Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: dave.woodhall on August 31, 2012, 09:30:04 PM
-
ITSOTNT
-
Hopefully somewhere near as good as our last Ashley was for us. Welcome to you!
-
Welcome and good luck and I hope your as good as our last player from Crewe.
-
Welcome aboard Ash,may you prosper at the Villa,then not move to a team from Manchester.
-
Beat me to it, was hoping to create three new player threads in one day ;)
Welcome Ashley. All the best.
-
Welcome to Villa Ashley, I hope you're a quality player.
-
Welcome and good luck and I hope your as good as our last player from Crewe.
But not as backofaspoon-faced.
-
We're playing Swansea in a couple of weeks, Ashley, help us out pass them! ;-)
-
Ashley Westwood will accept the responsibility of stepping up from League One Crewe to the Premier League "and take it in my stride" having completed his move from Crewe tonight, agreeing a four-year deal which will keep him at the club until the 2015-16 season.
The 22-year-old midfield player was a central figure when Crewe secured promotion last season, was appointed club captain this season and he is eager to prove his worth by stepping up to the big stage that is the Barclays Premier League - a move that manager Paul Lambert believes he is handsomely equipped to handle.
"I see myself as a Michael Carrick-type of player, someone who stays out of the limelight and keeps it simple, retaining the ball and laying it off to team-mates and from the conversations I've had with the new manager I think that will fit in perfectly here," Westwood said.
"He said to me that he's looking for younger lads to work with him, step up and lift this club to the next level and I'm really looking forward to the challenge.
"This is a fantastic football club, a massive club and I can't wait to get started really.
"It's a bit surreal right now but I'll get out training with the lads tomorrow morning and take it in my stride."
The midfielder - a product of the successful academy at Crewe, making his debut against Millwall aged 18 - is Lambert's seventh signing of the summer.
He was part of the side that clinched promotion to League One after defeating Cheltenham in the play-off final at Wembley last season, making over 100 appearances for the Railwaymen and the Villa boss has no doubt that Westwood has the qualities to make an impact.
"Being captain of his football club at 21 years of age, I think that says a big thing about Ashley's quality, the responsibility he has taken on his shoulders and his temperament - he's a good player," said Lambert.
"He's also a terrific prospect for this football club - a real, real talent.
"He's had a really good grounding at Crewe and he will fit in with what we're looking to do here. He's a good player and he'll do fine."
-
Welcome and good luck son.
-
He sounds very mature and like he's a technical player, great. £2 million from League 1 is a lot of money.
-
Welcome and good luck and I hope your as good as our last player from Crewe.
But not as backofaspoon-faced.
Quite.
It's a shame he's such a pratt. One of my first real heroes at the Villa.
-
When these lads say "This is a fantastic football club, a massive club and I can't wait to get started really", they mean it, and it will show.
I'm really exited by the way Lambert is shaping up the team.
It's a big if, but if it does pay off then it will be a lot more enjoyable than watching another wasted talent go through the motions whilst robbing us blind.
-
Just further evidence of our scraping the barrel. This club is going to the dogs.
Only joking. Hope he's excellent. Up the Villa!
-
Clearly some pissed of Crewe fans, found this snippet near the top of the club's wikipedia page:
"At the beginning of the 2012/13 season Crewe Alexandra decided that they liked it better in league 2 and sold captain and playmaker Ashley Westwood to Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee."
-
Welcome and good luck and I hope your as good as our last player from Crewe.
But not as backofaspoon-faced.
Quite.
It's a shame he's such a pratt. One of my first real heroes at the Villa.
Coincidentally my mate Dave W reminded me on Tuesday night about how, when we played Crewe pre-season in 1989, he walked into the bar after the game and straight past a load of their supporters he'd known when he was there and were waiting to talk to him. We should have realised then what he was like.
-
Just sent a text to my mate who is a Crewe season ticket holder to ask about him. Let you know what he says but he spends a lot of time on his narrow boat so might not be in signal range.
