On the 2nd of March, Aston Villa thrashed Derby County four goals to their zero. The team was superb and fully deserved the win that they got. There was even a possibility for more goals in that match however Derby’s goalkeeper did fairly well – for example the Adomah shot that got touched by his fingertip and went out. We even managed to keep a clean sheet and they did not have a single shot on target meaning Steer could have just stood there doing nothing, but lets all hope that isn’t the attitude of the players.
Jack was vital to that game, not only bagging an absolute stunner from the Whelan corner he also was key to that first goal scored by Villa. Yesterday we worked well as a team and really turned this horrible run of form around. For example, the first goal was pure teamwork, the long ball from Grealish, to Tammy, then to Conor – the goalscorer.
According to Dean, Jack Grealish’s volley was ‘Sod’s Law’.
“We nearly called that corner routine off because he (Grealish) couldn’t hit the target yesterday (Friday) in training. Good job we didn’t! Sod’s law he did it today.”
[ONE FOOTBALL]
Getting to the point, I believe and would like to hear if you believe that we should start the exact same team as Derby regardless if players are fully fit now or not. The team can certainly run rings around the Blues and with that corner routine we can have another great goal against the Blues just like Conor last season!
Overall, even though getting play-offs and not getting playoffs are in a ratio of 40:60, if we win our next few, then it can become 50-50 and you never know.
(disclaimer)
That’s written by one of the grandsons I often refer to. Makes me proud 🙂
You are the club’s future, nip.
I know we’re in good hands with the likes of your young self being so keen on the Villa.
To answer your question, the only thing I might change is McGinn coming in.
But who for? as both Whelan and Hourihane were decent yesterday.
I just think we’ll need a bit of extra blood and guts, purely because it’s the bloose and McGinn will provide that.
Whelan stays, because he can rough it too.
Which would suggest Hourihane drops out, because he’s been more lightweight recently, as I’ve often commented.
But he’s still a very good player, in my eyes.
That’s a tough one for the manager, I’d say.
Actually thought that was one of your better posts Badger 🙂
McGinn has to play if fit but as to who comes out I’m really not sure. Possibly play slightly more defensively and leave out El Ghazi or Adomah?
Glad I’m not a manager really.
😉
I’m not convinced we’re playing the 4-3-3 that Smith is supposed to favour.
It’s more like a fluid 4-5-1 to me, but we’re light in the middle at times., because we go wide.
I agree that we should go more narrow and out of the two, I’d rest El Ghazi, as Adomah offers more in this sort of game, I think.
Whatever Smith decides, if we win, he’s got it right and if we lose, he’s got it wrong.
Yep, tough job, being a footy manager.
Agree about Adomah. I think he’s better at tracking back and we’ll need it in this game.
It’s a tough one to call but I’d go for the throat. We’re a confidence team and confidence should be high after this game, and we should absolutely change it up by keeping the same team and go all out to smother any team that comes up against us. As pointed out above, teams are pressing us in our own game, but if we go at our own game with confidence and strength (playing to our player’s strengths in other words), I don’t see another team who should be able to successfully throttle that in this league.
Seems that Deano will have a couple of big decisions to make. McGinn is certainly one although I’m pretty sure he’ll be on the team sheet and I also think both Hourihane and Whelan will start. Away from home Smith seems to prefer two central DMs which means either El Ghazi or Adomah making way.
Tough call but I think it might be Adomah that makes way. I agree he tracks back but with both McGinn and Whelan in the side I feel El Ghazi’s potential to create real problems going forward will sway the decision.
Of equal importance is what reorganisation is needed at the back? Ideally Chester comes back in for Elphick but if not how does he reorganise the back four?
I am the author of that article and much thanks for saying that was one of the better posts Pat. I have heard people say McGinn in Left Back which could work strength wise however I don’t see it working. Depth wise I believe it can work though.
Your post certainly made me think Alfie so well done.
We need McGinn in mid-field but I’m quite happy to leave the decision of who else plays up to Dean Smith.
I think McGinn can play LB if he needs to however preferably not.
Great post Alfie – Badger you got to up your game mate 🙂
Alfie – my suggestion to play McGinn at LB was ‘tongue in cheek’ following Dean Smith’s comments that he’d played him there in training ahead of his two match suspension – but you never know!
