Confidence-o-meter

[Toronto Villa]

If this is a season of stability and consolidation then this is best time to bring the kids through. There's going to bumps, they are going to make mistakes as we nearly saw today with Clark and Albrighton. That said it's all part of the learning process. Good point about Zat Knight John. Do you bring in an established player and risk a Gary Cahill situation? Or do you give the likes of Clark/Bannan/Delph etc more playing time and thus give them more confidence and a chance to establish themselves.

We are a bit light, and in my opinion beyond N'Zogbia I'd like to see another 2 or 3 players. We'll see how it all plays out between now and the end of the window. I think AM will have some flexibility to make some moves late on as the situation dictates, and a loan deal or two may be the short term fix.

[Merv]

Ten minutes to respond to my latest post; you're getting slow, John 

It's ultimately a balance, isn't it? No-one (mostly no-one) wants ageing pros on fat contracts, but we don't seem to have much middle ground now. We have a first X1, and then a second X1 of young lads. Albrighton, Clark, Delph... fine, no problems there. Bannan... probably up to playing a larger part. Then it's into a tier below, players with very little senior experience who could be asked to play quite a big part this season.

Even three-four injuries (not even on the same level as last year's awful injury jinx) and we could be vulnerable. But we'll see. I'd like one or two more established players added to the squad but it seems we won't have that.

[Gazza1982]

Parker is a natural signing for us. A leader on and off, great footballer.....is there any further news???
 Given and N'Zogbia are quality signings. With the defence looking good again (on limited knowledge i know) and with a striker like Bent, we are in for a suprisingly good season and will be around 6th. Are we in danger of being a one man team? If Bent gets injured who will get the goals?
Problem is, Bent has a 30+ stormer and we lose him to Manure for 35M.......................same old same old.
I really fancy our chances of making a cup final too.

[Louzie0]

Sorry, nothing about the present discussion about signings, younguns or injuries but just about the thread title and OP.

I can recommend the Luke Young interview on AVTV for anybody looking for confidence in the squad in the season to come.  Whether you are interested in the defence or about the team playing 'as an eleven', he addresses both issues.  It's the first time I've seen him interviewed and I think he comes over as an honest and dedicated Villa player. 

There are some interesting comments later on in the interview about what different managers expect of a defensive player.  Given his experience over the last few (!) managers over a relatively short time, I respect his views from this perspective.


Bannan, in another interview, thinks that the game today against Blackburn was 'far harder than Walsall'. I agree and don't think it was all about the heat/humidity.

[supertom]

I was gonna post something regarding this the other day, before we'd even played today, but I am strangely upbeat about the coming season now. I dunno why. The dust has settled following the appointment of Big Eck, and we've got the inevitables out the way with Ash and Downing leaving.

Last pre-season there seemed an air of inevitability. Not so much that O Neill would fuck off a week before the first game of the season but that we were going down hill. He wasn't gonna last the season. We looked jaded, dull, unfresh. MON was clearly half assing it from the point that Milners departure was almost certain. I think discipline dropped badly. Players didn't work hard enough in pre-season. Gabby was overweight. Not just with the muscle gain, but he looked too heavy. Dunney was fucking huge. There were warning signs that O Neill had one foot out the door in all honesty, and most of us felt it was time for him to move on anyway.

Obviously Houllier came in with little time to do anything. That aside he was a ridiculous appointment and the wrong man for the job.

Now though, we are literally rebuilding. In 12 month we've lost 3 players we're so reliant on. Perhaps too reliant. We've gained a top class striker who is priceless. With the shifting in personel, it means a change in style. Our two winger system was growing stale under O Neill and never particularly hit fire under Houllier, or even his bizzare decision to field 3 wingers in the side, with Ash failing in his 2nd striker role. Though that was something in O Neills mind, that started in the pre-season.

I'm excited though. It could go wrong, but I think McLeish has done everything right so far, and we've got players here that need to show what they're made of. If they do, Ireland especially, we could do very well. The sher vitriol of his appointment though, seems to have mostly subsided thankfully.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I'm more optimistic after seeing the game today as I think he'll have the defence sorted out. If we're tight at the back then we have players who can hurt any side.

I've always said this!

I fully expected AM - actually, fuck it - Big Eck to get the defence sorted and keep us tight.  Add that to a goal scorer like Bent and it's hard to see us not in the top half.  My concern was the attacking element of the midfield, partly due to losing the players we did and partly because he might set us up too defensively, and whether they'd provide enough of a threat to see us climb higher up the table.  Although it has been a bit makeshift with strikers used wide, I do think that element seems to be OK and N'Zogbia, once completed, will have enough freedom to hurt sides.  Only drawback so far seems to be Albrighton, who'll need to step it up from what we've seen thus far.   

