Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: dave.woodhall on November 11, 2010, 10:34:59 PM
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The only time I can ever remember Villa having a run of injuries like the current one was in 1978-79, and the seasons either side weren't exactly healthy ones either. As a result of this we started throwing youngsters into the team, which meant by the start of 1980-81 we had a crop of young players either still in or just out of their teens but with plenty of first team experience.
Players such as Gordon Cowans (age 21, over 150 first team games), Gary Shaw (19, 35 starts, 13 goals), Colin Gibson (20, 52 games) and Gary Williams (20, 30 games). And they didn't do too badly that season.
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We had a bit of a problem around 5 years ago aswell, I remember us being without Baros & Phillips for a long while & i'm sure we had to play Samuel & Delaney as centrebacks in a few games because of chronic injury problems.
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Dave interesting i didnt realise that it was an injury crisis that caused the introduc tion of those players it was those players and a couple of decent signings without a massive budget that propeled us to our greatest achievement
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Good point. I can't remember a run of injuries like this, certainly not in my time anyway.
MON would have had kittens had he still been around. Blood the kids, all at once? Not even a European game? Madness!
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Dave interesting i didnt realise that it was an injury crisis that caused the introduc tion of those players it was those players and a couple of decent signings without a massive budget that propeled us to our greatest achievement
It wasn't just injuries - they would have come through anyway. But things like Alex Cropley's broken leg and Brian Little's injuries meant Sid and Gary Shaw were getting into the side at a time when they might not otherwise have.
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We had a bit of a problem around 5 years ago aswell, I remember us being without Baros & Phillips for a long while & i'm sure we had to play Samuel & Delaney as centrebacks in a few games because of chronic injury problems.
HAHAHAHAHA!
Way to get the point of the thread WA!
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We had a bit of a problem around 5 years ago aswell, I remember us being without Baros & Phillips for a long while & i'm sure we had to play Samuel & Delaney as centrebacks in a few games because of chronic injury problems.
HAHAHAHAHA!
Way to get the point of the thread WA!
I know it's late/early but I don't get it (scratches head)
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Back then there was no such thing as transfer windows. I don't recall Saunders at the time demanding a release of funds to buy us out of our prediciment...not that we had any funds at the time mind.
Anyway, I feel that sometimes when your hand is forced it can be a good thing. The youngsters come in to fill the gaps with less expectancy from the fans as there is no other choice. This allows them to a certain extent to express themselves without the added pressure.
So far so good.
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We have been incredibly lucky in recent years though, and luck changes, so I guess we were due something like this.
In at the deep end can make a footballer.
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Also i can't remember a season like this when they dropping like flies let's just hope there will be no more injuries from now on.
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A youth bounty similar to 78/79 would be rather nice.
I understand we moved to double training sessions when Gerard took over. Are we still doing that?
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Good point. I can't remember a run of injuries like this, certainly not in my time anyway.
MON would have had kittens had he still been around. Blood the kids, all at once? Not even a European game? Madness!
I've been thinking about this myself lately and I was a big critic of the former manager. In his last few seasons he should have rotated the squad and he should have blooded Albrighton, Bannan,Clark, the Fonz. That being said, when he first came to the club he gave the likes of Gabby, Luke Moore and dare I say it Cahill a chance in the side. Shame he sold Cahill when he did and didn't continue to gradually blood the young prospects at the club.
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Back then there was no such thing as transfer windows. I don't recall Saunders at the time demanding a release of funds to buy us out of our prediciment...not that we had any funds at the time mind.
A very good point and one that Houllier will need to balance.
We're all expecting an influx of players thanks to his contacts and Randy's wallet, yet at what point does that become counter productive by holding back the emerging talents like Albrighton and Bannan?
Not turning this into a transfer thread, but I'm thinking three players only over Jan and summer, provided only the deadwood leave, would strenthen us the right amount and still allow the kids to blossom.
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Not turning this into a transfer thread, but I'm thinking three players only over Jan and summer, provided only the deadwood leave, would strenthen us the right amount and still allow the kids to blossom.
And to be fair, considering what job he has come from, I reckon Houllier is well placed (and more importantly in the right mindset) to develop the youngsters and integrate them into the first team. I certainly hope so.
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Not turning this into a transfer thread, but I'm thinking three players only over Jan and summer, provided only the deadwood leave, would strenthen us the right amount and still allow the kids to blossom.
And to be fair, considering what job he has come from, I reckon Houllier is well placed (and more importantly in the right mindset) to develop the youngsters and integrate them into the first team. I certainly hope so.
I'm absolutely convinced this was one of the main reasons he was appointed
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What was his record like with bringing the youth through at Liverpool? I think Owen was already established when he took sole charge, so does that leave just Carragher? That is only a poor record if the players went elsewhere and did well and Warnock is about the best I can think of from the generation he would have had and released.