I have been a Villa fan since 1971 when we lost the league cup final to Spurs. We were in the third division but managed to go all the way to Wembley – Can you imagine? Andy Lochhead, Chico Hamilton – those were my heroes then.
Things have changed, for sure, but now, being in the Championship feels like we were in the 70’s and hopefully, we’ll arrive at the same outcome – like the glory years of 1980-82 – but who can tell! :).
One thing is for sure, Jack Grealish is etching his name on the rock of heroes at VP. The ghosts of the past – Morley, Withe, Cowans, Mortimer, Evans (yay), and more are roaring him on to be the next big success we all want him to be.
… and by the way – WHAT A GOAL !!!!
Come on you Lions!!!
Heading for school now however will discuss it after. And didn’t know McGinn actually played there in training.
Why change a winning team? I would start the same team as v Derby. McGinn to come on in place of Whelan in the second half. Though if Jack has been kicked to bits perhaps in place of him.
Yes, I can see that reasoning, OLL.
If you’ve played well, you stay in.
And no-one is classed as a favourite.
True competition and all that.
Although we all seem to be missing the point that Elphick is out (6 weeks) and Chester is still not available which means Smith is forced into rearranging the defence – AGAIN!
Imho the defence will be weakened and we’ll be particularly vulnerable down the left hand side. For that reason I think he’ll bring McGinn in (Taylor LB and Hause moving to CB) leaving out either El Ghazi or Adomah. Originally I thought Adomah but now think it will be El Ghazi because Adomah adds defensive strength on the right flank.
It’s a shame Elphick is out for about 6 weeks, he and Mings were beginning to develop a good understanding. Hause is beginning to look the part though and should be okay at CB. If Taylor is playing then Adomah would be more reliable as someone who will track back. I would play Elmo at RB with El Ghazi in front. It’s a tough call to drop any of the midfield trio after a strong performance against Derby. Normally I would play McGinn as one of my first choices but on Sunday I would put him on bench to come on when needed. Carroll as well is another good option to have. Defensively we can’t afford any more injuries with Chester still being rested. I’m cautiously optimistic we can get a win although it will be very tight.
Derby losing at home to Wigan. Did the press mention fat Frank for the Chelsea job?
Derby won 2-1. Now level on points with sixth place so ‘Fat Frank’ hasn’t done so bad.
However I still prefer Dean. In the long run I think he’ll get us where he want to go.
It would seem McGinn at LB isn’t as daft as it sounds;
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/heres-what-aston-villas-john-15927395
Fwiw, I could see him not letting much past him.
And he certainly has the engine to get up and down the wing.
Oh, blimey, he can cross and shoot too.
Hmm, him or Taylor. That’s a tough one, isn’t it?
Any chance we could clone McGinn?
I hear that Rodgers is interested in signing him in the summer. If we don’t go up I’d hate to think we could lose him as well as Jack.
But think what we could do with £70 million 🙂
I read somewhere Hitch that Grealish has a £45 million buy out clause. Probably assumed bull**** but I would like to think the contract he recently signed had that kind of valuation. If there is any truth in Rodgers after McGinn link then I wouldn’t sell him for less than £25 million so your £70 million stacks up. Question is what would we rather have? Grealish and McGinn or £70 million to spend?
It’s a good question Holte but it’s interesting that in the Championship a number of teams that have cashed in on their star performers have produced the next season – Norwich being the latest example.
Emotionally, I want Grealish to stay and on a more pragmatic level McGinn as well but I suspect – whatever Purslow says – FFP will have a say.
Football is a business and if (and I think it’s a big IF) Villa could secure £70m for those two, then it would be hard to resist.
Good news is that Keinan Davis is back in training. We need to get him fit and keep him fit as I think he has a big role to play next season.
It now transpires that Grealish was hiding his shin problem from Dean smith.
Whilst that’s admirable, was that really wise?
And Garry Thompson talks about how the rest of the team need to start performing without Grealish, much the same as I’ve suggested previously;
https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/03/06/garry-thompson-believes-aston-villa-need-to-prove-themselves-wit/
Keinan Davis needs to hurry up and get into first team. At 21 he should be a regular if he is good enough. Doyle Hayes, O’Hare and Murphy are all 20 so need to be making first team football next season. My opinion is if they aren’t getting first team football next season, then they obviously aren’t good enough and for their sake they should be offloaded. None of them are kids anymore and can’t use age as an excuse. Only Dean Smith can decide whether they are in his plans.
