Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Gregorys Boy on August 22, 2013, 12:30:35 PM
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When everyone is fit and in good form which starting eleven do you see being our best this season.
Guzan - one of our best players last season, is still young too, Given is a good backup to have.
Okore - His pace could be important and will hopefully be a little less prone to errors than Clark (who I also think has promise).
Vlaar - Think he was unlucky last season due to injury and the fact that we had a very unsettled back line. See him growing into a Martin Laurson type leader.
Luna - His pace coming from deep gives us a different options on the break.
Lowton - A more hard working and tidy player who could compliant Luna very well.
Sylla - Its early to say, but can see him as our Roy Keane enforcer type, think he is a good passer and will score a few goals too.
Depth - Another hard worker with pace, impressive start to the season, will grow in confiderence the more he plays.
Westwood/Albrighton/Bacuna - Am a bit on the fence here as I think we need a bit more of a bust of pace and old school style winger which Albrighton gives us but then with the front three maybe that takes care of that problem. Westwood had a promising first season but do see him as one whose form will be hit and miss so I do see a place for Albrighton at times. Bacuna is another tradition winger, don't know a great deal about him but expect him to play a part as the season moves on.
Agbonlahor - Great start to the season.
Benteke - No brainer.
Weimann - A flexible player who fits well into our style of play and can be good both going forward and working back. Should get roughly nine or ten goals, but again will consider other options such as Albrighton, Helenius if his form dips.
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To me Lowton has been at fault for a couple of goals already. I don't think that his position should be as assured as you do.
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I have really, really high hopes for Tonev. It's been a long, long time since we had a quality player in his mould- a player of genuinely quality and flair. A game -changer. The last decent one we had was probably Merson.
I know it was fleeting last night, and during pre-season, but I've seen glimpses to suggest he could become this player. I loved his tracking-back last night too when he found himself as the last-man when they broke from a corner. That's the kind of dogged work-ethic that's running through the team at the moment and will be central to what this team can achieve. It's also the reason that we'll probably never see Ireland or N'Zogbia in a Villa shirt again.
I also have a bit of love for Ciaran Clark. I love the idea of a player captaining us succesfully at Youth Level and progressing to do the same for the first team. I once held the same hope for Liam Ridgewell though, so it remains hope rather than expectancy.
Because of the above, I'm going to go with;
Guzan; Lowton, Okore, Clark, Luna; Westwood, Delph, Tonev; Agbonlahor, Benteke, Wiemann.
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To me Lowton has been at fault for a couple of goals already. I don't think that his position should be as assured as you do.
Bit harsh. We've only conceded 3! At Arsenal, if anything, it was Vlaar stepping too high up the pitch and not winning the ball. Same for Chelsea's first (he's nowhere to be seen as the ball deflects in off Tony Moon), and not sure what he could have done about Ivanovic's header yesterday.
Lowton is employed to get forward as often as possible (and is very good at this). The downside is that it will inevitably leave space on his side for teams to attack.
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The team so far have been superb - we have good players on the bench awaiting their chance but I'm happy to stick with the midfield 3 for now and front 3 , defensively Lowton okore Vlaar and luna looked good last night and I'd go with that - the likes of tonev , sylla , helenius, bacuna will get their chance at some stage and will probably all feature at home to Rotherham.
The lads who have started so far have been superb and deserve to retain their places if fit.
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That would be a more interesting question - what would be your starting 11 at home to Rotherham?
Far be it from me to hijack your thread though....!
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Guzan
Lowton Vlaar Okore Luna
KEA Westwood Delph
Weimann Benteke Gabby
Rotherham
Steer
Bacuna Baker Clark Bennett
Sylla Tonev Gardner
Albrighton Helenius Bowery
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Best 11:-
Guzan
Lowton/Vlaar/Okore/Luna
Sylla/WestwoodDelph
Weimann/Benteke/Gabby
The most vulnerable in that are Weimann and Sylla, under threat from Tonev and KEA respectively.
