After that breathless win today it is time to reflect on it.
Every win this season has been decent performances (it was second half, ignore the first) and generally against the lower ranked teams (Chelsea aside). Each time we have failed to follow up with wins for a number of reasons, some self inflicted others not. With relegation now just a fantasy in a Blue nosed mind then this is the time to actually stick to the principles that won the second half.
The first lesson is quite easy, play the kids where possible, Gardner did very well, Clark far better in DM and they provide the energy. There is no need to sink back to the likes of Heskey (when fit) and no need to tinker around with players out of position, Clark for me will be a far better DM than defender.
The second lesson is to play players where possible in their best position. Clarke will never be a left back and we should not revert back to that. If Warnock has to be dropped then Stevens should be played, injuries obviously different.
The third lesson is always to be positive in games. Fans would much rather us win 3-2 every game then try and win narrow 1-0 games. As was proved today we may be weak at the back and thus we have to score anyway to get the wins.
The fourth and last lesson is the most difficult one of all. It is the lesson that I believe has compromised our whole season. Looking at the squad we should be comfortable top 8 in this very average if not poor PL season. therefore is it the most difficult choice of all. It is obvious AM does not play a straight 442, it is usually one up front and maybe one dropping (Like Keane) or players supporting the central forward. Basically because of this the compromise has been to try and fit both Gabby and Bent into the same team and system and it does NOT work.
The most difficult lesson therefore is this — you have to simply make a choice in this system between Gabby or Bent who plays the centre forward up front. You can not play Gabby (ill or not) in any other position than up front (yes it works occasionally) and Bent can only play there. In the games Bent missed or when Gabby has missed it has been obvious the performance has been better from the team as an whole.
I understand why Mcleish is wary of this choice but he is paid to make these very difficult choices. The only thing that matters is wins on the board and not the feelings of any player or the fans. I do not envy Mcleish but it staring us in the face, Gabby and Bent can not play in the same teams unless a straight 442.
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why did gabby come off for? is he injured
was said to be sick before the game but desperate to play. Well if sick before the game AM should have been firm and said no. It was obvious 15 mins in Gabby last the energy and should have been subbed then, it is when they were all over us and AM got lucky not to have the lost the game then.
Said on the radio Gabby ill but declared himself fit an hour before the match but couldn’t make it out of the dressing room for the 2nd half.
Makes a change to be able to look forward to MOTD tonight.
Ian, I didn’t go today, but I ask this to all ST holders, and those that clock up a lot of games, please don’t think I’m trying to be belligerent here, it is a question, but my view is that although Gabby undoubtedly loves the club and gives his all, isn’t he the one player we should sell for a longterm benefit?
He is not, and will never be a top notch striker, and he is not, and never will be, an out and out winger, O’Leary promoted him, MON kept picking him and GH tried to find a position for him, all failed.
As said, I’m interested in views here, and not after a row, but is keeping faith with him a mistake that we can ill afford, sell him and bring in a quality wide man, sell him and bring in a proper striker, or keep him and continue to risk an imbalance that never seems to go away?
This is not an attack on the player, but I go to every home game, and do a few away, and for me, Gabby is an enigma, not an answer.
and you have a great point mate, if you can write a piece for me would put it up, because it is what I am hinting at really
Really appreciate that, I will do something this week and send on.
As much as I adore Gabby and have every faith in him to succeed, he rarely does so… Of the entire squad he’s one of only few who puts his life and soul into every game for the love of the club.
However I can’t help but agree with you. But is the answer to sell Gabby? How much do you reckon we could get for him? How long is left on his contract? I reckon we’d get about £8m with a couple of years left on his contract in my opinion… Or should we give him a game up front on his own essentially doing Bent’s role for a couple of games and if it works sell Bent for £15m plus? At the end of the day it’s got to be one or the other. With Bent’s transfer money we could replace him with another quality striker and a quality winger. Don’t know who like but it could kill two birds with one stone.
Sasa, agree with much of your devil’s advocate piece!
Gabby has received a lot of well-earned praise over the last 6-or-so months for his effort and general commitment to the club – but basically very little has changed as far as his quality and effectiveness are concerned from say 2 years ago, when quite a few Villa fans were starting to realise that he wasn’t the Messiah that they’d believed him to be.
He’s good, but not great, and isn’t going to get any better; the only fault I see in your logic is that I don’t believe we’d actually get much for him. He’s been around long enough for most PL managers to recognise his limitations – as have the England management.
“this is the time to actually stick to the principles that won the second half.”
I disagree Ian.
The way to go is to get the bloody pace up.
The first 15-20 mins was the best we played imo.
We’d have been a match for anyone in that period, as we took it to them and Wolves quite simply couldn’t live with it.
What caused the shocking drop off, I haven’t worked out yet, in fairness, but we play too slow a lot of the time, imo.
And Petrov, whilst clever, looked a weak link today exactly for that reason.
This is why I’m so encouraged about GG.
He looks like he has the impetus to keep us going, the same as Milner did.
