For the first time, Paul Lambert opted to go for a partnership of Benteke and Kozak. This is the first time the two giants played together and Lambert almost got his tactics right from the start. Playing a 4-3-1-2 formation, Lambert gave Tonev the opportunity to create opportunities for both Kozak and Benteke. It worked to an extent, Benteke had a chance or two in the first half but it simply wasn’t enough. Once Lowton came on, it gave Lambert the opportunity to switch to a 4-4-2 with Bacuna pushing forward. This I believe is the start of a revelation for Lambert. For the first time we played with two wingers and two forwards. Finally, fans got the chance to see the real Kozak. With crosses coming in from the left and the right, the two strikers were finally given a chance to attack the ball in the air and cause a bit of chaos in the opposition box.
Fans have been crying for Lambert to play with two wingers and two strikers. We knew that two big strikers were only really going to be effective with good support from the wings. It’s been long over-due but I hope after the victory over Cardiff Lambert will stick with the 4-4-2 for games to come, especially at home where fans want their team to dominate and push forward against their opponents.
We’ve always known that Benteke is good in the air and are now seeing that Kozak is also decent. If Lambert continues to play these two together they will cause problems for the opposition’s defence. Not many defenders are as tall as either of the strikers or as strong. Villa can also now create a threat from set pieces. It also makes Benteke and Kozak our two best scoring forwards.
Granted they haven’t gelled together, as of yet and that was pretty clear against Cardiff as both strikers tended to go for the same long ball. But they have potential and they will learn to play better together. Kozak offers something different to Weimann and Agbonlahor and on current form, it just wouldn’t make sense to change the current partnership.
What are you talking about? It didnt work at all for the first 70 minutes. We were dreadful!!
I agree about playing more of a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1, but Weimann and Benteke should be our front pairing. Gabby and Kozak as replacements. Bacuna playing as RM and Tonev (or even Nzogbia if he ever returns) as LM.
What top level team plays with 2 big front men? Benteke and Weimann/Agbonlahor gives us a nice balance of power and pace. I really hope he doesnt start playing Benteke/Kozak.
Benteke and Kozac would be a deadly combo with proper wing play. No doubt about it. Without wing play it’s a useless pairing.
Benno and MDN8,
You sum up both sides of the argument perfectly for me.
A traditional 4-4-2 can indeed work well, with the right personel, but how many top teams play the system?
And I always keep coming back to how many top managers/analysts say it’s finished as a serious system in the modern game because it’s limited.
The way I see it though, is to play other systems requires a much better level of player.
Eg, stunning defenders who can run like whippets for a full 95 mins and consistently go past players and whip great crosses in.
or mids who can run like a train for the same 95 mins, tackle back brilliantly and play defence-splitting balls, while they’re at it.
We don’t have anyone anywhere near approching that.
All I know is, I like to see the ball being switched from wing to wing (or a nice though ball), with a winger going round a fullback and whipping a threatening ball in that any attacker can go for.
There’s nowt better for me and I guess that’s why the vast majority of fans at the game suddenly stand up when it looks like it’s going to happen.
But wtf do I know?
I’m just far too old fashioned to think any different and couldn’t give a toss about which system brings the above scenario about.
That’s the thing though mate, as JD says below as well. This cock and bull theory about 442 not working in the modern game is bizarre. Of course it works. As you say yourself and I agree you just need the right players.
We have them, Bacuna can run all day as I’m sure Tonev can as well and they were both (much more frequently Tonev) used as wingers at their previous clubs.
I was harping on for weeks about the Lowton/Bacuna pairing and it looked fecking brilliant, even with the slower of pace of Lowton.
I also think Luna/Tonev can just as potent on the left…given time. Which leads me to the issue, our new lads aren’t getting enough bloody time on the field.
Helenius/Benteke all day long for our front two. Helenius has technique, vision, positioning and a right good footballing brain. There is something not right there.
With some natural first choice players missing it was worth trying a different formation. It did not work at first, but KEA off for Lowton and Bacuna moving up was they change that made it click eventually.
I was confident of victory as soon as I saw Delph was absent. Come on Stattos, UTVilla for example. How many home league matches have villa won with Delph in the starting line up? I think the answer is ONE, and two away games, but I would like to see a definite answer.
Just to add a bit of fuel to the fire, we also won without Gabby on the left wing, is that despite or because of – do you think? Was it last year or this – Gabby said in an interview the gaffer had asked him to play more centrally? But when Benteke plays Gabby is shunted to left wing. I would rather see him at left back, or as a 2nd half sub to run against tiring defenders.
You are aware that majority of pundits and the stats show that Delph has been our best player this season. Just saying.
That’s the sad part though isn’t it? A decent hardworking player who doesn’t mind getting suspended has been our best player. But then the style again suits him more than anyone else as it is about running and hardwork, not technical ability, which he severely lacks.