Against Rotheram:-
Steer
Bacuna/Donacien/Okore/Luna
Sylla/Westwood/Gardner
Tonev/Helenius/Gabby
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Looking at the way we are stacking up yellow cards, and I'm not complaining, I think we will have to play whoever is not suspended in a few weeks time.
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Guzan
Lowton Vlaar Okore Luna
Sylla Westwood Delph
Tonev Benteke Gabby
would be mine as Tonev will give us more creative and offensive weapons in set pieces
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To me Lowton has been at fault for a couple of goals already. I don't think that his position should be as assured as you do.
Our only other right back is Hutton, so that pretty much assures Lowton his place.
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To me Lowton has been at fault for a couple of goals already. I don't think that his position should be as assured as you do.
Our only other right back is Hutton, so that pretty much assures Lowton his place.
I think bacuna will come in at right back should Lowton not be available at any time.
The good thing is we have now decent options on the bench and those in the team know they must perform as there are others in the wings.
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KEA and Sylla will battle it out for that third midfield berth this season, which is good, healthy competition. Westy and Delph are no brainers, different players but are forming a great understanding, really high hopes for both of them - it's been a long time since we've had a CM who moves the ball as intelligently and in such a 'non-english' way as Westwood. Front three is fairly settled, maybe Tonev alternating with Weimann/Gabs every now and then. Against slightly worse teams maybe we could go with a midfield 2 with Tonev in front like the match against Malaga, which would be very interesting to see, hopefully control the game more and be the proactive team, not the reactive one like we do when counterattacking against the Arsenals/Chelseas of this world. Salsa pretty much got it with his XI, IMO.
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For me I'd keep the team largely as is. Long run I'd see Okore as first choice ahead of probably Clark/Baker. Also I'd see Sylla potentially forcing KEA out the side again, but if you look at the opening two games, Westwood has been the poorest of the mid-3 so far. That said he's the best player we have to just sit deep and link everything together.
Against Liverpool I'd be tempted to drop Wiemann and give Tonev a game. Andy should have put away a couple at Chelsea. He also had a good chance at Arsenal but couldn't get a clean strike on it. He's expended a hell of a lot of energy too. I'd rest him for that, then play him up top at Rotherham, to give him the chance to bag a couple of goals. As for Tonev, he clearly works hard so we wouldn't lose too much of Andy's industry, plus we'd have a threat from set pieces and potentially good delivery from wide for Benteke.
What we do have now though is genuine competition.
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Tom, it's blasphemy about Westy but I was thinking the same thing - it looks like it's just not clicking for him at the moment. If we were to bring in Tonev in place of one of the deep midfielders and go 4-2-3-1 like we did at the end of the Chelsea game, I'd bring him in for Westwood at the moment.
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Guzan
Lowton Vlaar Okore Luna
Sylla Westwood Delph
Tonev Benteke Gabby
would be mine as Tonev will give us more creative and offensive weapons in set pieces
I like this.
And as Keeno says rotating Tonev/Gabby/Weimann.
We could win things with this team in the next few years!
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With 4-3-3 I'd go with:
Guzan
Lowton - Okore - Vlaar - Tony Moon
Sylla - Westwood - Delph
Weimann - Benteke - Agbonlahor
That, if Tonev is as good a she seems, could be transfomed in 4-2-3-1 like that:
Guzan
Lowton - Okore - Vlaar - Tony Moon
Sylla - Delph
Weimann - Tonev - Agbonlahor
Benteke
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Guzan
Lowton Vlaar Okore Luna
Sylla Westwood Delph
Tonev Benteke Gabby
would be mine as Tonev will give us more creative and offensive weapons in set pieces
I like this.
And as Keeno says rotating Tonev/Gabby/Weimann.
We could win things with this team in the next few years!
I would never renounce to Weimann, he does an obscure, precious job.
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Tom, it's blasphemy about Westy but I was thinking the same thing - it looks like it's just not clicking for him at the moment. If we were to bring in Tonev in place of one of the deep midfielders and go 4-2-3-1 like we did at the end of the Chelsea game, I'd bring him in for Westwood at the moment.
