Against Southampton when I saw the starting 11, I was less than optimistic of the central defensive pairing of Lescott and Okore. Lescott had been poor all season for Villa, while Okore hadn’t played football for Aston Villa since May. Surely it was going to be a recipe for disaster…
But I was wrong, way wrong. Yes the opening few minutes I felt as though the Villa defence were woeful and it would’ve been a matter of time before Southampton score. Okore often makes small mistakes here and there, while Lescott’s positioning wasn’t perfect at times. It didn’t help Lescott that Bacuna wasn’t playing in his natural positions, and his clearances are sometimes less than ideal. In fact, three of the back four where not first team players yet only conceded one goal that game. Which I did not believe was the fault of the defence but rather Sanchez’s failure to track Romeu in the box.
Lescott’s fine performance shows that there is still some talent in our defence. It was good to see Lescott get a goal, since it must’ve meant a lot to score for his boyhood club. On current form, only Hutton and Richards have deserved to continue their spot in central defence. Richardson and Clark have been poor as of late, and could see their starting 11 spots threatened by Okore, Lescott and Bacuna.
The return pairing of Richards and Lescott is perhaps not what most Villa fans want to see. The pair was horrible under Sherwood, but that might be different with a new manager, new tactics and a new philosophy. It seems as though the defence is at times, better organised than in the past. A good defence is mighty important, especially for a team like Aston Villa, as the saying goes ‘if you don’t concede you don’t lose’. Picking up points is important, and if one side of the starting 11 is entirely solid, than this Aston Villa will be guaranteed to pick up at least 1 point every time.
Comments
43 responses to “Lescott and Okore the Surprise Pairing of the Lot”
I suppose it can’t get worse giving this pairing a run…
It all feels like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic…
LOL 😀 bang on
There is always a ‘boss’ of the back line, somebody who calls step-ups, line position, who-marks-who, and sorts out the players from midfield and attack who drop back for corners and free kicks giving them someone to mark. That player is usually the skipper if he is a defender. However if the skipper is off the field somebody else in the back line HAS to take over the role.
I think I can explain what you saw, because Richards is obviously the boss when he is playing, but I do not think he is very good at it. So in his absence at Soton it is possible the temporary boss did a better job than Richards.
Clark has been a massive disappointment, not progressing this year the way he did last season. IMO Richards is a full back not a centre half, and Villa lack any Melberg like player now.
Originallondonlion, spot on ,you do need someone that reads the game and see the dangers, its not all about seniors its about knowing the game.Clark never will, Richards concentrates on his game , I’d like to see that pairing again I just don’t trust Clark,
In truth none of our back four players inspire confidence. The goalkeeper isn’t good enough and is a real liability with the ball at his feet. That can’t help. The best defences are generally the ones that are settled, but our first choices when played together have looked shaky. They haven’t had enough protection in front of them either. Put that all together and it’s a recipe for disaster.
And that’s without looking at our creative and attacking problems. Garde is getting time with the squad now, so hopefully he will sort this out. It’s a massive task though, and I’m really not expecting the January window to provide the answers.
Problem is if we are only a few points adrift in Jan it’s worth spending but if say we are ten points adrift then it’s pointless literally
Now Okore is fit, I’d like to se Richards at RB (his natural and best position), Okore and Lescot as the 2 CB’s and Ashley Cole as left back if we can get him till Amavi comes back.
Doesn’t really matter who’s in defence lol all look like Laurel n Hardy
Jay Dee, your talking about my idol’s, please don’t insult them.
Garde: “That’s another fine mess you’ve gotten us into”…
Hey I mean Laurel and Hardy. J Dee.
Some of these transfer rumours are ridiculous! Ashley Cole, Vidic and now James Rodriguez! Why would any of them want to come and get relegated with Villa?!!?
Easy money
Are we talking Madrid’s world class AM, James Rodriguez? Are we really linked to him because if we are, then the media’s gone totally bazerk.
We won’t get Vidic at all, no real reason to bring him in with Okore back, awful CB now, has been garbage at Inter.
Be surprised if we get Cole.
Don’t know who’s taking which ‘medicine’ – but Rodriguez is apparently being lined-up by Chelsea!
Bencey83, some fans like to dream.
Anyone watching Jordan graham play why the fcku did we sell him
This one is interesting;
http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topics/aston-villa-player-has-vanished
Have we actually called for Cissokho to come back?
Decent defender for me and surely training with us would help?
Just watching Bournemouth game, how much faster do the move the ball than we do?!! I dont know how they are only just above us. United, on the other hand, look awful.
How Utd are fourth is a joke take de gea out that side and they’d be mid table at best. Who’d of thought Bournemouth would beat Chelsea and Utd. Bad news for us even a draw is no good tomorrow. We need to just try to win or lose but hopefully get enough wins. No chance tomorrow we will need at least 3 goals just to get a draw
The new positive OohAh amongst the detritus of our once great club. I take my hat off to you sir! 🙂
Lol
The Cherries are down the table because they have 2 crap goalkeepers to our 1, but even Boric’s second fatal fumble tonight was not costly against a toothless Manure. The score could have been 4-1 if Murray had shown some composure.
Bournemouth defeating Chelsea and United should prove that the guaranteed hammerings need not happen this season because those two big teams have never looked as bad.
Arsenal come straight from a great victory in Europe, and they put 12 past us last year without reply. With a full squad I would back them to get 6 tomorrow, but with the injuries they have if we can score first they might start creaking, we have to target their stand-ins.
Even in the unlikely event we went 2.0 up you can bet your bottom dollar we still wouldn’t win!
So now 10 points away from safety – it’s goodnight Vienna. We are well and truly fu***d. don’t know about buying players in January – reckon good ‘ol Randy will be selling off all the top earners and planning for life in League 1.
I think so to he will only spend if we have a realistic chance of staying up or he will just take the hit. We deserve to go down now we are a nothing team that could be in the wilderness for many years to come like leeds
Agreed 100%
It smacks as if the whole of the premiership want Aston Villa to drop, might be all players revolts to paying low wages and what our club was up to. I cannot believe we have a chance to stay up now, Lerner and his henchman have ruined our club. Yes your right he will not give money now he’d rarther get what he can, no owner sits in another world and says I’m for Villa.
True I do t think Lerner is bothered either way all he cares about is to money he will lose not that we’ve gone down. Totally ruined this club and I honestly do not see a way bk once we go down
At least season ticket prices will drop, we need to say f##k it and go for it in all our games, full guns blazing, traore, grealish, Gil, ayew Sinclair all floating around, were screwed anyway!!!
Agree. So glad I don’t invest in ST anymore complete waste of money
what makes it laughable is they wont reduce the prices.
last year they kept the same prices and claimed if we went down there would be an extra 4 home games making it more value
Let them get on with it anyone that renews under Lerner needs certifying IMO but people just don’t get it
We’re gonna stay up coz we’re the mighty Aston Villa FC. 3-2 win tomorrow!! Fuck knows who’ll score but that’ll be what’s gonna go on.
Remember we are the mighty Aston Villa.
UTV
Whatever you’re on CB I want some 🙂
Langford Juice & tonic?
when was last time villa went out and delivered a decent performance on telly, take out semi final, where are our scrappers from back to front, would you want any villa player out on night out when you get in a bit bother ,bottlers every last one of them
They are as bad as Regie and Bolli useless.
does anyone know why we are to use the banned wembley flag.
i know its arsenal but were not even in the position to slate yeovil let alone the gunners.
Probably because it cost £3k and just needs using?
No gunners preview LADS?don’t blame you really what’s the point.
Just done it mate.