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!
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!
2 comments:
Well written, John.
Yes, Villa seem cocky. And as we know Villa pretty much lose at home just as easily as away at times. Up until this game I was satisfied with the season and general play. I have confidence in Villa to get it right.
Yes, mate, one match shouldn't upset the whole season - but the forthcoming weeks will be a good test of the manager's character and, of course, the team's character.
Post a Comment