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Having gathered some stats based upon where Villa ranked in the Premier League last season under Gerard Houllier regarding the way in which the team scored goals and the passing style adopted, there is definitely room for improvement, despite some encouraging signs.
Of the 48 goals scored, 28 came from open play, placing Villa at an uninspiring joint 11th compared to their league counterparts, a full 7 goals and 6 places below Midland rivals West Brom. Now here is where you can recognize the majority of Villa fans gripe with any potential McLeish appointment. Relegated Birmingham finished bottom of the rankings, netting just 18 times from open play last season.
A key aspect of Villa’s game since the arrival of soon to depart Ashley Young has been their ability to hit teams on the counter attack and was a feature utilized by Gerard Houllier through the likes of Downing, Albrighton and the aforementioned Young, who combined to score a memorable fast break goal to give Villa a 2-0 lead over United midway through the campaign. The eventual champions were joined by Wigan at the top of the leaderboard for goals on the break with 5, while Villa managed just one less. Again, Birmingham ranked joint last in this regard, scoring just 1 goal on the counter attack all season.
An area in which McLeish’s side did excel in terms of goalscoring stakes was a department where Villa faltered. City scored 16 times from set pieces last term, just 4 less than the league high held by Newcastle, while Houllier’s Villa not only failed to defend set plays, but attack them also, scoring just 9 times. That total saw Villa on a par with Arsenal and Wigan and just one above the league’s worst set piece converters Sunderland.
Villa’s remaining 7 goals came from penalties (4) and own goals from opponents (3), while City only scored 2 penalties and had no own goals scored in their favour, the only team in the league to not get a helping hand in that regard.
Will Villa rely less on crosses
McLeish’s Blues attempted an average of 5 less crosses a game than Villa last season (21), highlighting the difference in styles of play between the two sides with Villa using their talent on the wings to far greater effect. Villa’s tally of 26 was the third highest total in the league, with Wolves’ 29 topping the pile. In terms of through balls attempted per game, both sides were way behind the league high of Arsenal, unsurprisingly, with 10 (Villa 3, City 2).
A key indicator in the vast difference in styles between the two sides was the tendency to revert to the long ball, a tendency that Birmingham resorted to more than any other with an average of 82 per game. Houllier undoubtedly tried to play a more ‘attractive’ style of passing football and encouragingly the side were 17th in terms of long balls attempted per game with 62, with only Chelsea (18th), Manchester City (19th) and Arsenal (20th) below them.
In terms of the top 4 in the league for short passes, the top 4 in the league adopted the rankings, proving that patient build up and passing football does pay off. Villa were also aligned with their league position in terms of short passes, ranking 9th with an average of 336 attempted per game. Birmingham again ranked low (16th), completing an average of 302 short passes per game, and the bottom of the rankings certainly didn’t do any favours to those sides attempting to prove that they are not long ball, unattractive sides. Bolton (18th), Blackburn (19th) and Stoke (20th) were the bottom 3.
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