Credit – Data courtesy of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the Official Player Rating Index of the Barclays Premier League
Aston Villa v Man Utd – 19:45, Friday 14th August
A header from debutant Rudy Gestede handed Aston Villa all three points against Premier League new boys Bournemouth. They host Louis Van Gaal’s Manchester United, who will be looking to build on a promising victory over Tottenham last weekend.
Both managers will have been pleased with the defensive efforts of their teams last weekend, with each side keeping a clean sheet. When looking at their tackles, though, this is unsurprising as they won the third and fourth most in the league – Aston Villa with 24 and Manchester United with 22.
The battle for dominance in the centre of the park will be a crucial one on Friday, with both teams possessing midfielders capable of retaining possession for long periods of play. In particular, Morgan Schneiderlin and Ashley Westwood will hold the key for their respective teams as they topped the passing charts of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index last week with 43 and 42 successful passes respectively.
Rudy Gestede will be looking to use his excellent aerial ability against Manchester United’s new-look centre back pairing of Daley Blind and Chris Smalling. Against Bournemouth, Gestede won an impressive 75% of his aerial duals, whereas Blind was slightly lower – winning 50% of his. Gestede is 18/5 with 888sport.com to score at any time this weekend.
Neither Aston Villa nor Manchester United’s strikers had as many chances as they would have liked in the last round of Premier League fixtures, something that should improve throughout the course of the season. Gestede and Rooney took the most shots of any strikers for each side respectively, with two apiece.
Left Backs Luke Shaw and Jordan Amavi will be hoping for big seasons, with Shaw suffering from significant injury problems last year and Amayi plying his trade in England for the first time. Both produced astute defensive performances last week, winning every tackle they attempted.
The Author
Matt Turvey
Matt is the owner of, and chief writer for, Aston Villa Life. He is also a columnist for the Wolverhampton Express & Star, appearing in the Kick Off pullout on Saturdays and the Final Whistle pullout the Monday after Aston Villa play, as well as every Thursday as a blogger on their website. He has previously been featured as a writer on Football365 and Life's A Pitch, and was a regular pundit for Sports Tonight TV on Sky.Comments 56
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In all honesty, I am actually excited about not only seeing us play, but what is happening at Villa at the moment.
TS has the Delph and Benteke money to spend, but it looks like there some funds available, and the buys are a million miles away from what PL or AM would have bought given the money!
Also long term contracts for new and existing players, blimey, it looks like we might be turning back into a football club who have the first clue about what they are doing!
Am I expecting us to win the league? No – but I do think the team will grow over the course of the season with a strong finish. Watching us should be a damn sight more interesting, with a bench that doesn’t make you roll your eyes!
COME YOU VILLA BOYS!!!!!!
Guzan, Bacuna, Richards, Clark, Amavi, Veretout, Gueye, Westwood, Ayew, Agbonlahor, Sinclair.
Bring on Rudy , Rudy , Rudy – this is giving me heart attacks
Its tough against utd. Chasing the ball lots. Dont help gabby is up top, cant hold the damn thing and get us up the field. Rudy needed and get vertout in the game.
If clarke hits one more aimless ball to the utd keeper ill explode.
Bacuna scares the life out of me when he turns towards own goal with ball
Like gueye a lot remingds me of boeteng in his pomp. Ayeuw hard to judge but million times better than gabby.
Final third will look better with toure gested or new striker
1st half performance of a team of strangers with a very loose approach to defending set pieces!
Not much of a fan of both Gabby and Ayew playing at the same time — too much of the same player, same style IMO.
Really looking forward to seeing how our final third improves when Gil and Grealish are back.
Fitness and level heads still lacking. I am hoping these new signings start to gel and we work out our style.
Positives – Some nice touches and interplay, and we competed at times. Promise in all the new signings from what I could see.
Negatives – Resorting to the long ball, trying and failing to play our way out of the back, lack of a captain to organise, motivate and control the game.
So that’s it then.
Inefficient with what few chances we earned. But when:
A. Gil, Grealish, and Traore get on the pitch and
B. Gestede and Ayew learn the ropes and
C. Kozak is given a run-out and
D. We add another striker (?)
then I fully expect we’ll start to scare some teams.
Texas – I am not sure we need another striker, we have more options than last season, especially with Kozak back. I am not sure midfield and wide areas are working well enough for me. Not nearly enough service for the front players, still lacking creativity.
