Cast your mind back a mere 12 weeks or so and Nyland is calling on the Gods of Norse Legend to sabotage the goal line technology as he tries to wrestle the ball around the goal post and into the net! Fortunately the gods of fortune smiled on us that day but not for Nyland. Rather than the draw at West Ham, it was probably that moment which saved our Premier League status.
Fast forward to today and its somewhat fitting that our opening fixture for the new season should be against Sheffield United.
Villa come into the game on the back of two successive wins at VP – a bit of a rarity in latter years – whilst United are on a run of four successive defeats although they haven’t lost to Villa in four games.
Chris Wilder is a good manager and, as always, his side will be well organised and difficult to break down. They attack and defend in numbers but, like last season, may well be short of goals.
With new signing Ollie Watkins leading the line, Smith will be hoping to see a sharper attack than in that game 12 weeks ago. There were signs against Burton that Grealish and Watkins are already starting to form a good understanding.
I expect to see Cash handed his full debut along with Martinez even though, by all accounts, Steer played well in the game against Manure and Smith is on record as saying that players have to earn the shirt.
The acquisition of Cash does raise a question mark over Guibert’s immediate future given that Elmo is also on the books.
The rest of the back four really pick themselves – Konsa and Mings in the centre with Targett at left back
I would also start with Hourihane – I know he’s a bit of a ‘marmite’ character and can go ‘missing’ in games but he creates chances, scores goals and, arguably, has the best dead ball delivery of anyone at the club.
McGinn who our head coach described last week as being ‘like a ‘new signing’ given his improved form and fitness over the summer and the brilliant Luis who, this week, earned another international call up will complete the midfield .
Up front looks nailed on to be Trezuguet on the right, Grealish on the left and Watkins through the middle.
Last season we lacked a clinical finisher to convert the chances created. I can see lots of chances being created by us and with Watkins speed and movement in the box and natural goal scoring ability we should score plenty this term.
And that brings me to Traore.
A right winger with Champions League experience with Ajax and Lyon but with a reported tendency for his form to fade after a good first season with a new club. It’s also said that he can play any position across the front three which, if so, gives Smith some real options. If Smith can get the best out of him on a consistent basis then at £17m it’s a good piece of business. Tonight is likely to be too early for him; maybe against Bristol City?
Big hopes for the season ahead; now we need to kick off with a win.
Comments
100 responses to “Sheffield United, a Ghost Goal and the New Traore”
Keinan Davis signs a new contract to 2024. Another good piece of business.
It’s reported in the Liverpool echo that Villa are watching James Milner, the fee would be 8 million, its worth a thought he has the knowledge in midfield but does he have the fitness now.
From what I’d heard over the summer – think it was reported from Klopp – Milner is the fittest player in Liverpool’s squad.
Would have him back in an instant – but not for £8m!
Its been reported that James Milner being watched by Villa, Liverpool echo saying fee to be 8 million, thoughts.
season started with a win and clean sheet. what a goalie we have now 🙂 the penalty was hit firm and in the corner. it was ideal height for a goalie, but martinez still had to have lightening reactions and strong hand. he came out to claim the crosses the few that came in. he distributed the ball very comfortably and accurately. i usually have a heart attack every time the ball is in our box, but i found myself in total relaxation mode.
cash was also pretty decent, crossed a few decent balls,he has good energy up and down the wing adding width, but he was way behind my man of match martinez. watkins also was decent showed good movement and linked up with his support. he was well marked by two or three.still had the odd chance, put one slightly high and wide late on
overall i was contented with the performance,thou i thought we were too slow and deliberate with the passing. we should have up the tempo and stretched blades more than we did. the main thing was a wining start and clean sheet, three points. we can play hell of a lot better and we will play a lot better and lose. it was the first game and all teams are no where near match fit yet. so its a great start to a season, we will be much more competitive this year. so excited but its one step at a time for now. we are going to be behind teams also as most have played a competitive game more. which will be a slight advantage for the first odd games
I didn’t bother checking it out but there seemed to be quite a number of away wins in the first sets of matches. It will be interesting how that pans out across the season with teams not having the fans to gee them up.
I thought we played OK but really Grealish is the only player who can do something out of the ordinary to unlock a defence. TBF Sheff Utd defended really well. I think Traore and any further additions will be aimed at fixing that.
We opened last season with a defeat and only got a point at home to Sheff Utd so it’s a decent result.
DS, I suspect Traore has been bought in to inject some pace, but Trez isn’t slow, yet we’ve rarely seen him use a burst of speed, except when he’s running to get on the end of a chance.
It’s what totally annoys me about our game. It’s overall way too slow and is mostly easy to read. Even the vast majority of crosses are overhit giving defenders more time.
I can undersand retaining possession, but all this sidewards and backwards passing is ridiculous. The amount of times the ball goes back from the halfway line to our own box is riculous.
And it frankly bores me to death.
I seriously struggle to think of the last time I enjoyed watching a Villa game, but it would no doubt be when we were going gung ho early last season.
We need to massively up the pace and play way more direct, at times, at least, imo.
I was quite impressed by Trezeguet’s work rate and fitness on Monday. He didn’t play all that well but I saw a level of commitment I hadn’t seen before.
I agree we need an injection of pace. I think the solidity of Sheff Utd and the sending off affected the game. It will be interesting to see what we look like when teams come at us a bit more
Badger, I couldn’t agree more about the pace (lack of-) and the ‘tippy-tappy’ sideways/back-passing.
Totally frustrating to watch our defenders constantly passing back to the ‘keeper and sideways to each other rather than trying to move the ball forward; the only one who seems to ever want to take the play forwards from defence out of our half is Luiz.
i don’t know who started the ‘modern’ style of treating the ‘keeper as an outfield player and involving him in pretty posession-play for half the game, but I wish it would stop!
