Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: ciggiesnbeer on December 06, 2013, 01:46:40 AM
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In which we celebrate players who for whatever reason are not getting the love they deserve. Why they haven't and why they should.
My first candidate is Karim El Ahmadi.
Why has he not received love from the Villa faithful?
He started off well in preseason after he was signed but quickly tailed off and ended up having a pretty poor first season for Villa. This is not unusual as players adjust to the league but KEA was rightfully criticized for his poor energy and lack of going forward.
Why does he deserve some?
2 very important league goals and assists plus a much improved general play. Whether by direction or just hard work he is now getting forward much more and slips into the box regularly. His engine now seems to last the full 90 when needed and his energy level has gone from below average to good.
Forgotten man no more, I give you Karim el Ahmadi. Unsung Villa hero*
*love restrictions apply, rights are reserved to remove love upon crap performances , lack of kissing the badge or having weird alien ears after putting in a transfer request.
(http://www.esquire.nl/var/hearst/storage/images/media/images/karim-el-ahmadi2/21077-1-dut-NL/Karim-El-Ahmadi.jpg)
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I agree he has improved significantly this season. Not ready to put him the 'hero' category yet, though.
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He's had a solid if unspectacular second season. Very workmanlike, nothing flash other than his apparent sense of style. Lovely cross for Kozak's goal and a crucial goal against Albion. So far so good.
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He's had a solid if unspectacular second season. Very workmanlike, nothing flash other than his apparent sense of style. Lovely cross for Kozak's goal and a crucial goal against Albion. So far so good.
Don't forget his goal against Man. City mate.
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In which we celebrate players who for whatever reason are not getting the love they deserve. Why they haven't and why they should.
My first candidate is Karim El Ahmadi.
Why has he not received love from the Villa faithful?
He started off well in preseason after he was signed but quickly tailed off and ended up having a pretty poor first season for Villa. This is not unusual as players adjust to the league but KEA was rightfully criticized for his poor energy and lack of going forward.
Why does he deserve some?
2 very important league goals and assists plus a much improved general play. Whether by direction or just hard work he is now getting forward much more and slips into the box regularly. His engine now seems to last the full 90 when needed and his energy level has gone from below average to good.
Forgotten man no more, I give you Karim el Ahmadi. Unsung Villa hero*
*love restrictions apply, rights are reserved to remove love upon crap performances , lack of kissing the badge or having weird alien ears after putting in a transfer request.
(http://www.esquire.nl/var/hearst/storage/images/media/images/karim-el-ahmadi2/21077-1-dut-NL/Karim-El-Ahmadi.jpg)
Where did you dig that picture up from.Is he in the new Anchorman movie !
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Is that jacket given to the player who's team mates have voted the worst in training that week?
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I'm willing to completely change my opinion on him purely based on that jacket. The mans top quality.
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I think him and Westwood are a poor mix and that, by and large, he is a bit of a passenger.
That said, he has made two very telling contributions in the past two away games.
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Is that jacket given to the player who's team mates have voted the worst in training that week?
He nicked it out of my 1970's wardrobe. You can't see it in the in the pic, but he's wearing a pair of my flares as well.
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I know it's a slow news day gentlemen with only some bloke I've never heard of dying in South Africa but...
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I like the suit - too jazzy?....
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Like most of the games this season, the game passed KEA by at Southampton. He got very lucky with the cross for the goal as he had lost the ball before somehow it ended back up at him. I was screaming at him telling him how dreadful he is at that point and the next thing I see is him lining up the cross. In my opinion he simply isn't up to it. He just stands still for most of the game
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Don't doubt his honesty but unsung for a reason
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I'm willing to completely change my opinion on him purely based on that jacket. The mans top quality.
You are Fernando Nelson and I claim my £5!
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KEA I think has the potential to be a 5-10 goalscoring midfielder. The trouble is, as said, he's often a passenger in games. When he gets into certain areas though he shows good movement, awareness and that he can put a chance away. I just think because of his lack of pace he really needs to be playing a little more advanced of the other two more often. Occasionally he's doing the same thing as Westwood and they cancel each other out, and having two players so slow can often hamper our midfield.
We need to see KEA produce more often in games. He's got to be making the telling passes and getting the odd goal here and there. For want of a better option, he could be the number 10 we've been looking for (until Jan).
