Home truths

[N'ZMAV]

Maybe we need to play players in their proper positions.

[Phil from the upper holte]

This is not a recent thing. In last 10 years we have only won 78 home games, lost 50 and drawn 62. Thats an average of 8 home wins a year and just 28 points a season. Just twice we have got to 10 wins. At least twice its cost us a really good go at the top 4.

I was going to say the same. We've been mediocre at home for the best part of ten years.

Pretty much what I was goin to say as well, home form is hopeless. One of the reasons I packed my season ticket in, it can be a right chore at times. Formation is wrong for me, no good playing 3 strikers with 3 defence minded players plus Weimann is out of form for me.

[Jockey Randall]

Teams know exactly how to play us at home. Getting the first goal is so crucial. If we don't get it teams just sit and leave no space to play in. With most sides now playing 1 up front it's only going to get worse. Watching most premier league games at the moment is like pulling teeth.

[danlanza]

The teams in the top six have excellent home form. We have a lot to do, a lot.

[Irish villain]

First time to log in since yesterday. I remember posting before that the club should do an internal inquest into why we have become such a soft touch at Villa Park. Our home record  has been pathetic for too long.

It's a self fulfilling thing too because other teams come to Villa Park thinking 'this lot are shite at home we can win'.

It is really screwing us over as a club.

[Pat McMahon]

To carry on from that, when was the last time  Manchester United, Liverpool, Spurs or Arsenal (the biggest four proper clubs) had an off-day at Villa Park? There's definitely something about the ground that brings out the best in the opposition.

I said something similar on another thread pre-season Dave. Man U, Liverpool and Arsenal absolutely adore coming to Villa Park and between them have lost about once in the past 45 games. Man City and Spurs are rapidly joining them in that zone and Chelsea are starting  enjoy Villa Park too.

I think we are in danger of becoming everybody's favourite away ground - a Midlands version of Fulham.

[saunders_heroes]

To carry on from that, when was the last time  Manchester United, Liverpool, Spurs or Arsenal (the biggest four proper clubs) had an off-day at Villa Park? There's definitely something about the ground that brings out the best in the opposition.

I said something similar on another thread pre-season Dave. Man U, Liverpool and Arsenal absolutely adore coming to Villa Park and between them have lost about once in the past 45 games. Man City and Spurs are rapidly joining them in that zone and Chelsea are starting  enjoy Villa Park too.

I think we are in danger of becoming everybody's favourite away ground - a Midlands version of Fulham.

Fulham have a good record at home though (I think).

[Mister E]

It's players that can play the killer pass or beat their man that we seem to lack.
Home teams need to be able to put the opposition under sustained pressure: this requires penetration through incisive passing and / or tricksy wingers / inside forwards.
We currently have some really good players, but not necessarily those that will create the breakthrough chances.

[Phil from the upper holte]

Maybe we lack the funds to buy a top quality midfielder? Need to find a midfield version of Benteke

[silhillvilla]

Luckily I'm away for the Ci$y game so have viagog'd out seats,
£95 notes thanks very much and a stress free day.

[Irish villain]

It's things like this which make me wonder if Dave W isn't right, and that the ground, the atmosphere and the club is just too big for any team we've had recently.

To carry on from that, when was the last time  Manchester United, Liverpool, Spurs or Arsenal (the biggest four proper clubs) had an off-day at Villa Park? There's definitely something about the ground that brings out the best in the opposition.

But Villa Park even before the post-Taylor report era was always a top class ground. Since redevelopment it has remained one of the finest stadiums in world football as you point out. Why is it that it inspires the opposition and not our own teams? The expectation seems to bring out the worst in our own players and inspires the opposition?

Does that imply VP needs to be 'uglier'? We're a bit big to be going down that route.

You'd hope we were building a team worthy of Villa Park. Sadly, results like Saturday show we have a long way to go. Question is, what to do in the meantime because it is abysmal home form has been like a dead weight around us for far too long. It'll affect attendances again too and the overall 'bad mood' I can always detect when I have visited Villa Park since about 2009.

[Des Little]

Given that most teams know they'll score at VP I think its becoming psychological. We simply can't defend so the pressure automatically gets put on us, and we can't handle it. It's almost like every game is a shit-or-bust affair where we have to score twice to win. And more often or not, we don't.

[supertom]

Given that most teams know they'll score at VP I think its becoming psychological. We simply can't defend so the pressure automatically gets put on us, and we can't handle it. It's almost like every game is a shit-or-bust affair where we have to score twice to win. And more often or not, we don't.

I do think we need two wide players helping out our fullbacks. Defending isn't the strong point of either fullback. When they're facing pace, or guile, without any help, they get torn apart. Ben Arfa destroyed Luna yesterday for most of the game and when he wasn't, he was on the other flank pillocking Lowton.


I'd be tempted next home game to line up a little like this:

---------------Guzan-----------------

Lowton--Vlaar----Clark/Okore..Luna


Bacuna---Delph-----Sylla-----Gabby

----------------Benteke---------------

-------------Kozak--------------------

This way we have a number 9. We get Benteke able to come off and get involved in the game a bit more. He's also able then to run at defenders. The alternative would be to keep Benteke in the 9 position and play Helenius off him.

I do think we desperately need to give the fullys a bit more cover defensively for when we get broken on. Bacuna, Sylla and Delph would provide a lot of energy and cover a lot of ground, so if needs be we can push Gabby up as more of a wing forward.

Away from home the 4-3-3 works better as we sit deeper and the fullbacks don't get quite as isolated.

[ozzjim]

I would have Bennett and Luna down the left, with a more narrow 3 in the centre, one, drifting right to support Lowton but not holding position in the way a winger would so as not to give away 3 bodies centrally. Then Gabby behind Benteke.

We need genuine width on one side, and our best wide player in terms of delivery is Bennett, much maligned, but he could be a quality attacking wide player IMO. Albrighton having confidence and form would help too! Centre of midfield needs to house Sylla, Westwood and Delph to make sure we are not over - run, Gabby playing more in to out than out to in, and give Bennett a go down the left. Weimann has been poor for a long time, Sunderland home the exception rather than the rule.

We also terribly miss NZogbia at home, as he commits people and makes things happen. When fit, I hope Lambert realises this.

[ROBBO]

We are a sot touch at Villa Park and i don't know why but even when the supporters are singing it doesn't sound that loud on the tele, is their an accoustic problem?