Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Mister E on October 16, 2011, 05:16:23 PM

Title: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: Mister E on October 16, 2011, 05:16:23 PM: For those who watch our reserves, are Herd, Gardner and Johnson ready to step up and provide some additional grit to our central MF? when will they be ready, do you think?

Oh, and when is Jenas going to be ready to start a game?
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: Legion on October 16, 2011, 07:37:34 PM: No
Yes
No
Hopefully soon
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: The Man With A Stick on October 16, 2011, 09:20:30 PM: We really ought to consider getting a replacement for George Boateng. It's long overdue.
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: old man villa fan on October 16, 2011, 09:27:04 PM: Quote from: The Man With A Stick on October 16, 2011, 09:20:30 PM
We really ought to consider getting a replacement for George Boateng. It's long overdue.

I am still waiting for a replacement for Dennis Mortimer!

Gardner looked strong and confident when he came on in the preseason match against Chelsea. We need to be starting him on the bench and bringing him into games.
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: IRISHPHIL on October 16, 2011, 09:41:49 PM: do people think that gardner should be replacing delph,
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: Phil from the upper holte on October 16, 2011, 09:53:25 PM: Fuck me I came on here to start a similar thread. I was thinking this morning when is Gardener going to get a look in? Delph isn't cutting it for me he's control isn't good enough he plays too many hospital balls and were too narrow, there wasn't any width at all yesterday. I think the whole midfield needs a re think. Bent was much better when there was service from the wings.

I'd be telling nzogbia to buck his ideas up get to that byline hug it and get some bloody crosses in the box.
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: hawkeye on October 16, 2011, 11:45:10 PM: We have too many lightweights in Midfield, Petrov is the only orthadox central midfield player.
The permutations involving Ireland Heskey! Delph Nzogbia just wont work. You can only get the best out of Bannan if he has a base to play from and we dont have one.
Our midfield options are piss poor. As the season goes on I think that we will have real problems as we are likely to get over run.
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: Mister E on October 17, 2011, 08:23:53 AM: Quote from: hawkeye on October 16, 2011, 11:45:10 PM
We have too many lightweights in Midfield, Petrov is the only orthadox central midfield player.
The permutations involving Ireland Heskey! Delph Nzogbia just wont work. You can only get the best out of Bannan if he has a base to play from and we dont have one.
Our midfield options are piss poor. As the season goes on I think that we will have real problems as we are likely to get over run.

Hence my post; you've summed up ver well my thoughts concerning the games we've played so far this season.
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: Irish villain on October 17, 2011, 09:00:05 AM: We lack bite in central midfield, no question. We need a Townsend or a Boateng.
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: Dante Lavelli on October 17, 2011, 09:16:14 AM: Hopefully Gardner can get slowly introduced in the next few weeks as it would be good to see what he can do before January. Either way, I still think any money we do have should be concentrated on a solid athletic central midfielder who will provide a platform for Bannan, Ireland, Nzogbia to play their football.

I suppose Jenus will help in this regard.
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: Concrete John on October 17, 2011, 09:27:44 AM: Thing about this thread is that it's hard to judge our options until we've seen them all.................step forward Mr J. Jenas.

I'm not his biggest fan, but with Delph below par this season, although I still think he's going to develop well, we need to see what he can do next to Petrov and then gio from there. I mentioned this in a thread a few weeks ago, but I'd like to see us try a 4-2-3-1 With the following midfield:-

- Petrov - Jenas -
N'Zog - Bannan - Gabby
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: supertom on October 17, 2011, 09:34:21 AM: The English game is very physical. If we're gonna have Bannan, Delph and Ireland playing at the same time, which has happened this season, we're gonna get mullered in the middle. We most definitely do miss the Townsend and Boateng type player. We have no one who's gonna offer any bite and get stuck in and unsettle the opposition.

Coker wasn't a great player by any stretch, but his engine and aggression always proved useful in midfield. He couldn't exactly play much, but even now when playing the likes of N'Zog, Delph, Ireland, Bannan, and also Stan, all pretty cultured footballers, we play piss poor football and can't string 2 passes together most of the time. That's down to the balance. Makoun shouldn't have been loaned out. He's played the anchor role at Lyon and for his country. He didn't exactly look like Makalele, but we didn't give him much of a chance. He was good on the ball though and used the ball well. Petrov had the benefit of a lot of chances before he came good. He had similar problems too, like dwelling on the ball too much.

I don't think we're shot of one midfielder, we need at least two solid players in the middle of the park. We have no one who can allow a platform to get the best out of Bannan or Ireland.

