So it’s well done Stevie G, in getting that very much needed win. You only had to look at how the manager celebrated the first goal to see that he wanted it just as much as us fans.
And rightly so, as it means we don’t immediately have a downer about us and can now concentrate on getting behind the team.
First the good.
Gerrard’s substitutions worked well, mostly. Bailey coming on for Ings introduced a bit of flair as well as just a bit more involvement and energy.
I wondered what the manager was thinking when he introduced Ashley Young in place of Buendia, but it proved to be a pretty inspired choice, as the old fella played a major part in starting the play for that Ollie Watkins goal.
And what a cracker it was, with him driving at the Brighton defence and then unleashing one with his right foot that left the goalie no chance.
El Ghazi came on for Ramsey and again that seemed to inject a bit more urgency with the Egyptian getting involved in the box almost straight away.
I think it’s safe to say that the substitutions changed the game. How much of a change does that make from what we’ve seen in this season up to now?
And what about the second goal that was scored by Tyrone Mings, who I’m happy to say had a very good game, I thought?
Talk about a striker’s finish, he hit it with so much panache I was actually laughing. It was truly a thing of beauty from a central defender.
The interesting thing here is I find myself asking what Dean Smith would have done different?
And I think the answer is “not a lot”.
And from that I deduce that the “new manager bounce” was very much in play today.
It also backs up my thoughts that things had just become seriously stale under Smith and further confirms my thoughts that he had to go.
It’s not about what was, though and it’s all about what’s now, but I do think it worthy of mention, because I wonder how much of our recent form was down to pure lack of belief?
Certainly the effort was massively improved today and even if a lot of things didn’t work the team can’t be knocked in that area.
And yes, I’m as euphoric as all of you at that much needed three points, that at least eases the pressure in the immediate term.
But we have to be realistic about the whole performance and I think we have major problems.
Let’s go through the starting team, one by one;
Martinez; Can’t be faulted and did excellent work in rushing out to save what was a clear shot.
Cash; I thought he had a very good game against a wily Cucurella. He got forward on occasions and contributed with some good crosses.
Targett; He had a pretty torrid time, but that’s no big surprise as Lamptey has a lot about him and is good enough to give any left back problems. I often think he gets hung out to dry because of a lack of cover, but I’d agree he’s not in top form. Misses a more potent left sided attacker to combine with, imo.
Konsa; What can you say? If a defender’s performance is defined by how much you notice him, he was just fine. As per usual. I think he’s a great defender, enough said.
Mings; Heh, I love to slate him. But I’m also happy to say he did well, if he did. He was great in his defensive heading, only made one or two howlers in his distribution, which didn’t cost us and scored a cracker. A superb performance.
McGinn; Wow. I thought he was superb and my man of the match. Supreme workrate, his usual stick your butt out to beat the other player and loads of great balls into the box. He was everything I expect from him today and looked a £50 million+ player again.
Nakamba; He’s a strange one, as I know he’s Marmite amongst the fans. I like him. He made one excellent tackle and then got booked for trying to make another one straight after. Okay, it was a foul but he was overstretched, that’s all. How he can be criticised for trying his best, I don’t understand. I thought he did okay today.
Ramsey; I’m sorry, I know I really ought to, because it’s almost compulsory to praise everything our kids do, but I just don’t see it with him. He is nowhere near being the sort of midfielder we need just yet. Give him minutes, by all means, as I can see little bits about him.
We need to look for better in the short term. Unfortunately I don’t think we have much better available.
Buendia; Quite simply, he’s hopeless isn’t he? Nothing works for him and I don’t know if it’s a lack of confidence or he just isn’t up to it. I suspect it’s the former and I think Gerrard thinks the same. There was an injury at one stage and the manager seemed to be telling McGinn to get Buendia more involved and to link up more. The Argentinian seemed to be playing in pretty much a free role and had plenty of the ball, so there was no excuse. He seemed to throw a bit of a tantrum when he sat in his seat, which was encouraging, as at least it shows he cares. I think Gerrard will give him games to see if he can start producing the goods: with a view to outing him if he doesn’t.
Ings; Here’s another one that I think might rub some fan’s backs up. I get it. He’s a brilliant goalscorer who has it all about him.
Yet let’s be honest here. He’s looked absolute garbage since he arrived. He was frankly invisible again and it just isn’t working. It’s quite shocking to think that the only plus about him is that he’s better backup than Davis.
