Football performance under McLeish

[Risso]

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.

Other than the odd weirdo, I can't think of anybody who would ever actually want Villa to lose, or in the other common accusation, that they don't like McLeish because of his Small Heath connection.

[garyfouroaks]

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!

A very fair assessment.

The problem is that you could go unbeaten in the league by drawing every game, and get relegated with 38 points.

What is so tough to handle is that we had hope until MON left, now the arc is downwards, where we will bottom out, i do not know.

[Brend'Watkins]

One thing I noted about AM's first after match interview is that he seems clearly worried about the team spirit.  He referred to the Penalty incident where it was only Gabby who was claiming for one.  I think he is on to something, we do lack a real team spirit, there doesn't seem to be that "togetherness" about this squad. 

[London Villan]

There is a lack of togetherness full stop. Board, fans, managers, players the whole lot. Warnock mentioned it about the fans not calling for a penalty too. There is a lot of negativity around the club at the moment and general apathy. Which isn't surprising given the last 18 months of so of failures and falling apart.

A couple of good wins and performances would sort out some of it, as would a decent cup run.

[TimTheVillain]

One thing I noted about AM's first after match interview is that he seems clearly worried about the team spirit.  He referred to the Penalty incident where it was only Gabby who was claiming for one.  I think he is on to something, we do lack a real team spirit, there doesn't seem to be that "togetherness" about this squad. 

Genuinely don't think the other players ( nor supporters) thought it was a penalty.

Nowt to do with lack of togetherness,  more to do with lack of understanding of each other.

If we'd played the 2nd half as badly as the 1st I could agree with this l;ack of togetherness, but it's more ( as Benty says) about getting the team to gel.

[Percy McCarthy]

I was encouraged a little by yesterday's second half. Signs of better passing and movement, and slight improvements from Ireland and Hutton. It's virtually a new team, apart from the defence, and it's perhaps telling that the defence are the best performers at the moment.

[taylorsworkrate]

The first 20 minutes of the second half yesterday are an example of how we should be playing all the time.  Midfielders passing short, moving into space etc etc.

Bannan and Ireland are crucial.  They are miles ahead of our other players in terms of ability to do this.  They both MUST start every game.  I'd like to see Clark in for Delph to give us a little more solidity, and possibly Bent to play alongside Gabby when fit, with N'zogbia given a spell on the sidelines.

[WA Villan]

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.

Apart from Young , Milner and Downing all the other players Mon brought in were very average to crap. The standard of player being brought in now have yet to prove themselves. The calibre of managers after Mon are on par if not more successful than Mon.

[Brend'Watkins]

One thing I noted about AM's first after match interview is that he seems clearly worried about the team spirit.  He referred to the Penalty incident where it was only Gabby who was claiming for one.  I think he is on to something, we do lack a real team spirit, there doesn't seem to be that "togetherness" about this squad. 

Genuinely don't think the other players ( nor supporters) thought it was a penalty.

Nowt to do with lack of togetherness,  more to do with lack of understanding of each other.

If we'd played the 2nd half as badly as the 1st I could agree with this l;ack of togetherness, but it's more ( as Benty says) about getting the team to gel.

It's not just the penalty in isolation, there's lots of other stuff happening all over the pitch.  For instance, Warnock when he screwed up in the first half (as he usually does) where he lost position.  Dunne/Collins and Petrov should have been bollocking him to pull his socks up.  Delph trying his 'fancy flicks', again, Petrov should be on his case. 

[jimmygreen]

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.

I think I caught sight of it Brian. It looked yellow and had the words 'Morrissons' 'value' and 'mixed fruit' on it. All very disappointing really.

[TimTheVillain]

The first 20 minutes of the second half yesterday are an example of how we should be playing all the time.  Midfielders passing short, moving into space etc etc.

Bannan and Ireland are crucial.  They are miles ahead of our other players in terms of ability to do this.  They both MUST start every game.  I'd like to see Clark in for Delph to give us a little more solidity, and possibly Bent to play alongside Gabby when fit, with N'zogbia given a spell on the sidelines.

All true, but re. N'Zog - Wigan next, maybe it will serve to ignite his career at VP ?

[taylorsworkrate]

The first 20 minutes of the second half yesterday are an example of how we should be playing all the time.  Midfielders passing short, moving into space etc etc.

Bannan and Ireland are crucial.  They are miles ahead of our other players in terms of ability to do this.  They both MUST start every game.  I'd like to see Clark in for Delph to give us a little more solidity, and possibly Bent to play alongside Gabby when fit, with N'zogbia given a spell on the sidelines.

All true, but re. N'Zog - Wigan next, maybe it will serve to ignite his career at VP ?

Could be, I just get the impression that a reality check of sorts might help him.  I think hes a good player, but his forms been poor.  Maybe an angry N'zogbia coming of the bench could help.

[Risso]

The first 20 minutes of the second half yesterday are an example of how we should be playing all the time.  Midfielders passing short, moving into space etc etc.

Bannan and Ireland are crucial.  They are miles ahead of our other players in terms of ability to do this.  They both MUST start every game.  I'd like to see Clark in for Delph to give us a little more solidity, and possibly Bent to play alongside Gabby when fit, with N'zogbia given a spell on the sidelines.

All true, but re. N'Zog - Wigan next, maybe it will serve to ignite his career at VP ?

Can't see why, it didn't against Newcastle. 

[Chris Smith]

There were clear signs yesterday that we are not far off being a useful side. It's still about getting the balance right and getting the confidence up of one or two who are under performing. I have a feeling that one day soon it will all click and we will give somebody a good stuffing.

[Risso]

There were clear signs yesterday that we are not far off being a useful side. It's still about getting the balance right and getting the confidence up of one or two who are under performing. I have a feeling that one day soon it will all click and we will give somebody a good stuffing.

Hope you're right Chris, as there have been far more signs of us being a dreadful side recently.  Half an hour of decent play against a newly promoted QPR managed by Neil Warnock isn't enough to convince me I'm afraid.