Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: timeoutbigbar on October 18, 2011, 03:19:54 AM
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So, where do we stand with super Marc?
A year ago I thought the lad would set the PL alight. Now he's had a blip that most players go through. What happens next? I'd be sat on the fence with this one. I'd be interested to know what everyone else thought.
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Needs a run of games playing wide right, but I can't see AM risking it when a couple of losses would turn Villa Park into a booers paradise.
He seems to have lost the self-belief that took him to the by line and maybe defenders have worked him out a bit (a natural thing for a young player in their second season). I hope he comes good as he's an exciting player when on song.
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I'm beginning to think he's not going to be good enough. Hope I'm proved wrong but of the recent crop of young players I think only Clarke and Bannan will eventually become regulars.
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No doubt he will get his chance at some point and when he does it is down to him to take it and establish himself-on the few occasions he has been on the pitch under mcleish he has looked very ordinary and lacked confidence in my opinion.
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He's still a very good player and will prove it when given a run of games I'm sure. I may be alone, but I actually think he's looked bright most of the times he's come on this season. Provided a quality assist at Everton for instance.
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This is what we were all worried about in the summer, letting our best players go and relying on our younger players to cut it. So far only bannan and Clark have impressd me. Herd did well but then had to make way for Hutton. Delph isn't up to it in my opinion. Going to be a long hard season.
Back to the original question I really don't know, when he's played he looks short of confidence
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Albrighton needs to play in a system that is balanced and suits his game, maybe he isn't doing it in trainig if we're continuing to play players out of position instead of picking him?
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Bannan and Clark will make it, I even think they'll both end up at somewhere like Man Utd. As for Herd. He'll get found out to be average, like Hogg was/is.
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I want to like him; home grown local lad etc, but as good as he is going forward he seems to make costly mistakes in defence. You have to do both parts as a modern wide man these days and he doesn't do enough upfront to cancel out the defensive mistakes. His goal of the season at Fulham last year is a good example, great goal cancelled out by an inept challenge that cost us three points. He suffers by comparision to milner, downing and young but who doesn't at the moment.
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Bannan and Clark will make it, I even think they'll both end up at somewhere like Man Utd. As for Herd. He'll get found out to be average, like Hogg was/is.
Sadly agree about Bannan. Can see Fergie taking a real shine to him.
I think Marc Albrighton will make it at villa eventually. Needs time, support and to grow in confidence.
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His decision making is suspect. Dives in for tackles when he should stay on his feet, shoots when passing would be the better option, tries to take a man on when there is no space etc.
These are things that can improve with coaching and experience so I wouldn't write him off just yet.
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Voted don't know - because I really don't know.
Has the potential but his confidence seems to have gone and his decision making is suspect. Hope it happens for him (and us)
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His decision making is suspect. Dives in for tackles when he should stay on his feet, shoots when passing would be the better option, tries to take a man on when there is no space etc.
These are things that can improve with coaching and experience so I wouldn't write him off just yet.
Yes, he's got all the talent, and I'm sure he'll get over this patch, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't concerned. After selling two of our best players in Downing and Young, we really needed N'Zogbia and Albirghton to step up, and so far this season neither have shown that they're up to the challenge.
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I may be alone, but I actually think he's looked bright most of the times he's come on this season. Provided a quality assist at Everton for instance.
I agree. I think he was poor at the end of last term and during pre-season, but his sub appearances so far this season have been better, if not quite up to his early 10/11 form.
I voted 'Honestly don't know', but he needs to get a start soon and take that chance if he's going to make any impact this season.
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I think he will come good just going through a patchy faze he will be ok.
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I hope he comes good but have a feeling that with heskey likely to start every game when he's fit then MA is going to get limited game time this season - which is the exact opposite of what should be happening.
Heskey is not going to be with us for the long haul and neither is petrov so AM needs to be thinking ahead and giving our not so young youngsters serious game time
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He has 2 good feet
a decent engine
decent pace
likes to try a tackle-(isn't great at it but he'll learn)
can cross
can head
isn't made of glass
you would give your left bollock to be in his shoes
he will make it!
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His feet are too small and I'm very attached to my testicles.
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Obviously the manager doesn't fancy him, and the worry is the manager will ship him out to a lower league team if an offer comes in.
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Obviously the manager doesn't fancy him, and the worry is the manager will ship him out to a lower league team if an offer comes in.
I was only thinking the same thing this morning
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Obviously the manager doesn't fancy him, and the worry is the manager will ship him out to a lower league team if an offer comes in.