Was nice to see ayew win a couple headers but in the second half he stunk the place out, gabby was poor too and I thought Sinclair was the better forward tonight. Would have been nice to have Cole on the bench tonight as we really missed greenish and Gill tonight, Cole could have been that link man, those long balls in the first half without a target man would so frustrating.
Tonight tonight tonight
Listen, sure Utd are also gelling so will get better but I’m curious to see what the usual glass if half empty villans on this site have to say…
From my vantage point, Van Gaal has spent 10 X more than Tim and I so for the most part parody.
Gueye and Amavi are impressive. Ayew for his 2nd match in the Prem against a supposed contender for the title (although I have my doubts unless they spend 50 M more on a new striker and it wouldn’t surprise me) did not look out of place and is a very good athlete and pretty solid footballer from what I could see and I’d expect him to scare a lot of teams.
Veretout didn’t show me much but it’s way to early to judge him although I’d like to see Gardner really push him for that final midfield place.
Richards for my money looks very good and to be honest different class to Clarke (I love the lad’s effort but he’s just not at the same level as Michah and Okore and Baker will hopefully push him hard; way too many stray long balls from him today as someone else pointed out).
Yes we’ve gotta get a focal point in Rudy/Kozak who both can finish if given the service but we do have players to provide the supply: Amavi, Bacuna ,Sinclair and we haven’t even seen Adama, Grealish or Gil yet.
Ok we didn’t create many chances today but we had a lot of the ball and played to win and it sure beats sitting back facing wave after wave of Utd attacks like has happened in much of my recent memory.
Feeling positive about our club this season for the 1st time in a long time.
UTV
Ayew really did look out of place, doesn’t mean he will in the next game or he will flop just a fact.
Just to clarify I’m not saying we are even close to the finished product yet but given the number of new players and the players yet to come into contention to battle Utd for 90 minutes and feel like they stole a win that was there for the taking with a bit of luck is not a bad result. We should go to Palace a confident group now and if we can score first I really like our chances.
UTV
Def more positive but the final 3rd is shocking.
But with jack, gill, adarma gestede to come in should be better.
Need another striker which we will get.
No 10 shirt still up for grabs 🙂
@Ronnie – Despite the loss, I certainly don’t view it as I have done in the past, with a woeful performance with no hope of how we might develop.
We are a work in progress, and it showed at times tonight, but there is promise, and so I’m not reaching for the razor blades and expecting a season of unending dross.
I guess I’m thinking of his athleticism, energy and overall skill set rather than this particular performance. If you’re judging him as an out an out striker and Benteke replace then yes. I’d say he is adjusting to the pace of the Prem, this is Man U who are supposed to be contenders for the title (though I’m not convinced unless they spend even more), and he looked a bit nervy at times like u’d expect him to at this early stage but he looks to glide around the pitch and can hold the ball up well and distribute it almost like a mix of attacking midfielder and striker. Tim seems to see something in him so we may need to find out where he fits into the scheme/playing style and he may not be first choice with the likes of Grealish/Gil/Adama/Kozak and Rudy pushing him but I personally saw enough of a footballer and an impressive athlete to think he can scare alot of teams in this league. Only time will tell if I’m right. UTV
Was talking about Ayew (Rags). Superbox and Andrew agree with both of your comments. Yes, the 10 shirt is definitely up for grabs and we have way more options and depth this season so it’s interesting to see what the first choice team is and the style we decide to play (or styles). Not ruling out Kozak as the starting 9, he’s not graceful but just seems to know where the net is and you can’t teach that! The main thing is I’m starting to feel proud to be a Villa supporter for the first time in a long time.! Until Palace…
I saw someone who dived, lost the ball regularly more than any other player and had zero goal threat. I’d drop him for the next game for sure. I’m not writing him off, there is a player there, but he was a passenger tonight. Amavi and gana were quality on the plus side, veretout looks like he’s a few weeks of being fully fit and should have been subbed one hour in.
Fair enough Rags, I’m interested to see how he develops; he seems a tweener between Striker and Midfielder which can be a blessing and a curse for a player so we’ll see if Tim sticks with him or goes in a different direction although once Grealish and or Gil are ready he’s out not to mention Adama getting his chance and Kozak coming into contention. To be honest Rudy looked gangly and off the pace when ball to feet today so he’ll need some time to adjust as well. Agreed with your Veretout assessment and was very pleased with the looks of Gueye and Amavi they really look like quality and am already worried about when the big 4 will start circling for them. Positives definitely outweighing the negatives at VP right now though…
@Ronnie -Agreed. Do I expect us to win the league? – no. But do I expect us to be relegation fodder – no!