-
Seven signings and less baggage than a Ryanair plane. Not a celeb among the lot of them. Bloody great.
-
Got to say I do like the idea of signing young, 'hungry' players who genuinely want to play for the club.
-
22-year-old captain of crewe? With Vlaar and El Ahmadi, good to see Lambert signing leaders as well.
-
Welcome Ashley
-
22-year-old captain of crewe? With Vlaar and El Ahmadi, good to see Lambert signing leaders as well.
We certainly need them. I'm quite excited about Lambert's plans for our club.
-
Geoff reckons he's got a big future and says he's got a good head on his shoulders, called us "poaching bastards".
-
Geoff reckons he's got a big future and says he's got a good head on his shoulders, called us "poaching bastards".
I hope his boat sinks.
-
Sounds exactly the type of player this clubs need. I'm very excited about what Lamberts doing here. We've signed promising youngsters, all technically efficient it seems, and we're clearly building a team for the future. Good to see. This just feels better than the O Neill era of signing name players who were mostly over the hill or shit, forever waiting for him to sign the "marquee" name that never transpired.
I think our season starts at Swansea. That should be a cracking game. Newcastle, at this point will be just a bit too good on their own turf.
-
Ash been interviewed on Sky Sports news, very composed.
-
Hopefully somewhere near as good as our last Ashley was for us. Welcome to you!
And as good as the last player we signed from Crewe
-
Welcome to the Villa Ashley.
-
Sky have now corrected it but up until a few minutes ago their tracker on the right of the screen was saying we'd signed Ashley Williams
-
Bloody hell. We have a great player and a fantastic DJ all rolled into one. Happy days.
Welcome Ashley Westwood to the Villa.
-
Sounds exactly the type of player this clubs need. I'm very excited about what Lamberts doing here. We've signed promising youngsters, all technically efficient it seems, and we're clearly building a team for the future. Good to see. This just feels better than the O Neill era of signing name players who were mostly over the hill or shit, forever waiting for him to sign the "marquee" name that never transpired.
I think our season starts at Swansea. That should be a cracking game. Newcastle, at this point will be just a bit too good on their own turf.
Lambert certainly seems to have a good eye for a player. There's not been one signing where I've thought 'why the fuck are we signing him?' - there were plenty of those during the O'Neill/McLeish years. Lambert's implementing the sort of policy I've wanted us to have for years.
-
Its been easy for many people (the press mainly) to try and compare Lambert to MON, but from this transfer window it shows there is far more to him. MON liked to bring in the tried and tested Premiership players like Harewood, Knight, Warnock, Sidwell, Collins, Beye, Shorey etc. They were very much players who can do a job (well sometimes), maybe not raise an eyebrow, but all players you knew about. Lambert seems to have a plan and has set out on certain players to fit this. OK it has to work out and the proof will be in the next year or so and it can all go tits up. However it is very intriguing and exciting to see what is going to happen.
-
Welcome to the Villa Ashley he's just the sort of player we need young and hungry.
-
I think our season starts at Swansea. That should be a cracking game.
I'm a little cautious that when two teams who like to pass the ball come together, the side that's best at it seems to win. Such as Arsenal beating Liverpool at the weekend. I also have a horrible memory last season of when we had a really good away day before being battered at home by Swansea that I pray doesn't repeat itself.
But I'm sure we'll be fine, onwards and upwards and all that ;)
-
Its been easy for many people (the press mainly) to try and compare Lambert to MON, but from this transfer window it shows there is far more to him.
It's just lazy journalism. If anything, he's the Anti-MON.
-
Fletcher by himself cost more than most of our players. OK Fletcher got off to a good start (but then, so did Heskey....) and O'Neill will doubtless have been congratulating himself all weekend, but the long term cost of all those players can't be healthy for Sunderland.
-
Lambert is completely in awe of MON. It's not just respect, he still refers to him as 'The Gaffer'. Hopefully (and it looks likely) he's more flexible than O'Neill. Who always seemed very likely to throw the toys out of the pram if anyone questioned him/he didn't get his way.
