Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Karl Bridges on August 12, 2010, 01:48:59 PM
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From the OS
MacDonald: Young Lions wouldn't let me down
Kevin MacDonald has faith in youth to deliver if called upon.
12th Aug 2010
MacDonald: Young Lions wouldn't let me down
By Paul Brown
Kevin MacDonald insists he has total faith that his crop of Young Lions could do a job for him as the Barclays Premier League kicks off this weekend.
The caretaker manager is adamant the likes of Marc Albrighton, Eric Lichaj and Ciaran Clark are improving all the time and would be ready if called upon.
He also thinks a mix of youth and experience could be the way forward as he takes charge of his first top-flight encounter this weekend against West Ham.
MacDonald said: "I wouldn't have any qualms about throwing in six or seven of the lads who have done well for me over the past two or three years. Whether they would be regulars, who knows?
"If we had a spate of injuries then I would have no problems with them playing in one or two games before we got one or two back, or even see them coming off the bench to impress.
"Marc has done fantastically well this pre-season as has Ciaran Clark. But people like Barry Bannan, Andy Weimann and Nathan Delfouneso, mainly for England, have all done very well too.
"It's whether they get in the team for the first game. That will be my decision come Saturday morning.
"In the Peace Cup last season, not all the players were back straight away so we had some youngsters there and I think they integrated very well with the senior players.
"Obviously they won the tournament - I know pre-season tournaments don't necessarily count for a lot - but it did give everyone an insight into the potential of the youngsters here.
"Some of them went out on loan and did fantastically well but so did the first team. If we can mix and match them together, you never know what might happen.
"Marc has been fantastic this pre-season.
"The thing that has impressed me about Marc's progress is that his decision-making on when to cross and what kind of crosses to put in has improved.
"He has also become very, very direct and also grown up physically. He is now a lot stronger and can ride tackles a lot better.
"The big thing for me is he needs to score more goals. That's looking for perfection.
"His strength has always been delivering good crosses in the box for strikers but what he is doing now is managing to manoeuvre it past people to get the cross in. Now he is working a lot harder at that.
"He has had his deserved recognition because he went away with England under-21s and came on.
"That will give him a big boost ahead of the new season. He is a local lad that just loves to play football. He loves the fact he is involved in the Aston Villa plans.
"Ciaran has been outstanding over the past few years at this football club - at a younger age - and then he made his debut against Fulham. He did very, very well but was unlucky from the point of view that Richard Dunne and James Collins came in the day after who themselves were probably the best pair in the country for the rest of the season.
"He was also unlucky that, because he was on the bench quite a lot, we wouldn't let him go on loan where he might have got a little bit more experience. He agreed to sign for us and we utilised him as best as we could.
"Eric has done fantastically well too. He obviously played well in pre-season last year and then went out on loan to Lincoln City. He was one of their outstanding players and then came back to us and then went out to Orient. He was voted as good as their player of the year because he kept their captain out.
"He has come back again this pre-season and done very, very well. True to his word, Martin gave him a three-year contract and he has gratefully accepted it.
"Hopefully he can make the grade here. He has the American attitude in that he wants to keep improving - he wants to get better and better. He is willing to do anything physically to get himself into that first team."
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Oh thou fiend of youth
Thou dashest mine hopes
then thou'st prick them again (with the promise of fresh blood)
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Unexpected yet welcome words from our caretaker manager. Of the players he mentioned I'd expect only Albrighton to start against West Ham.
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you'd think clark may start if curtis davis is struggling.
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you'd think clark may start if curtis davis is struggling.
And he did more than ok against Fulham (?) last year.
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Lets face it, for the next few years maybe, youth is gonna be important. And personally I welcome it. More clubs should be doing the same to help our national game.
I like the look of Clark and Lichaj at the back. Lichaj impressed me in the Peace Cup. He bombed forward a lot with purpose and looked decent at the back. His time on loan will have helped iron out some kinks in his positional play (I'd hope). He's more than good enough to back up Luke Young. Clarky just looks potentially like he could be a class act.
As for Fonzie and Albrighton, they're the youth team poster boys of the moment, and the praise is warranted. Bannan looks a decent little player too, but his size is an issue.
Bring it on I say. Sell a few more of the dead wood seniors and give their places to the youth. We've got enough established quality, they just need suitable back up, and I believe we're producing good enough players. If the new boss can make 1-2 top class signings in January, we might be okay this season and stay within reach of the top 6.
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In another article on the web site, he mentions that they have done some changes in the coaching staff and Ben Petty has been moved to work with the youth team. I can't find him listed as a coach anywhere on the official web site, but I clearly remember he's a former Villa player, is this right?
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We have to give these lads a chance at some point, just not all at the same time. Albrighton and Clark are the two I particularly like the look of, Lichaj sounds promising too though.
Shame the reserve games are all on Monday afternoons now really.