There is an air of optimism about Villa at the moment, and I like it! Previously all we had to shout about was keeping Benteke!
Can we clear something up. Should we call him Gueye or Gana?
I’d go with Gana as that is what is on his shirt!
Though it will mean no longer having amusing commentary like tonight on Sky “Here is Clark, now gay…” Well it made me smile!
Ronnie, weren’t they signed on 5 year deals. That should keep them in the fold for at least 3. With every player there comes a time when they are worth more in the bank than on the pitch.
I think Villa should have started out a little more aggressive. They have the talent to push from an early point in the game. MU in reality still haven’t scored a goal. A deflection from a defender is one of those lucky things. After the game was done I felt that Villa were a match for MU. Lots of good stuff on the left side. Lots of good tackles, and re possessions. Something that was missing last year. I’m glad for the new rules that have come in. Ayew and Vertout better be careful. Can’t believe the ref when Richards was fouled. MU rules. Can’t decide a game on a direct kick.
I don’t think the players should feel badly about this game. When they are more comfortable and when injured players are back, they will be a team to be reckoned with.
Happy with the game, should have been a draw.
Hello Texas Villian. 🙂
At the end of the day some players take a whole season to settle and the adaptive period effects some more than others. I think it’s doing the lad no favours to play him if he’s not quite ready. I still am keen to see what ayew can do with the likes of gill and the teenagers. I do think some fans have gone well over the top with the ayew bashing, just to be clear
Rags, I didn’t think he played badly.
I think you’re in the minority mate, I thought he was pretty good at Bournemouth strangely enough
Rags:
“I saw someone who dived, lost the ball regularly more than any other player and had zero goal threat. I’d drop him for the next game for sure.”
So you really think LVG will drop Rooney for the next match, then? lol. 😉
Haha, rooney was a bit crap tonight, maybe he thought he was playing for England being in white and all
Oh well – 0-1 and we should have had a penalty – blatant from Damarni in front of the ref – infuriating . Not once but twice – Micah must be very controlled to keep his cool. Dud we deserve to draw or win – well no not really .
I thought United played better than they did on Sat and we played worse than we did second half at Bmouth – where we played fluently and very well.
The passing was excruciating at times but I put that down to the occasion getting the better of them . Nervy, quick distribution goes with panic and we saw this at times , together with over hitting . Amarvi and Richards stood out for me and Sinclair . Gana – lots of effort and grit will be an important player for us.
Considering we have 10 new players on the pitch it could have gone a lot worse . They can hold their heads high as the effort was there and losing 1-0 to a team that has cost several hundred million over the last two seasons , with players like Mata and Schweinsteiger is nothing to get down about . We will improve and already we are keeping our shape much better than last season . The Phoenix is being born . Not sure whether that metaphor works but you know what I mean 🙂
The views on the game seem balanced. It’s not worth getting one’s knickers in a twist over this loss. It’s a bit of a shame Villa couldn’t at least get a point or get a win for the “Villa Park Faithful”. But as some said on AVL, it would have been a big ask. The team will learn from the occasion.
Who’s next?
VLV!
Jenny
Yes. we know what you mean. I believe this team will get it right more often than wrong this year.
Ts talking a lot of sense which is encoragung. Said when we put on gestede we humped balls up long early instead of playing passes in the space he created.
Shame we didnt nick a point i really want vp to be a fortress and hard to beat for once at home. Soft goal to give away and not the best utd team ive ever seen.
Yes, not a lot to worry about Villa-wise. It will et better I’m sure.
The first half “penalty” was a blatant act of strangulation on Richards while he was in the act of getting onto the end of a corner. Because of the illegal defending, Richards was off target. A blatant penalty of the type that Man U get away with too often.
I was amazed near the end when Rooney kicked the ball 20 yards further down the pitch having been flagged offside, and then complained because Villa were allowed to take the free kick from where the ball rested instead of bringing it back!! All he was doing was time-wasting and got annoyed because his ruse didn’t work. I don’t like that from someone who is supposed to be an England senior. Similarly he was complaining about an ordinary (and given) Villa foul when some of his colleagues were deliberately blocking players like Gabby from getting through. Their tactics are often “if you can’t stop ’em legally then bring ’em down.” Awful. And yet no yellows were awarded for those blatant blocks.