I totally agree.
Either use them or get rid, simple.
Only then will we find out if the academy is up to scratch.
And I’ve consistently said I don’t think it is, regardless of if we’re apparently the best because we hit all the KPI’s.
Tbf (although worrying in itself) Davis has been held back by injury not lack of opportunity.
Hitch, Davis wouldn’t have played even if he was fit because we have persevered with one up front for most of the season and Abraham was never going to be dropped. Even Kodja and Hogan have hardly had a look in.
I accept what you say Holte but nonetheless Davis has not been available for the majority of the season due to injury. He was, prior to his injury problems and Abraham being signed, given a good amount of game time so to criticise Villa in his particular case seems a little harsh.
3 teenagers finished the game for Man Ure Badger. I know they had a massive injury situation but if they are good enough then they are old enough.
I’m fed up of saying our young guns are being held back. I watch that game last night thinking how do we end up not playing our up and coming footballers. Grealish wouldn’t be where he is today, someone gave him that chance and its the same old saying, seeing is believing.
the current crop of youngsters that are reaching 21 and only just tasted first team footy have been let down by the club, it has to do with the amount of managers changes we had over the recent years. managers come and go, they needed instant success, not longterm objectives.
smith will look at the all the youth and map out the ones he thinks has villa future this summer. i think the current ones reaching 21 and limited experience, they are the ones that need to impress. smith has a way to play and he knows what he want. the type of player that can cope with his tactics and flourish
what needs to happen with the youngsters is, they need to be given first team experiences long before they are 20 21. this will give them a realization of what is needed to play the mans game, not the none contact stuff in the academies.
like the first team will be moulded by smith the youth team will too. both teams will play the same way, there will be some casualties in both squads that are just not gonna fit in. but the conveyor belt cant be clogged up with 20 21 year olds that have no experience and limited talents.
cant wait for sunday roll on the blues
I support your post Nath, your comment spells out what I’ve been thinking for many months, all this this sending them out to other teams to gain experience is rubbish. At twenty -one if your not able to stand your ground then your not good enough in my mind. Start using the kids they might show the first team how to play.
apart from clark the rest have even failed to hold down a regular starting slot at two levels down. that has to be a disappointment to the player and our club. but goes to show you the standard of youth football. they have the technical skills, i believe its fitness or strength or even desire and drive that they lack
i can not wait for the game on sunday, i have played the game through my head all week after the great game last weekend. i hear brum manager saying they wont target grealish believe me they will, otherwise they will lose.
i just hope the villa players, manager and coaches all pressure the referee and four official to come down hard on the dirty stuff which will be directed to grealish.
all season the refs have been against villa and grealish, he has been kicked to pillar to post, they have been more than lenient they have been in favour of all the opposition all season. i reckon its to keep us in this league to increase the prestige of the championship lmao
trust in smith hes got the team playing and its not his team thats some feat. even before the derby game, their were signs the players have finally got to grips with the tactics, also hitch made a point i agre that smith and the teams seem to be mixing it up, not going long ball dont panic but they are going long on occasions to beat a high press, its good to not commit to always playing it short, good to keep the opposition guess even during the game
I’m with you a Nath – of course they’ll kick Grealish and I’ll bet any money the ref does nowt about it. Monk has already snidely suggested Grealish ‘falls over too easily’.
I hope Smith doesn’t play Jedi at CB as I’m concerned about his mobility – it’s a two edged sword – he can be dominant against long balls but he doesn’t turn quickly so he can be caught out. On the real downside, we’ve seen enough to know that he’s not a natural CB.
For me, I would put Hause in to play the left side CB – he’s big, not going to be bullied but he’s also shown he’s good on the ball and I’d bring McGinn in at LB. I’m now convinced Smith didn’t play him there in training for a ‘laugh’ and by his own admission he started life as a ‘tricky left winger’. Could be a master stroke leaving the midfield / attack unchanged from the Derby game.
i agree he will play hause at cb, but if their is one game where jedi is made for its a derby game against brum. i havent seen loads of them but when i have they are not the most mobile up front but hause will be trusted he is the type of defender smith likes.
i red somewhere mcginn started out as a left back so you could be right one the mcginn at left back,makes a lot of sense. our full backs are more attacking uder smith so they are like wing backs. also can not change the midfield from last game, they all complimented each other.