Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Rip Van We Go Again on March 23, 2012, 03:03:16 PM
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sportinglife.com
Alex McLeish insists it is unfair to place all the goalscoring burden on Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor in Darren Bent's absence ahead of Saturday's clash at Arsenal.
Agbonlahor has a greater responsibility on his shoulders now that Bent is sidelined for the remainder of the campaign with ankle ligament damage.
But McLeish believes it is vital Villa look to find the net from all areas of the team as they look to repeat last season's Barclays Premier League win at the Emirates Stadium.
McLeish said: "You can't keep singling out one guy in Gabby to get you the goals. We need other guys to score as well.
"We need to score from set pieces, we've not done that very well this season.
"We need goals from the wide men, we need goals from midfield. Stan (Stiliyan Petrov) has scored five, Charles N'Zogbia has got a couple, Gabby six or seven.
"We are looking for Gabby to get amongst the goals - but he is also a provider and his assists this season been excellent as well."
McLeish believes Agbonlahor could stake a late claim to be part of England's Euro 2012 plans if he performs well in the finale to the season.
He said: "You just want all of your players to play to their highest level in every single game and, if they do that, it is up to the powers in the England set-up to decide if they are good enough.
"But, if they keep doing it for their clubs, they've got a chance to take the next step. I would think in some capacity, England would be able to use Gabby."
McLeish enjoyed success over Arsenal in helping Birmingham to Carling Cup final glory last season.
The Scot also feels Villa should have the belief to cause another upset at the Emirates after their displays when losing 2-1 and 3-2 to the Gunners in the Premier League and FA Cup this season.
He said: "Arsenal are flying and have won six in a row, but we gave a good account of ourselves there in the FA Cup apart from collapsing a bit in a mad 15-minute spell after leading 2-0.
"We also performed well in the game at our place despite losing and won at the Emirates last season. There is no reason why the players can't believe they can win there again despite Arsenal's great form.
"It is just about having a bit of belief. No-one is unbeatable in this league."
McLeish believes Arsenal still face a battle with Tottenham to finish third despite currently having the momentum in their favour.
He said: "People say Arsenal might pip Spurs for third place but it is not finished yet. I'm sure Harry Redknapp's team will persevere to the very end.
"None of these teams give up. The Premier League is the most competitive in the world. Any team can beat any team in the league."
But McLeish knows Villa have to improve on the worst record in the Premier League this season when it comes to defending set pieces.
He said: "That record is something that rankles with the defenders.
"We conceded a lot from set pieces last season as well. It is something that has blighted the players a bit at this club over the last two seasons.
"These are things we've got to keep working on. It is disappointed we haven't halted the slide when you work at something.
"You are on the touchline looking to trust the players and then one man loses a bit of concentration and it can happen. There is definitely room for improvement in that side of things."
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Can't argue with any of that. It may help if we start getting more players into their box, something we've failed to do all season. Gabby (and Bent) will always be a threat but when he's the only player in there and surrounded by three or four defenders, the pobability of him scoring isalways going to be low.
A couple of goals from corners wouldn't do us any harm either.
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It is time some of our midfielders chipped in with a few goals, Petrov, Albrighton and N’Zogbia do not score enough.
The odd goal from the center backs from set pieces would help too. Under MON Collins and Dunne had decent records.
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Play more attacking Mcleish and it'll happen inevitably.
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Considering the fact that our main striker is currently in a run of form so bad you'd back anyone other than Heskey and Given to score ahead of him this ranks somewhere between absolutely right and no shit Sherlock.
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It is time some of our midfielders chipped in with a few goals, Petrov, Albrighton and N’Zogbia do not score enough.
The odd goal from the center backs from set pieces would help too. Under MON Collins and Dunne had decent records.
As the article says, Petrov has 5, which is good with n10 games left for a largely holding midfield player.
It's the wide players and CBs who haven't scored enough.
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'we need to share the goals' we normaly do, with the opposition
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'we need to share the goals' we normaly do, with the opposition
And the greedy sods take more than their share.
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Just scoring regularly would be nice, never mind talk of sharing the resopnsibility.
As for the CB scoring goals from set pieces, boy I miss Laursen.
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It wasn't just Laursen, as all our CBs had a good record until recently, which I mainly put down to the delivery of Ash and Barry before him.
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I thought Stan had 4 goals this season, not that I want to be pedantic or anything.
But yes, we most definitely need more goals from Ireland, N'Zogbia and Albrighton. Ireland most certainly, given his role behind the striker. It'd be nice for Gardner and Bannan to spank a few in too before the seasons out. They're capable from distance.
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Have we scored enough to share them? They'll be spread a little bit thinly.
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Considering the fact that our main striker is currently in a run of form so bad you'd back anyone other than Heskey and Given to score ahead of him this ranks somewhere between absolutely right and no shit Sherlock.
Given before Heskey though, come to think of it Bosnich before Heskey.
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Id settle for more passing and more than one shot at Goal
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Fair point, that said Gabby led the line with only cameo performances form Carew when he wasn't table top dancing, and Gabby was fantastic, one of the best in the Premiership so he can do it.
Get Gabby the right service and he is well capable of ripping up defences and getting the goals, the very team we are about to step out against, Arsenal, remember him giving Gallas a torrid time and Gallas in the after match interview couldn't even say Gabby's name when he was asked about how he hadn't coped with Gabby Agbonlahor, he just waved his hand in front of his face like he was swatting a fly and said phew, fast and that was it.
Get the balls into Gabbs and he's Ok, no sweat, problem is have we got it in midfield to do that.
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Yes... The exact reason that Gabby blows hot and cold is that he doesn't get the service and is nothing to do with his inconsistency.
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"We need to share the goals" - that'll be score draws from now on then.
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Managerial genuis.
Up there with "We need to win more games" - "How will you do that Alec?" - "................ errrrrrr, win more games"
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Managerial genuis.
Up there with "We need to win more games" - "How will you do that Alec?" - "................ errrrrrr, win more games"
I liked the one where he said "we're conceding to many goals, and I know why - we're not defending well enough."
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Managerial genuis.
Up there with "We need to win more games" - "How will you do that Alec?" - "................ errrrrrr, win more games"
I liked the one where he said "we're conceding to many goals, and I know why - we're not defending well enough."
I know that managers have to supply quotes when there is actually nothing to say but it just makes them look dumb(er)...