A 4-4-2 can work in the modern game if the defence holds strong……Two big boys up top with a good supply line could be lethal for corners,set plays and good crosses.I would love it to work Man City play 4-4-2 and Newcastle so it’s not outdated if played correctly with a strong back four can be lethal…….UTV…let’s say we beat the baggies who know definately who we are then we will sit about 9th before Xmas which in my book is a definate improvement UTV
I know a lot of people have been critical of Weimann this year, and to be fair he may be suffering a bit from second season syndrome. However, for me, he would still be one of the first names of the teamsheet, esp if Benteke is playing. Some of the best forward play we have seen for a long time came between those two last year (Liverpool away, United at home, etc). Their link up play in 4-3-3 isnt the same as when they played as a front 2. We need to give them a season playing up front together.
We also have 2 fullbacks who like to push forward and overlap…so this suits a 4-4-2 with players like Bacuna who can cover for them if needed.
Tonev is so bad its unbelievable as for his shooting I can do better ,fuck me if the goal was fifty foot wide he would still miss.
A 23 year old player, 6 months in the country, made 7 appearances and the verdicts in, he’s shit. Well thanks for sharing that, any more pearls of wisdom?
Sometimes I f**king despair at some of our lot.
You could do better? I’m betting you’d be dead tired after 10 minutes and not able to make it to the keeper, but somehow he’s playing Internationally and making 20-30k a week and you’re sitting on here… Not.
what we really need right now is a good controlling win, starting at the baggies, it would also be a really good step forward if come new year if we could be on the 25/28 point mark, that would show an improvement in terms of getting points on the board, it took us till Feb, last year to get to that mark.
baccuna pushing up with lowton at trad RB works well I think as the reson lowton has been poor this season is hes constantly found out of position when pushing up with no midfield in front of him, this then puts the CB’s under pressure and they get pulled out of position and when that happens conceding a goal is always on the cards. luna seems to manage it slightly better but it really is a tough job for the RB and LB to play that system.
I think its often a question of what or who we are playing and being versatile but the 4-4-2 can only work with decent ball coming in from the wings.
gabby can play wide but as a winger I dunno, its quite clear wiemann is not working out so well when we play him wide and tonev, well I do think he will come good, he needs to stop trying to score 35 yard screamers though especially when all but one of those has ended up un the upper tier of the stands
I don’t see what the panic is now, we have more points now than this time at the new year stage of last year, surely we can just see what Lambert has on his mind for the next few games, we all have views on what he should do and didn’t do but now let’s see. I’ve always believed in wing play it to me draws defenders away from positions for other attacking players, he don’t do that and its annoying to me, still what do I know I only give them money.
He hasnt been here long but he is not good enough, but in my opinion that fits in with what lambert is doing every summer buy a load of cheap young players no one else wants and pray 1 turns out well so we can sell them on at a large profit and then let the ones that are no good like Tonev go on a free the following year which will result in only a small loss. We are now just a vehicle to make money for our owner most are happy to just pay there entrance money on a Saturday for something to do the fact they are actually being conned into thinking they are supporting a team that wants success and has any ambition at all should matter to people but dosent.
Ok please explain why Kozac is not good enough?
You’ll be surprised that most people that claim he’s shit have no actual real reason.
K = Krap
O = One paced striker who is slow
Z = exZatly what we don’t need
A = And should of signed an
K = attacKing midfielder instead
We clearly needed another striker though… It’s obvious…
What a crap attempt at trying to be both funny and clever.
who have we sold at great profit that hasn’t had his head turned after playing for his country and asked to leave
Not sure about a Benteke/Kozak pairing but at least it is being tried. It’s easy as a fan to slag off players, particularly if a few people jump on the bandwagon. Delphi and Vlaar should show us all the futility of making snap judgements. Some players take longer to adjust, or need to play in a particular system to shine. Generally speaking, Lambert signings look OK to me. It does seem that he has heeded lessons, and is looking to ensure we don’t get hammered like at times last year. Hopefully the football will improve across the season, and at least we should be more comfortable come the end of it.
It’s not much but steady improvement is more likely to be sustainable. I guess we need to be patient. UTV
Words of wisdom my mate patience and time Kozak and Benteke can work up top but would need to play one on each side with neither interfering with another….UTV
Six months in the country so what, it shouldn’t matter where you play someone on Tonevs money should be able to kick a fuckin football at a goal and pass a ball ten yards ffs.
Spot on mate
F**ckoff Oohah you just need a new whipping boy now Vlaars come good.
True
I cant believe people are overlooking Weimann already. Yes, he hasnt had the best start to the season, but he is pacy, strong and has an eye for gaoal. He has also been our biggest threat this season. If he finds his form from last season, he will be one of the first names of the team sheet.
Robinson scored for England u19 tonight, really think he deserves his chance.
I wonder why he never played in the u 21? Their was a few that was crap even though they won 3 -0, Sterling and zaha should be dropped on the fact that they don’t pass the ball, even the commentators said they are show boating because Hodgson was at the game. Adam how did you see that game u19s with Robinson in?. Two or three midland players in but none from us even when they win the league.