Watkins; Okay, he got the much needed first goal. But he was another one who was frankly rubbish for the 80 odd minutes beforehand. He has the touch of a rapist and is so out of form, he’d be dropped if we had a realistic alternative. Hopefully that goal, which was a cracker, will help him mentally.
I predicted a draw and it seemed favourite, as Brighton are very organised, but have no real threat.
If you take the Claret and blue glasses off, you’ll realise that we offered very little either. I think we made their goalie make one decent save, but I think that was late on after we’d scored and had a massive burst of energy/desire.
I’m no tactician, but I think there was one thing I noticed about the game.
I might be wrong and I’d need to watch again to confirm it, but it seemed to me that we don’t get enough players backing up behind the strikers, which makes it all to easy for the opposition’s defenders.
We often go long to bypass the midfield and I think it’s that that causes a massive gap. The strikers get overwhelmed by too many defenders around them and that’s what makes them look so poor.
It all changed when we scored and Brighton sat back, allowing us to have at them, which was definitely noticable.
Whatever, I keep coming back to the fact that our midfield just isn’t good enough.
I would expect Gerrard will have seen this and will hopefully have somone in mind to help us out.
Bissouma looks just the sort of player we need, in my opinion and I’d bet we could persuade him to come too.
Comments
141 responses to “Villa 2 -0 Brighton; That’s a massive, very welcome win. But I have concerns.”
Stevie G, McAllister and Beale at BMH last night to watch the U23’s beat Burnley 4-1 with all our most promising youngsters playing.
And the front 4 of Chuckwemeka brothers, Archer and Philogene-bidace must have impressed. Apart from Caleb, who is still settling in (but looks pretty decent already) the other 3 are too good for that level of football. The only option to improve them is to give them minutes now in the first team. I hope Gerrard does that like Smith did with Ramsey as hes getting lots of plaudits now. we could have some top top young players in a couple of years. Without the need to break the bank either and in the meantime focus on a proper DM enforcer and a fast left back and get rid of some not good enough like AEG and we’re cooking on gas!
Adam, maybe they are too good for the U23’s, but when I saw (say-) Archer in the first team games that DS put him into, for all the skill he did look incredibly ‘lightweight’ (literally).
A bit like Grealish before he went out on loan to play in the lower leagues and get used to getting hammered!
I think it’s also partly related to Big Fat Ron’s comments about ‘soft’ players (above) – many of these young players have been in a top academy like Villa’s since they were primary-school age; I suspect that’s a bit of a sheltered existance for these kids. I don’t think they’re ‘street-wise’ in footballing terms.
I gather that Jedinak is one of those in charge of loan deals for these youngsters – surely we should be sending them down the leagues to get them playing time & experience of coming-up against seasoned pro’s?
Pretty sure Archer was at Solihull Moors all last season and played regularly.
Louie Barry is currently out at Ipswich and getting virtually no game time – what’s the point of that?
Does anyone know why Barry isn’t getting games at Ipswich?
I would have thought that unless he’s injured, Villa should be sending him somewhere where he can actually play (assuming that he’s more than the 5-minute wonder who scored against L’pool).
As for Archer, I didn’t know how many games he played, but still think he needs to get beefed-up!!
I don’t but I’ll ask my Ipswich supporting mate whether he does.
Quite simply, Barry isn’t rated by the manager.
He was given at least one game and was apparently not very good. I think he might have got hooked, but not sure.
Regardless, there have been lots of shouts for us to recall him in January.
Don’t bring him back here though, send him straight back out, imo.
Foden and Sterling are very lightweight at Citeh but in today’s game it’s alright because they know they can’t be tackled. Archer is quick and mobile and definitely has an eye for goal. Big CD’s would rather come up against a Wesley type than someone like Archer.
That makes sense Holte.
I’m pretty slight and when I played, opponents would clatter me (mostly fairly) but they’d take me out and I’ve no doubt many tackles would have looked like fouls, purely because a large object hitting a smaller object will do that.
It’s why I had a lot of sympathy for Grealish. He doesn’t dive or look for it. It’s just down to his size.
The one good thing about being small is you tend to be naturally incredibly light and nimble on your feet. Even hitting the deck hard very rarely hurts.