Agreed. What we really missed today was Downing driving forward with the ball. We looked very flat in midfield but hopefully Chaz Z and Ireland can bring some life to our game. Playing Petrov and Makoun together so deeply is always going to make our defence more solid but I really don't think it's the solution.

As for the youngsters, Bannan and Delph did themselves no harm but Albrighton and Clark both played unforgiveable back passes that will surely ring alarm bells, which is a concern as I'd expect all four to be pushing for a place this season. The jury is still out on the Fonz.

The one thing I have little concern with is Alex McLeish. He's no idiot and given a bit of time, will get the best out of what we have. It's just a shame all the money has gone. Still, I expect him to add to the squad, even if it's season long loans. If he can do that, I think we'll have a bloody good season. I've never been too concerned about his time at the Rags as I'm not even sure Mourinho could have stopped them being a yo-yo club.

I'm still thinking 7th providing the board give him a sporting chance.

[JUAN PABLO]

I think we will finish higher than last season . It looked like 3 new players ( dunne , warnock and collins ) in the back four with the excellent Given. Even Heskey looked pretty good. Nzogbia will be a massive plus for us , we have the top goalscorer in the league and If AM can get Ireland to his best , then we will be hard to beat with alot of creative up front . I just think we need that top grafting leader of a midfielder.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I just think we need that top grafting leader of a midfielder.

Couldn't agree more.

[pauliewalnuts]

If this is a season of stability and consolidation then this is best time to bring the kids through. There's going to bumps, they are going to make mistakes as we nearly saw today with Clark and Albrighton. That said it's all part of the learning process. Good point about Zat Knight John. Do you bring in an established player and risk a Gary Cahill situation? Or do you give the likes of Clark/Bannan/Delph etc more playing time and thus give them more confidence and a chance to establish themselves.

We are a bit light, and in my opinion beyond N'Zogbia I'd like to see another 2 or 3 players. We'll see how it all plays out between now and the end of the window. I think AM will have some flexibility to make some moves late on as the situation dictates, and a loan deal or two may be the short term fix.

You've said pretty much what I'm saying there, Toronto.

Yes, blood the kids, but we're also 2 or 3 players light beyond CNZ.

Not filling those holes would lead to over-reliance on the kids, which isn't good for the club or the kids.

[TimTheVillain]

If we signed Parker I'd be much more confident.

Plus, goalscoring - a lot of weight on Bentys shoulders, a signing of some quality in that dept would be ace.

Ireland, Delph, Petrov and Makoun need big seasons too.

8th I'm predicting.

6th if we make a few more signings and no more releasings.

[pauliewalnuts]

Sorry, nothing about the present discussion about signings, younguns or injuries but just about the thread title and OP.

I can recommend the Luke Young interview on AVTV for anybody looking for confidence in the squad in the season to come.  Whether you are interested in the defence or about the team playing 'as an eleven', he addresses both issues.  It's the first time I've seen him interviewed and I think he comes over as an honest and dedicated Villa player. 

There are some interesting comments later on in the interview about what different managers expect of a defensive player.  Given his experience over the last few (!) managers over a relatively short time, I respect his views from this perspective.

Good shout, just watched it and agree entirely.

He made the point that we've got a good back four but over the last few years, we've not really managed to shield it very well for great periods.

He's right there. Certainly last year, anyway.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

It could go wrong, but I think McLeish has done everything right so far, and we've got players here that need to show what they're made of. If they do, Ireland especially, we could do very well. The sher vitriol of his appointment though, seems to have mostly subsided thankfully.

Wait until we get spanked by Chelsea. Expect more girly hissy fits.

[Clampy]

I've not seen the game today (some of us had to work you know) but from what i've read on here and from what my dad told me earlier, it was very good defensively and we played some good stuff. We played some nice football at Bescot too. Looking forward to seeing us on Saturday, it'll be more of a test obviously.

I should be fearing the worst after us losing two of our best players and employing a manager who took a team down last season, but for some very strange reason, i've got a feeling that we're going to be in for a good season.

[Simba]

I just think we need that top grafting leader of a midfielder.

Couldn't agree more.

Absolutely. And the comments about cover for the Defence is true. It is why we defended better last season when Petrov was playing even though his engine only runs for sixty minutes. I felt GH left the back four isolated. And confused. And unstable. Today we had a left back playing in positon a right back the same and a central pair who looked to be confident, brave and enjoying it.

Parker could go some way to solving that. We need that Captain/motivator/ solid midfield link. Good discussion.

[Colhint]

I have just had a quick look on the outright odds There is the obvious 4 then liverpool on 10/1 Spuds at 50 Everyon and Us at 300 and 2000 the rest