I was only thinking the same thing this morning
I hope he doesn't, but this could be a Cahill situation. He had some great moments last season, although as understudy to Downing and Young. It could be a case that he preferred that scenario, and being flung in as a regular starter daunted him. I hope not, but something happened over the summer that dented his confidence.
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Obviously the manager doesn't fancy him, and the worry is the manager will ship him out to a lower league team if an offer comes in.
So the reason he has been left out is because the manager doesn't fancy him not because of his poor performances. Every game he's started this season he's been crap. He's been a bit better in recent sub appearances but nothing like enough to consider himself hard done by not to be starting.
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His performNces and confidence dipped for the final third of last season, he's struggled for most of 2011.
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Fantastic cross, as good as anyone in the game.Has to realise he is not quick enough to beat people for pace, and learn like Beckham did that you don't have to beat a man to get a cross in.
Needs to toughen up a bit.Has the ability to make it, does get bullied out of games, if he can overcome that he should be a very good player.
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Obviously the manager doesn't fancy him, and the worry is the manager will ship him out to a lower league team if an offer comes in.
So the reason he has been left out is because the manager doesn't fancy him not because of his poor performances. Every game he's started this season he's been crap. He's been a bit better in recent sub appearances but nothing like enough to consider himself hard done by not to be starting.
So your theory is a young player who has had a few poor 'minutes' on the pitch this season should be replaced by that creative powerhouse, Emile Heskey?
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Where did Chris say that, Vanilla?
Against QPR and Wigan there was no Heskey or Albrighton, but probably the two most creative players in the squad started.
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Obviously the manager doesn't fancy him, and the worry is the manager will ship him out to a lower league team if an offer comes in.
So the reason he has been left out is because the manager doesn't fancy him not because of his poor performances. Every game he's started this season he's been crap. He's been a bit better in recent sub appearances but nothing like enough to consider himself hard done by not to be starting.
So your theory is a young player who has had a few poor 'minutes' on the pitch this season should be replaced by that creative powerhouse, Emile Heskey?
No, it isn't.
My theory is that Albrighton hasn't played well enough for about 8 months to have any claim currently on a first team place. That's why he's not paying rather than your theory that the manager doesn't fancy him.
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He seemed a better player before he let the hype get to him, when that happened he was trying, and failing, to take the ball past defenders and to the byline, before that he tended to whip the ball in from somewhere level with the 18 yard box, and was incredibly good at it as well.
Maybe the coaches should sit him down in front of a few DVD'd from early last season to show him what he was doing right when he was looking like our next home grown star.
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If only we were still playing the 4-3-3 System MON implemented when he first took over, he'd slot perfectly into that.
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The next Steven Davis. Full of promise, fizzle out, might do well in Scotland.
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I've voted 'honestly don't know'. When he first came into the squad I thought he looked like the real deal and would step up to fill AY's boots, and he's nowhere near that at the moment. I think he's got two problems blocking his development - firstly, AM doesn't seem keen to give him a run of games, either because he doesn't fit into his system or just 'doesn't fancy him'; and his second problem, which may be contributing to the first, for me if anything he seems to be trying too hard. When he came on towards the back end of last season (can't recall the game) he was running round like a headless chicken to no real effect. Bit of a catch 22 situation - he needs a run of games to gain confidence and discipline, but because he's not delivering when he gets the chance he doesn't get the run of games. Really hope he makes it for us but not sure he will and he may end up at the Baggies or Wolves.
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Not really sure at the moment, but the next few months are pivotal to him.
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Well he's not playing for the reserves tonight...
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I think everyone got way too excited, way too soon. I'm not sure he would even hack it in the Championship. Not quick enough, nor physically strong enough. Makes rash decisions e.g. when tackling players on edge of his own team's area. For a player approaching 22 I think he would be doing it by now if he is truly capable.
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Having watched that, I'd definitely say that we'd be foolish to give up on him.
His time will come again, so there is no need to panic.
We also have another winger in Nzogbia who needs to find some form, so I doubt we'll be buying another wide player so in the medium to long term, they should both get a chance.
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He made an impact at the start of last season and as soon as opposition started paying attention to him he became ineffective. That has led to lack of confidence that is affecting his basic game. I think he will correct that part of it however it remains to be seen if he can make a consistent impact in games where he is "taken care of" by the opposition. Evidence so far shows he can not.
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His decision making is suspect. Dives in for tackles when he should stay on his feet, shoots when passing would be the better option, tries to take a man on when there is no space etc.
These are things that can improve with coaching and experience so I wouldn't write him off just yet.
This.
I'd add that his ball retention is poor too.
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Often gets out muscled on the ball and loses possession. That clip has reminded me of his potential, its just that as a smaller player, maybe its his positional sense that needs to get better to allow him to retain the ball more and get involved in the play.
