Football performance under McLeish

[supertom]

Sadly we're seeing the results of losing Milner, Young and Downing over the last year. It was bad last season, and it's only gonna get worse. Bent aside, and Given, the standard we're signing is dropping, and the calibre of manager since O Neill has gone down one peg with Houllier, followed by several pegs to McLeish who lets face it, is a poor mans O Neill.

We are literally void of a decent central midfielder. Jenas is a persistent underachiever and injured at the moment. Petrov can't run anymore, Delph doesn't look up to it, Bannan is too small to play without 1-2 tough tackling players to protect him, and Ireland needs to play a free role. That however requires a system to be shaped around fitting him in. I don't believe he's good enough for that. In addition he needs someone with the ability of Robinho to work off. He doesn't have that luxury here.

It's not all McLeish's fault. We're solid, tough to beat (with the exception of falling apart against Bolton's B-team) and work hard. Obviously we miss Ash and Downing's creativity. Albrighton too, contributed a lot in the first half of last season, but he's looked piss poor this season. He needed to step up and take the mantle lft, but he's bottling it.

I'm disappointed to admit ust how much we're missing Downing too. I thought we'd done excellent business with N'Zog to replace him, but so far I've been proved wrong. He's far too inconsistent. He only got going in the run in last season. That might well be something that saves us this year, but we're better than a relegation scrap each season. At least, we deserve better!

[Chris Smith]

We are playing 70s style football again, with exprienced players that only know that one way of playing, that's why they were anti Houllier. Can you blame any of our better players for looking elsewhere?

Which part of the 70s?

As I recall that meant a rigid 442, a big target man and defenders who kicked fuck out of anything that moved? That's miles away from where we are.

I think we're making the mistake of seeing an inevitable period of transition as something more profound.

[SoccerHQ]

He drew 15 or 16 games at SHA last season so I joked when we appointed him that with better players he'd draw 20 games this season. Uh oh.

It's worrying me all these draws now as when winter comes and we have a few more injuries and suspensions, that is the time we'll be playing Manure, Arsenal and Liverpool all in a row at VP followed by away games at Stoke and Chelsea. We need some wins quick before that period otherwise it will just be a repeat of last season.

And if anyone thinks Jenas will be some sort of saviour to this team, they're goiing to be pretty disappointed.

[LeeB]

We are playing 70s style football again, with exprienced players that only know that one way of playing, that's why they were anti Houllier. Can you blame any of our better players for looking elsewhere?

Which part of the 70s?

As I recall that meant a rigid 442, a big target man and defenders who kicked fuck out of anything that moved? That's miles away from where we are.

I think we're making the mistake of seeing an inevitable period of transition as something more profound.

Indeed, but everything is either brilliant or fucking shite Chris, you know that, you can't have your cake and eat it with this 'transition' nonsense.

[Villanation]

No question we are missing vital cogs, problem is we are not replacing anything like the quality of player going out with player coming in and we have to do that, we are getting good money for these players.

That said even if we where getting the quality would they do the job under McLiesh, hypothetical but IMO, I doubt it.

Performance so far....................very ordinary.

[UsualSuspect]

I would argue that we are tough to beat.

Wait until we have played teams that are likely to finish in the top 10 and see how hard to beat we are then.

[LeeB]

I would argue that we are tough to beat.

Wait until we have played teams that are likely to finish in the top 10 and see how hard to beat we are then.

You could argue that.

You could also argue also that there are some Villa fans desperate for us to cave in so they can be proved right.

[Monty]

I would argue that we are tough to beat.

Wait until we have played teams that are likely to finish in the top 10 and see how hard to beat we are then.

You could argue that.

You could also argue also that there are some Villa fans desperate for us to cave in so they can be proved right.

If I hear any more nonsense that the Villa fans unhappy with the current situation care more about their own egos being massaged than the team doing well I'm going to explode.

Nothing would make me happier than if Eck proves us all wrong in the long term, that this is a genuine and necessary transition towards more fluid, attacking, possession-based football built on a solid base, that Heskey is the past and Bannan the future, that N'Zog settles in, that we get some entertainment at Villa Park that perhaps makes up for our lessened ability to challenge at the top any more. The problem is, I find it genuinely hard to imagine any of that being the case.

[UsualSuspect]

What is the point in lying and pretending we are going to do well,  are hard to beat, have fantastic kids etc etc when it's not true?

I also seem to remember our team of 76/77 being the most exciting Villa team i have ever had the pleasure of watching

[LeeB]

What is the point in lying and pretending we are going to do well,  are hard to beat, have fantastic kids etc etc when it's not true?

I also seem to remember our team of 76/77 being the most exciting Villa team i have ever had the pleasure of watching

What's the point in having hope or optimism? Have teams you've watched never improved over time?

[PNB Army]

he even finished 3rd in scotland once! i think hell do a good job here though hes building a solid team thats hard to beat so if we can just get a creative midfielder in we'll be okay

[Dave Clark Five]

he even finished 3rd in scotland once! i think hell do a good job here though hes building a solid team thats hard to beat so if we can just get a creative midfielder in we'll be okay

It is sometimes surprising what the introduction of a couple of key players can do.
A bit of muscle and a bit of vision in midfield could well be the catalyst of a very good side. A lot of discussion has gone on about players being played out of position. Much of that is down to necessity but rellay good players will shine wherever you put them within reason.
I still think that the improved performances of Dunne, Warnock and Gabby are down to the new regime. It is not all bad. It just takes time.

[brian green]

Monty you beat me to it and expressed the doubters' case very well.   I was going to ask Chris very courteously what he thought the transition was transition to.   I can live with jam tomorrow but I at least want to catch a glimpse of the jam jar and maybe even the corner of the label and a bit of a picture of a strawberry.

[Ads]

I would argue that we are tough to beat.

Wait until we have played teams that are likely to finish in the top 10 and see how hard to beat we are then.

You could argue that.

You could also argue also that there are some Villa fans desperate for us to cave in so they can be proved right.

I agree with you. It’s difficult to put your finger on, but I get this intangible sense that there is an atmosphere of expectation where some fans are almost eager for us to slip up.

Fuck them.

[UsualSuspect]

Don't forget to add to 3rd in Scotland, Rangers worst ever run of 10 games without a win came under Mcleish

Still everything will be fine when jenas and heskey are fit