-
Welcome and good luck and I hope your as good as our last player from Crewe.
But not as backofaspoon-faced.
with a hint of Salmon face as well
our Dads were friends and I had told my mates that fact and we waited for him after a game.
As I went up to him to say hello and mentioned our dads he blanked me I was only a kid after that
he could fuck off the ugly bastard. >:(
-
Lambert is completely in awe of MON. It's not just respect, he still refers to him as 'The Gaffer'. Hopefully (and it looks likely) he's more flexible than O'Neill. Who always seemed very likely to throw the toys out of the pram if anyone questioned him/he didn't get his way.
What I saw last season with Norwich and what I saw in the fan Q&A in AVTV I think Lambert is quite a bit different than MON; Lambert can shift between different kind of tactics even middle of the match if the one isn't working, he rotates players, he buys young players and gives chance for young players to show what they can do.
-
I think our season starts at Swansea. That should be a cracking game.
I'm a little cautious that when two teams who like to pass the ball come together, the side that's best at it seems to win. Such as Arsenal beating Liverpool at the weekend. I also have a horrible memory last season of when we had a really good away day before being battered at home by Swansea that I pray doesn't repeat itself.
But I'm sure we'll be fine, onwards and upwards and all that ;)
Lambert masterminded home and away wins for Norwich over Swansea last season (3-1 at home, 3-2 away), so he seems to know how to beat them. As good a reason to be optimistic as any. Wish we didn't have to have a week off for the tedious internationals though...
-
Know a Crewe fan who watches the Alex regularly and certainly knows his football.
This is his take on Ash after I asked him if he's premier league quality:
He will be Chris. He's a really good player is Ash. Superb passer of the ball really good game player, plays the situation and has really matured over the past year since Dario moved upstairs and stopped making ridiculous statements like "He's the best passer of the ball in the country".
I think he could have done with another year at Crewe, just like Powelly, or at the very least a year at Championship level... and it might take him time to acclimatise.... but if Lambert is brave enough to pick him and let him make his mistakes and keep picking him then 12-18months down the line I think you'll be looking at a genuine bargain.
Must say I like the sound of him and KEM sitting infront of the back 4, two intelligent ball playing central midfielders.
-
You do get the impression he likes a player who can find a team mate. I thought we went in really light against Newcastle, but through harassment and then intelligently keeping the ball when it was turned over we did well. Ireland, Bannan, Westwood, KEA are all ball players. Interesting times.
-
You do get the impression he likes a player who can find a team mate. I thought we went in really light against Newcastle, but through harassment and then intelligently keeping the ball when it was turned over we did well. Ireland, Bannan, Westwood, KEA are all ball players. Interesting times.
Not only that Ozz, when we lost the ball we worked hard to get it back. Keeping the ball and working hard to get it back quickly seems to be a basic requirement to play for Paul Lambert.
-
You do get the impression he likes a player who can find a team mate. I thought we went in really light against Newcastle, but through harassment and then intelligently keeping the ball when it was turned over we did well. Ireland, Bannan, Westwood, KEA are all ball players. Interesting times.
Not only that Ozz, when we lost the ball we worked hard to get it back. Keeping the ball and working hard to get it back quickly seems to be a basic requirement to play for Paul Lambert.
I think that's the reason why Lambert rotates quite a bit, the style what we played against Newcastle tend to be more taxing than sitting back. I'm actually surprised why teams doesn't rotate players more since it keeps players physically sharper and less prone for mistakes.
-
Damn the stupid national team - cannot wait for Swansea game now
-
One of the biggest reasons for Barcelona and Spian's success is how hard they work to get the ball when they lose it or don't have it. It puts pressure onto the opposition. And as much as you do need a bit more width I remember starting a thread on here a good few years ago about our system under MON and that it was becoming outdated - using wingers. The best teams pass pass and pass again and usually through the middle. the full-backs supply the width and the game becomes condensed so if you lose it the ball is usually where you will have a lot of your players making the job of getting it back that much easier.
