - note, this is pretty much exactly what I wrote last week. Friedel is a class keeper
Luke Young: 7 - consistent and calm and did his bit. Can't be faulted for work rate
Curtis Davies: 7 - no complaints although he should have scored
Martin Laursen: 8 - put his head where some others fear to put feet and once again played like it's his last game. Giving 110% just doesn't seem enough when talking about him
Carlos Cueller: 7 - not his preferred position but he's starting to look solid and he's clearly a good player
Steve Sidwell: 7 - if Ashley Young had passed to Sidwell a little more often when attacking down the left and Sidwell is running into the box, he would have scored an 8 as I fancy he would have scored, but just for today and not his fault, he gets a seven
Gareth Barry: 8 - for me anyway, him playing in a 4-5-1 formation means we are starting to see the best of Barry. I'm not convinced it's good enough, but for yesterday he gets an 8
Stilian Petrov: 7 - slowly becoming indispensable. Him, Barry and Sidwell are starting to look very very nice in the middle
James Milner: 6 - no doubt I'll get stick for this and if anyone needs to know why he's only getting a six, then I give up. He can't be faulted for his effort though and no doubt it will be because he was recovering from a cold
Ashley Young: 9 and man of the match - I wasn't sure I should give him a nine and I'm still not, but he does get man of the match, just. If I could give it to two people it would be easier but had he not played yesterday we would have struggled
Gabby Agbonlahor: 8 - so close to getting man of the match for his goals and movement. Don't shoot me because of this, but I think him playing in 4-5-1 is starting to be good for him. He has all that extra space and the ability to drop and run and while it's taken a few games, he really is starting to flourish.
Subs: Seeing as we used them at reasonable times yesterday, they're all going to get an 8 but that's as deep as I go into it.
Final Analysis
The first half started slow. We were slow out of the blocks and Bolton scoring actually turned out to be a good thing, it was sort of the kick up the backside we needed. After that and mostly in the second half we came alive, mostly thanks to Ashley but also and maybe even equally so, Gabby.
I know I bang this drum about formation, but I think it an important one, but even the sceptics must start to agree that 4-5-1, played the way we are playing it, is starting to work. Changing this now could be dangerous and instead of changing it, we should have all players get used to it, so they know their role should they be called upon to take part.
It's looking good for Gabby, Ashley, Sidwell, Petrov, Barry even and no doubt I'll get some stick for that. The only player that isn't liking it at the moment is Milner, but he is getting the opportunities and you can only hope it will come good.
Bottom line, we're looking like a top four team now. Bolton had won more away than we had won at home and they were not going to be easy yesterday. The thing to achieve now is consistency and that will come - the big question is when.
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34 Comments · Add yours
Completely and utterly disagree! I hate to be a grump but the defence was awful yesterday. We can't close down crosses and our defense of the six yard box is chronic.
Bolton's tactics were useless and they got it all wrong.
Damian, I told you 4-5-1 doesn't work at home and it isn't getting the best out of Gabby
Excellent result but this Milner thing is starting to get a bit boring. I agree 6 out of 10 a fair score but to say "he was recovering from a cold" is being facetious. There has been a flu bug going around the squad and it has stopped Shorey and Salifou from being available in recent games. Milner hadn't trained all week and did a reasonable job in the circumstances.
Keefvilla, I disagree. I think Gabby has been much better up top on his own with out Carew. It gives him the room to float and us his pace to its full potential. It also stops the constant high, long balls aimed at the big man to head down. The long ball now is more effective as Gabby on his own can drop deep, pull out the defence and use his pace to run on to any long balls played over the top such as against arsenal and bolton yesterday. I link the 4-5-1 and hope it stays.
keefvilla
i wrote:
The only player that isn't liking it at the moment is Milner, but he is getting the opportunities and you can only hope it will come good.
if that isn't a positive, wanting him to get good line, then i dont know what is
my comment about his illness though, maybe are facetious, but there needs to be an excuse and all i'm saying is 'no dount that one will be offered up'
sALIFOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUU
it must have killed you to give barry a 8 but milner a 6 the lowest score? i really do think you need to visit villa park a bit more damian instead of watching moniters which only show what the camera is pointing at, its a piss take when you give the bloody subs an 8
Reply to Misterman1982:
Irony: the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning.
Reply to keefvilla:
sometimes its more clever to keep quiet rather than try to belittle
Reply to _AP68_:
Take your point mate
Damian
You didn't mention that we gained 2 points on all the teams around us. That means its a case of holding fourth from now on.
