It’s a very quick one, but given the two very tough games we have coming up next, where we frankly have very little or even nothing to lose, this idea has been running around my mind for a couple of weeks.
We’ve faced Norwich and Brighton, who both played expansive, attacking games, which suits us.
And done very well.
But while I think we can go toe to toe with most teams if they want to go all out, the two next opponents are a class apart.
My worry about these two fixtures is not scoring goals.
It’s more about conceding them and we know Citeh especially, score for fun.
It just makes sense to me, as we all know Targett is way better going forward than defending.
I haven’t quite worked Guilbert out yet, but he seems equally good at both, although I suspect he too, is better going forward.
So why not try them as wingbacks?
The only problem is I don’t know who plays where at the back.
Probably Mings Left CB, Engels Right CB and Konsa in the middle?
Or Hause, Mings and Engels, maybe?
Or is that a pie in the sky idea?
All I know is, I was speaking to a Pool fan today and he thought Man Utd set up very well against them with three at the back and the wingbacks worried them.
I don’t particularly expect Dean Smith to actually do it, as he probably wants to stick to his system and make the players more used to it.
But it strikes me we have the full backs to do it, so why not?
Like I said, we don’t have much to lose.
Blow me out of the water with some good arguments chaps 🙂
I think against both teams we need to use plenty of energy and press hard – so we need to field a side with plenty of guts and stamina – because giving either of these sides space and time is asking for trouble. The Spurs game alone should serve as a reminder of the danger of letting the opposition have it their way. Both teams are fallible when pressured so, to me, that’s what’s required.
Of course, if either team set up as a 10-man team we won’t have a prayer 🙂
Has my endless rhetoric about 3 at the back persuaded you, Badger? 😉
I don’t know about us going to a three all the time, BFR, but I’m just thinking about a more defensive setup. Which I think a 3 is, as it inevitably becomes a 5.
But if an attack is coming down our left, you can still have 4 there with the opposite wingback much further up the field and vice-versa, where you can ping a diagonal ball.
I just think we have the players to do it, that’s all.
In a bid to preserve our decent goal deference, I’d be more inclined to go 5 at the back and cross every possible body part for the next two games.
Realistically Targett, Mings, Engels and Guilbert will be best fit as usual. Marvellous will be preferred over luis again as he seems far more combative between the box’s and offers energy. I’d also think it’s wise to bring Grealish a little deeper as he does offer decent protection at times. Wesley is going to find the 180 mins of football the longest he has ever played. Can’t imagine him latching onto much. If experimenting at all then Davis coming in and resting Wesley would be more tempting for more me. This may all be to negative for some of you but if we come out of these two games with a goal difference of -2 , then I think we should be pleased. Anything else would be a bonus. This is purely damage limitation now.
First, we have to believe we can get something out of these games and approach them positively (not recklessly) otherwise we will be thrashed. Citeh have shown they are not unbeatable and we do have the benefit of home advantage against Liverpool who are now on a bad run 🙂
I believe Smith and his staff are pretty savvy and will change things but to completely change our playing style by going 3 at the back might be seen as too risky – particularly in a team / squad just starting to learn to play together.
We may well go with Luis and Nakamba sitting deep in front of the back four with McGinn and Grealish providing the link play but also being able to drop back behind the ball.
We may play Wesley as a lone striker but I would like to see him and Davis playing together (please don’t laugh!) – so I wouldn’t play either El Ghazi or Trezeguet as I don’t think they offer enough covering back.
But then what do I know?
For that game agreed Hitch, we do need to make them aware of our attacking prowess they will be concentrated on Grealish and Mcginn and that will well be aware of the danger from them two. BFR, I know we have to change games around but to leave our defences open might give us a problem with the big boys.I do like to see open play but not with the likes of city and Utd. Teams like Arsenal, Liverpool the bubble has burst, I wouldn’t fear them teams. Utv.