We aint safe yet ian, a win against qpr and then we might have turned a corner, will be first back to back wins this season am I correct? We really sould be beating qpr at vp.
i have some more news for you all like i told you about the ireland injury.the fonz is going to leicester on loan!
gabby come off cos he has got a stomach bug!
Nice, Karl.
Don’t make it obvious where you’re coming from though.
Give Ian the news directly and then he can pass it on to us.
you obv think you know who Karl is, honestly no idea but he has top ITK now
Ian I think u have made good points but I am more concerned about defence. Especially having dunne and warnock still playing regularly. Everything stems from a strong back four and our strikers are always being pressured to score as many goals as possible because we concede so many self-inflicted goals. Surely the time has cone to drop those 2 clowns permanently and get a decent ch and lb ASAP. This to me is a priority as if we can keep regular clean sheets the confidence will spread to rest of team and they won’t be fretting about a crap back four and can concentrate more on their own games.
Er, Dunne played well I thought????
Youv got to judge a player over time not one game. Dunne has cost us alot of times over past 18 months. He has the most ogs in the prem and a howler virtually every match cup tie at Bristol great example. Add to that how disruptive he and warnock were in the dressing room under GH but only because GH had them sussed and was gently easing them out. They are a poor example to younger players and not fit to wear the shirt. Both should be dropped.
I’ve thought he’s played well in many a game.
And I still rate him highly.
He probably has the most OGs because he throws himself in desperately all the time.
No doubt you’ll say it’s because he positions himself poorly.
Whereas I think he made a totally class piece of covering play in the game today, with frightening pace for such a big bloke, imo.
And no offence, but it’s not that you’ll ever see it, even if you watch the game again, as you’re totally blinkered when it comes to Dunne, imo.
When a defence gets as much pressure as ours does, you’re going to get mistakes mate, as it’s always merely a matter of time.
Most goals come from defensive errors.
Go and look at Pool today.
Glenn Johnson,totally crap for the first goal, but highly rated by many.
I wonder how many perfect CBs you can name?
As for the behaviour under GH, I think that was more the manager’s fault.
I never heard about Hughes, MON or AM trying to deliberately wind him up in the way GH did ????
I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree mate.
Yeah fair point but u will never convince me on dunne. Don’t get me wrong thout he was a good player when he first came and never let us down until cup final when his mistake cost us their first goal. Since then he has never been the same IMHO. U say defenders make mistakes and I agree they all do but he makes more than most even when not under pressure ie gave away unecessary free kick in 12th min today and back pass v bristol no excuse for that whatsoever he wasn’t under pressure then. Problem is he does most things ok for 90 mins but you have to be a 95min player today and he has a tendency to switch off. GH was right about him and warnock. Personally though I think the whole back four needs to go none if them are any good. Be great if we got Scott Dann.
Every fucking match you are slating Dunne! Keep your opinion to yourself at this stage, it’s getting boring. He has been one of our more consistent players this year and Warnock has shown glimpses of the solidity he had under MON. This thread has nothing to do with Dunne/Warnock it’s on Bent/Gabby so shut up with your crap talk. And you didn’t agree with the Keane signing either so your opinion isn’t too great eh?
yeh anon3 dont want to say too much cos i dont wana get my dad in the shit.utv
Same as any other blogs, Karl.
Do it indirectly mate.
Ian, you are right: we need a decision between Bent and Gabby. My preferences are clear, Gabby anytime. Or we make a home and away team. Home with Bent because there is more action in the penalty area and Gabby away for fast counter attacking.
Furthermore, AM as to make a decision between Keane and Ireland. Both are playing the same position but have different styles. Ireland was really strong the last couple of games, so no easy decision.
Funny, that you see Clark in central mid (I see it the same). Last year you were totally convinced he should play as a central defender.
Finally, left back is a problem position. We have to find a solution for that. Maybe Stevens is one.
We should go 4 1 2 1 2 against qpr with given,hutton,dunne,collins,stevens. Clerk as dm albright on right nozog on left gardner cam bent, gabby up front what u think?
I live in Milton Keynes, so quite often watch the MK Dons. They have a system in which they play a 4-2-4. Two holding midfielders, for the Villa Petrov and Clarke. Then the 4 men strikers (including 3 centre fowards (like Bent) and a winger) play where they want. Dons play incredible football, short simple passing and amazing movement. I understand this is at League 1, but why not give it a shot. It is not far off the Barca system. Let your strikers and attacking players play where they like as long as they work back when needed and get the goals, Dons have 70 goals this season already.
whilst iam big admirer of given possibly a better goal stopper than guzan i think guzan organizses the defence better if he can learn some of givens skills we have a goal keeper who could be our number one i think he should be offered another contract
Well i must say Gabby has always been one of my favourite players being as he just has sheer commitment to the team, he never gives up, he is always battling, you’re right he isn’t a winger. But Bent is lazy for a loan striker imo where as Gabby will put way more effort in. I think home games bent and away games Gabby is good though.