By the way whats the story with the caption competition?
Young & Gabby brilliant. Gabby seems to have learned to harness his speed a bit more and instead of just legging it, he can actually control it when he needs to. Young is just fantastic. I'm not sure the exact definition of world class but for me is there; the thing is, I still think he has some way to go as well.
Laursen again a rock. Can someone give me the lyrics to the Carlos Cuellar song? I was sat in the midst of it but still cound't get it.
also - The more it goes on like this with, as you say Damnian; the midfield starting look good - the more Barry would be mad to go and be part of a rotating squad.
Obviously delighted by the result, and by the sounds of it, a pretty good perfromance. I only saw highlights, but Gabby is getting better and better. I used to sport a wry smile when people talked about his skill, but his feet have improved unbelievably. What's frightening is that there's still more to come from him - and it will come because he's got such a fantastic attitude. And I haven't even mentioned his aerial ability. I don't think there's anyone who comes close to challenging him for a place in the England XI. We might have to wait for Delfouneso to come through before that changes!
However, my recent criticisms of MoN's transfer record still stand. We still should have another striker in the squad good enough to play when Gabby needs a rest, whether we're playing 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 - both of which have their merits. I still think that 4-5-1 is a formation that's going to work best with a target man up front. For all Gabby's qualities, he's not a target man, at least not yet. Of course, the players we'd use in the 4-5-1 would often be the same as a 4-4-2, depending on whether Sidwell or Milner were picked - although I can't see Sidwell playing wide right, and so Reo-Coker might be the alternative. Whichever way you look at it, we don't have enough strikers.
We got the three points yesterday in emphatic fashion, and you can't ask for much more than that, on the day. If we can avoid dropping any more points before January and get in at least one quality striker (and Valencia from Wigan as a bonus would also be nice), then we should finish top 4. I pray it's not Heskey, particularly as he scored yesterday. He won't score again for months... Crouch would be unimaginative, but solid (although it would be Luke Young part II; if we want him, why didn't we get him in the summer??). Personally, I'm hoping that MoN mentioning he watches alot of European football when talking about Ash is a hint that we can expect someone (quality) from the continent.
Ugly Betty (and everyone else labouring under this misapprenhension); if Barry were to leave - IF - then he would be rotated no more than Gerrard at Liverpool. If he went to Man Utd, he'd be head and shoulders above any of their midfielders, and would therefore get the odd rest, but wouldn't be rotated. And as far as I can tell, the situation at Chelsea would be the same, i.e. he'd be first choice and get the odd game off. I'm sure that Barry, like most players, wants to play every game, but when you're playing 60 games a season, the odd week off is crucial if top form is to be maintained.
Reply to DeGough:
I've found 2 winners. I'm going to read them through again and the three will be listed later.
I thought we were pretty good yesterday, maybe no our best but still. Ash will one day, no doubt, be nominated for the big individual awards, maybe a shout for young player this season already (no entirely sure if he's too old for that).
Just one comment on Milner, he is getting better, and I have no doubts that he will be an awesome player for us in years to come. Just look at when he breezed past our old friend J'Lloyd, shame about the shot thats all.
UTV
Did anyone see Valencia's assit and goal for Wigan yesterday? If he can be purchased in Jan then we should be doing everything we can to get him.
I have one disagreement with your article Damian.....Ashley Young was excellent yesterday (again) but the man of the match by about 5 million miles, head and shoulders above everyone on the pitch yesterday and the man who is the second highest scorer in the league is Gabby Agbonlahor.
Ever since the close of the summer transfer window - people have been saying that we need to give Gabby a break, play him on the wing for a bit, he is lazy etc.etc.etc. What a load of crap! He is the best english striker in the league. In the second half yesterday - he was unreal, running down the channels, creating chances, bringing others into the game, putting good crosses into the box, scoring goals. When the ball is hoofed up to him like it was against everton - there is nothing he can do and that's why he is labelled lazy, but when Villa actually play with the ball - he is unplayable.
If he played for united, arsenal or chelsea - I reckon he would be allready recognised as one of the most exciting players in europe.............but hopefully Villa are heading in that direction too!
Huge couple of matches coming up and the most exciting time to support villa for 15 years!
I would give Friedel 6 (or less) because he was at fault for that first goal.