Man U have had two terrific slices of luck in their two opening goals. Yet the media are going mad about them saying what a good start they’ve had! Phooey I say to that!
With you john, could not believe what the ref considered fair play. He started off by trying to let the game flow but failed to apply the simplest of rules. 3 offences by diammi? Of utd should of seen him off.
We seem to be stiffling shots on goal well just need our creative players in. Westwoods long passing game was pants last night. Ayew showed glimpses of skill but gabby for me was anonymous .
Think we overdid the pressing while sitting to deep too and gestede should of been on at half time as we created all our decent chances/ crosses just before his arrival .
Not a great game but we should of got a penalty and a draw imo
Mark: ” gabby for me was anonymous ”
Not helped by the two occasions he was “professionally” blocked, just when he was on his way.
morninh all
well as the steamers aint about i guess i better bring dsome balance to this love n 🙂
what took place yesterday wasnt good enough and i am struggling to see what are style is all about
we have improved in one key area which is defence – but our attacking play leaves a lot to be desired
Ayew was really awful as someone else says he looks like anothe gabby – a player who agan showed we should have him in our team
tim is no mug and i am sure he knows the firepower n the team needs to improve if we are not to have another season of struggle
Adeybeyor would be ideal to help this young side through but it looks like tim is unable to pull that one off
amavi richards were very good , gueye showed a bit of class on the ball but isnt going to hurt tthe oppostion
we do have a couple creative wingers to come back but we arev desperate for a proven striker imo
sinclair was have the teams best moments and was duelly taken off ? leaving ayew to let the ball continue to bounce off his shins
we still need major sergury asap – randys turn to spend some cash —- not holding my breath
shouldnt have in our team
soz
Runtingz your right it wasn’t great but I wonder why kosak isnt starting over gabby? Sinclars subbing was weird as it was the best ive seen him. The formation will defo change with gil and grealish in so im not worried that we wont get it right soon.
I wonder how much timbos double sessions is taking out if their legs at the moment too.
I dont think mamure were a millon miles better than us thats for sure
Hi gents and ladies,
I’m usually guilty of being a doom gloom merchant but I feel there is plenty to be excited about. Ayew like all the new arrivals will take time to settle lets not brand him with the Gabby tag just yet, UTD flooded the central midfield area yet we weren’t exactly dominated which is admirable.
Yes we looked toothless going forward but Van Gaal’s men dropped so deep it was akin to a Jose team shape. The fluidity of the passing will improve as the “gel” amongst the team improves, Tim won’t know his strongest line up yet nor will he know his strongest formation but I have no doubt he will.
A team who has aspirations of winning the league came to town and parked the bus for long periods of the 90. They began time wasting from the 50th minute….
I think it signifies the pressure our team formed in a matter of weeks placed them under, without sounding like a cheap Randy advertising motto (who I still despise with all my being) I think the future is bright maybe not blinding bright.
Keep The Faith
UTV
I very much agree with your assessments Liam.
And as to Ayew, I’ll have no problem if he ends up as Gabby version 2.0 — so long as he’s a marked improvement over Gabby version 1.0!
Man U
I honestly don’t think that they really are up to scratch and won’t have a dog’s chance for the Premiership title. We lost last night to another team in transition.
Okay, they’re in a better situation than us and had that little ‘extra’ that made the difference, but I don’t see a great team there. Once they scored their rather fortunate goal (the second of 2 most fortunate goals for them this season) they started making some sloppy errors – especially Mata – and yet we didn’t have enough in our tank to take advantage of that.
Villa will get better – no doubt. Especially when the genius type of player gets in the team (Gil/Grealish/Adama) and once they settle and get to know one another properly.
We have four matches coming up which should provide opportunities for our newbies to gel and gain confidence, before we go to Anfield.
JL our up coming games like you say we would expect a better result
palace up next the cabeye and lots of pace/fire power — i am not convienced we have enough to win that game
its going to be glory glory aston villa or a big wake up call in the next few games
we stll have some key buys to make imo
I think Sherwood got a few things wrong last night.
Ayew and Gabby did not work up front. They are both a concern for me. With Rudy scoring last week and Kosac scoring pre-season one of those guys should have started the game.
And why did he take off Sinclair?
I would have started with Sanchez and Gana as the holding midfield players.
Amavi looks like a star in the making. Richards looks good although he could have done better with the goal.
Tim will have to make changes for the difficult game at Crystal Palace.