I well remember playing a five a side at Birmingham Uni, by the Gun Barrels.
This lad hit me and I think he thought he’d broken my leg. He couldn’t apologise enough.
And then I got up, laughed and told him not to worry about it lol.
So yep, small attackers must be a nightmare for big units.
I remember Grealish coming on a sub a few times at VP when he was still a teenager. In those days he showed loads of skill, and his runs quickly got the crowd on their feet.
Unfortunately it almost always ended with him getting simply brushed-off the ball by physically-stronger defenders. They didn’t even have to particulalrly ‘foul’ him (unless a ref thought that a ‘gentle nudge’ was a foul) – that came a bit later.
Roll-forward a few years. Grealish simply put on some real muscle. And of course, that’s when he started drawing the real fouls.
When I see most of the U23’s playing, it just strikes me that they need to bulk-up a bit.
As for Louie Barry – agree that he should be playing somewhere, not bench-warming; hopefully he hasn’t been ‘found-out’ as a flash-in-the-pan.
Thing is Ardent, as far as I can see he’s not on the bench and not even playing for their U23’s.
If he’s injured he should be back at VP and if the manager doesn’t ‘fancy’ him then ditto.
Spoke to my Ipswich mate who thinks there are better players than Barry at the club and that he would be better off at a ‘smaller’ club like Burton or Cheltenham. It also seems most of their fans think Barry will return to Villa in January – clearly there’s no point in him staying at Ipswich.
Whether he then goes out on loan again is a matter of conjecture.
Here you go chaps;
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/louie-barry-aston-villa-ipswich-21573758
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/louie-barry-aston-villa-ipswich-21912623
Interestingly, one of the Ipswich fans says he’s too lightweight.
That sort of backs up what my Ipswich mate was saying.
Barry opted for Ipswich over Sunderland – it was his choice according to the piece he did with the BBC. He was not to know Cook would overload his position with older more experienced players. So Barry finds himself in exactly the same position as he would have been at VP.
Villa must recall him in January, although frankly they should try and get him back sooner if Cook doesn’t want him. If he’s going out on loan again then a period at BMH with our new coaching team ahead of that loan would be a positive.
And if he’s going to a L2 club then there should be some form of guaranteed playing time without which we should have a right to pull him back to VP.
Yes, he’s small and lightweight (and still young) but Ashley Young has never exactly been big?
The lightweight debate is an interesting one. I think it also depends on how we play the game. If we want to be a possession based team then I feel light, quick attacking players can be a good weapon. Look at Lamptey for example. Play the ball in to their feet and they can use their slenderness as an advantage. If we then decide to go long ball all the time then its pointless as we will be playing to the opposing defenders strengths.
Perhaps I used the wrong word in ‘lightweight’.
I wasn’t really trying to say that we need each of the youngsters to grow to 6’4″ and 16 stone of muscle before they play in the 1st team (although a few defenders of that sort might be useful).
What I was thinking about was that many of them look as if they need to build-up upper-body strength so that they can resist getting brushed-off the ball so easily when in posession.
While I was never a huge fan of Agbonlahor’s, he started-off as ‘lightweight’ – very fast, but in his early days easily shrugged-off by defenders; somewhere along the line he must have spent a lot of time in the weights-room (and started to look like the Michelin-man !) and then he added ‘power’ to his speed, making it much harder for defenders to just brush him off and send him flying.
(Unfortunately his technique & thinking didn’t develop quite as impressively, but that’s something else…(
Nothing wrong with lightweight players at all.
But it’s easy to have too many of them.
Isn’t that exactly what we’ve been complaining about for months?
Who’s our biggest bloke? Mings?
Probably and there’s nothing scary about him, is there?
You need that physicality in today’s game and I think we seriously lack it.
Hause isn’t exactly small and Martinez is definitely scary 🙂
I do get your point though.
There were a couple of games even last season (when we were still doing well, overall) – Leeds and WHam in particular – where I was struck most of all that we were physically being bullied (for want of a better expression) out of posession, by players who seemed ‘tougher’ and ‘fitter’ all around than most of our lot.
They seemed to run harder & faster than we did, but I thought was more about overall fitness and attitude more than just physical ‘muscle’…
Would it be fair to say that bigger blokes will generally run faster and harder than smaller ones?
I’d say very probably.