I like Milner as a player and believe that we're a better team with him--defensively, as well as offensively. Someone once said that Milner will never be a world-class player, but will always be a solid, dependable player in the Premiership. That said, I wanted Valencia more during the summer transfer window, and nothing has changed my opinion.
Damien, while i disagree with you about milner, i do beleive he gets the short straw somewhat. with playing cueller at right back, he dosnt get forward very much and therefore dosnt support milner at all, likewise gabby is abit henry like and likes to go down the left channels more than the right ones, therefore this leaves milner isolated. young however has L.young doing over laps on the left which really helps him out, am sure if milner and young swapped wings more often you would see milner doing better. once bouma returns from injury and young can go back to playing RB, i think we'l see a much better James Milner.
One more thing:
How great is it to have Sidwell in the team? Frank Lampard he ain't, but it's nice to have a midfielder who joins in the attack and can score from distance. I agree with you Damian that Sidwell could've/should've had one--maybe two--yesterday.
oh if only MON signed Shaun Wright-Phillips instead of Milner..we'de be even better..
Reply to eoin1981:
great post - shame this post is too late for you to see it!
Fair points Damian! But the two things we need is consistancy and grit to really make it happen, as in we need to maintain these high performances week in week out! Plus good teams grind out results even when they arent playing well, e.g. when we beat blackburn 3-2!
Also, we need another striker come jan, plus a covering midfielder and maybe defender to be safe!
btw what happened to the docs late analysis
I agree gabby deserved man of the match! This last week or so has been the tale of the dyanmic duo! Last game was Ashley Youngs day to truly shine out, whereas this week it was really Gabby!
Reply to Texas_Villain:
I think sidwell could be a great player. And mate i reckon he could end up becoming a lampard like player. 7 years ago lampard joined chlesea from west ham and at that point he was no better pleyer than sidwell is now really. Hopefully sidwell has learnt a lot off him and can become the goal scoring central midfielder we have been missing for years
Reply to _Tim_0:
he ran away with Megan Fox.
but seriously he's not been around since the qpr game. I used to look forward to his analysis.
he probably defended milners price tag in one of his posts and damian banned him.
Im just delighted that as a team we are a unit...we are starting to play as a team that has strengh and heart and all we need is that consitency..Im sure Martin will bring in some more quality in the January transfer market and if we play well over the christmas period then we will be right up there...containing our 4th position! I agree with some of the comments that players will play better with the occastional rest which is why im really excited about what O'neil brings in...I also think he gets unfair critism over some of his transfer dealings..look at Petrov he's got a lot of stick which was probably deserved at the time but he's now become a quality player passing well and his work rate is brilliant...as for Barry I think he will stay with us, he's a proper proffesional and was unfortunate about what went on at Liverpool..he is our best player in my opinion and is vital for any future improvements of the club, he deserves champions league football because that merits his talent..Look where we have come under O'Neil i cant believe he still gets moaned about occastionaly...I mean the O'Leary days were dire..he's built a team, our youth structure is producing fantastic quality and im very proud to be a villa fan
so up the Villa and to future endevours
Ash and Gabby have figured out how to flourish in 4-5-1 the question becomes what do Villa do when Carew is fit and when they buy another striker in January. Can we play 4-5-1 with Carew as the one?
Reply to ak_27:
valencia would be class for us i think. we only milner and young who are real wingers (i know reo-coker can play on the right but hes more of a right sided midfielder than a winger and routeledge doesnt seem to be good enough). totally agree with this comment...think we need a sub who could change the game and push milner to peform at his best.
If MILNER had scored when he dribbled his way in to the box, we would have been raving about him. CAPPELLO is a big fan of him, and even mentioned him during his end of season interview today.
I think it's more important to take note of what the likes of CAPPELLO and MON think of MILNER. I agree with comments above, VALENCIA would be a good shout in the transfer window.
There were moments in that game when Ash and Gabby seemed to be hunting in a pack. The smile is still stuck to my face. Milner a six? Probably fair, for that game. I rate him higher than that and expect him to show more as the season progresses if he gets the chances.
When Manure get back from the Sushi Cup they could be about ten points behind us, that makes our game against them crucial. We have the initiative over Arse, and will be in a similar position with ManU. All this talk of fourth is bullsh*t - we are going to finish THIRD at least.
Reply to Ugly_Betty:
The lyrics are
"He's 6 foot 3, got curley hair, his teeth are fucked but we don't care, Carlos Cuellar villa's centre half"
WEll thats what we sang in prague aniway