Villa's style of play

[Ghost of Pongo Waring]

When a poster reckons that we're 'like Wimbledon' then you know it's time to stop taking him seriously and let him get on with being a grump.

Its because we scored from a long punt from the goalkeeper. You'd never see Everton score a goal like that, nope. Never.


H

The thing is it wasn't just a lucky punt up field. You can clearly see the moment when Guzan notices the opportunity. Awareness and good execution from both Guzan and Weimann resulted in that goal.

Also good movement from Kozak too .

Very true. His movement back unsettled the defender and his attempted flick on caused the hesitation. Awareness and good execution from Guzan, Kozak and Weimann.

[saunders_heroes]

When a poster reckons that we're 'like Wimbledon' then you know it's time to stop taking him seriously and let him get on with being a grump.

Its because we scored from a long punt from the goalkeeper. You'd never see Everton score a goal like that, nope. Never.


H

The thing is it wasn't just a lucky punt up field. You can clearly see the moment when Guzan notices the opportunity. Awareness and good execution from both Guzan and Weimann resulted in that goal.

Spot on. I was in the north stand right in line of the attack and you could see Guzan notice the move was on right before he booted it upfield. It was a really good goal. Couldn't care less if it was long ball, it was a bloody good move.

[Monty]

When a poster reckons that we're 'like Wimbledon' then you know it's time to stop taking him seriously and let him get on with being a grump.

Its because we scored from a long punt from the goalkeeper. You'd never see Everton score a goal like that, nope. Never.


H

The thing is it wasn't just a lucky punt up field. You can clearly see the moment when Guzan notices the opportunity. Awareness and good execution from both Guzan and Weimann resulted in that goal.

Spot on. I was in the north stand right in line of the attack and you could see Guzan notice the move was on right before he booted it upfield. It was a really good goal. Couldn't care less if it was long ball, it was a bloody good move.

To paraphrase SGT by one name: 'why when Glenn Hoddle does it is it called a long pass, but when Brad Guzan does it it's called a long ball?'

[OCD]

To me, a long ball is when someone just blindly lumps it forward into an area where he thinks the centre forward will be for a flick on. Guzan did neither of these things so it wasn't a long ball. He saw the 2-on-2 situation so it wasn't blind and there was control over the way in which he kicked the ball so it wasn't a lump/punt forward either. I'm a bit reluctant to use the term 'long pass' but he knew exactly what he was doing and he played it.

[Toronto Villa]

I urge anyone who thinks we are long ball merchants to watch the second half of the Man City game again. We are anything but. When you are playing a side of Man City's quality you do what is needed to clear the lines at times. To say we did pumped the long ball the time is ludicrous. We are also having to come to terms with various changes in personel that will naturally change how we play. Kozak isn't Benteke, not even close, so if it means we need to play a bit more to his strenths then we need to learn to do that quickly until Benteke returns.

Frankly, we got a win and when you have been dealt the fixtures and injuries we have who cares how we get the points? Almost everyone on here would have taken where we are with a +1 GD before the first ball was kicked. And not one person would have insisted we play in a specific way to achieve that. I'd rather have done what we have than be pretty and get utterly battered.

[eastie]

I urge anyone who thinks we are long ball merchants to watch the second half of the Man City game again. We are anything but. When you are playing a side of Man City's quality you do what is needed to clear the lines at times. To say we did pumped the long ball the time is ludicrous. We are also having to come to terms with various changes in personel that will naturally change how we play. Kozak isn't Benteke, not even close, so if it means we need to play a bit more to his strenths then we need to learn to do that quickly until Benteke returns.

Frankly, we got a win and when you have been dealt the fixtures and injuries we have who cares how we get the points? Almost everyone on here would have taken where we are with a +1 GD before the first ball was kicked. And not one person would have insisted we play in a specific way to achieve that. I'd rather have done what we have than be pretty and get utterly battered.

Well said tv, we have had a decent start to the season against the backdrop of a very tough fixture list and with some top players injured - we have the base now to kick on and have a decent season and 9 points from the games played is very good indeed.

Sure, we have faults, and need to work at a few things but we are improving and the squad is looking better - there is decent competition for places and it all bodes well.