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In another article on the web site, he mentions that they have done some changes in the coaching staff and Ben Petty has been moved to work with the youth team. I can't find him listed as a coach anywhere on the official web site, but I clearly remember he's a former Villa player, is this right?
Yes. CB wasn't he? Can't ever recall him playing much though, or if he had much of a career post Villa. Maybe he got injured and retired young???
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It is nice to know kev mac has got no problem with putting the youngster's in if needed.
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Depending on Injuries, Clark, Albrighton and Delfouneso could all start on Saturday.
Doubt Lichaj will be ahead of Beye and Luke Young.
We could think about playing Bannan in the middle as Petrov will be knackered after playing in Russia on Wednesday.
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It is nice to know kev mac has got no problem with putting the youngster's in if needed.
Well its what General K has indicated RL wants, so seems a good way to impress your boss.
I'd be more inmpressed if he'd mentioned more about the seniors and how many were backing his sudden promotion, his tactical plans and whether he'd been given any say in transfers in and out, perhaps that will come next.
The guys obviously no fool but I can't see how he could be the long term appointment no matter how much he desires it, as I'm sure he must.
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This makes me even more excited for the new season than before MON resigned. Get the new blood in there and let's see some energy!
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It is nice to know kev mac has got no problem with putting the youngster's in if needed.
Well its what General K has indicated RL wants, so seems a good way to impress your boss.
I'd be more inmpressed if he'd mentioned more about the seniors and how many were backing his sudden promotion, his tactical plans and whether he'd been given any say in transfers in and out, perhaps that will come next.
The guys obviously no fool but I can't see how he could be the long term appointment no matter how much he desires it, as I'm sure he must.
It's from the Official Site I thought you diregarded everything you read on there.
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Kevin McDonald's claret and blue army !
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Big Kev Mac's claret and blue army
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Does anyone else get the feeling the Kev Mac wasn't particularly enamoured with MON's style/tactics/selection? Just reading between the lines.
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In another article on the web site, he mentions that they have done some changes in the coaching staff and Ben Petty has been moved to work with the youth team. I can't find him listed as a coach anywhere on the official web site, but I clearly remember he's a former Villa player, is this right?
Yes. CB wasn't he? Can't ever recall him playing much though, or if he had much of a career post Villa. Maybe he got injured and retired young???
He played for Hull and Stoke before dropping into non-league football, he was at Moor Green for years.
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For god knows how long, whenever i've thought of McDonald, i've always pictured Tony McAndrew in my mind. I had no idea what he looked like.
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Fantastic is the new terrific.
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Lets face it, for the next few years maybe, youth is gonna be important. And personally I welcome it. More clubs should be doing the same to help our national game.
Yes indeed. Look at Barcelona - they're the model every club should be following and look what their investment in youth development has done for them and for Spain. Of course, they're in a better position than we ever will be to keep hold of their players and they get the pick of the best youngsters, but that's what we need to be aiming at.
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Does anyone else get the feeling the Kev Mac wasn't particularly enamoured with MON's style/tactics/selection? Just reading between the lines.
he thought highly of the dunne collins partnership which was oneils work
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Does anyone else get the feeling the Kev Mac wasn't particularly enamoured with MON's style/tactics/selection? Just reading between the lines.
Not really, in another interview he said this:
MacDonald also paid tribute to departing O'Neill, who he insisted had nurtured a "winning mentality" at the club.
He added: "We have had the winning mentality with the reserves but it's important to realise that's been with the first team too over the past few seasons.
"We have finished sixth three years in a row. Whether it's come from the first team, from the former gaffer down to ourselves and the youth team, we have had it there.
"But obviously we have had it pushed into us from Martin because we have done so well under him here over the past three or four years.
"There's a big thing about the education he's given us - the reserves, the youth team coaches - as well. Let's hope it stands us in good stead."
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It is nice to know kev mac has got no problem with putting the youngster's in if needed.
Well its what General K has indicated RL wants, so seems a good way to impress your boss.
I'd imagine he'd be likely to speak like that anyway, considering he was until Monday the youth team coach and so knows these players better than anyone.
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It is nice to know kev mac has got no problem with putting the youngster's in if needed.
Well its what General K has indicated RL wants, so seems a good way to impress your boss.
I'd imagine he'd be likely to speak like that anyway, considering he was until Monday the youth team coach and so knows these players better than anyone.
Reserve team manager.
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I thought he looked after both.
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I thought he looked after both.
No, Tony McAndrew is the youth boss.
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Yeah, I should know that!
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I would offer Kevin the job permanently if we can't get a hungry big name quality manager. No point getting a decent or average manager.
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I'm interested to see the team he chooses and how he gets us playing. If things are going well and the players are responding I would be more than happy to see where it leads us.
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To date, I like the cut of his gib. Long may it continue.
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For god knows how long, whenever i've thought of McDonald, i've always pictured Tony McAndrew in my mind. I had no idea what he looked like.