Bullied is probably the right word too, as even Mcginn has to rely on his trusty “stick your arse in their face” technique to fend players off.
Don’t get me wrong, he does it to great effect.
Nothing scary about Mings? Didn’t he once stamp on someone’s face, doing some serious damage?
Do you think he intended to do that?
Not a chance, imo.
Actually, he’s done it twice.
Which shows what a big clumsy get he is lol.
I have my doubts, Badger. Can anyone be that clumsy?
“Oh, was that your face, sorry I thought it was turf, that’s why I stamped. What? Turf doesn’t have has eyes, a nose and a mouth? Hey you guys lied to me, you said grass could talk…” Hmmmm
🙂
This is a interesting story
https://www.footballinsider247.com/aston-villa-traore-let-go-january/
Accepting that it’s Football Insider (I’m eating humble pie here Badger 🙂 ) I do think there’s truth in the unbalanced squad element of the story – particularly if Gerrard sees Watkins playing wide left – but is Traore the right guy to go?
I suspect quite a few would prefer to see AEG go before Traore.
£17 mill wasn’t it for Traore?
They won’t sell him just yet, it’d be too much of a loss, I’d have thought.
I could see a loan happening though.
I can see why Gerrard prefers to play narrower.
Wide players are expected to stay wide and then cut in.
It’s not like the halcyon days of before, where a winger got down to the touchline and flighted a beauty right on an old fashioned no 9’s forehead, is it?
I wish it was, players could do the basics like cross a bloody ball then. Or is that just an age thing on my part? 🙂
Playing too wide leads to a lack of manpower in the middle, which has shown itself massively lately in our case.
Come to think of it, I don’t even think I’m very keen on a 4-3-3 at all.
That said, it’s more often a variance of a 4-3-2-1 or 4-1-3-2 or whatever.
Sell Traore?? A brilliant player with plenty more to come. Selling him would be madness. Sorry, but players like Traore are the next rung down from players we can’t get – who won’t come. So when you get them, you keep them and coach the very best out of them. He’s worth at least what we paid for Buendia when fit and firing.
Keep seeing similar stories about a ‘January clear-out’ on the B’ham Live/Mail site, but I’d be surprised if most of them were true, simply because by that time teams are generally experiencing cumulative injuries and/or suspensions, and (-with any luck) we’d hope to still be in the FA Cup (one thing I’ve never seen us win!).
I can imagine a couple of people going out on loan – especially if DS calls them to Norwich, but unless Villa really do intend bringing half Rangers’ squad to B6 in January, I think the real clear-out will wait until next May.
Watched the first team training session on the OS and was sure I saw Trezeguet on the grass with the squad. Subsequently confirmed he’s back in training, although some way off making a return, but good news nonetheless.
Also Luiz and Sanson fit so just Trez and Traore still on the injured list.
Brum Live reporting that ‘training has gone through the roof’ since Gerrard’s team came in. Given the concerns over fitness levels etc. that can only be a positive.
Time will tell of course.
That’s frightening Hitch, how many get injuries in training in the past, now it’s saying intensive training going on . Oh well they know what their doing ?don’t they.
Well they’re not mutually exclusive Bill, so it’s possible that more training injuries could follow but I don’t think it’s inevitable.
You wouldn’t think they do know Bill, the way some of them get injured in the warmup. That’s laughable that that should ever happen, imo.
That worries me, the harder training.
Mind you, it all depends what type you’re on about.
I’d guess in our case, it’s more about stamina and lung capacity etc.
I think it’s the strength training that tends to cause the muscle injuries.
It is interesting though that Gerrard seems to think we’re nowhere near fit enough.
If that’s the case, why didn’t the previous incumbents see it?
Or was it a case of they were just too soft to enforce a tougher regime?
Or did they think it wasn’t a priority? (I can’t see that).
Hmm, more questions come to mind all the time.
Sorry for banging-on in the same vein again – but seriously in quite a few of the games I’ve watched over the last 12-18 months, our players didn’t look as fit as many of the opposition.
Already gone-on about the physical bit, but their concentration levels seemed to suffer as well; typical to see PL games now as (45+3) + (45+5) = 98 minutes or more. Not sure our players ever quite sustain it for that long!
I’ve been complaining about the training for ages, Ardent.
How can the training be classed as intense, yet they still seem below par, with some of them being miles off and suffer lots of injuries?