There is a long way to go but you can see lambert's thinking. if it works we'll be looking back at this starting point and seeing players that were useful now being replaced by the next level of player higher up the chain being brought in to keep us improving. Maybe then we can stop harking back to players like Reo-Coker.
-
Its been easy for many people (the press mainly) to try and compare Lambert to MON, but from this transfer window it shows there is far more to him.
It's just lazy journalism. If anything, he's the Anti-MON.
There are some obvious ways he's totally unlike MON. For example, Lambert is known for changing his line up and formation from match to match depending on how the opposition play. MON had a system (and a line up too, most times) which never changed. I can't ever remember us changing our tactics during a match to counter the way the opposition were playing, and we started most matches with the same team / formation too.
MON will go for the obvious, UK based transfer, usually players who have played in the PL, whereas Lambert has shown he sees the importance of looking wider (lower leagues, Europe) for quality.
I'm sure there are more areas of contrast, but that doesn't mean he hasn't taken a lot from MON in shaping himself as a manager. There are lots of aspects of management that happen behind the scene, that we never get to see.
The way he talks to / motivates players in training, the way he is with academy products, the way he seeks feedback from players in training etc etc. There can still be plenty of ways in which he's taken inspiration from, and therefore is similar to, O'Neill.
-
One of the biggest reasons for Barcelona and Spian's success is how hard they work to get the ball when they lose it or don't have it. It puts pressure onto the opposition. And as much as you do need a bit more width I remember starting a thread on here a good few years ago about our system under MON and that it was becoming outdated - using wingers. The best teams pass pass and pass again and usually through the middle. the full-backs supply the width and the game becomes condensed so if you lose it the ball is usually where you will have a lot of your players making the job of getting it back that much easier.
There was one moment in the game on Sunday, maybe for about 30 seconds where we played like Barcelona. 2nd half about half way through where we had the ball by the touchline in their half. We had Hollman, Lowton and I think Bannan all making short quick passes in close proximity keeping the ball away from the opposition who were imposing themselves. It worked well until Hollman knocked it out of play but for me it was the defining moment that...we might have something this season.
-
One of the biggest reasons for Barcelona and Spian's success is how hard they work to get the ball when they lose it or don't have it. It puts pressure onto the opposition. And as much as you do need a bit more width I remember starting a thread on here a good few years ago about our system under MON and that it was becoming outdated - using wingers. The best teams pass pass and pass again and usually through the middle. the full-backs supply the width and the game becomes condensed so if you lose it the ball is usually where you will have a lot of your players making the job of getting it back that much easier.
There was one moment in the game on Sunday, maybe for about 30 seconds where we played like Barcelona. 2nd half about half way through where we had the ball by the touchline in their half. We had Hollman, Lowton and I think Bannan all making short quick passes in close proximity keeping the ball away from the opposition who were imposing themselves. It worked well until Hollman knocked it out of play but for me it was the defining moment that...we might have something this season.
I remember that as I thought exactly the same thing
-
One of the biggest reasons for Barcelona and Spian's success is how hard they work to get the ball when they lose it or don't have it. It puts pressure onto the opposition. And as much as you do need a bit more width I remember starting a thread on here a good few years ago about our system under MON and that it was becoming outdated - using wingers. The best teams pass pass and pass again and usually through the middle. the full-backs supply the width and the game becomes condensed so if you lose it the ball is usually where you will have a lot of your players making the job of getting it back that much easier.
There was one moment in the game on Sunday, maybe for about 30 seconds where we played like Barcelona. 2nd half about half way through where we had the ball by the touchline in their half. We had Hollman, Lowton and I think Bannan all making short quick passes in close proximity keeping the ball away from the opposition who were imposing themselves. It worked well until Hollman knocked it out of play but for me it was the defining moment that...we might have something this season.
I remember that as I thought exactly the same thing
I think that was the bit they highlighted on MOTD2 on Sunday night, Dion Dublin was saying that we were clever doing that, as we forced Newcastle to play how we wanted them to.
-
It was that moment, it was almost like watching someone else.