No wonder we don’t create as many scoring opportunities as we could: we seem to want to ‘win on points’ by keeping our posession stats looking as good as possible, rather than attacking (and that goes for a lot of other teams in the division as well).
I have to agree with comments about our snail pace front line. Jack shows a burst of speed at times and Watkins looks quick enough.
It’s early days however and playing against 10 men meant we had to probe without much inventiveness. I was surprised we scored with a header when it looked like they were dominating the aerial battles.
I have seen YouTube videos of Traore and he looks quick, so will improve on Trezeguet who works hard but rarely gets past the full back.
I hope McGinn improves quickly because he still looks a shadow of how he was before injury.
A win and a clean sheet is a great start and although we won’t trouble the top 7 or 8 teams, we look a lot more organised than last season. Just a bit more flair would be appreciated and less backwards and sideways.
I don’t think that Watkins (& even Trez) lack pace. Grelish isn’t very quick most of the time, but he has a decent turn of speed in the final 25 yards when he needs it.
My grouse is that our defence & midfield don’t seem to have any sense of urgency about getting the ball up to the wingers/forwards to use that pace!
Maybe it’s how they’re being coached, but personally I’d like to see them being told to go forward, not sideways – and NEVER back to the ‘keeper except as a last resort..
Ardent Villian, that my thoughts as well, I’m not a fan of 1-2 pass, 1-2 pass and not try to beat players.football seems to be lost now in skill being able to dribble. We have only 3 players that take on the opposition. Now they’re using drawing board position to me its not football as I’ve played it. Where’s the skill in trying to beat a player by passing the ball!! They are marked anyway. Bring back Stanley Mathews I say. (sorry getting old.)
Bill, the daft thing for me is that we do have a few of players who’ve shown that they’re more than capable of taking-on and beating people: Grealish (obviously…), McGinn (if he ever gets back to his earlier form), even Targett & Guilbert, and by the look of it, Watkins.
But what I see is that Mings & Konsa (for example) waste a lot of time passing sideways and backwards between themselves and the ‘keeper, rather than getting the ball forward to the ones who can take it upfield and beat defenders.
Against Sheffield the only player who seemed to want to take the ball out of our half and find one of our ‘attackers’ was Luiz.
Still, think I’ve ranted-on about this too much here in the last few days!!
Far too slow on Monday and I have to say Jack is often the cause of that. Although he his a fantastuc player on his day he can ‘take on’ too much at times! Having said that the movement of other players doesn’t help the cause! I think Watkins with his pace will improve us in that respect.
Ross Barkley in next so I hear….how do people feel about that?
I think Rashica will be joining but it will probably a ‘deadline day’ signing
Will be a great signing for us alongside Jack, Barkley, Luiz and Traore…..happy days ahead!
I posted a comment that the Odds on Barkley moving to Villa had shortened. According to Sky we have approached Chelsea over a loan move.
I like Barkley but not as a loan. I’m sick to the back teeth of Villa being a nursery club for the top six. Last season I could understand but now we don’t need a loan player suppressing our own. He would be made first pick in a loan deal to guarantee games.
Time for Villa to grow some balls and believe in themselves.
Seems like I’m not allowed to post on here!
Any idea why as I posted these earlier today.
Charlie, for some reasons posts can take a few minutes to appear. I have that problem with my iPad and phone but not from my desktop.
Will ask Badger.
Your post is on CharlieAitkien ,and I agree that Grealish tends to slow things down, but in all fairness he can and does open defence. I see that Steed in goal and Grealish is not in the squad, Mcginn benched along with Hourhane, whole different team lads. I have it on tv now..
Steer, Guilbert, Elmohamady, Hause, Taylor, Lansbury, Nakamba, Ramsay, Traore, El Ghazi, Davis
Subs: Kalinic, Mings, Targett, Hourihane, McGinn, Trezeguet, Watkins
Davis sets up El Ghazi, 1-0 🙂
Goal Villa elgazi
Traore volleys for 2-0.
Blimey.
Goal triori
The game’s actually available if you want to pay a tenner.
Bit too late for me now, otherwise I’d probably have gone for it before the start;
https://carabaocuppayments.streamamg.com/account/register/step2/a1d2b08b-8155-43e8-8b2d-a8663f1d2515
Traori goal was a beauty, off his wing first Time hit olve the goalkers head
2 Neill villa.
Got to cut my finger nails, typing crap.
I like that Traori, his skills are just what we need, I can see him scoring many goals for us, his twist and turns are catching players out. Taylor have to say is not improved still not marking his man. Davis playing well.
When was the last time we won our 3 opening games?
4, if we do Fulham.
Traore and davis linked up really well, in fact the whole team are mirroring the shape and style of the first 11. so hats off to the backroom staff and manager, Ramsey has been lively nice ball to traore who cushioned a volley into the far corner of the goal sublimely.
davis i must say is getting really good, he needs a full season playing and i think the goals will come. he is too strong and skillful not to add goals to his c/v
Davis is an exceptional forward…..note I never said ‘goal scoring forward’.
He has everything in his locker except for goals this is not so important in the modern game. His strength, speed and trickery can create chaos amongst defenders allowing other players space and goalscoring opportunities.
Where are people watching this?
IPTV
CharlieAitken, Cheers.
I notice you keep going to moderation. Every time you reply via a new router, device or whatever, it needs approving by me.
I don’t know why it’s happening repeatedly in your case, I’m afraid. It happens occasionally.
total sportek badger bookmark it was quite good
I have Nath, Cheers.
OK mate….perhaps it will correct itself eventually