He hasn't played as well as he can, but at the same time I'd not want to drop him. I think KEA has played well because he's got Westy behind him. I think KEA would struggle again playing as the deeper lying midfielder. I'm not sure who else could play Westy's Carrick sort of role. Though he's been below par so far (I've no doubts he'll be back up to speed soon anyway) I wouldn't drop him.
Thankfully though, Delphy has been immense.
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Guzan
Lowton - Okore - Vlaar - Luna
KEA - Westwood - Delph
Weimann - Benteke - Agbonlahor
Vlaar needs to improve this season or I fear it may be the end for him here. He's in my team for experience more than anything.
Lowton, Westwood and Weimann need to step their game up. Loved them last season but there's plenty of competition in the squad now for them to just disappear in games.
Got KEA in there for now but again, that could change with the likes of Sylla, Gardner and Bacuna around.
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Guzan
Lowton
Okore
Baker
Luna
Westwood
Sylla
Delph
Weimann
Benteke
Gabby
But at the moment Vlaar and El Ahmadi have the places at this time and aren't doing badly. I might want to put them in my team if they continue to play well. Not really seen enough of people like Tonev or Bacuna to say if they deserve starting berths.
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I think KEA has been excellent so far, and I would certainly drop Weimann regardless of his mini drought. He's getting into all of the right spots. The only for change I'd make is Okore starting at the back next to Vlaar. It will be interesting to see when Tonev, Helenius, Bacuna come infor their first starts and what impact they all make.
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Pretty much as is at the moment. From what I've seen Westwood isn't dictating the play as he can, but he's vital to our shape still and helps to hold us together.
Ideally, is like to see us move to 4231, with Tonev in for KEA. But we'd need to ensure we werent too open as a result.
And I'd still love to think Clark can fulfil his potential and play alongside Okore.
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Playing a 2-3-5 formation:
Hardy
Spencer
McGrath
Houghton, E
Mortimer
Cowans
McParland
Hunter, Archie
Waring
Shaw
Little
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Playing a 2-3-5 formation:
Hardy
Spencer
McGrath
Houghton, E
Mortimer
Cowans
McParland
Hunter, Archie
Waring
Shaw
Little
Where's Billy Walker, lad?
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Tom, it's blasphemy about Westy but I was thinking the same thing - it looks like it's just not clicking for him at the moment. If we were to bring in Tonev in place of one of the deep midfielders and go 4-2-3-1 like we did at the end of the Chelsea game, I'd bring him in for Westwood at the moment.
He hasn't played as well as he can, but at the same time I'd not want to drop him. I think KEA has played well because he's got Westy behind him. I think KEA would struggle again playing as the deeper lying midfielder. I'm not sure who else could play Westy's Carrick sort of role. Though he's been below par so far (I've no doubts he'll be back up to speed soon anyway) I wouldn't drop him.
Thankfully though, Delphy has been immense.
No, KEA has performed well because he has been asked to do a job and done it well
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On the bench. At the risk of being considered a heretic, I prefer Pongo! 'Ampton's on the bench too.
Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, the Mortimer I've picked is Dennis, not Paul.
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I would play the tight 3 in midfield away from home, but have an attacking player in the hole for majority of home games and lets be honest, Liverpool are a decent team like us but are missing their best player, surely we should go for it and not worry about them
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On the bench. At the risk of being considered a heretic, I prefer Pongo! 'Ampton's on the bench too.
Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, the Mortimer I've picked is Dennis, not Paul.
Billy was an inside-forward and while you're at it what is McGrath doing at left-back and why do you have two centre-forwards and two half-backs?
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On the bench. At the risk of being considered a heretic, I prefer Pongo! 'Ampton's on the bench too.
Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, the Mortimer I've picked is Dennis, not Paul.
You obviously been drinking then when choosing the Mortimer's. Which classy Andy Gray do you like, they were so similar in stature to our club
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On the bench. At the risk of being considered a heretic, I prefer Pongo! 'Ampton's on the bench too.
Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, the Mortimer I've picked is Dennis, not Paul.
Billy was an inside-forward and while you're at it what is McGrath doing at left-back and why do you have two centre-forwards and two half-backs?
McGrath and Spencer are both playing defence, they have to cover (what would now be called) full-back and centre-back positions, but they'll be fine, if Barcelona don't bother playing defence properly I don't see why we should have to. Little and Shaw could both play inside forward type role. McParland is in as he varied between forward and winger so would suit a five up front formation, Hunter is playing in a free role.
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On the bench. At the risk of being considered a heretic, I prefer Pongo! 'Ampton's on the bench too.
Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, the Mortimer I've picked is Dennis, not Paul.
Billy was an inside-forward and while you're at it what is McGrath doing at left-back and why do you have two centre-forwards and two half-backs?
McGrath and Spencer are both playing defence, they have to cover (what would now be called) full-back and centre-back positions, but they'll be fine, if Barcelona don't bother playing defence properly I don't see why we should have to. Little and Shaw could both play inside forward type role. McParland is in as he varied between forward and winger so would suit a five up front formation, Hunter is playing in a free role.
You don't know what you're talking about do you?
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Rarely.
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I would play the tight 3 in midfield away from home, but have an attacking player in the hole for majority of home games and lets be honest, Liverpool are a decent team like us but are missing their best player, surely we should go for it and not worry about them
It'd be a major risk to open up our midfield as we did against Malaga, given the players Liverpool have to play between the lines.
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I would play the tight 3 in midfield away from home, but have an attacking player in the hole for majority of home games and lets be honest, Liverpool are a decent team like us but are missing their best player, surely we should go for it and not worry about them
It'd be a major risk to open up our midfield as we did against Malaga, given the players Liverpool have to play between the lines.
I completely agree, this Liverpool team is exactly the reason for a tight midfield 3, even at home. Tricky, quick, tight little passing footballers even without Suarez. I know some people don't exactly want counter attacking football at home but against some teams I'd be more than happy for it to be used.
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This would be ideal!
Neuer
Alves, Badstuber, Kompany, Lahm
Kroos, Schweinsteiger, Ribery, Bale
Messi, Ronaldo
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When everyone is fit and in good form which starting eleven do you see being our best this season.
Guzan - one of our best players last season, is still young too, Given is a good backup to have.
Okore - His pace could be important and will hopefully be a little less prone to errors than Clark (who I also think has promise).
Vlaar - Think he was unlucky last season due to injury and the fact that we had a very unsettled back line. See him growing into a Martin Laurson type leader.
Luna - His pace coming from deep gives us a different options on the break.
Lowton - A more hard working and tidy player who could compliant Luna very well.
Sylla - Its early to say, but can see him as our Roy Keane enforcer type, think he is a good passer and will score a few goals too.
Depth - Another hard worker with pace, impressive start to the season, will grow in confiderence the more he plays.
Westwood/Albrighton/Bacuna - Am a bit on the fence here as I think we need a bit more of a bust of pace and old school style winger which Albrighton gives us but then with the front three maybe that takes care of that problem. Westwood had a promising first season but do see him as one whose form will be hit and miss so I do see a place for Albrighton at times. Bacuna is another tradition winger, don't know a great deal about him but expect him to play a part as the season moves on.
Agbonlahor - Great start to the season.
Benteke - No brainer.
Weimann - A flexible player who fits well into our style of play and can be good both going forward and working back. Should get roughly nine or ten goals, but again will consider other options such as Albrighton, Helenius if his form dips.
Don't you think that Depth would be out of his Delph?
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Ideally, I'd love to see Gardner in the midfield three for a run of games. Til then KEA, Westwood & Delph are what I'd be playing as first choice.
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As things stand at the moment...
Guzan, Lowton, Okore, Vlaar, Luna, Sylla, Westwood, Delph, Agbonlahor, Benteke, Weimann.
With stand in's as follows (as direct replacements)
Steer, Herd, Baker, Clark, Bennett, Gardner, (no direct Westwood replacement), KEA, Tonev, Helanius, Bacuna.