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Splinters in my arse through sitting on the fence on this one but I believe there is a very, very good player in there. Just needs to regain his confidence and once he gets a couple of assists/goals under his belt this season I'm sure he'll start to show us what he really can do.
Possibly. Probably. Err, maybe...
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When fist in the side he played to his main strength which was crossing the ball at ever opportunity. He put defenders on the back foot because the ball came in fast when their defence hadn't set up. Unfortunately it his one major asset, he doesnt have the pace of Gabby, he doesnt have the trickery to beat a full back, when posters started bigging him up i couldn't see what they were seeing. Gabby is still the best player to come through and over how long has that been? and i am in the minority i know in saying that Bannon has still to prove that he can become a valuable player for us. I think we have so little quality in the side that we see more than is there. Davis is a prime example, player of the year wasn't he? a young kid that we all wanted to succeed but was never good enough.
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When fist in the side he played to his main strength which was crossing the ball at ever opportunity. He put defenders on the back foot because the ball came in fast when their defence hadn't set up. Unfortunately it his one major asset, he doesnt have the pace of Gabby, he doesnt have the trickery to beat a full back, when posters started bigging him up i couldn't see what they were seeing. Gabby is still the best player to come through and over how long has that been? and i am in the minority i know in saying that Bannon has still to prove that he can become a valuable player for us. I think we have so little quality in the side that we see more than is there. Davis is a prime example, player of the year wasn't he? a young kid that we all wanted to succeed but was never good enough.
I agree to a point that we see things in the younger players that isn't there sometimes. We also tend to see negative things in the older players we have that isn't there either (eg. Ash). When you have a bias, I suppose it becomes difficult to build up an accurate perception. I'd agree that Gabby is currently the most proven player to have come through our academy recently, but as much as can be believed, I think Bannan has something extra. As others have said though, I'm struggling to get excited, as it seems Fergie is already sniffing round. I realise that was sort of off the original topic.
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I think he's a very good player and hopefully he'll come good under AM. Not sure the way we play currently suits him though. He's also been found out to an extent - he's no longer a surprise, but thats normal. Good players will eventually adapt and i'm sure he will
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I think he's a very good player and hopefully he'll come good under AM. Not sure the way we play currently suits him though. He's also been found out to an extent - he's no longer a surprise, but thats normal. Good players will eventually adapt and i'm sure he will
Spot on. Some harsh words on here about him.
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Last year Gabby suffered a tough few months but he came through it. Hopefully Marc will as well.
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Having watched that, I'd definitely say that we'd be foolish to give up on him.
His time will come again, so there is no need to panic.
We also have another winger in Nzogbia who needs to find some form, so I doubt we'll be buying another wide player so in the medium to long term, they should both get a chance.
Having watched that Downing's stats for the season would have been a lot poorer without Marc's contributions
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He is a typical promising Villa player - starts out very hyped - then teams get wise to him and he doesn't get the coaching to take him to the next level...
Still like the guy and his energy. One of our few "impact" players?
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cant believe some of the comments on here. How many youngsters have come in and done what marc did in there first full season. He should be starting every game instead of that useless lump heskey. That muppet Mcleish is goin to ruin him
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He's shown enough at this level to suggest he has what it takes. It's not uncommon for young players to hit a bit of a wall after starting off impressively. His cross for Gabby's equaliser against Everton was a timely reminder.
He's one of the few players we have that give a shit about the club so I'd be very disappointed if he failed to return to form.
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He is a typical promising Villa player - starts out very hyped - then teams get wise to him and he doesn't get the coaching to take him to the next level...
Still like the guy and his energy. One of our few "impact" players?
Hard to disagree with that
However like the rest of our home grown talent he needs to deliver this season
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Easy to forget this lad was lighting up our games this time last year, running Evra ragged at VP was a particular highlight.
Apart from that cross at Everton, he's looked quite poor to me this year. A year ago the talent was there and it still remains but I think our lack of a decent wide player on the other flank is hurting him as teams can now double up on him. Might help if N'zogbia decides he's a decent player again sometime this season.
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Could he be missing John Robertson's coaching input.
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Robertson left before last season though.
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Easy to forget this lad was lighting up our games this time last year, running Evra ragged at VP was a particular highlight.
Apart from that cross at Everton, he's looked quite poor to me this year. A year ago the talent was there and it still remains but I think our lack of a decent wide player on the other flank is hurting him as teams can now double up on him. Might help if N'zogbia decides he's a decent player again sometime this season.
I think the problem is we aren't playing with any width at all. So players like Albrighton and N'Zogbia can only be part of a flat midfield four, or as part of an advanced central three.