Petrov. The gezza comment

[Captain Trips]

Don't we have a number of ex captains in the squad? Dunne, Reo-Coker, Davies and I also think Downing was for middlesboro at one time. There should be enough leaders on the pitch with that lot (Downing excepted!)

[TimTheVillain]

I think GH has sussed Petrov out.

We all know he's a skillful player, but hasn't pushed on from his excellent 2008/9 season.

In fact he's gone backwards ( much like 75% of his passing) and I think GH will look to replace Stan sooner rather than later.

We need a more mobile player and one that can shoot too.

[SoccerHQ]

I don't think Petrov will be a regular come the end of the season, this is the start of him being slowly phased out of the team I'd say.

Before long GH will want a central midfielder who can last 90 minutes and will buy one in January.

I'm a fan of Stan but he just hasn't looked right this season at all.

[usav]

To be fair, I thought Saturday was his best game so far this season.

[Monty]

It's yet to be seen whether his problem is being over the hill or simply form. Because of his position I'm tempted to say that it's form, and he did play much better on Saturday.

[BILL DE VALL]

When we play with three wingers who cannot head or tackle
Downing-wont tackle
Young-gets tackled doesnt do tackling
Albrighton-does tackle-gets booked

then the other midfielders need to be able to head AND tackle to stop the opposition getting straight at the back 4
petrov can neither head or tackle
NRC can tackle but isn't big enough to dominate in the middle-and has the 1st touch of a recently deceased donkey.

I have no UEFA coaching qualifications but it seems blindingly obvious to me that Petrov has to be phased out for Stephen ireland who is a much better passer of the ball and makes good runs etc
and NRC just has to be phased out when we buy a proper tall mobile defensive midfielder


simples (ohh how annoying)

[Monty]

Ireland cannot play in deep midfield. It's a disaster for him and the team.

You should really have a maximum of one player in your midfield who is a specialist tackler if you're looking to keep possession. I think Petrov will be fine once GH's philosophy and style has really taken root (it does take a lot of practice), and once Ireland is playing well and back in the team with him and NRC. Then we'll see the best of him.

[BILL DE VALL]

Ireland cannot play in deep midfield. It's a disaster for him and the team.

You should really have a maximum of one player in your midfield who is a specialist tackler if you're looking to keep possession. I think Petrov will be fine once GH's philosophy and style has really taken root (it does take a lot of practice), and once Ireland is playing well and back in the team with him and NRC. Then we'll see the best of him.

so are you saying you would play S.I. petrov and NRC in the mid?
at the expense of the 3 wingers and a big man?

[Monty]

Ireland cannot play in deep midfield. It's a disaster for him and the team.

You should really have a maximum of one player in your midfield who is a specialist tackler if you're looking to keep possession. I think Petrov will be fine once GH's philosophy and style has really taken root (it does take a lot of practice), and once Ireland is playing well and back in the team with him and NRC. Then we'll see the best of him.

so are you saying you would play S.I. petrov and NRC in the mid?
at the expense of the 3 wingers and a big man?

Definitely. For a start I don't think Young is playing as a winger at all, but in an advanced second striker role. I'd like to see Ireland in the team, a bit deeper than Young is playing now. We need variety in attack, and at the moment I see something more like "special teams": Petrov and NRC hold and link, Young, the wingers and striker attack, which is fine but better suited to counter-attacking, and doesn't get the best out of Petrov. I'd like to see a slightly more all-encompassing attacking system, but that takes time and practice.

[BILL DE VALL]

I agree we need variety in our attacking play
I hope we will invest in the window but that's a long way off
GH has reputation for safety 1st football
after the spurs defeat i think we will see more tacklers in midfield

[Monty]

I agree we need variety in our attacking play
I hope we will invest in the window but that's a long way off
GH has reputation for safety 1st football
after the spurs defeat i think we will see more tacklers in midfield

I disagree. His reputation doesn't tally with what he's been saying nor how we've played, or tried to play, underneath him so far. I don't think we'll see more tacklers in midfield, nor that the defeat to Spurs will change anything about what GH wants us to do - indeed, he said it was our best performance under him so far (I don't think it was a coincidence that it was also Petrov's best game for him so far).

[BILL DE VALL]

only 1 midfielder can tackle (NRC) and he has such poor 1st touch that he often loses it
he will soon spot that

[Monty]

NRC's been good so far though, I actually think his first touch and passing has improved immeasurably. I think Delph coming back will make us a more rounded team, though, and I'd like a deep-lying player of real creativity, a Xavi or a Veron style player, as that would improve our ability to keep the ball beyond measure.

[PeterWithe]

NRC's been good so far though, I actually think his first touch and passing has improved immeasurably. I think Delph coming back will make us a more rounded team, though, and I'd like a deep-lying player of real creativity, a Xavi or a Veron style player, as that would improve our ability to keep the ball beyond measure.

Like Michael Carrick?

[Holtenderinthesky]

Football 365's Winners and Losers ffom this weeks games.


Stiliyan Petrov
If you have the chance to watch Tottenham's winner against Villa again, put Van der Vaart to the background and focus on the visitors' captain. As the Tottenham attack unfolds, Petrov will track the Dutchman across the pitch and then follow him, with apparent diligence, into the penalty area. He then stops. Van der Vaart keeps moving. As Peter Crouch heads the ball back towards his team-mate, Petrov seemingly wakes up to the looming danger but then hesitates in the expectation that Richard Dunne will intercept. He doesn't. Petrov finally reacts, but it is too late. He is a yard short of the Tottenham match-winner as he wins the match.

In short, it is an example of precisely how not to defend as a midfielder and a stark illustration of Villa's principal shortcoming. The centre of their midfield is just one massive failing.