Thoughts and issues regarding the past and present of a great football club by "The Chronicler".

Friday 27 December 2019

Wanted: A Lion That Roars!

How fortunes change! Having had to postpone a trip on Boxing Day meant that I was able to see the game versus Norwich, but I have to say that as the hour approached I was filled with some apprehension: another defeat and we would really be in it. And we nearly were (in it)!

Well, we managed to get over the line, but somewhat fortuitously, and let's not forget we were playing the team that is now bottom of the league. 

And now we've got to the halfway point in the league season, my assessment of the sort of team we have is one that has been living on false confidence - hence the casualness of some of the players on occasion. Villa have flattered to deceive at times, with our insistence that in Mings, Engels, McGinn and Jack we have the essence of a fine - if not great - side. And when we achieved that 5-goal win at Norwich it seemed that champagne was beginning to flow as though we had won a trophy!

The reality has come home to roost - firstly that our midfield is too light, lacks enough sharpness and is often predictable. In Jack, John, Douglas and Marvelous we have players who collectively just do not have enough power nor assertiveness. I am certain now that to play both Douglas and Marvelous on the pitch at the same time is utter folly, but their substitutes - Conor and Henri - are not the complete solution either.

We need more power in midfield for sure, in my opinion, and someone who can help drive the attack in order to give much better support to dear Wesley, who looks alone and forlorn at times.

Until we obtain that power midfielder - if ever we do - we cannot play Luiz and Nakamba on the pitch at the same time, and I have to say of the two Luiz is my favourite to be selected. Though lacking some power, he at least puts himself about a lot more and seems better motivated.

So, I'm reasonably (not perfectly) happy that, when fit, Douglas, Jack and John should be the attacking midfield, or Conor as a left-sided alternative to Douglas.

That leads to who should sit in front of the back four, and I have reached the conclusion that we have a ready answer in Tyrone Mings! He, after all, has shown the propensity for going forward and can certainly pass a ball, and - indeed - provides more power, so with two good conventional centre-backs already in place in Konsa and Hause, why not?

Of course, that is unlikely to happen but, to me, it's an opportunity lost if that approach is not adopted and should solve the lack of power issue in midfield without further expenditure and with the addition of providing a better defensive wall.

One further adjustment: Kodjia or Davis in place of (probably) Trezeguet and then maybe we would have a team that would be hard to handle, allowing the striking pair a chance to develop a hot partnership.

Well, that's my New Year wish-list! But I'm probably on my own on this.

On Saturday we play the team that is next bottom of the league, but they are improving and we play them on their own ground. This match is going to need better commitment and solidity than we have been showing of late - and better shooting too.

Well, I'm holding my breath!

UTV!

Saturday 21 December 2019

Whoops! That Result Has Curdled the Custard!

I usually like to chew over a result before I say anything, but what I saw today seemed to be a continuation of our performances in the previous 2 or 3 matches. It is now - I hate to say it - a reminder of the days leading up to relegation in 2016.

So what is going wrong? Injuries, clearly, are not helping and we have Mings, McGinn and also Davis on the bench: 3 more than useful players.

But what is making the manager persevere with playing Wesley on his own? As the lone striker he cannot achieve much except being the target man. At half-time, however, I was thinking that to bring on Kodjia to partner Wesley would not be a bad thing, but we had to wait until 70 minutes before that took place. From that point on Villa looked more capable of getting something out of the match as Kodjia's manoeuvrability worried their defence. When Jack scored I actually thought we might get back to parity, but it was not to be.

Villa just look too light in midfield and rely too much on Jack to conjure up something. It's rather like the beginning of 2015-16 when several continental players were brought in, and though they clearly had skill, collectively they were mostly ineffective. I see a bit of that now - in Nakamba and Luiz there is promise, but not enough power. So too for Conor, though his shooting has proved handy.

Well, Lambert had to deal with three matches in one December when we conceded 15 goals, and yet the season went on to develop in much better fashion: Benteke, Gabby and Andy came into pretty good goal-poaching form. I can only hope that we can get one or two players in the January 'window' that will help restore our confidence.

Well, enjoy your Christmas Dinner, and let's try to put this matter on one side for the time being, though a win over Norwich is surely a 'must'.

UTV!

Sunday 15 December 2019

Succumbing To A Touch Of Sheffield Steel

Well, clearly the Johnstone-effect of the day before failed to fill the Villa's sails! Or were the Villa players under a further sense of euphoria resulting from Johnstone's speech?

Well, though Johnstone had no real involvement in all yesterday's footie, what we did see was another sign of the steel in the play of the northerners - the very stubborn-ness that voted Johnstone in. And they were at it from morning until night - there was rarely any let up in their play, a high-press game to which Villa had no answer.

Villa didn't even have any shots on target - including a poorly taken penalty that hit the bar!

I do feel sorry for Dean Smith. Everyone was extolling the abilities of Jack, John and Tyrone and yet, since the Man U match in particular, none of them has had too much to say for themselves on the pitch. Well, in Tyrone case he can't any longer until he's fit.

Defensively, Villa were mostly OK, but coming out of defence and igniting anything in attack was something that Villa were simply incapable of - certainly first-half. Second-half, El Ghazi twice supplied accurately from the right but Wesley and Jack failed to get their chances on target. And, at 0-2 down, came Jack's chance to give a chance to get back into the game - and how the skipper squandered it!

It has been virtually the first time this season that VAR had come to Villa's aid after the referee had waved Villa's handball protests aside. For that, and other decisions, another referee not to find favour in my book.

Well, we now face the three teams below us over the Christmas period. Villa don't need to win all three, but if they don't get at least 4 points (out of 9) then there's cause for worry.