And I think he will be on the phone to Adebeyor to see if and his chauffeur can make it to training on time?
Sinclair</b.
Sinclair is highly capable, I am sure, but I don't see him often enough during the match, neither last week nor last night.
He has made some clever dribbles and can thread a pass … but only once in awhile.
Maybe he's out of place … maybe he should play a Joachim sort of role.
Yes, the forward (striker) positions do look as though they're the most in need of sorting, aswell as getting Gil/Grealish back.
I fucking hate Tony Pulis. That guy is anti-football incarnate.
John we are playing strikers as wingers like we always do. Either play the diamond or buy a left winger, you know who is left footed. Novel idea I know.
Last night was a disappointment, we looked toothless up front and created very little, United weren’t great but they didn’t have to be as we hardly laid a glove on them. We still look short of quality in key areas and need to dip back into the transfer market or we will struggle again this season. At the back Amavi looks class, Richards looks decent but should have done better for the goal. I agree with Runtings Ayew needs to sort his shit out and quick ( his brother seems to be the business and was a free, scored again today)and Gabby was a waste of a shirt yet again. We look more comfortable and technically better on the ball but need to create more and with more drive and purpose, palace away next and that is a tough ask, not only have they caught up with us in their short time back in the top flight, they have rapidly overtaken us and look pretty decent with the likes of Cabaye, Bolasie, Zaha etc although wick ham is a strange buy.
Watched the Watford and WBA game and both teams are well behind Villa in terms of quality. Lets all pray WBA go down with Sunderland because they made my eyes bleed. Watford don’t move the ball fast enough to cause organised defences any problems.
B62:
I fully expect Jordan Ayew to come a good bargain for his purchase price. The difference between he and his brother Andre — even in the words of their own father — is that Andre has more polish while Jordan has more potential.
Right now, the last thing Jordan Ayew needs is hasty and unneeded pressure.
Yes, we can’t have too many hope merchants like me on this site without a few doomsday prophets balancing things out! Using strikers as wingers who have to defend pretty much sums it up. Sinclair is a 2nd striker we all know that. Is Kozak not in the reckoning? Grealish, Gil and Adama will bring some much needed balance. It looks as if the back 4 is set along with the midfield 3(though id like to see Gardner challenge veretout). We have a pool of about 9 attacking players who could challenge for 3 places so it’ll be interesting to see what/who Tim and Wilkins decide on. Why exactly did lambert get rid of albrighton? Ireland unbelievably was Stoke’s difference maker today. Ayew’s brother looks class; it’s clearly a footballing family! Utv
Wasn’t Albri out injured pretty often there for a while? Not justifying his exit, of course,just wondering if that may have played a role.
I agree with a lot of what’s being said…I need to sit down and watch the whole thing again, so many players to get used to, etc., but the first impressions:
A bit of luck for their goal. Guzan has it covered until the deflection. Memphis’s chance later should’ve been taken, so they were probably worthy of a goal. Both resulting from Mata’s quality. Hard to begrudge that, and it was a quality move, but…
On the other hand, clear penalty on Richards. Disgraceful officiating there. The fact Richards tried to fight through and still got his head on the ball might have affected the way it was seen, but it’s a penalty, certainly every bit as much as the one Stoke got today against Spurs. As the commentator said, “He’s got him round the neck, but he still gets his head on the ball and directs it goal-ward. If that’s not a penalty, I don’t know what is.”
And I did think after a series of clear, cynical blocks and the penalty that Darmian was very lucky to stay in the game. I usually don’t harp on officiating, but I really think it was poor last night. You’re getting at someone, finding a weak point, putting it under pressure, and creating fouls that aren’t punished—which just bailed United out and kept them from suffering any consequence.
So, there’s the requisite “getting screwed by the official when we play a top-four side” complaints out of the way.
Gabby’s header…He’s in clear, puts it right at the keeper. As dangerous as any other chance in the game.
I think we were a bit unlucky on balance, given all the flux, not to have gotten a point. I wouldn’t really insist we deserved it, but it wouldn’t have been unfair to United, either.
I think it’s really a shame we didn’t get something since a point was there to be had. But for a bunch of guys that don’t know each other very well, it doesn’t worry me.
Also agree with Jenny about the nerves. I was a bit worried the occasion might be a bit much for such a changed team so early on, and indeed it seemed as if we had trouble settling down and staying composed. Communication and anticipation will obviously improve, though.