So, let’s talk about Darren Bent. Better yet, let’s not. I can’t think of a more consistently divisive topic at the moment.
I do know that while I usually hate international breaks, I’m very glad for this one, as it comes at a good time. Players need time to heal up and have a look at themselves. If nothing else, time off without a loss in three outings feels a lot better than a break following a loss. Perhaps Benteke will even be ready when we take on Spurs.
However, I don’t know that he’ll necessarily be able to have much impact coming back in after a layoff. We’ll soon see. For players like Tony Moon, a layoff is probably a bit of a godsend. It’ll be good for Gabby, too.
It also comes at a good time for the team to assess itself as a whole, and perhaps have a few extra viewings of what West Ham did to get their win and thwart Spurs. Two wins and a draw is as good a place as any to take a breath and see what’s going well and what’s not, and it’s a bit of time for Villa to focus on Spurs with the knowledge they’ll be fielding a better side. And that Spurs will looking to get back on track.
What I did find interesting from the Hull match was that they sat back at home, which seems to defy all conventional wisdom. What happened was that Villa played it out from the back and passed it around, but couldn’t find a way through.
We saw Villa go long much more often when Hull started pressing more in the second half. That approach didn’t yield much either. As yet, Libor Kozak is not the second coming of Christian Benteke. But that would be asking a lot. The starts will be helping him figure things out, but as many have noted, he isn’t necessarily flourishing in the 4-3-3.
With Gabby out and just coming back, and Weimann well off the pace, it’s maybe not exactly fair to say it’s not going to work. They’re going to have to get used to each other, that’s for sure. Again, if Benteke’s fit, that will have to wait.
I also found it interesting that neither Lowton nor Helenius were on the bench. Helenius subbed in against Norwich, and Lowton wasn’t on the bench there, either. Bennett has been all along. Helenius would’ve probably been more useful than Bowery with us chasing a winner. Clues? If so, fill in your answers on a 3 x 5 card.
Other than that, I can’t really think of much. So, blessedly brief from me this week. I’m off for some ibuprofen.
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