We still have the January transfer window and we are short of strikers - and, maybe a more effective attacking midfielder. There's some talk of Villa being interested in Pedro (Chelsea) and that could be an interesting signing.


For me, despite all the talk about Jack and John, the team does lack a midfielder who is more decisive. I do think that a Pedro type could fit the bill and could set a better example with all his experience.

UTV!

Monday 9 December 2019

It Didn't Take Much For Us To Be Out-foxed!

Prior to the match, Dean Smith acknowledged that Leicester were doing well, but then said: "But this is Villa Park" - as though to say we don't give anything away at the old home.

Now I admire Smith's attitude for him to say that, but, alas, we saw more of a carefree attitude on the pitch - or was it over-confidence? Despite a promising start by Villa, from the time El Ghazi put his 6-yard shot against the bar when it would have been much easier to score, I began to fear the worst. Then 'Mr. Cool' Mings - yet again -  was too cool in taking his time to clear and gained a card in trying to stop his error from being severely punished.

There followed a further spell of foolishness when Mings was injured and elected to carry on. However, his teammates seemed to share his over-confidence when Wesley casually gave away a pass on the half-way line to enable Leicester to break and leave Mings limping in their wake. Vardy was even allowed two attempts to put the ball away having already slipped past Tom Heaton. 

What should have been a stimulus to get back and even win the game - when Jack scored with almost the last kick of the half - was not taken up. In fact, as soon as Leicester scored their third within a few minutes of the re-start, the Villa looked dazed and uncertain. Nothing worked. In contrast to the Foxes' quick and direct passing, we took our time - almost as though we had all day to put matters right, and remained happy to misplace passes.

Now ... This is a transition season and we can't expect too much. Yesterday's opponents were clearly revelling in confidence after their recent run. But in the position the Villa are in, league-position wise, we surely need to have more of a sense of urgency! The dilly-dallying approach and the sloppy passing must stop for a start. Or perhaps we just do not have enough top-rank quality in the team? I would like to think they can do better, but to achieve it the approach must surely change - if Villa Park is to be a real fortress then let's have the players firing with all guns blazing - and accurately, too!

Brendon Rogers has done well at Leicester, there's no denying that. I'm not sure I entirely like their football, but it does, clearly, produce very effective results. We certainly need to mirror their fleetness of foot, accuracy and determination. Let's face it, they might have scored six or seven yesterday.

Over the Christmas period we face all three teams that currently occupy the bottom three places. Please Villa, let's have some good Christmas Cheer by gaining all the points from those matches - particularly as two are at home.

Though the club has shown signs of getting itself back together, my feeling is that right now we need to get back to some no-nonsense football. I read a headline that suggested what a good game Jack played yesterday, but, apart from his goal, he didn't do a lot that was right. Against opposition playing with confidence, Jack and McGinn seem to be lost souls. When opponents raise their game we seem to go on the back foot, hence perhaps why we have conceded so many points after we have been in a winning position in previous games.

I don't think we can live with yet another season of struggle. Can we?

UTV!

Thursday 5 December 2019

What Do Referees Get Paid For?

Well, we lost. However, losing by itself is not a disgrace, but something within me wrankles on how we lost.

Firstly, we gave them too much space, particularly - but not only - on Targett's flank. Secondly 'Mr. Cool' Mings again tried the impossible once or twice and also did not keep a proper eye on Abraham i.m.o. I like Mings, but he does have to tighten up.

Thirdly, the officials. Terrible. Everyone is talking about how Jack is unprotected by officials, but it was not only issues about Jack that the officials were poor on. And they didn't just fail for us, they failed Chelsea too, on occasions. Second-half, Mings blatantly pushed Mount and got clean away with it, but later there was that so blatant hauling down of McGinn when he was breaking free. That was an absolute disgrace and deserved a sending-off i.m.o. Was that soccer or rugby?

And, in addition, what has VAR done for the game? Well, it was very good in spotting that Jack's heel was offside in the previous game!

Unfortunately, combined with our relative timidity, it was  Chelsea's aggression that won them the game. Whenever Jack, McGinn or anyone looked as though they were going to seriously damage Chelsea, they were illegally stopped in their tracks, and sometimes did not even get a free-kick.

But Villa are not having a very good time in dead-ball situations against teams like Chelsea. We lack an Abraham-like (or Hateley-like!) striker to get to those corner kicks etc that come across. Wesley works hard but in my view needs a taller partner.

But, not to be disheartened. We now face the very much in-form Foxes. I think we need to win this one, but it won't be easy.

UTV!

Monday 2 December 2019

Jack Made The Reds' Faces Red

Super...super...superlative! Yes, that's my word for Jack's opener last night. A very fine goal.

Constantly active and causing the United defence to be all at sea at times, Jack again gave a fine display of craftsmanship, even providing the chance for the second goal - that wasn't, owing to Jack's heel being offside! That's a new one, isn't it?

But...Jack also missed a glorious chance for Villa just before United scored. And none of his many corner-kicks and free-kicks had much to threaten about them. So, there's a downside or two to his performance, but he's getting better and people are beginning to sit up and notice a bit more. And talking of how he should move to a 'big club' and not stay at Villa. Oh dear, such small-minded comment.

Again, a good team performance with everyone doing a good job. Tyrone 'Mr. Cool' Mings again dallied to Villa's detriment but then sallied forth and cracked home a fine equaliser. Freddie G., though, got booked yet again so we miss him for the Chelsea match. That's a pity, I've really got to like his play - as, indeed, Matt Targett. These two are developing into a fine pair of full-backs.

It's onwards and upwards as I see it. 

UTV!