The Doc's Diagnosis: Villa vs Tottenham
Wednesday, 02 January 08, 01:23 PM · Comments (24)
I try not to read too many of the comments on Damian's piece, simply because it makes it more difficult to write an objective article. This time is an exception - and I'm a bit baffled by some of the stuff that's been written.
In brutally short form, I thought Villa were tremendous in the first half and sat back too far in the second. But I always felt they had the edge to come back and win it, and the fact that they did sees us sixth in the Premier League.
It was, by and large, a display of pace, strength and character. And for a good hour of the game (I exclude the first 30 minutes of the second half), Spurs - with all the quality and indeed all the form they had - were a distant second best.
Let's get into the game with a couple of gripes, though. Firstly - and this has nothing to do with the match itself - what's this "details of the subs as and when they are used" business? Actually, if you don't mind, I'd like you to tell me who's on the bench. I sit in the Doug Ellis and I tend not to bring a telescope. Sure, I could wait to spot them warming up - but why not just announce it?
Into the game with a second gripe (sorry). In the same way as the announcer didn't tell the fans who was on the bench, perhaps Martin O'Neill hadn't told the players that John Carew wasn't playing. The ball seemed to go long and high pretty frequently in the first five minutes, until the players clicked that the big Norwegian, er, wasn't there.
I'll finish my gripes with this point: MON has got to buy a right side for this team urgently. We all know that, and do does he - so I may be labouring a point. But though Ollie scored and Petrov had a good first half, neither looked remotely comfortable wide on the right when going forward. It was pretty well summed up by Ollie's shanked cross into the North Stand which ended a promising break.
But the rest of the first half was excellent. Villa were quick, strong and mobile and were zipping the ball around with some panache. Gabby was too hot to handle and both he and Luke Moore gave Kaboul and Dawson a pretty nighmarish forty-five minutes. Glaring misses by Luke and Martin Laursen meant for my money that Villa should have gone in two or even three up.
And Spurs? I think most of us thought this was going to be a tough game - but by half time my only worry was that we hadn't scored more. Spurs were casual, off-the-pace and defensively in trouble. Part of the reason was that Reo-Coker, Barry and Petrov were harrying and hassling the Spurs midfield and winning pretty much everything.
But that was about to change.
There were real echoes of the game against Spurs' North London rivals in the way Villa went about the second half. Reo-Coker looked strangely muzzled and fell back much deeper; Barry and Petrov stood off, and both Gabby and Young got far less of the ball. Huddlestone and Jenas exploited the space and nobody was surprised when Defoe grabbed an equaliser. It all looked familiar.
But this Villa side has grown in confidence and in self-belief. If the subsitution of Luke Moore for Craig Gardner looked bafflingly Sven-esque, the introduction of Maloney brought Villa back out of their shell. It is great to see a team able to step back up a gear and drive itself to victory, and given a rousing last fifteen minutes Villa were worth the three points.
I am going to reserve my last paragraph for Curtis Davies, who I thought was excellent throughout. The magnificent Laursen is clearly bringing the best out of Davies, who looked composed, alert and athletic.
Villa: Carson 7; Mellberg 6; Laursen 8; DAVIES 9; Bouma 6; Petrov 6; Reo-Coker 6; Barry 6; Young 7; Agbonlahor 7; Moore 6. Subs: Gardner 6; Maloney 7.
Man-of-the-Match: Curtis Davies. What a turnaround.
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24 Comments · Add yours
mellberg was man of hte match for me ... in the first half most seemed to involve him and he got the goal ..
will be a pity to see him leave in the summer
I've been reading these blog posts for a good few months now and there's a couple of points that I'd like to bring up, that I haven't seen people mention too often.
1. Petrov. He was involved in practicly every attack we had, linking up with all around him, He is sheer class in what he does on and off the ball. His movement his incredible and work rate (if measured in sweat) is second to none. The only problem we have is that he's playing OUT OF POSITION. He's a centre midfielder, not a winger, and until MON decides to use Petrov over Barry as centre mid attacker, we won't move on as a team. No offence to Bazza, he's a legend, but for me, we need that free rolling centre mid to link up with the attacking force more.
2. Mellberg. I don't think anyone can disagree that Mellberg has been one of our best serving players in recent times. The legend has been our rock for many, many years in that centre defence position, and I don't understand why there isn't ANY talk (What-so-ever) of both him and Laursen playing as the centre halves together in the new year, they would be unstoppable. If he goes i will be very, very sad. If Laursen falls injured and we have knight & Davies left, i'm not going to be a confident man yet. They need someone more experienced with them.
The player scores are about spot on for me, perhaps with the exception of Maloney getting 7. He did okay and didn't do anything wrong, but didn't change anything, surely that's a 6 at best. To say that Mellberg was worse than Maloney makes a mockery of the scoring system. Apart from that, i think it's good that you made Curtis Davies you MOTM, he was absolutely faultless...but then so was Laursen...plus he scored.