I really don’t get it.
I don’t think we have a fitness issue with the team. It’s notable that most of our goals are in the second half of matches. Our biggest concern is how we tend to start games. That’s not a fitness issue but more a mentality issue. Stevie G got the win with two late goals against Brighton and we looked much stronger at the end. That was despite chasing the game mostly with less possession. It will be great if we can get the first goal in the first half against Palace.
If you took just the second half of games and disregarded the first half goals, we would be on 19 points! That’s where the problem lies. We regularly give ourselves an uphill battle to get results. A new manager with an inspirational pre match team talk could make a difference.
Two of the current successful clubs Man Citeh and Pool who play a similar formation to ourselves have something we don’t. Citeh have a Rodrigo and Pool have a Henderson or Fabinho. We simply don’t have anyone like them and I hope Stevie G can get someone in during the January window. I’m sure NWSE have promised big bucks to get whoever is needed. My only worry is we go shopping for someone in the Scottish premier which isn’t comparable.
Buying in January is the equivalent of eating out of the bins at the back of a takeaway. History and painful experience has shown, again and again, that buying anything in January is a very, very bad idea. I would leave it if I was Gerrard and Purslow.
If in doubt, consider: Drinkwater, Samatta, Borga (try not to laugh), and not to mention Djemba-Djemba (try not to puke). I’m sure there are lots more, but they’re too shite to remember.
If people want to get stiffed with useless crap in the January ‘sales’, by all means, but elite football is not the place to be shopping for left-over bargains and rejects.
I like to be thorough, so I’ve done some research:
Jean Makoun, Enda Stevens, Yacouba Sylla, Carles Gil, Lansbury, Bree, Bjarnaron, Hogan, Kalinic, Guilbert, and of course, the enigmatic Mr Sanson.
Don’t buy in January.
Occasionally you get a good signing. Darren Bent possibly saved our season if my memory serves me correctly.
From your list it’s certain that we don’t go shopping in the french league again.
True. Only Bent and Hourihane came off in the last 10 years. But was Bent a success, other than saving that season?
Blimey, BFR, his goals stopped us going down, so he was probably worth double what he cost us.
Get me someone similar this winter and you won’t see me moaning.
Unless he’s crap next season, that is.
I didn’t think that Guilbert was particularly bad – Or bad at all?
Maybe Cash is better, but I don’t remember the Frenchman getting enough game time to show anything one way or the other?
Same applies to Sanson.
But I agree with your general point that only the desperate go shopping in the January sales.
I agree on Freddy; I hope he gets a chance under Gerrard. I saw him live and he was excellent: tenacious in the tackle and capable of excellent delivery into the opposition area.
But as it stands, he, and Sanson, are flops.
The other two I’d make an exception for would be Stevens and Bree – both promising young players that came for little money so were never expected to figure in the first team in the short term. Didn’t make it but they weren’t the worst.
Djemba- Dejemba – he was so bad they named him twice 🙂
Still have fond memories of Makoun’s jumpers though 🙂
Some of our buys are truly embarrassing.
Hmm, this article suggests Luiz wants out and has refused to sign a new contract.
That’s a new one on me;
http://sportwitness.co.uk/aston-villa-star-wants-leave-gerrards-side-set-not-negotiable-demand-january/
Not even “B’ham Live” are running that yet – and they’re usually 1st with any rumour, nonsense-or otherwise !!
Just read that Badger, looks like we won’t keep him as he’s not happy at Villa Park. Why I ask myself! Only 8 games because of injuries, some players are showing ignorance of how football into days time say you play to keep in a job, he thinks I don’t do that I’m Luiz. Mourinho has the upper hand knowing his agents are friends of his and Luiz wants out anyway. We don’t want players that acting like children do we.?… in Gerrard I trust!! Up till now anyways.
To be fair Bill, that article might be an absolute load of rubbish.
I don’t understand why he wouldn’t be happy, as he’s played pretty much all the games he’s been fit for.
Unless it goes back to us thinking that something may be seriously wrong behind the scenes.
Maybe his staying or going will be a very good indicator.
To be honest, that story doesn’t surprise me. I’ve never felt that Luiz looks totally happy here. In my opinion, I believe he saw us as a stepping stone. He will be a miss but he’s not irreplaceable. Gives away too many silly fouls for me and I feel more confident when Nakamba is playing although Luiz mid to long range passing is better.
