Aston Villa v Wolves post-match thread

[Ads]

In fairness to McLeish, he picked the same side, bar the injured and now sold Luke Young, that breezed past Blackburn.

His mistake came in not adjusting Bannan for Heskey at half-time and also taking off Delph, who looked poor and completely out of it, possibly hampered by the booking.

I’m a little confused by the criticism of N’Zogbia. While it’s evident that he isn’t quite up to speed and that he hasn’t been quite disciplined enough (covering the full back and drifting central), I think this is more than made up for by the fact that every time he gets the ball, he marauds past players with ease.  He looks an exceptional talent.

[Shrek]

I forget to mention that Dunne was brilliant yesturday.

[Chris Smith]

I’m a little confused by the criticism of N’Zogbia. While it’s evident that he isn’t quite up to speed and that he hasn’t been quite disciplined enough (covering the full back and drifting central), I think this is more than made up for by the fact that every time he gets the ball, he marauds past players with ease.  He looks an exceptional talent.

Agree with that. It was also his third game in a week so probably right to take him off.

[Singapore Villa]

 
We huffed and we puffed, but we just didn't have the quality to break them down.  Same problem we have had at home for years.  This is not something that has suddenly become an issue since Big Eck came along.

I thought N'Zog had a reasonable game.  Ok, maybe a little quiet in the first half but he was lively after the break before tiring.  I think he will come good soon.  Herd had a decent game but was a little rash at times.

[Dante Lavelli]

I'm not a fan of over analysing what the manager says but as this quote is specifically about my biggest compliant (playing Heskey above Bannan) I thought I'd post it and ask what you folk think it means as it is vague in it's meaning to say the least:

"Barry Bannan sees pictures.  I guess Benty might fancy Barry in the team but it's difficult when you're looking at all the elements of how we want to play to keep everyone satisfied."

I wish journalists would ask what the manager means when they spout bobbins like that.

[Shrek]

Well Bent is the man we need to satisfy not bloody Heskey!

[PaulTheVillan]

In fairness to McLeish, he picked the same side, bar the injured and now sold Luke Young, that breezed past Blackburn.

His mistake came in not adjusting Bannan for Heskey at half-time and also taking off Delph, who looked poor and completely out of it, possibly hampered by the booking.

I’m a little confused by the criticism of N’Zogbia. While it’s evident that he isn’t quite up to speed and that he hasn’t been quite disciplined enough (covering the full back and drifting central), I think this is more than made up for by the fact that every time he gets the ball, he marauds past players with ease.  He looks an exceptional talent.

Agree with all this.

Gabby really needs to learn more about playing wide, he was sometimes miles up the pitch when Warnock needed cover.

Delph was totally hampered by that early yellow card & almost went missing, he needs to watch his tackling else there is really no point in playing him if he's going to be like that.

[olaftab]

Well Bent is the man we need to satisfy not bloody Heskey!

Hmmm... I though young Miss Bruce was doing that?

[Monty]

I'm not a fan of over analysing what the manager says but as this quote is specifically about my biggest compliant (playing Heskey above Bannan) I thought I'd post it and ask what you folk think it means as it is vague in it's meaning to say the least:

"Barry Bannan sees pictures.  I guess Benty might fancy Barry in the team but it's difficult when you're looking at all the elements of how we want to play to keep everyone satisfied."

I wish journalists would ask what the manager means when they spout bobbins like that.

Still, reading into it as much as you can you could say that this means he's playing Heskey for the defensive side of the game. How he can say that and say that we should have got better service to Benty is fecking amazing, as he clearly knows a possible solution but actively REFUSES to do it. That's just mental.

[Chris Smith]

I'm not a fan of over analysing what the manager says but as this quote is specifically about my biggest compliant (playing Heskey above Bannan) I thought I'd post it and ask what you folk think it means as it is vague in it's meaning to say the least:

"Barry Bannan sees pictures.  I guess Benty might fancy Barry in the team but it's difficult when you're looking at all the elements of how we want to play to keep everyone satisfied."

I wish journalists would ask what the manager means when they spout bobbins like that.

I'm guessing there should be a comma between 'play' and 'to'. It's about the balance between how we want to plan while at the same time satisfying the need for a more physical approach as we're a pretty small side. Personally I'd rather Bannan but can see why the manager might err on the side of caution.

[Dante Lavelli]

The "keep everyone satisfied" bit is odd as it implies that he is compromising his better judgement to satisfy someone or a player(s).  It was probably just the usual manger double-speak but I wish journalists would do their job and ask for more clarity.

[adrenachrome]

I'm not a fan of over analysing what the manager says but as this quote is specifically about my biggest compliant (playing Heskey above Bannan) I thought I'd post it and ask what you folk think it means as it is vague in it's meaning to say the least:

"Barry Bannan sees pictures.  I guess Benty might fancy Barry in the team but it's difficult when you're looking at all the elements of how we want to play to keep everyone satisfied."

I wish journalists would ask what the manager means when they spout bobbins like that.

I'm guessing there should be a comma between 'play' and 'to'. It's about the balance between how we want to plan while at the same time satisfying the need for a more physical approach as we're a pretty small side. Personally I'd rather Bannan but can see why the manager might err on the side of caution.

That is the crux of the matter: AM erred on the side of caution. Most of Villa's managers in recent years have ended up playing cautiously, but he has started off in this fashion.  I can see the logic of trying to consolidate after last season's debacle, but playing one up front at home against Wolves is not going to get pulses racing.

On the question of Heskey, it was noticeable that he was under instruction to mark Fletcher when they had a goal kick, effectively putting him in a left back position, and that he was generally playing very deep. Anybody criticising Bambi for not fulfilling the support striker or "in the hole" role are wide of the mark.

[Dante Lavelli]

but playing one up front at home against Wolves is not going to get pulses racing.

I don't think that playing one up front is necessarily defensive or cautious.  As long as other players are given license to attack and not have to defend too much.  N'zogbia for example should not be instructed to track back too much as we have two holding midfielders already back shepherding the play away from dangerous areas.

[brian green]

I thought Darren Bent looked well pissed off yesterday and his disenchantment with the club after Barry, Milner, Downing and Young have all been lost would be the last straw.   For me anyway.   I came away from that game feeling very old and very tired.

[Chris Smith]

I thought Darren Bent looked well pissed off yesterday and his disenchantment with the club after Barry, Milner, Downing and Young have all been lost would be the last straw.   For me anyway.   I came away from that game feeling very old and very tired.

It would be a bit stupid of him to be disenchanted about the sale of two players who left before he signed. He'd surely also understand where his transfer came from.