I agree with most of the article, with the exception of the Gardner substitution. When Spurs put on Robbie Keane and went 3 up top, we had to try and stifle them which worked till Defoe scored, and that only because the ball pinged (luckily) to him and he was clinical enough to finish it....Luke Moore **cough cough**
All in all though we have to be pleased i'll take the win however it comes, let's hope the team keeps up the momentum!
I think a point was fair but we pushed and got the winner so fair play to the boys. We'd have settled for a point in previous seasons so it's nice to see have more life in us than before.
Tottenham were poor first half but showed us more of the team they are in the second. A good test for us and a good result.
Ramos has a tendency to play for a draw in the first half, and not commit too many players forward. The second half is when he instructs them to be more adventurous. So it may give the appearance of first half dominance to the opposition, when in fact this is not necessarily the case. The second half was almost all Tottenham and they were unlucky not to be given a penalty before equalising.
MON is a great motivator and is certainly charismatic, I just don't think he cuts it tactically. Villa create far too few opportunities from open play and this was evident again throughout the game. Had Tottenham got any skill in defending basic set pieces then Villa would have lost.
I agree that Mellberg and Laursen kept Berbatov and Defoe relatively quiet.
to "sirdjsmith" i'm not too sure about your mellberg comments. i totally agree with the fact he's a great defender and has been a loyal servant to the club, but it's mellberg himself that has suggested that he wants to leave in the summer. If thats the case then i think playing davies or knight with laursen in the center is the best bet for the future. We've looked solid in defense all year and have only lacked in an attacking element at right back. Now davies has his confidence i cant see o'niel dropping him at all and would risk unsettling our defense for next season.
I would definately continue with Davies at centre back, he looks a far better prospect than Zat Knight and whilst Mellberg has been great in the past you have to look to the future. I also believe that teams are catching on to the fact that we are very weak down the right hand side, a natural attacking right back is a must as should an ashley young type player on the right wing. This would make us far less predictable and offer a far better balanced team than we currently have. Now I know that people will dissagree with me but I think that we should take a gamble on michael owen, he may have had his fair share of injuries but so has Laursen and look at him this season. With Owen's natural finishing along with Gabby's speed or Carew's aerial abilty we would have a good mix to put out against the different styles of play you come up against in the premiership.
I agree with most of the article, but Davies getting MOTM. He was very good, but only because he was playing next to Laursen. Laursen was fantastic. That was one of the best defensive displays I have ever seen. He won everything in the air, scored a goal, and was easily MOTM.
I was sat next to a spurs fan, he went to the game with me. He admitted to me after the game that Laursen was the best defender he had ever seen play. I realise that been a spurs fan, he hasnt seen many good defenders, but that just proved to me that Laursen really is that good.
meesterlee are you a spurs fan?
The reason for not naming the subs was in order not to kick off late for tv, nothing more than that.
Great first half from the villa boys where we should have been 2 or more up come the interval. Our lack of numbers showed in the second with petrov, young and gabby especially looking dog tired. Once agin i think MON showed how he delays his subs for 20 mins too long, but i think this must have something to do with the lack of opinions at his disposal.
All in all a great 3 points, especially as i hate spurs and their nobhead fans!
UTV!
mesterlee your obviously a spurs fan. Villa created far more chances from open play than tottenham did yesterday! In fact i counted 2 spurs chances all game and one you scored from. You had pressure in the second half because villa sat back but still created nothing much! Never a penalty mate you ask any fan! Enjoy your mediocre season you cockney wanker!
Overall I agree with this diagnosis - in fact the match was indicative of our season thus far. Plenty of pace, effort, and 'attempts' on target. Set piece goals, some lapses for prolonged periods (most of 2nd half...) but overall a desire to get a deserved result. At this stage of season I would like to see 2 major improvements;
1. Defensively
We have conceded more goals than any other team in top 10, with exception of Blackburn (1 more than us). I'm assuming that Mellberg will exit stage left in summer.. but in meantime, lets get an experienced right-back like Finnan or Boswinga (not Hoyte) and get Mellberg back in centre. In my opinion, Davis and Laursen are a good combo of athleticism and experience to keep the ship steady in the future, with Knight and Cahill in reserve. So obviously the big Dane's contract needs sorting too. I'd like to see him get a 2-year deal.
2. Balance
Lets break the bank and get SWP from Chelsea to play on right flank. We are a bit of one-trick pony with Young down the left, and I think we would get more guile with Petrov playing through the centre.
UTV
I agrre with getting SWP but dont think he would leave Chelsea now that he is getting regular first team football. Although he has not got SWP pace I believe that David Bentley would be a good signing, he has two good feet, an eye for goal and would create plenty of chances for the strikers. He is wasted at a small town club like Blackburn, playing in a half empty stadium every other week and would improve as a player under MON.