-
The chance that was created for Weimann, with lots of short passing around the edge of the area was hugely impressive.
-
And quick passes to feet and movement around the box is very very difficult to defend against. It takes very high fitness levels though as you are constantly moving. get it right we could be very enjoyable to watch over the next few seasons. however, I think it'll be very up and down thios season. I worry though (as a typical Villa fan) that the last time I felt this optimistic the next team we played were Swansea at home...
-
Profile of Ashley Westwood in the Evening Mail:
Aston Villa: Crewe journalist gives lowdown on Ashley Westwood and tips him for big things (http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-news/2012/09/06/aston-villa-crewe-journalist-gives-lowdown-on-ashley-westwood-and-tips-him-for-big-things-97319-31776877/)
Sounds very promising. I liked the part about him going back to Gresty Road to watch his old team play Coventry last Saturday.
-
Just further evidence of our scraping the barrel. This club is going to the dogs.
Only joking. Hope he's excellent. Up the Villa!
For one terrible moment there I thought I had clicked on the wrong Villa forum ....
Welcome Ashley - and give my regards to your Nan - Vivienne.
-
Got a gut feeling that this will be a big success. Not saying he'll be quite a Barry or Milner but i think he'll be a good solid player for us and a good pro, and a great value buy.
-
I have to say this is the new signing I'm most looking forward to seeing in action.
-
One of the biggest reasons for Barcelona and Spian's success is how hard they work to get the ball when they lose it or don't have it. It puts pressure onto the opposition. And as much as you do need a bit more width I remember starting a thread on here a good few years ago about our system under MON and that it was becoming outdated - using wingers. The best teams pass pass and pass again and usually through the middle. the full-backs supply the width and the game becomes condensed so if you lose it the ball is usually where you will have a lot of your players making the job of getting it back that much easier.
There was one moment in the game on Sunday, maybe for about 30 seconds where we played like Barcelona. 2nd half about half way through where we had the ball by the touchline in their half. We had Hollman, Lowton and I think Bannan all making short quick passes in close proximity keeping the ball away from the opposition who were imposing themselves. It worked well until Hollman knocked it out of play but for me it was the defining moment that...we might have something this season.
I remember that as I thought exactly the same thing
It reminded me of the way Norwich played, when we were at Carrow Road on the last day.
-
I have to say this is the new signing I'm most looking forward to seeing in action.
Got a sneaky feeling you won't have to wait too long Rissbert, as I think he might start on Saturday.
-
I have to say this is the new signing I'm most looking forward to seeing in action.
Got a sneaky feeling you won't have to wait too long Rissbert, as I think he might start on Saturday.
I really want to see a 4321 of:
Guzan
Lowton - Vlaar - Clark - Bennett
KEA - Westwood - Bannan
Holman - Ireland
Bent
I think that's our best side currently, with Benteke and Gabby available to change the game if we need a bit more up top and Lichaj, Baker, Delph and Herd to give us more in the defensive roles (and obviously Given on the bench as well). Seems a bit surreal that, in picking the matchday 18 I can't find a spot for Nzogbia in my first choice (and it's really harsh to leave Weimann out).
-
I have to say this is the new signing I'm most looking forward to seeing in action.
Got a sneaky feeling you won't have to wait too long Rissbert, as I think he might start on Saturday.
I really want to see a 4321 of:
Guzan
Lowton - Vlaar - Clark - Bennett
KEA - Westwood - Bannan
Holman - Ireland
Bent
I think that's our best side currently, with Benteke and Gabby available to change the game if we need a bit more up top and Lichaj, Baker, Delph and Herd to give us more in the defensive roles (and obviously Given on the bench as well). Seems a bit surreal that, in picking the matchday 18 I can't find a spot for Nzogbia in my first choice (and it's really harsh to leave Weimann out).
Though you could well be right don't you think we should see how the new signings get on before naming them in a best 11?
-
I think of all the new signings Westwood will be the one that impresses most- I'd have him ahead of bannan in the team against Swansea.