Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: JJ-AV on April 11, 2012, 09:21:36 AM

Title: Possession v Stoke
Post by: JJ-AV on April 11, 2012, 09:21:36 AM
Our control of the ball has been pathetic all season.

Stoke had more of the ball than us on Monday, 53% to 47%

(Source - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17581522)

I seem to remember it being a documented last season when Hodgson's Liverpool had 49% possession at the Britannia that it was the first time in their Premier League history that Stoke had more possession in a 90 minute match.

I'm not sure how many times they've done it since - but a midfield of cloggers like Palacios, Delap and Whitehead we kept the ball better than our midfield with the likes of Bannan, Ireland and Herd (technically capable players, IMO).

Bit worrying considering he'll probably be bringing in his own players this Summer.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: PeterWithesShin on April 11, 2012, 09:46:52 AM
30% of Stoke's possession was Rory Delap holding the ball.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: berneboy on April 11, 2012, 09:52:40 AM
I don't know how accurate these statistics are as they vary significantly from source to source.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle on April 11, 2012, 09:56:19 AM
I don't know how accurate these statistics are as they vary significantly from source to source.

They are usually 76% accurate.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: PeterWithesShin on April 11, 2012, 09:56:50 AM
I don't know how accurate these statistics are as they vary significantly from source to source.

They are usually 76% accurate.

I heard it was 75%.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: Concrete John on April 11, 2012, 09:57:21 AM
We actually passed it quite neatly in the first half.

I'm guessing that when they lump it and Jones gets a flick on, that's classed as 'possession'.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: Mazrim on April 11, 2012, 10:02:37 AM
Yes we found it hard to get hold of the ball... as Delap was drying it for the umpteenth time.

Ball retention is our homework for the summer though, yes (as well as defending set pieces and... well, almost everything else). A lot of the kids coming through are already pretty good at it and hopefully we'll buy a few natural footballers this summer too.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: N'ZMAV on April 11, 2012, 10:11:13 AM
Bannan gives the ball away too often. I don't believe the hype with this kid.
Title: Stoke
Post by: cdbearsfan on April 11, 2012, 10:24:50 AM
Then again he did put Agbonlahor through with a brilliant instinctive pass. Had Gabby scored we'd be hailing that as a moment of genius.

I wouldn't give up on Bananaman just yet. I think part of the problem is our players are too thick to read where he is going to put it.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: pauliewalnuts on April 11, 2012, 10:25:56 AM
Bannan gives the ball away too often. I don't believe the hype with this kid.

I think he needs to take the simple pass option more often than he does.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: Villanation on April 11, 2012, 10:38:06 AM
30% of Stoke's possession was Rory Delap holding the ball.

I noticed that, and why does he keep trying to hide it under his shirt, that can't be in the rules.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: citizenDJ on April 11, 2012, 10:44:23 AM
Bannan gives the ball away too often. I don't believe the hype with this kid.

I think he needs to take the simple pass option more often than he does.

Indeed. Something which Ireland does very well in my view, so hopfully Bannan can learn from him.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: Concrete John on April 11, 2012, 10:53:31 AM
Bannan gives the ball away too often. I don't believe the hype with this kid.

I think he needs to take the simple pass option more often than he does.

Indeed. Something which Ireland does very well in my view, so hopfully Bannan can learn from him.


Agreed.

I think he's always looking to impress when he gets his chance and play a killer ball.  Taking the easy option a bit more often would improve him as a player.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle on April 11, 2012, 11:13:53 AM
30% of Stoke's possession was Rory Delap holding the ball.

I noticed that, and why does he keep trying to hide it under his shirt, that can't be in the rules.

If they could get away with crab football and cabbaging, they'd do that as well.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: pauliewalnuts on April 11, 2012, 11:34:59 AM
That match would have been mindlessly boring and horrible to watch even if Delap hadn't been on the pitch.

The fact he was, so we also got to see his five minute long throw-ins just made it even worse.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: midnite on April 11, 2012, 01:12:47 PM
I wonder what the ball in play times are against stoke compared to other games during the season.
Title: Stoke
Post by: cdbearsfan on April 11, 2012, 01:30:55 PM
I noticed that Delap didn't need to dry the ball when they were losing, but he did at nil-nil and one-one. Funny that. Just book him for time-wasting bloody gutless officials.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: ROBBO on April 11, 2012, 01:40:06 PM
Lppk at it from Stokes point of view, season to season all they think about is survival no matter what it takes. They play the brand of football they can afford thats why i am worrying about the present Villa set up.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: Dante Lavelli on April 11, 2012, 04:13:40 PM
Then again he did put Agbonlahor through with a brilliant instinctive pass. Had Gabby scored we'd be hailing that as a moment of genius.

I thought that was Ireland (not Bannan). 

Anyway, back on topic, I heard on the Tuesday Club podcast that Stoke have attempted 5 through balls all season (up until the game before Villa).  That is truly shocking.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: SoccerHQ on April 11, 2012, 04:18:38 PM
Stoke had a lot of the ball in the 2nd half.

Having less possession than them in a game is very embarrassing.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: Matt C on April 11, 2012, 04:21:37 PM
If we can master the art of retaining possession a little better I'd expect some of our defensive problems will dissapear too.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: Villa in Denmark on April 11, 2012, 08:32:50 PM
Lppk at it from Stokes point of view, season to season all they think about is survival no matter what it takes. They play the brand of football they can afford thats why i am worrying about the present Villa set up.

Swansea?
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: GarTomas on April 12, 2012, 07:00:26 PM
Then again he did put Agbonlahor through with a brilliant instinctive pass. Had Gabby scored we'd be hailing that as a moment of genius.

I wouldn't give up on Bananaman just yet. I think part of the problem is our players are too thick to read where he is going to put it.
[/quote

And there in lies the answer.  Easily the most talented of the current crop.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: brian green on April 12, 2012, 08:33:38 PM
BB has the most potential to become an outstanding player.   If he continues to try to play killer passes and gets better at it he will become a very good player indeed.   If he becomes a percentage player and always plays safe he will gravitate to the Championship or more probably follow the same route as Steven Davis into the SPL.
Title: Re: Possession v Stoke
Post by: ozzjim on April 12, 2012, 08:41:30 PM
Bannan gives the ball away too often. I don't believe the hype with this kid.

I think he needs to take the simple pass option more often than he does.



He is the one player this season I have seen able to put Bent in time and again. He reads his movement brilliantly, and if Bent were playing now with Bannan and Irelend in, we would be scoring goals I am sure. Movement up front helps a ball player no end.
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