I like the guy. He works hard. He's got a good attiude, as most of our squad do. But I don't think he's quite good enough at this level long term. I don't see him being a fixture in our side beyond this season in truth. He's getting on a bit (at least in current AVFC terms) and I think Lambo will probably recruit a younger mid with more potential.
As for my unsung hero- Clark. I think he's been excellent this season. He's been on the ball, sharp, and has become reliable. That said, I do worry about him without Vlaar by his side. Concrete has led the back line very well and because he's now settled it's allowed Clark to flourish next to a commanding, experienced partner. Can Clark step up and lead the line? I'm not sure. Worrying about what Baker and the full backs are doing all the time might affect how focused he's been on his own game.
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I was screaming at him telling him how dreadful he is at that point
Well, that's certainly productive.
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I was screaming at him telling him how dreadful he is at that point
Well, that's certainly productive.
It obviously worked though. ;)
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I think him and Westwood are a poor mix and that, by and large, he is a bit of a passenger.
That said, he has made two very telling contributions in the past two away games.
Agreed , he has improved of late no doubt but needs to be far more consistent to be an unsung hero.
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He is doing better. Just think he needs to toughen up a bit mentally.
Real ones - Fernando is a good shout.
Others Big Kent Neilsen, JJ and of course Mr Paul Birch
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I wish commentators would stop calling him "El Hammidy".
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Okay, so we all know how good BRAD is but I'm curious, does the everyone else know it?
He's American, tick.
He's follically challenged, tick.
His first name is Brad, tick.
He doesn't play for Spurz, tick.
Every box ticked.
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As some have already said - KEA needs to play a more advanced role to get the best out of him.
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My unsung hero is Gabby. :)
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My unsung hero is Gabby. :)
I second that. I think he's been great.
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At the end of the day if they are wearing a villa shirt they are my hero. Years ago we used to sing the names of the whole team. " Karim rises to the top"
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I think he needs to contribute a lot more, he does good things occasionally(like the cross on Wednesday) but not on a consistent basis.
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Like most of the games this season, the game passed KEA by at Southampton. He got very lucky with the cross for the goal as he had lost the ball before somehow it ended back up at him. I was screaming at him telling him how dreadful he is at that point and the next thing I see is him lining up the cross. In my opinion he simply isn't up to it. He just stands still for most of the game
Blimey, what game you bin watchin'?
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That jacket is nearly as good as Makoun's jumper.
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Honourable mention goes to Clark, who I think has been much improved this season, but for me the hero is Gabby, as ever.
Quite simply, when he's on the pitch we look a totally different proposition. He's the one player we really can't afford to lose.
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Frank Carradus
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Alan Wright.
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Honourable mention goes to Clark, who I think has been much improved this season, but for me the hero is Gabby, as ever.
Quite simply, when he's on the pitch we look a totally different proposition. He's the one player we really can't afford to lose.
Clark is a good shout. His improvement season over season has been marked.
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Alan Wright.
Alan Wright Wright Wright, fucking Shite shite shite. (tbf, he'd walk into our side if he was 25 again now)
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Leighton Phillips
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Honourable mention goes to Clark, who I think has been much improved this season, but for me the hero is Gabby, as ever.
Quite simply, when he's on the pitch we look a totally different proposition. He's the one player we really can't afford to lose.
Clark is a good shout. His improvement season over season has been marked.
True although I'm concerned about his strength in the air; watching the goals conceded at St Mary's again, his lack of authority in the air is worrying.
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Leighton Phillips
Seconded, but you're showing my age...
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Geoff Vowden by a mile!
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Geoff Vowden by a mile!
We had him at the tail end of his career - his best days were across the city. He was a classy player & I remember the Argus using the "Wowden" headline more than once when he had scored.
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Alan Wright.
Absolutely. It really used to annoy me to hear him get stick while people like Ginola and Collymore got cheered despite contributing very little. Solid, unspectacular but made the most out of every inch of talent that he had.
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Sorry but KEA is miles away from being an unsung hero in my book. A couple of goals and assists is a start, but he is still anonymous in the majority of games.
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Sorry but KEA is miles away from being an unsung hero in my book. A couple of goals and assists is a start, but he is still anonymous in the majority of games.
Playing a big part in at least 7 of the points we have gained this season and people thinking he's anonymous/shit is pretty much the definition of an 'unsung hero'.
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Des Bremner. The ultimate football engine.
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Phil Woosnam. The man who made Tony Hateley a star.