I’ve been a constant critic of Westwood, I’ll say that from the off.
I think he’s far too negative and quite simply goes for the easy pass, which is generally sidewards or backwards.
While I’d happily agree that you need a calm mind in front of the defence, someone who can calm things down when we’re under pressure, I can’t say I’ve ever seen Westwood as being the answer.
And if he doesn’t do that, what’s the point in him playing?
So, to what was seemingly tried to answer some criticism, he was pushed forward more and even though he scored a couple of goals in some game, he couldn’t keep it up.
He isn’t a goalscorer, simple.
So in my opinion, he does nothing except be decidedly average.
No doubt his stats might be good, passing-wise, but if that’s what we’re looking at, we need to sack the stat bloke.
Passes and touches need to achieve something and to my mind Westwood doesn’t cut it.
Fortunately, we’ve now got a new DOF in, who will no doubt look at this, but it is an interesting question.
I can’t recall how long Westwood has been at the Villa now, but it’s a fair while (3-4 years?).
But the most important point is that as far as I remember, every manager has stuck with him, even though it would seem most fans don’t rate him.
Why do we think that is?
Anyway its all good news at the moment and we have a few days before the next match to get the team singing off the same hymn sheet.
What we need now is 3 points against Forest on Sunday week and I’ll be a truly happy man.
Can’t see us beating Forest will be a very tough game
Fortunately, their best player, who also happened to be a teenager, is gone. Their defense is currently the worst defense in the league. They do have the 2nd best attack so far, fortunately they’ve sold their best attacker and highest goal scorer. No game is easy for Villa, but they’ve made it a fair bit easier.
Now how do you know that Oohah,? It’s 22 players going on a football pitch ,9 of which are new men to the Villa with every thing to play for, have you a Crystal ball? Or might I say its to whine us up. Can i have for once a positive reaction from you in saying LADS go for it. We are the Villa.
Totally agree. I think he’s an average player who takes the easy option which slows play down. Far too many times you want to play fast pace play but it gets broken down by sideways passing. We need to break as a unit usingnthe width getting balls upfront of strikers to run out. Haven’t seen that at Villa for many a year.
RILEY
Only sacked? It seems totally inadequate for the damage he caused. Cromwells’ body was dug up by Charles II, Mussolini was hung upside down by his boots. Perhaps we could re-name one of the urinals?
Riley gone, Shabby about to be shown the door [hopefully…] – that’s good enough news for today!
As to the Westwood debate: whatever his limitations as a PL-level player [& those have been well-highlighted earlier up the thread], I’d say that compared to most of last season’s shower of shite the lad at least tried, and seemed genuinely upset on several occasions when some of his team-mates looked as if they didn’t give a stuff about how badly their own performances and games were going; in fact he was virtually a ‘model pro’.
I’d also say that in Div2 [aka “The Championship”] he’s probably at the right level; he’ll never be a ‘star’ but is reasonably consistent – some will say ‘boring’ and works hard. In fact a sort of 2nd or 3rd rate James Milner? [& I for one still rate the genuine Milner as one of the best we’ve had in a Villa shirt in the last 10 years].
Sure, if the new intake includes better players, then use them; but I’ve never really understood the amount of criticism that Westwood gets for just working hard but being ‘average’