[Monty]

I urge anyone who thinks we are long ball merchants to watch the second half of the Man City game again. We are anything but. When you are playing a side of Man City's quality you do what is needed to clear the lines at times. To say we did pumped the long ball the time is ludicrous. We are also having to come to terms with various changes in personel that will naturally change how we play. Kozak isn't Benteke, not even close, so if it means we need to play a bit more to his strenths then we need to learn to do that quickly until Benteke returns.

Frankly, we got a win and when you have been dealt the fixtures and injuries we have who cares how we get the points? Almost everyone on here would have taken where we are with a +1 GD before the first ball was kicked. And not one person would have insisted we play in a specific way to achieve that. I'd rather have done what we have than be pretty and get utterly battered.

I doubt we'd have got these results by being truly 'ugly'. Our rapid counters are great to watch when they get going, and that's the part of our game which has got us to where we are despite the tough fixtures. Without that, by just 'digging in' with defensive lines and hopeful hoofing we'd have never beaten Norwich, never mind Arsenal or City.

[Ghost of Pongo Waring]

I urge anyone who thinks we are long ball merchants to watch the second half of the Man City game again. We are anything but. When you are playing a side of Man City's quality you do what is needed to clear the lines at times. To say we did pumped the long ball the time is ludicrous. We are also having to come to terms with various changes in personel that will naturally change how we play. Kozak isn't Benteke, not even close, so if it means we need to play a bit more to his strenths then we need to learn to do that quickly until Benteke returns.

Frankly, we got a win and when you have been dealt the fixtures and injuries we have who cares how we get the points? Almost everyone on here would have taken where we are with a +1 GD before the first ball was kicked. And not one person would have insisted we play in a specific way to achieve that. I'd rather have done what we have than be pretty and get utterly battered.

I still can't quite believe that, after playing Arsenal and Chelsea away and Liverpool and Man City at home in our first six games, we've got a positive goal difference.  That is a huge positive for us. How many of the teams that are likely to be around us will be able to look at those fixtures at the end of the season and say the same. 

Our goal difference was worrying everyone last season. So far that looks like it won't be the case this season, as long as we carry it on.

[TheTimVilla]

By the same token, Sralix's team last year were hoofers as I keep getting reminded by that Sky Go advert about Van Persie's volley from a hoof at Old Trafford last season.

[Concrete John]

By the same token, Sralix's team last year were hoofers as I keep getting reminded by that Sky Go advert about Van Persie's volley from a hoof at Old Trafford last season.

Man Utd under SAF always had it in them to go long.  With them it was a variation of tactics, with us it's hoofing the ball because the players aren't good enough.

[dave.woodhall]

By the same token, Sralix's team last year were hoofers as I keep getting reminded by that Sky Go advert about Van Persie's volley from a hoof at Old Trafford last season.

Man Utd under SAF always had it in them to go long.  With them it was a variation of tactics, with us it's hoofing the ball because the players aren't good enough.

That Night In Barcelona happened because they started piling everything forward.

[paul_e]

By the same token, Sralix's team last year were hoofers as I keep getting reminded by that Sky Go advert about Van Persie's volley from a hoof at Old Trafford last season.

Man Utd under SAF always had it in them to go long.  With them it was a variation of tactics, with us it's hoofing the ball because the players aren't good enough.

I disagree what your describing there is the exact insinuation that is intended by differentiating direct long passes and long ball football.  In some cases almost all teams with hoof the ball away up field, or into row z, sometimes it's the best thing to do.  If you make your entire game plan around that and having players who try to make the most of it at the other end then you can be criticised as anti-football but we don't, and I just can't see how anyone can believe we do.

[eastie]

Surely any decent team has to have a variation in playing style to break opponents down, if a team had only one way of playing they would soon be Sussed out - we have scored a variety of goals under lambert and the more variation in our play the better a team we will be
If the long ball is on and can set up a goal then why not play it - we certainly haven't overdone it and cannot be called a long ball team by any means .

There are times when I would like to see more width in our play but it's an ongoing process and we are making progress - the strength of the bench is encouraging and provides options.

[Toronto Villa]

If you want proper evidence of Lambert's style of play I suggest watching last seasons video in it's entirety as opposed to judging it based on 6 games this season. In less that two years we have scored more exciting individual and team goals than I can recall in almost 20 years.

[Ads]

Andi's goal at Anfield was one of the best Villa goals I have ever seen. To watch us cut Liverpool to shreds like that was as good as anything Yanited served up.

And as for Lowton's volley...