Villa Style, Tactics & Formations 2018/19

[dcdavecollett]

Liverpool were using this almost forty years ago!

Ian Rush would plod along up front with no apparent interest until the chance came to close down the 'right' defender. Suddenly Ian would reveal some killer pace, win the ball, let Kenny have it 25 yards from goal and away they went...

[footyskillz]

Passing since start of season .

Overall in championship Villa have 3rd highest possession of ball in matches at 54.7%
(Leeds,59% Brentford 56%)

And the 2nd highest over all passing accuracy 79.9%
(Swansea best 81%)
Villa are 81% accurate at home in passing

[Drummond]

I've been thinking that our defence, and Nyland in particular will be filled with confidence with Smith in charge. With Bruce it was all about not conceding and nicking one to win a match, with Smith it's about playing the ball, if you concede fair enough let's score two.

[footyskillz]

Attacking style of play is far more evident and it's noted in the stats on shots per game.

Dean Smith Era overall shots per game average is 14.5.

That's second only to Leeds at 15.4
We are now slightly higher on average than
(Brentford 14.4 , Derby 14.2 , WBA 14.2, Norwich 14)


At home villa shots
11 Swansea (5 target) 1 goal
17 Bolton (3 target) 2 goals
12 Blues (5 target) 4 goals


Away from home shooting
8 norwich (1 target) 1 goal.
18 QPR (5 target) 0 goal
21 Derby (5 target) 3 goals


Another time I'll look at % of goals target ratios.

Certainly in last 3 matches
Bolton Derby, blues Villa are now scoring more when they hit the target.
Smithy talked about QPR match and how he was pleased with performance. 18 shots 5 on target 0 goals

It's clear to see now that when shots have been on target in the following matches they are scoring them with a higher frequency.

Shots on target resulted in goal v Bolton (2 goals in 3)
60% shots on target goal v derby
(3 goals in 5)
80% shots on target goal v blues
(4 goals in 5)

The beauty is the players are talking the big chances created.
And that they are adapting well to Smith method regarding too possession.

[footyskillz]

During the match v Boro away we took a risk of overloading at set play / corners and resulted in goals.

It paid dividends and villa got goals due to positions in the final third with midfielder or the wide strikers.

[Drummond]

So Smith and Bruce have both been in charge for 12 games.

Under Smith we've scored 6 more goals. (avg 2.17 goals per game), secured 6 more points and had 5 more clean sheets.

Smith is averaging 1.75 points per game. If he continues at that rate we'll finish on 76 points.

[Toronto Villa]

With Bruce you could argue it could very well have been less given how many games we just scraped a win or draw. Think Wigan, Blackburn and Brentford. For Smith think how many games we’ve blown late and points dropped having played really well. The variance between the two managers is wider than the stats reveal.

[eamonn]

Five more clean sheets?! Bruce mustn't have had any..

Also, did you count Millwall as a a Bruce game?
Deano's run has seen us play far tougher opposition too.

[PeterWithesShin]

We had one clean sheet in the league this season under Bruce, which was Rotherham, after which he gave it the big one.

[Toronto Villa]

We really were ignorant no nothing tossers in the eyes of Bruce. He was so right lauding up our magnificent display vs World Club Champions Rotherham United.

[PeterWithesShin]

In fairness if I was a manager i'd be saying this sort of thing after beating Real Rotherham at home.

“I have got four promotions, last year I nearly had a fifth. Yet I don’t know what I am doing?

"Unfortunately it filters through the mad few.

“We are Villa and the expectation and belief is huge but common sense is needed.

“The vast majority of supporters are right behind what we are trying to do. You can feel it in the stadium. If they wanted me out, the stadium would have erupted with it before the start.

“The supporters can see we had a bloody awful performance at Sheffield. Now we are sitting in sixth. I hope it shuts a few up. But I doubt it.”

[Matt C]

Good tactical breakdown of Bruce vs Smith via Villa Report/Total Football Analysis:

https://totalfootballanalysis.com/head-coach-analysis/dean-smith-aston-villa-tactical-analysis-statistics

[Toronto Villa]

I haven’t read it but is the Bruce section any more than one page with a picture of a bloke with sleeves rolled up?

[Matt C]

There was something about ‘giving it a good go’.

[footyskillz]

It's all too common now villa losing points , the most on league.

It's very frustrating.

I like smithy and his coaching ethos but I was weary of his Brentford negligence which is happening at Villa .

Maybe as I say frustrated as what to be fair.

It's the closing out of matches or finishing teams off which is annoying


Also as mentioned in Preston thread what's JT coaching role as if it's to do with defence strategy and organizing it needs to be somewhat flagged .
Just because it's JT he hasn't had the question on his role.

Now I'm questioning his defence coaching sessions