Showing posts with label Aston Villa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aston Villa. Show all posts
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Villa still to prove their European credentials
As Aston Villa stay on course for a Champions League spot this season, the issue of their strength and depth will come into play.
With James Milner and Emile Heskey out for their UEFA Cup home leg tie against the capable CSKA Moscow, Craig Gardner slotted in on the right and the experienced John Carew started up front with Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Villa’s commitment was there from the outset, but they struggled to contain the Russians’ classy technique and beautiful one-touch passing. The home side’s defenders will need to become well-attuned to dealing with the quality of attackers like Vagner Love and Milos Krasic if they are to build upon a Champions League qualification.
As it was, for the first goal, it was all Villa’s defence could do but to sit back and admire Love’s precise one-two with Alan Dzagoev before releasing a left-foot shot past Brad Guzan.
Home side's confidence
The home side’s confidence this season came through in the second half when Ashley Young delivered brilliant crosses into the box and Stiliyan Petrov made some powerful runs through the centre.
The equaliser came after another Ashley Young delivery, Craig Gardner got on the end and played John Carew in to finish.
Craig Gardner
In the absence of Milner, Craig Gardner played one of his brightest games for Villa, his excellent work ethic and runs forward showing the benefits of having a competitive squad. Manchester United have shown that again this season, and it often decides the fate of a team’s success within Europe.
The Russians had not played a competitive game for three months since their season finished in December. Villa were unable to exploit that by adding a winner in the final minutes, so a difficult tie will face them on the plastic pitch of the Luzhniki Stadium in two weeks time.
Villa will have come off playing Chelsea this weekend, and the Russians will be fitter and stronger, thus providing them with a real test of their European credentials.
Monday, 10 November 2008
Aston Villa need greater steel to secure fourth place
Aston Villa First 11 (Courtesy of Guðmundur Lúðvíksson)
Two successive defeats in a week for Aston Villa, see them miss out on the chance to go fourth in the table and overtake current premier league holders, Manchester United.
With all their youthful, promising attacking talent in Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Steve Sidwell and James Milner, Villa need to eliminate defensive slip-ups in order to progress and build on their top six finish last season.
A mark of a top club is often their ability to ground out results - to be resilient, even when they are not playing their best football.
Villa manager, Martin O’Neill, referred to this sentiment in his post-match interview with Sky Sports: "We didn't play well but we shouldn't have got beat. That really is the disappointment”.
This has frequently been the criticism levied at Arsenal – for example, in their away defeat to Stoke this season – and what both teams lack, are assured defences.
Good offensive play
In Villa’s away game at St James’ Park a week ago, they were unfortunate not to open the scoring on numerous occasions.
Laursen headed Gareth Barry’s 11th-minute corner against the post, ten minutes later Agbonlahor miscued his shot from close range and Newcastle keeper Shay Given expertly saved Ashley Young’s powerful attempt minutes before the break.
The away team needed to be patient, to keep their shape and continue to create chances.
Defensive inadequacies
Newcastle were re-invigorated, however, at the start of the second half, when Laursen all too easily allowed Obafemi Martins to cut inside twice, and score two well-taken goals.
Defensive midfielder, Nigel Reo-Coker, was also culpable for the second goal in failing to challenge the goal assister - Newcastle’s Argentinean winger, Gutierrez - in the centre of midfield.
Even more blinding defensive inadequacies were to blame for Middlesborough’s goals on Sunday.
Villa left-back Nicky Shorey misjudged Stewart Downing’s cross and Turkey striker Tuncay Sanli eagerly pounced.
Making his premier league home debut for Villa, midfielder Steve Sidwell equalised minutes later and then two minutes from time, made a wayward pass which was seized by Tuncay to score his second.
The premiership’s “top four” all have exciting offensive players to put their teams ahead, but equally important to their success are their gritty, powerful defenders, who fight to intercept that cross and make that last-ditch challenge that keeps their team in the game.
As illustrated in Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic's double tackle below:
Aston Villa’s defence needs to produce that form consistently if they are to viably compete for a Champions League place.
With all their youthful, promising attacking talent in Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Steve Sidwell and James Milner, Villa need to eliminate defensive slip-ups in order to progress and build on their top six finish last season.
A mark of a top club is often their ability to ground out results - to be resilient, even when they are not playing their best football.
Villa manager, Martin O’Neill, referred to this sentiment in his post-match interview with Sky Sports: "We didn't play well but we shouldn't have got beat. That really is the disappointment”.
This has frequently been the criticism levied at Arsenal – for example, in their away defeat to Stoke this season – and what both teams lack, are assured defences.
Good offensive play
In Villa’s away game at St James’ Park a week ago, they were unfortunate not to open the scoring on numerous occasions.
Laursen headed Gareth Barry’s 11th-minute corner against the post, ten minutes later Agbonlahor miscued his shot from close range and Newcastle keeper Shay Given expertly saved Ashley Young’s powerful attempt minutes before the break.
The away team needed to be patient, to keep their shape and continue to create chances.
Defensive inadequacies
Newcastle were re-invigorated, however, at the start of the second half, when Laursen all too easily allowed Obafemi Martins to cut inside twice, and score two well-taken goals.