I disagree with a negative approach. Smith said previously that he wouldn’t change things and would go toe to toe. A depleted Norwich team and Wolves showed that Citeh aren’t unbeatable and we do have home advantage against Liverpool. I agree that it might pay to switch a few players for these 2 games but I wouldn’t change anything else. The only way to improve is to compete against the best, playing with our best system which is 4-3-3. Possible players I would swap would be El Ghazi, Hourihane and Wesley for Trezeguet, Luiz and Davis. I think Lansbury or Elmo could be involved too if necessary. Undoubtedly we will be camped in our own half with little possession for long periods. The wide players will have to be disciplined defensively but able to counterattack with gusto. Wesley must be stronger than he has been in his hold up play to give us any hope of scoring on the break.
After getting 6 points from last 2 games I think the pressure is off us and the next 2 games are free hits. Let’s be brave and see how we do.
Holte – with due respect aren’t you suggesting a 4-4-2 line up which, I suppose, is the direction I was headed.
It seems the only difference is whether you play Trezeguet with Wesley or with Davis whereas I would really like to see Davis and Wesley playing together.
I accept this makes us a bit narrow but we have full backs capable of overlapping and in McGinn and Grealish, players that can switch from central to wide positions.
In no way (imho) is this a defensive approach, albeit with Nakamba and Luis it offers more protection to the back 4 but then, as I said before, what do I know
🙂
Not sure when the Man City game is but travelling back from Africa Sunday so may miss it.
I’d go 3,5,2:
Heaton
Hause, Mings, Engels
Targett, McGinn, Nakamba, Luiz, Guilbert
Grealish, Wesely or Keinan
I believe that offers enough steel and creativity to give the top 2 a game and a Halloween scare. It might even put ‘a rocket’ up the Scousers. See what I did there? Oh dear, time for bed…
All out attack. I fancy our defence more countering City break-aways than I’d fancy them camped in our area trying to block constant pressure.
looking forwards to city game it will be another great test.how should we line up or try to match up to them ?? i am sure Smith will have his ideas. but even if villa players all have a blinder of a game. we are still most likely to lose. they have wonderful players if they do have a weakness it has to be in defense.
how will smith get at cities defence, that is the million pound question and the answer will determine the result of the game.
i think city are best when they counter and so are villa. if we take the game to city and i am not so sure thats the best option . we cant afford to be sloppy with the ball. every time we do give the ball away will be attempt for them at our goal.
i personally would make sure the defence is solid and no space behind ,also in front of our back line, try to win the ball back by pressing in the right areas. you cant press high against them as this leaves gaps at the back. i know its negative but if you can keep them out, they will leave spaces and you can counter them, trézéguet grealish and wesley front 3 . mcginn luiz nakamba sitting in front of the usual back line. mcginn can be more up and down but his energy will also aid the running defensively we’ll need
Well reasoned Nath, and it might be what we attempt, but doomed to failure IMO. Villa don’t have the defensive ability to park the bus with 8 players in the area. They will give away free kicks, or suffer unlucky rebounds if they try. Also we don’t have the speed on the counter of Adama. We do have the ability at the back to win a sprint for 40 yards and to tackle cleanly.
One more reason is ball possession. One way of getting the ball off City is to force them to do something with it, like having a shot. If they are counter-attacking it makes them turn over the ball. If instead they are applying a high press to a team camped in their own area, they will retain possession and run down the clock.
i do believe we can cause them problems on the break, speed is only one skill which you need to counter good, being able to dribble past a few players and having quick feet also counts so grealish and trézéguet as supports to wesley would work.
i am not endorsing sitting in and around the box, whilst also saying you cant press high deep into city half. you allow them the ball in their half and you start your press as they enter yours half.
city will leaves spaces to counter and thats the only glimmer i can see us getting any joy, if we try to play as we normally play. city will win and win easy. even if we have a great game. we make too many misplaced passes to go toe to toe.we also leave too much space at the back and in front of the defence.
but hey Smith is the man who really counts and i think he will go for city. he has waited years for this very chance to take on the best. i think he will try to make it a high tempo game and he will try to press them high and win the ball back as high as possible.
