The Doc’s (late) Diagnosis: Villa vs Everton
Tuesday, 25 September 07, 02:45 AM · Comments (10)
I’m afraid the match sponsors, and indeed most of the UK press, have got this entirely wrong.
With all due respect to both Gabby and the Great Dane, there was only one man-of-the-match on Villa’s emerald turf on Sunday afternoon. And that — at the risk of monotony — was Gareth Barry.
Barry was so far ahead of every other player on the pitch - for more or less the whole ninety minutes - that it was almost funny.
He moved more creatively than any other player on the field, passed more intelligently, showed more urgency and aggression, and even offered us moments of showboating.
Heady on the confidence of his fantastic performances for the national side, and playing his first game back at Villa Park since those widely applauded performances, he put every other player in the shade. This, to me at least, was a true virtuoso performance.
Strange to think that it is only a matter of weeks since McClaren made it clear he preferred the terminally uninspiring and accident-prone Phil Neville to the Villa skipper. Neville was nowhere, nothing.
And Barry everywhere, everything to Villa’s eleven. How times change, and how we should revel in these times. Out of nowhere, and with the alchemistic touch and judgement of the maestro O’Neill, Barry has turned into serious hot property.
Of course there will always be downsides. I see a very close link between the weak performances of Nigel Reo-Coker in the past two outings and the brimming confidence of the captain. Barry is roaming, showing more mobility than he has ever shown, defending deep and then getting forward.
He is playing with the aggression NRC was brought in for. Everything is going through him. And that’s not all good. Whilst Reo-Coker needs to dig deep, stamp his authority on the team and build his Villa identity, we cannot afford him to shrink into Barry’s shadow.
O’Neill, Roberston and Walford must address this on the training ground and, without clipping the skipper’s wings too much, make the central midfield roles clear. I’ll tell you what. I’d hate to be Stiliyan Petrov right now (the Bulgarian didn’t even make the bench on Sunday, and that may well cause the Balkan sulk of the season).
To the game itself.
You know what? I’m concerned. I’m concerned because I think John Carew’s early goal masked a problem in the first half. I have to admit — I’m not convinced by Carew. He’s big, he’s strong and he’s fast. But exactly the same thing happens when he leads the line for Villa as when Peter Crouch does the same for England.
Every ball gets thumped long to the big man. Carew scored from a penalty area scramble — but all his flick-ons went nowhere, and to me at least he never looked a great threat to Yobo and Lescott.
When Gabby came inside, they looked scared shitless. I’m pleased for big JC that he got off the mark against Everton, but (dare I say it?) I wasn’t disappointed when he went off and Gabby moved onto Yobo’s shoulder.
In the end, that was what put the game beyond the blue half of Scouseland.
I would prefer Villa to use Ashley Young and Gabby more. I think we are at our best when we terrify defences with width, pace and youth. For too long on Sunday — and yes I’m delighted we won — we smashed the ball up to JC.
As for other performances? Well, Laursen was a giant again — although it’s becoming a mantra. Mellberg played excellently again at right back (although my wife is a better crosser of the ball); Carson had nothing to do and Gabby stole the show with a quite unbelievable piece of ball control.
Two weeks ago they were saying that he was quick and energetic but had little technical ability: let the buggers eat their words now.
Villa: Carson 7: Mellberg 7; Laursen 8: Knight 6; Bouma 6; Agbonlahor 8; Reo-Coker 5; BARRY 9; Young 7; Carew 7; Moore 7.
Man-of-the-Match: GARETH BARRY — in a league of his own.
Note: Doc apologises for his late diagnosis: he has been travelling. However — he was at Villa Park for the game.
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10 Comments · Add yours
Agree about Barry and Reo-Coker - Barry was legendary but was playing too similar to his England role, thats Reo-Coker's role and Barry with his creativity should be getting forward more often, everything he did was quality tho.
Disagree about Carew, he is a class act and he will come good this season but it's true, we do have too much focus on punting balls up to the big man. At least Harewood will give us a bit more pace and mobility, intruiged to see his reaction now carew's out for a while.
And if MON gets gabby looking up, keeping posession, improving his technique then another definite england international
Up The Villa!!
spot on Doc!
Well Doc, at least for a month there won't be a Carew to smack the ball up to. So we'll be using Gabi and Moore or Harewood, i presume. Gabi and Harewood would probably be the best bet and have Young and Moore as attacking wingers.
I felt the same way about Barry. In a class of his own. Well dun' doc!
Fair diagnosis, although I agree with Jacko on Carew. I think that, just as with Crouch, players (or managers?) can be lazy in their use of them. Carew (as with Crouch)is so much more than a big man, and I doubt that long ball tactics were used when he shone at Valencia or Lyon. Carew's aerial presence should be an indicator to emphasize on pace and width more, as he pulls defenders out of position and is odds on to win any ball crossed into the box. Until that point, if we were to keep the ball on the ground we would be closer to getting the formula right.
Carew showed the full range of his abilities up front. It was disappointing that nobody seemed to be able to read him well enough to latch on to a few of his flick-ons. My main concern is that there is no real penetration from midfield. There were at least four occasions when the majestic BARRY and co. had time and space to shoot from just outside the box instead opting to 'go safe' and square pass. We looked ok defensively although would have liked to have seen DAVIS come on in the second half in place of KNIGHT. Overall it turned out to be a comfortable win because Everton were cack without ARTETA. The atmosphere before the game was brilliant and continued throughout the match. Passion has at last been restored at VP. Keep it up Villa!!
I agree with villavon we do seem to be lacking penitration in midfield i think mon has a bit of a problem on his hands becouse Barry and Reo Coker are sitting to deep wich encourages the opposition to attack.Also agree with Doc the result did seem to paper over some cracks(nothing major), with Berger back and Petrov both players when fit and on form will give us that attacking thret but who would he drop?
I think you're wrong on some counts here. Yes, Barry is on fire at present. Some of his touches were truely magical, although he was guilty of a couple of foolish fouls around the Villa box which thankfully Everton spooned. Carson made several good saves, you think he did nothing simply because we are used to seeing our full time goalies flap about and gift the oppo goals.
When JC went off did we stop with the long ball? Not exactly. i.e. Gabby's goal.
Melbs played one of his best games in a Villa shirt, good touches, confidence, awareness and yes his crossing is lacking but it was the best I've seen it on Sunday.
With Carew now out I'd like to see Young & Maloney on the wings, Moore & Gabby up front. This could well prove a devestating force.
I think without JC we will struggle in the coming weeks. I hope i will have to eat my words on this one. Moore just isnt up to it. He was nowhere against everton and all too often he was stuck flat footed in the middle of the park.
we were really poor mi week and we need to step are game if we are going to get 3 points of spurs although they are struggling at the moment they still a great side that can produce goals with a great manager but im sure the villa will come away with the 3 points. UP THE VILLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!