Defensive midfielder, Nigel Reo-Coker, was also culpable for the second goal in failing to challenge the goal assister - Newcastle’s Argentinean winger, Gutierrez - in the centre of midfield.
Even more blinding defensive inadequacies were to blame for Middlesborough’s goals on Sunday.
Villa left-back Nicky Shorey misjudged Stewart Downing’s cross and Turkey striker Tuncay Sanli eagerly pounced.
Making his premier league home debut for Villa, midfielder Steve Sidwell equalised minutes later and then two minutes from time, made a wayward pass which was seized by Tuncay to score his second.
The premiership’s “top four” all have exciting offensive players to put their teams ahead, but equally important to their success are their gritty, powerful defenders, who fight to intercept that cross and make that last-ditch challenge that keeps their team in the game.
As illustrated in Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic's double tackle below:
Aston Villa’s defence needs to produce that form consistently if they are to viably compete for a Champions League place.
Sunday, 5 October 2008
Should David Moyes and Everton break ties for a brighter future?
As Everton manager David Moyes appears to be getting ever closer to signing a new five-year contract, questions are being raised as to where he and currently 15th placed Everton are heading.
With consecutive top six finishes for the first time in the Premier League, there was confidence at the start of this season that Moyes could further build on that relative consistency.
Notable signings
Moyes’s most successful seasons with Everton have been largely due to some shrewd acquisitions. When they broke into the top four in the 2003/2004 season, Moyes replaced Wayne Rooney with James Beattie, and Mikel Arteta came in for the influential midfielder Thomas Gravesen.
Arguably Tim Cahill has been Moyes’ best deal to date, however, plucking him from Millwall for £1.5m. Cahill finished the season as top scorer for Everton.
Everton’s success has been largely dependent on these astute transfer dealings and breaking their club record spending on a player year on year.
Central midfielder Marouane Fellani from Standard Liege is Everton’s record-breaking signing for this season. He signed on deadline day, and so far his £15m transfer fee has not looked value for money.
Physical approach
It takes strong technical ability and physicality and occasionally a bit of luck, to break into the dominant ‘Top Four’ in the Premiership. Physical strength and commitment to the challenge, has long been recognised as Everton’s asset.
Everton beat Arsenal at home in their 2006/07 campaign through Andrew Johnson’s late goal largely through their robust approach and Arsenal’s profligacy in front of goal. Click here for a clip of the goal.
Everton had conceded 16 goals in their first eight games of the season prior to losing to Standard Liege midweek. Their characteristic closing down of players was absent.
Defensive frailties and a greater fluid partnership between Yakubu and Louis Saha will need to be rectified if they have any chance of challenging for a high league spot this season.
Aston Villa: An ideal model
Aston Villa currently lie fourth in the Premier League after six games played. Villa have physical presence all over the pitch in Nigel Reo-Coker, John Carew and Martin Laursen and scintillating pace and technical panache in Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor and James Milner.
Villa boast home grown talent in spades, and among them Gareth Barry was a firm target for multi-winning Champions League side Liverpool.
If Moyes wants to achieve sustainable success with Everton, it’s going to take some fresh development of ideas and talent such as Villa’s in order to compete.
With consecutive top six finishes for the first time in the Premier League, there was confidence at the start of this season that Moyes could further build on that relative consistency.
Notable signings
Moyes’s most successful seasons with Everton have been largely due to some shrewd acquisitions. When they broke into the top four in the 2003/2004 season, Moyes replaced Wayne Rooney with James Beattie, and Mikel Arteta came in for the influential midfielder Thomas Gravesen.
Arguably Tim Cahill has been Moyes’ best deal to date, however, plucking him from Millwall for £1.5m. Cahill finished the season as top scorer for Everton.
Everton’s success has been largely dependent on these astute transfer dealings and breaking their club record spending on a player year on year.
Central midfielder Marouane Fellani from Standard Liege is Everton’s record-breaking signing for this season. He signed on deadline day, and so far his £15m transfer fee has not looked value for money.
Physical approach
It takes strong technical ability and physicality and occasionally a bit of luck, to break into the dominant ‘Top Four’ in the Premiership. Physical strength and commitment to the challenge, has long been recognised as Everton’s asset.
Everton beat Arsenal at home in their 2006/07 campaign through Andrew Johnson’s late goal largely through their robust approach and Arsenal’s profligacy in front of goal. Click here for a clip of the goal.
Everton had conceded 16 goals in their first eight games of the season prior to losing to Standard Liege midweek. Their characteristic closing down of players was absent.
Defensive frailties and a greater fluid partnership between Yakubu and Louis Saha will need to be rectified if they have any chance of challenging for a high league spot this season.
Aston Villa: An ideal model
Aston Villa currently lie fourth in the Premier League after six games played. Villa have physical presence all over the pitch in Nigel Reo-Coker, John Carew and Martin Laursen and scintillating pace and technical panache in Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor and James Milner.
Villa boast home grown talent in spades, and among them Gareth Barry was a firm target for multi-winning Champions League side Liverpool.
If Moyes wants to achieve sustainable success with Everton, it’s going to take some fresh development of ideas and talent such as Villa’s in order to compete.
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