As you know, I’ve been trying to watch more of the games that I’d usually not watch in favor of a nap. Homework isn’t meant to be easy.
So, I watched Norwich and Stoke. I also took in Sunderland–Liverpool, Swansea–Arsenal, and Everton–Newcastle. I’ve still got Spurs and Chelsea to watch on the DVR at the girlfriend’s.
And of course I watched Villa. And no, that was anything but boring.
What did I take away this week? Well, I’m afraid there’s nothing terribly novel. Intensity and chances, again. It’s looking like the same thing every week, but to be fair, they are pretty fundamental elements.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that these days, most teams have some sort of money to spend. So they spend it. And they end up having half-decent rosters no matter who you’re talking about. When there’s much of a sameness, what distinguishes?
You guessed it: intensity and chances. For example, I saw lots of pretty football from Swansea, and a lovely goal. Apart from that, precious little end product and no points.
Which brings me to Villa and intensity. What I’ve noticed is that while I’ve seen teams like Newcastle press us hard from the off and profit, then sit back against Everton and pay, it seems like every team has come at Villa hard.
That’s the book on Villa: Press high and hard from the start. Seize the initiative. Stop us getting comfortable, playing it out. Put us under pressure, try and get a lead, then play the chasing Villa as you see fit.
Now, I don’t pretend to have an insight to Paul Lambert’s pre-game or halftime instructions. We’ve seen Villa start most every game slowly, and then grow into it, often dominating the second half after being dominated in the opening 45.
Is it a matter of hair dryers and teacups? Perhaps, though my guess is that it still has more to do with fragile confidence. Which I know will have some howling.
But this is why teams are coming at us, and various readers have alluded to aspects of the consequences. When pressured, Villa aren’t yet showing the composure (be it close control, passing, movement, patience) necessary to negate the pressure. They’re trying to play it quickly, which might be lethal, but it’s not coming off.
After other sides either gain the initiative or the lead, or simply expend themselves, Villa assert themselves more and more. If it were Ali (Muhammed, not G), we’d be calling it Rope A Dope. But I don’t necessarily think it’s a strategy, as such. No one says, “Right, go out, give ’em a lead then give ’em hell.”
Now, against sides like City, you’ve got two choices: Pressure, harry and disrupt, or absorb, stay organized and counterpunch. On Saturday, for whatever reason, we saw the latter. And it worked. Was it by design? I don’t know. Sometimes designs get ripped from your hand by the other side.
But, by staying organized and disciplined, Villa hung in the game long enough to realize their own chances, which they took. When they went down, they didn’t capitulate. Either time.
Against lesser sides, who knows what we’ll see. Will Villa come out and match the intensity? Or will they cede that initial surge and play the long game, pun intended?
Lots of details here I’m glossing over, but you see the thrust, and we can debate the fine points below.
Some other thoughts:
I’m liking Bacuna more each time I see him.
Lambert is showing, again, the tactical flexibility he’s known for yet accused of not possessing.
Lambert is not above sitting players he’s brought in.
Villa are going to have get better playing under intense early pressure, or…
Villa are going to have to match that intense early pressure, however scrappy it gets, or…
VIlla are going to have to make the long-ball alternative to heavy pressure pay off more frequently.
And by the way, I thought Everton looked very good in the first half last night. While some Toffees were fretting, it seems Martinez might actually be a good manager, although, yes, he does have what Moyes built to work from. If I were David, I might really be wondering why I ever left Everton right about now and whether Martinez wouldn’t be doing better at Old Trafford. Early on, though.
I also think Lukaku is looking like a better all-round player than Benteke at the moment, basically because he seems like a better athlete: more fluid, quicker, powerful, and better with the ball at his feet.
So, there you go. I’m not quite sure what I’m off for. Maybe a pastry, some sort of fruit-filled croissant.
Oh, wait…forgot all about my headline. Cheeky January bids for Mata and de Bruyne? If Mourinho’s willing to let Lukaku go, maybe he’ll let us have them so they can get more games and get the press off his back. Based on current form, he seems a bit mad to have retained Fernando instead of Romelu. Maybe we could just get Lukaku, straight up swap for Benteke?
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