Not overly surprised but might be just his agent making waves.
I’d take £35m all day long.
JWP anyone?
Agreed Adam, he’s not irreplaceable.
I’d take £35 mill for Luiz, but suspect we’d do better keeping him if we can, as I think he can be top.
There’s no way we’d get Ward prowse now imo. That ship has sailed and we should have made a realistic offer in the first place.
Fair point Badger.
Is Luiz another player having his head turned after being selected for his country? These IB’s are bad in more ways than one.
It seems once a player becomes an International they immediately want to play in the Champions League or Europe at least. Will we lose Martinez as well?
If we want to attract (and keep) top players then It just shows how vital it is to be playing regularly in Europe.
Football has changed to the point where – and certainly when you add in FFP and the potential impact of an Independent Regulator – any team outside the regular top 4 in the EPL face a massive, almost insurmountable challenge to overtake any one of those teams.
Sad really.
Don’t understand all the fuss over Ward-Prowse.
OK, he’s good at set-pieces, at least against Villa, but I’ve never noticed anything special about the rest of his game.
Maybe I just haven’t been looking…
Tbh, I’m the same.
But then, I don’t regularly follow other clubs at all. It just depends on the odd games I watch.
Others bits of ‘information’ I’ve read in the ‘so accurate’ media is
Smith is allegedly interested in taking Davis to Norwich – that might be a good move for him.
Quite a bit of reaction from fans on Twitter over the Traore rumour – selling him doesn’t appear to be very popular with the fans.
And Gerrard has been quoted as saying ‘Sanson is going to be a big player for us’ – interesting.
Gerrard has said it’s important he connects with the fans. I realise there’s no room for sentiment in football but if two of Villa’s popular players are allowed to leave in January and Sanson is retained it won’t make that ambition any easier.
Davis to Norwich: I know he’s good at holding the ball up front, but quite honestly a striker who simply can’t find the back of the net and doesn’t seem to give many ‘assists’ either, wouldn’t be missed IMO.
Traore: I’ve seen that rumour (a few days ago on “B’Ham Live”) but I suspect that the Management are simply making the point to Traore that he’s got to stay fit and and actually perform what they know he is capable of doing. Personally, while I find him a bit frustrating at times (usually when he’s supposed to be helping the defence), he also shows flashes of real brilliance – in fact I think he might be one of the most skillful players in the squad.
(Feel free to disagree !!)
Nope – I agree.
On his day he’s a class act but, as you say, he can be inconsistent and frustrating at times.
Davis is young, but I don’t see him massively improving. I think I’ve said it before, but he reminds me of Carlton Cole.
As for Traore, I agree, he’s very skillful. And I’d rather keep him over AEG.
But even so, he can be another massive lightweight.
I’d love to keep all these skilful types in the side, as when they’re firing, they’re great to watch. But in a modern game where it’s all about pressing and physically trying to outperform the oppostion, I just don’t think we’re good enough overall to be able to carry them.
Davis reminds me more of Heskey – a triumph of hope over expectation (not in his prime, but in his Villa days).
MON used to bring him on as a last, deperate roll of the dice with 10 minutes to go when we were losing – a bit like DS with Davis!
Ardent, that’s very harsh on Heskey; Davis has done nothing in the game. Heskey’s signing cost us a CL spot – another January disaster – but not because he was a bad player. His arrival upset the rhythm of that team, similar to Cascarino’s ill-fated entrance that cost us the league title in 1990. Keegan made the same mistake with Asprilia in ’96.
Anyway, I recall Houllier getting the best out of Heskey, and his best was pretty good. I can see why the Heskey comparison was made, but Davis has a lot of work to do before he can be compared to him, even at his worst. I’d be staggered if Smith signs him, not because he’s a bad player, but he’s obviously one of those players whose career is going to be plagued with injury, unfortunately for him.
To be fair, I did say “not in his prime”… Heskey was great at Leicester and pretty-good at Liverpool, but it was just the way that MON used to bring him at the end of games that used to really signal that we weren’t going to score!!