I agree with getting Bentley whole-heartedly, i think he's the best player english who's not in the england team that doesn't play for us already. He is absolute quality, and i really think that something could be done there to bring him to VP. He's very committed to Blackburn, and Hughesy would be very very reluctant to let him go, but dangle 12mil in front of Sparky and the opportunity to play at a great club for Bentley, and i think he could be tempted. A lot of big names have been changing hands recently in the Prem, and it wouldn't suprise me if it could happen. I read something somewhere, could have been a on TribalFootball (i know), that Agbonlahor is quoted as saying the manager has been talking about new signings in the midfield and attacking positions. So it looks like he's been talking to Aggy at the very least about his plans. Sounds good to me.
MON will never fork out the 22m asked for Bosingwa, so we should lay that one to rest. He'll go to United, and we'll miss out on a top class player.
Can't see SWP leaving Chelsea, but goes without saying that he would be great for us. Bentley would be a decent buy but I'd much prefer Santa Cruz, what a bargain he was for Blackburn.
Spurs players didnt seem to want to be playing, at least not hard eneough to win, second half they had a little bit of a go but nothing to live up to reputuations. Villa just kept on and on chasing every ball and making it to hard for a spurs side who didnt seem to care that much. Huddleston looks good and we all know about keane the others....?
Good result last night! keeps us ticking over nicely,now 12 points ahead of the spuds, HEHE & all this talk before the season started about how much better they are!!. it was a good performance, thought we got a bit negative second half though and let spuds back in to the game . id lke to see us have a plan (B). i would like to see us get someone in like a gudjhnson type, who can drop off and link the play a bit. an attacking rb is essential and attacking right sided player. that would do nicely!!
the relief of gettin 3 points. that was massive and crucial to our run through to may. 7 from a possible 9 in our last 3 games of the festive period, thats a great return.
i agree wit the comments about our goals against tab. the highest number in the top 6. gutted to concede 4 against spurs, chelsea and man u. need to srengthen the right side, because teams are finding us out as the guile and skills come down the left. we need to sign atleast 4 players to bolster the squad. thats the minimum target.
up the villa!
meesterlee: Villa don't create too few opportunities from open play, they just don't finish enough of them. They certainly created far more than Spurs did. Moore's two misses, the second one certainly, show that we need a true finisher. I'll let Laursen off the hook for his miss, but those were two certain goals, game could've/should've been 3 or 4-1 based on the quality chances created.
Villa sitting back is troubling, but I wonder whether it's still a bit of confidence lacking in the players, or MON trying to teach the team to take a 1-0 lead, hold it, and counterattack for more. For all Spurs' possession, they created only the one chance, and fair play to Defoe for taking it. Then Villa were ascendant once again.
It bears repeating that Villa are very young, overall. There's still a lot of learning to be done, both in playing together, which they seem to be working out, and in getting results in the EPL, which they also seem to be working out.
I'd like a RB and true right winger so Petrov can get back in the middle.
Was at the game yesterday and thought we were quality in the first half, then in the second spurs had a lot of possesion but did not do much at all with it.I also think we are only a few players away from being really class.We need to sign a good right back a right winger (maybie Giles Barnes?) and Martin Laursen the guy is a top top player.
Watch out big four M.O.N and his boys are comming for you :P :P spurs result top top class to be honest i was expecting a loss i didnt have a good feelin about the game but we played brilliant well done boys :P
First of all, I'd like to really show my appreciation for Martin Laursen. Even without all the massive goals he's scored for us this season, he has got to be one of the top defenders in the league. The only other player who comes close in my book is Vidic, but even he is known to make a few missed clearences, etc. But not Laursen. The man has arguably been our best, most consistant player and it is scary, but I saw a little bit of Laursen in Curtis Davies last match... A man willing to throw his body any which way to clear a ball. It was evident that we need a proper right winger to compliment Ashley Young. By the way, Ashley Young must run 100000 KM per match! I know he's young, but the lad does not stop running! However, I think Ashley would look a much better player if we did not have to use him as our sole provider of a cross. Instead of buying another winger, one possibility is to pick up a Diarra/Sidwell type, move Gareth out on the left, and have Ashley on the right.
Also, I love Big John and I know there aren't many other players of his type, but could we do with a Darren Bent? Carew has been getting injured quite frequently as of late, but we really play well when he's in the side.
We're in a critical position right now. One win away from 4th spot and 3 points above the 9th. So, it's been said all over the place. We're looking for a right back, another winger, as well as a quality goal scorer. Although our squad is the smallest in the Prem, it is so very solid and filled with players who want to work. I believe we are a 6th or 7th place team right now, but only 3 quality players away from a 4th spot.. a Champions League Qualification, 4th spot.
i think extending martin laursen's contract would be better than buying a new player with his recent form
I've recently emmigrated from england for work but prior to this I went up the villa whenever I could afford it. i get to watch all of the games on ESPN but the one problem I find with this (other than it being midnight and south korea as opposed to 3pm and Villa Park) is that I can't watch players off the ball. I was a bit worried about the pace in our back 4 before I left and I only ever caught a glimpse of Davies as a sustitute. Do you think he has the pace/quality to partner laursen?