Lack of creativity out wide is also a problem and as others have said, it's time for N'Zogbia to be stuck out wide, because Albrighton has hit the skids, and though Gabby's played well out wide this season, his goals are valuabe and we need him more central.
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: N'ZMAV on October 17, 2011, 09:51:50 AM: Jenas has to play.
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: N'ZMAV on October 17, 2011, 09:55:42 AM: It's a big ask for Gary Gardner to come in and be expected to boss the midfield.
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: PaulTheVillan on October 17, 2011, 10:07:04 AM: 4-4-2

Albrighton Petrov Jenas NZogbia
Bent Agbonlahor
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: UK Redsox on October 17, 2011, 10:55:12 AM: Quote from: Irish villain on October 17, 2011, 09:00:05 AM
We lack bite in central midfield, no question. We need a Townsend or a Boateng.

At the moment I'd settle for a Reo-Coker
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: darren woolley on October 17, 2011, 11:03:43 AM: I would like Gardner to get a chance the boy has got potential we should give him a try.
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: Concrete John on October 17, 2011, 11:24:59 AM: Although I've seen very little of Gardner the younger yet, I understand he's more of an attacking midfielder, which is our main problem as most of our current midfield are also better going forward. I'd einclude Delph in that even though he's been asked to sit more, which is at least part of why I don't think we've seen the best of him. Petrov is the only one who's suited to a more defensive midfield role, but there are some issues with his game and it's a lot to ask him to hold the midfield together on his own. I'd be looking to get Jenas in the side and give him some strict instructions to sit and/or give Clark a try in midfield. Delph can then fight it out with the other players for one of the 2/3 more attacking midfield slots.
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: TonyD on October 17, 2011, 11:56:01 AM: I'd be tempeted to play Clark as sweeper with Bannan + Ireland/Jenas + Marco/Zog in front. At home I'd play Bent + Gabby but away stick only one up front and add one more in the middle. I'd use Gardner as a sub. Petrov should be retired (like two years ago) and Delph sent for a spell in the reserves where they can teach him how to pass.
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: Phil from the upper holte on October 17, 2011, 03:37:30 PM: Problem is that our midfield is slow, Heskey? Its like playing with ten men, Delph, Looks slow, Petrov say no more, N'zogbia is much slower than I thought. Need some speed in there again
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: garyshawsknee on October 19, 2011, 01:07:33 PM: Jenas out til mid Nov now. By the time he's match fit it'll be Xmas,is Jean the second really that bad that we can't call him back from Greece?
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: Mister E on October 19, 2011, 02:38:09 PM: Quote from: garyshawsknee on October 19, 2011, 01:07:33 PM
Jenas out til mid Nov now. By the time he's match fit it'll be Xmas,is Jean the second really that bad that we can't call him back from Greece?
Funny, just been looking ofr news of JJ on the AV website - buggered if I can find anything about him. Bad news if true.
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: garyshawsknee on October 19, 2011, 03:38:03 PM: Quote from: EffDee on October 19, 2011, 02:38:09 PM
Quote from: garyshawsknee on October 19, 2011, 01:07:33 PM
Jenas out til mid Nov now. By the time he's match fit it'll be Xmas,is Jean the second really that bad that we can't call him back from Greece?
Funny, just been looking ofr news of JJ on the AV website - buggered if I can find anything about him. Bad news if true.

Kendrick tweeted something earlier,think its on Sky website as well.
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: UsualSuspect on October 20, 2011, 09:37:55 AM: Quote from: garyshawsknee on October 19, 2011, 03:38:03 PM
Quote from: EffDee on October 19, 2011, 02:38:09 PM
Quote from: garyshawsknee on October 19, 2011, 01:07:33 PM
Jenas out til mid Nov now. By the time he's match fit it'll be Xmas,is Jean the second really that bad that we can't call him back from Greece?
Funny, just been looking ofr news of JJ on the AV website - buggered if I can find anything about him. Bad news if true.

Kendrick tweeted something earlier,think its on Sky website as well.

Bugger me it will be Xmas before he's match fit

Agree with most of what's been said, far too slow and pedestrian (bar gabby). As long as AM continues to play Ivanhoe (above Bannan FFS) in midfield we are never going to do anything

call me old fashioned but i like a winger/wide midfielder to hog the touchline.
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: N'ZMAV on October 20, 2011, 09:49:11 AM: Reo-Coker was Ok, but in a 4-4-2 with Petrov, i'd say No, a big No. In a middle 3 with Petrov and Bannan or Ireland then yes, but, as he's gone.... who gives a flying fuck?
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: Blackcountry Villa on October 20, 2011, 10:26:53 AM: Gardner couldn't do any worse than Delph surely? He's piss poor.
Title: Re: Question about Villa's midfield options
Post by: SoccerHQ on October 20, 2011, 09:14:08 PM: Sorry to say it but 14 months on the central midfield area has yet to recover from Milner leaving.