With Bowery and Albrighton as extra squad members. The likes of Ireland, Given, Hutton, N'Zog, Delfouneso and Bannan can all go for me.
I would then like to see us add an experienced centre back (to play instead of Vlaar) and an experienced central mid (and would then rotate Delph, Sylla and Westwood for the other 2 places).
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This would be ideal!
Neuer
Alves, Badstuber, Kompany, Lahm
Kroos, Schweinsteiger, Ribery, Bale
Messi, Ronaldo
I'll swap you Ribery for Iniesta, otherwise i'd be pretty happy with that team. We might make top 6.
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I would play the tight 3 in midfield away from home, but have an attacking player in the hole for majority of home games and lets be honest, Liverpool are a decent team like us but are missing their best player, surely we should go for it and not worry about them
It'd be a major risk to open up our midfield as we did against Malaga, given the players Liverpool have to play between the lines.
I completely agree, this Liverpool team is exactly the reason for a tight midfield 3, even at home. Tricky, quick, tight little passing footballers even without Suarez. I know some people don't exactly want counter attacking football at home but against some teams I'd be more than happy for it to be used.
The fact is we would have had a third person in the middle in a more attacking role and that would have got the attention of the two deep lying midfielders. Would have been a far better formation IMHO than the 4-4-2 that we started with, the attacking midfielder goes onto their deepest midfielder when they have the ball
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Banks
Gidman
Beckenbauer
McGrath
Carlos R
Matthews
Davids
Ronaldinho
Little
Messi
Pele
Yes, yes, I know the formation doesn't work and there have been better right-backs than Gidders but it's my fantasy so leave me alone!!
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This would be ideal!
Neuer
Alves, Badstuber, Kompany, Lahm
Kroos, Schweinsteiger, Ribery, Bale
Messi, Ronaldo
still think we would struggle against the likes of Bradford
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Need to see tonev in the Weimann role and see what he can do , the back 4 on Saturday looked solid , kea has started well and it would be between him and sylla for a spot too-
Guzan
Lowton. Vlaar. Okore. Luna
Delph. Westwood. Sylla/kea
Gabby. Benteke. Weimann/tonev
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I would like to play Helenius up front with Tekkers, he plays some beautiful football and has great vision.
Guzan
Lowton. Okore. Vlaar. Luna
Westwood Delph. Gabby
Tonev
Benteke Helenius
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From what I've seen so far, my starting 11 at the moment would be.....
Guzan
Lowton Okore Vlaar Moon
KEA Westwood Delph
Weimann Benteke Gabby
It was a tough call between KEA and Sylla but KEA just shades it for the time being.
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Schmeichel, Maldini, Baresi, McGrath, Brehme, Matteus, Platini, Zidane, Maradona, Messi, Van Basten. Subs; Buffon, Cannavaro, R Carlos, Xavi, Iniesta, Gullit, Ronaldo (Bra).
Best i've seen since mid eighties.
Or if you go English only;
Shilton, Parker, Pearce, Walker, Terry, Gerrard, Beckham, Platt, Gascoigne, Lineker, Shearer.
Subs; Seaman, Ferdinand, Baines, Scholes, Ince, Beardsley, Rooney.
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I think most of us so far have gone for luna and okore in defence - they have certainly helped shore things up - last season in the same 3 games we conceded 12 goals and had a goal diff of -10 , so a big improvement on that so far.
A clean sheet against newcastle would be nice too.
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Need to see tonev in the Weimann role and see what he can do , the back 4 on Saturday looked solid , kea has started well and it would be between him and sylla for a spot too-
Guzan
Lowton. Vlaar. Okore. Luna
Delph. Westwood. Sylla/kea
Gabby. Benteke. Weimann/tonev
Yep can see Tonev pushing Weimann in the coming months.
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Not sure. My admittedly very early thoughts are that Bacuna seems more the footballer and Tonev more the headless chicken, so i could see Bacuna challenging there moreso. It is really too early to make a proper judgement though.