Badger, are we saying that a skillful player, whose physical condition should be that of an elite athlete, can’t be coached to ‘press’? How is the team to play entertaining football if the skillful types are shipped out for more ‘physical’ players? I don’t see any overly-physical players in any of the top teams in any of the top leagues in the world, to be honest. Get these skillful ones in the gym to build up the upper-body, like Gabby and Jack did (which you mentioned recently), and coach them to do the right things on the pitch when they haven’t got the ball. Then, when they do get it, sit back and enjoy…
It’s a tricky one, I admit.
I remember Gabby bulking up and it destroyed his burst of pace.
And I personally think it’s this strength training, where they get thighs like Jack, that causes the injuries.
Much better to be naturally bigger and stronger, imo.
And yes, skilful players can be coached to press, but to do both well, you have to be right at the top end of the scale.
And then look at our midfielders 🙁
Some good debate going on here, I like it 🙂
I don’t remember Agbonlahor losing pace just because of bulking-up, pretty sure he only slowed down later – age.
Interesting that you think Grealish’s thigh-muscle develpment led to injuries; I’ve never really worked-out what his injuries last season were all about, so maybe you’ve got a point there.
Many people noticed Gabb’y loss of pace. It wasn’t a gradual thing, he came back after the summer and was noticeably slower.
I used Grealish as an example, but I was talking generally.
Monster muscles on the original puny joints etc doesn’t sound like a good idea to me.
He discovered laughing-gas, perhaps…
I’ve always advocated that the way football’s gone we have lost that skilful footballer. It’s a lot to ask a player whose foot skill to dribble and run , not saying they can’t, but saying its hard to do. How would the likes of Stanley Mathews, Billy Goffin get on in today’s times, skilful players but dribble was their thing. It is now athletic players they want with quick minds , you can see how it’s gone with the likes of ( him I’m not saying his name ) who now sits on the bench at Man City because it’s not his game they play, he slows games up .But he to me opens and draws players out of position and its entertainment. When I played football I was the fastest winger playing, the problem with me was I was there before the ball but never had that ball skill.
From the Birmingham Mail so 50% chance it is nonsense.
Gerrard has banned certain products from the canteen at BMH – including puddings and ketchup.
Suggest he joins a walking tour of Aston one Sunday and finds that Aston’s small entry in the culinary map of the world includes the site of the original HP Sauce and Birds Custard factories, then when there is a dip in form he can bring back these local heroes.
Tomorrow’s game in my opinion will be lots harder than the Brighton game but I am confident we can win it, but it will annoy me if we lose in all honesty because it’s getting boring sitting in 15th even when we win…
Blimey, you’ve just reminded me I need to write something.
Talksport suggesting Chuky is going to reject a new contract.
Following the weeks old rumour or do they know more?
That’s not good news and I’d be gutted if we can’t hold onto him.
The rumours of players wanting out is starting to concern me now.
https://talksport.com/football/990673/
We’ve got a lot of good players in the U23’s (and below) who’ve been talked-up massively over the last 12 months or more.
The trouble is that they’re not likely to get regular 1st team games anytine soon; the odd appearance in a cup match maybe, or 15 minutes off the bench in the league is likely to be it – unless we get a serious spate of injuries in the first-team squad.
Once upon a time clubs had competetive reserve teams (remember the old Cental League?) who played week-in-week-out, but today once they get to that in-between stage where they’re really too good/old for the U23’s but not quite ready to displace a 1st team regular, I’m not surprised that they want to go somewhere to play every week.
Even playing for England Youth teams they get their heads turned.
He’ll go to a ‘big’ club just because they like to control the best young talent and then be loaned out. How many players did Chelsea loan out recently?
Just hate the way football is going.
He’s probably read that story on “B’ham Live” about Bailey apparently spending £8k on a pair of Nike boots, and decided he’d like a piece of that action. Holding out for a big pay-rise!
That’s obscene. Bailey, and Nike, should be ashamed.
Amen, BFR.
It’s disgusting that Nike charge that much and equally so that people pay it.
I saw the story, but said nothing because it just feels like you’re a miserable old bastard if you squeal about it.
That 8k could have done some real good.
And I’m disgusted that if the club can’t teach these arseholes to not buy that stupidly over-priced crap, that they can’t stop them talking about it. 🙁
Talk about being out of touch 🙁
Spot on. I’d rather be a miserable old bastard, Badger. I have been since I was about 10, so I’m quite comfortable with it. Rather that than have shit for brains and more money than sense.