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He also gave Steve Gerrard his chance and put a lot of faith into him, I seem to recall reading that he also made him one of Liverpool's youngest ever captains. This is partly the reason why i'm really looking forward to see Delph get back from fitness and see how he develops in our 1st team.
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It occurred to me the other day that we never had what you would call an injury crisis throughout O'Neill's tenure and with the treatment tables filling up this season, I wondered whether his and his backroom staff's departures had anything to do with this state of affairs. I am genuinely curious by the way and not pining for him or trying to start a fight or anything.
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I think MON had a few injuries in his 1st year, but we were outrageously lucky thereafter. Although I'm sure Milner and Petrov were about 60% at best for parts of last season!
Midfield options of Gardner, Delph, Albrighton, Bannan plus 'old heads' Downing, Young and Ireland is a very promising stock. I still think it's taking a massive risk to rely just on them, but NRC and Petrov as more experienced players will help. No need for Sidwell. One more combative centre midfielder should be the order of the day I think
If Gabby gets back to top form then that would seem to negate the need for a new centre forward, unless we could find someone genuinely top class. I don't think we've played two up at all under GH have we? So assuming we won't be doing much of that.
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We all love seeing players come through the ranks, and even with some/much of it being enforced it will bear us in good stead for the future.
All the more reason to back the team thats out there each and every game, come what may, results wise.
With all the younger players on Wednesday night, I was more than usually disappointed with some of the boos that rang out on the half time whistle against Blackpool.
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It is great to see the young players given a chance. Lets hope that Petrov and Heskey etc aren't automatically put back in the side when fit if the kids continue to make progress.
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We all love seeing players come through the ranks, and even with some/much of it being enforced it will bear us in good stead for the future.
All the more reason to back the team thats out there each and every game, come what may, results wise.
With all the younger players on Wednesday night, I was more than usually disappointed with some of the boos that rang out on the half time whistle against Blackpool.
I didn't hear any where I was sitting (Upper Tritinity)?
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We all love seeing players come through the ranks, and even with some/much of it being enforced it will bear us in good stead for the future.
All the more reason to back the team thats out there each and every game, come what may, results wise.
With all the younger players on Wednesday night, I was more than usually disappointed with some of the boos that rang out on the half time whistle against Blackpool.
I didn't hear any where I was sitting (Upper Tritinity)?
There were definitely a few boos but it wasn't a sustained thing.
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we would have been ok with mON still here .. we would have had the excellent Mcgready and the sensational Keane to fill the team ;-x
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He also gave Steve Gerrard his chance and put a lot of faith into him, I seem to recall reading that he also made him one of Liverpool's youngest ever captains. This is partly the reason why i'm really looking forward to see Delph get back from fitness and see how he develops in our 1st team.
have a guess who was leeds manager when delph got put into a key role in the first team at the age of 18...
gary mcallister...
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have a guess who was leeds manager when delph got put into a key role in the first team at the age of 18...
gary mcallister...
I didn't realise that. Guess Houllier will know all about him then without (probably) ever having seen him play.
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we would have been ok with mON still here .. we would have had the excellent Mcgready and the sensational Keane to fill the team ;-x
True, but so far we're hardly pulling up many trees with all these kids in the team.
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I think one of the most important things about any team is to play together for a few years, it provides a natural understanding between players that can be invaluable at the top level. The young players coming through have for the most part played together now for a few years and you can tell, the Bannan pass to Albrighton for the goal against Fulham was a good example of a natural understanding between players. If we can develop that kind of understanding all over the pitch we will do well. Young and Gabby have it up front, and it also looked like the Fonz is starting to get on Ash's wavelength too.
I think next year, with a few bits of deadwood cleared out, 3 or 4 new additions, our senior players fit, and the likes of Delph, Gardner, Weimann coming through too, we will be a very potent force. Not sure we will win the league or the 'European Cup' but we could certainly be up there challenging for the top four.
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This thread has even more prescience after today's display
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we have some real talent coming through, we are trying to play more progressive football, we might look back and think that this injury crisis and gerrards appointment is the best thing that could have happened,
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have a guess who was leeds manager when delph got put into a key role in the first team at the age of 18...
gary mcallister...
I didn't realise that. Guess Houllier will know all about him then without (probably) ever having seen him play.
Houllier is quoted in today's Telegraph saying (to paraphrase) that he bought McAllister to mentor Gerrard. I think Delph, gardner and Bannan are all in very safe hands. I think Petrov and NRC will both be very good at Mentoring the youngsters.
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Of course history is never repeated but an opportunity has been provided and our kids are grabbing it. I thought all 3 , Hogg Albrighton & Bannan, were good today and we still have Delph to return. Future is bright.