Herd: perfect MF partner for Petrov?

[Irish villain]

Petrov is a new player in the more advanced role. He was under utilised by MON and Houllier. We needed an anchorman behind Petrov over the years.

[Dante Lavelli]

I think the midfield would still look better with a third midfielder in place of Heskey. 
watching the match yesterday Heskey takes up some great positions but lacks the instinctive ball control and composure of a real midfielder.

That would give us a strong base for the team - Petrov and Jenas/Bannan pulling the strings with Herd doing a lot of the grunt work.  A further benefit would be that it would free up Nzogbia to do what he is best at, whereas at the moment I fear he is being asked to track back too much.

[Mister E]

I think the midfield would still look better with a third midfielder in place of Heskey. 
watching the match yesterday Heskey takes up some great positions but lacks the instinctive ball control and composure of a real midfielder.

That would give us a strong base for the team - Petrov and Jenas/Bannan pulling the strings with Herd doing a lot of the grunt work.  A further benefit would be that it would free up Nzogbia to do what he is best at, whereas at the moment I fear he is being asked to track back too much.

You're absolutely spot on with this comment, Dante (you inferno, you!).

[citizenDJ]

I think the midfield would still look better with a third midfielder in place of Heskey. 
watching the match yesterday Heskey takes up some great positions but lacks the instinctive ball control and composure of a real midfielder.

That would give us a strong base for the team - Petrov and Jenas/Bannan pulling the strings with Herd doing a lot of the grunt work.  A further benefit would be that it would free up Nzogbia to do what he is best at, whereas at the moment I fear he is being asked to track back too much.

That's what I'm hoping for, too; a midfield of Petrov, Jenas and Delph/Herd seems to have a good balance of energy, strength and guile which we have lacked for a while. Of course, it depends on Jenas being up to scratch, but for waht it's worth I think he is. Even in the brief glimpse yesterday, he seemed to display a certain compsosure and rannge of passing that we don't always see at Villa.

[barrysleftfoot]

  I do think a midfield of Herd, Jenas or Petrov , and Bannan or Ireland is our best.

 You have a nice balance then of an defensive , no nonsense midfielder in Herd, the footballing, all round experienced midfielder in Jenas or Petrov, and the more creative/attacking  but less defensive midfielder of Bannan or Ireland.

  With Bent, Gabby and N'zog up front, you need a creative midfielder who can release them with a pass, and Bannan and Ireland can do that.

[Matt Collins]

Agreed. It's just so obvious to me that 433 would be our best formation, with gabby, bent and n'zogbia when he hits form, up front.

I also agree you need a combination of running, tackling, creativity and running into the box, to make that work.

I'd have thought petrov as a sort of midfield libero, with jenas (delph in reserve) doing the up and down
role and bannan (Ireland) as the creative player, would be the best bet. I still hope that's the case.

But as mcleish has recognised, the presence and dependability of heskey in that number  10 role is often the safer bet in a mediocre team.

[MattW]

Herd to pull out of Australian squad

Don't know how/why there are quotes from his dad. I recall reading that McLeish was counseling him to choose Scotland. Unsurprising; two matches in four days in the Asian heat would take it out of you.

[Mister E]

Herd to pull out of Australian squad

Don't know how/why there are quotes from his dad. I recall reading that McLeish was counseling him to choose Scotland. Unsurprising; two matches in four days in the Asian heat would take it out of you.

Also, with Jenas not being eligible against Spppurrrrrs, I'm sure the club will have wanted Herd to be available and fit for a tough next game.

[N'ZMAV]

If Herd keeps on performing in this manner than he could well see himself a first team regular. He releases a different type of Petrov to what we've seen over the years. I am impressed. I honestly didn't think he was going to make it, I'm going to have to stop calling him Chris Turd now, aren't I?

[Concrete John]

I thought be played very well again on Saturday and also seemed to be more confident on the ball, which is a good sign.  It'll be interesting to see how he does against Spurs, but from the Man Utd home game last season I don't think he'll be showing any fear!

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We had the partner for Petrov - Makoun and Reo Coker. Didn't try hard enough to keep them? or they had more ambition? Dunno?

This would be the same Makoun that has yet to start a game in Greece? It's looking unlikely they'll be taking us up on buying him for £3.5m come the summer.

[Ryu]

I see people are making NRC comparisons so I thought I'd add my thoughts. We all know NRC's strengths and it does look like Herd has similar energy levels and also has good ball winning ability. We also all knew what NRC's weaknesses were...  While I don't necessarily think that Herd's technical attributes are a great improvement on NRC it does, to me at least, look like he at least knows his limitations a bit more, which is what I always thought held Nige back as a DM. If he can carry on like this I think he could be a good PL central midfielder. 

I also agree with Dante and the others who say that Herd, Petrov and Jenas could be our strongest midfield three.

[Louzie0]

We had the partner for Petrov - Makoun and Reo Coker. Didn't try hard enough to keep them? or they had more ambition? Dunno?

This would be the same Makoun that has yet to start a game in Greece? It's looking unlikely they'll be taking us up on buying him for £3.5m come the summer.

Great - if that means we get him back

[seanthevillan]

Herd to pull out of Australian squad

Don't know how/why there are quotes from his dad. I recall reading that McLeish was counseling him to choose Scotland. Unsurprising; two matches in four days in the Asian heat would take it out of you.

I guess because his Dad is an ex-footballer? Is he is agent as well?


More eye-catching for me was the comment he inspired:

Damn, Herd is an awesome player.
I imagine the bloke hitting the town and partying it up hard after games and downing about 12 shots of grappa and scoring mint chicks on the dancefloor like Vale Rossi does in Roma!!
Every time he's on the ball it looks like he's in charge and dominating the pitch like the force india pit crew when Sutil comes in for a pit-stop with a totalled front wing!!
Next opportunity he gets he will play his best for the Aussies no doubt. And if he does i'll take him in my '92 Swift down lygon and rip up that handbrake in the wet and write it off into Brunettis Cafe!!!

So compared with a MotoGP rider, a Formula 1 pit crew and offered a spare seat in a car crash?

[Mazrim]

Yes, that's one of the more bizarre comments I've seen for a while.