According to the picture that goes with the article at the start of this thread he looks like this:
(http://www.avfc.co.uk/javaImages/3b/ea/0,,10265~8907323,00.jpg)
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I would offer Kevin the job permanently if we can't get a hungry big name quality manager. No point getting a decent or average manager.
Hungry? Big?
We're back to Sam Allardyce then.
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Well would you want Sven as new manager. So I used hungry big name :)
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I'd rather Sven than Allardyce any day of the week.
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We might have the revolutionary tactic of playing a right back at right back...
I have no doubt he'll get 110% backing from everyone in the ground.
Is it wrong I'm looking forward to it?
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I have to admit , i was a MON fan, however i am so excited about Sat just having a change of approach and maybe just a bit of a different team selection.
He will certainly have my backing until a new appointee arrives, unless he keeps it for a while....
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We might have the revolutionary tactic of playing a right back at right back...
I have no doubt he'll get 110% backing from everyone in the ground.
It it wrong I'm looking forward to it?
I am too! "Kevin Mac's Claret and Blue Army!!"
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Is it wrong I'm looking forward to it?
New season, new start - I can't see why anyone wouldn't be looking forward to it.
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Decent comments from him. I hope he has a bit of courage, changes things and really goes for it personally. He'll never get another chance to manage a club like us or the goodwill for stepping in at short notice because of the clown's defection. Good luck Kev.
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I really hope he does well, but not too well..... I just hope we aren't left with a classic caretaker does good scenario, and the wrong guy ultimately gets the job. There are too many examples to mention. Two wins would be nice, then let the proper manager take over.....
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Interesting comments come Ian Taylor in the E&S:
Ian Taylor believes caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald will do everything asked of him and more during his time in the hot-seat.
Chaotic, turbulent, tumultuous – Villa’s week has been all of those rolled into one and more.
But let me tell you now they could not be in safer hands than Kevin MacDonald’s going into Saturday’s West Ham opener.
I’m still confident we’ll end this extraordinary week which began with manager Martin O’Neill’s shock resignation on a high by beating the Hammers at Villa Park.
And it’s because of what I know about Kev that I’m so confident.
He was at the club as a coach throughout my time at Villa as a player and, rest assured, he is one of the best in the game.
Kev is a man who does not care about egos – he will treat all of the players the same right from a rookie 18-year-old to a seasoned campaigner.
He has a great football brain and if changes need making during a game, he will make them.
The job of reserve-team boss is as tough as any at the club because you have to get the best out of players who don’t necessarily want to be playing, so that deserves respect too.
I was encouraged to see he plans to wipe the slate clean and I hope that means Luke Young, Nigel Reo-Coker and Steve Sidwell are get a chance because they’re all very good players. Their departures would have been a loss to Villa.
I’d expect Young to slot in at right-back, while Sidwell and Reo-Coker are probably battling it out for James Milner’s place in the middle.
With it being a home game, you’d probably give Sidwell the edge because he’s more of an attack-minded player – by all accounts he’s had an impressive pre-season too. Kev will be using that old motivational tool of telling all of the players – not just the up-for-sale five – that they are playing for their futures for when the new man comes in. That always gives players a kick up the backside.
As for the pressure of stepping into O’Neill’s shoes for a game or two, that won’t phase him one bit.
No one will be trying harder to get three points for Villa than Kev, he is ultra professional in his approach, leaving nothing to chance.
And, speaking of chances, this is his opportunity to stake his claim for the job.
I’d still expect Villa to go for a bigger name but were he to win a few games in the interim you just never know. We’ve seen it happen at other clubs.
As for O’Neill, the criticism he has received these last few days is entirely justified. It was interesting to hear General Charles Krulak, the club’s non-executive director, come out saying O’Neill thought he was bigger than the club. By the sounds of it, O’Neill had a big ego – there’s no doubting walking out on your club of four years just five days before the start of the new season was a selfish act.
If you had genuine love for the club you wouldn’t do it. The timing was simply awful.
www.expressandstar.com/sport/2010/08/12/villa-could-not-be-in-safer-hands/#ixzz0wQyyB7Ge
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"As for O’Neill, the criticism he has received these last few days is entirely justified. It was interesting to hear General Charles Krulak, the club’s non-executive director, come out saying O’Neill thought he was bigger than the club. By the sounds of it, O’Neill had a big ego – there’s no doubting walking out on your club of four years just five days before the start of the new season was a selfish act.
If you had genuine love for the club you wouldn’t do it. The timing was simply awful."
Ian Taylor = Legend
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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! My eyes!
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heh. no idea what happened there.....
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Yes, but can you seperate Ian Taylor the legend from the agent who tried to grease the wheels of our captains departure 2 years ago?
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Yes, but can you seperate Ian Taylor the legend from the agent who tried to grease the wheels of our captains departure 2 years ago?
Dunno, he's got MON's departure spot on though. selfish act from a man with an out of control ego.