I agree with you nath, bringing in Luiz for Hourihane and Trezeguet for El Ghazi but keeping a 4-3-3. If every player has an 8 out of 10 performance then you never know if Citeh have an off day. Keeping concentration without the ball for long periods will be a test but a great learning curve for our players.
That’s my worry.
We press too high and leave massive holes quite simply everywhere.
We saw it against Norwich and Brighton.
And it’s this weakness that might cost us a boatload of goals in these games, if we’re not careful.
Pool’s and Citeh’s strikers are a class apart, hence the question.
I’m all for going toe to toe against anyone; it’s always an admirable thing and we can always say at least we had a go.
All that said, I just put it out there for discussion and it’s great how opinions vary.
You’ll have to wiat until Friday to see what I ultimately think 🙂
After getting 6 points from Norwich and Brighton, I’m looking forward to Saturdays game to see how we compete against the best team in the premier league. I can understand the argument about playing 3 CB’s to strengthen our defence but IMO it will become a back five when Citeh dominate possession and territory. It’s a fair comment that we concede a lot of chances because of our attacking approach. Realistically we won’t be getting any points from our next two games. If we progress in the cup against Wolves whilst giving a good account of ourselves in the league games, I would take that. Anything more would be a bonus.
I would not leave Hourihane out, and I might try to find a place for Luis as well, I suspect we won’t get any joy out of right wing attacks. So, the left winger or over-lapper will be well marked and will need the option of a ball pulled back to someone who can scored from 18 yards+.
anybody catch the friday game saints and foxes ?? i missed it, just seen the score now. no gloating from me. foxes are decent and any side in this league can embarrass you,if and when you are not fully committed to the task. city are full of world class players and that is the task we face today. i am really excited to watch us tested by the best. i am quietly confident we can give them a game and not end up like saints.
i respect all views, but if we go pressing city high like how smith wants to play mostly. i can see us getting a footballing lesson. i hope we play the game today and adapt to the situation in hand. making the game as hard as we can for city and playing on the counter has to be the game plan.
we need to first commit to packing the midfield in front of the defence, these players need to be mobile and good defenders and readers of the game. that is why i suggested luiz and nakamba, i would also ask mcginn to also sit deeper as he has a great engine and is a warrior he is able to carry the ball out linking up with he front three, these defensive midfielders will cover vast amounts of ground today.
if we can survive first 20 and grow into the game, we can come out of our shell more. this will frustrate city and more they will commit players forwards the more we get a chance to counter.
no score prediction from me, it basically could be anything
Luiz and Trezeguet in for Hourihane and El Ghazi. Definitely a more defensive approach with 2 holding midfielders. To get anything from this game we need Wesley to have a blinder. Against Everton, Arsenal and Norwich he showed his potential so more of that today please.
just seen the team and its the exactly the same team i would have picked and the best smith has available to him for this tough game.
these games are basically split into quarters, try complete each segments with one segment at a time.
we have got better with each challenge and today’s challenge will give us a clear indication of how good this team is and can get
0-0 would be a tremendous resutl! Here’s hoping!
good first half showing. they made it hard for city most of half. apart from the silva effort we coped well and their fans getting frustrated too. we just needed h/t when it came as we started to lose our shape more,
second half to continue as we were and last quarter we will get them chances hopefully take one or two. because city will get more desperate
also forgot to mention. a handball from city in there box. i was under the impression any handball inside box was penalty. the city guy side on the floor and his hand clearly touched the ball for a split half a hour surely thats handball
sterling realised he wasnt gonna out run grealish and mckamba and fell down and got grealish booked. plus these commentary are city supporters not biased lol hardly
Until the half-wits who run football get someone intelligent to organise VAR these injustices will continue. Just watched England Rugby and the use of VAR there was miles better apart from one human error, which nothing can eradicate completely.
C’mon the Villa
Hope your watching Wesley contribution lads,