Well, the dust has settled on Eck’s first game and I know not everyone will agree but i was rather pleased with our performance Saturday. Villa fans should certainly be the happier of the two leaving the Cottage and a point on the road in our first match represents a decent result.

Fulham away is not an easy fixture and better teams than ourselves will come up short there as the season plays out. It was always a tricky looking start in McLeish’s first game and the performance will no doubt provide ammunition for the naysayers to critique a lack of adventure in the final third. For me, however, a clean sheet and a point away from home is a solid start to Eck’s reign and i have no doubt that the football will improve as we move forward.

Below I assess the performance as I saw it and as always I welcome everyone’s opinion—they are as valid as my own, after all, and its great to hear differing views on the same game.

Case for the Defence

We limited Fulham all day, and as the home side they looked impotent against our back line. On first impression, it appears as though our back line is out to prove a point this year with Dunne, Collins, Young, and Warnock limiting the home side to not even half-chances. Given had little to do behind this shield but he did everything that was expected with two good saves from Zamora and commands those in front of him well. His relationship with Dunne is no doubt invaluable.

Speaking of Dunne, he and Collins put in towering performances and cleared their lines to good effect and with minimum fuss. Young and Warnock likewise did what defenders are paid to do—defend (some seem to have forgotten this rather elementary fundamental). They gave Fulham’s wide men little time or space. They did not get as forward as many would like but on the road it’s about keeping it tight and snatching at the other end. They fulfilled their part of the deal and as confidence grows with more assured performances (and a couple of clean sheets) I am certain we will see them marauding forward and supporting the attack.

The Middle

The middle of the park for me posed the most questions on Saturday (as I think it might all season), while providing the fewest answers. It was an interesting first selection by ‘Eck. and with protecting the back four the priority, there was little invention or daring. N’Zogbia will provide this as he adjusts to our style as the season progresses and he looked to get forward when in possession with Delph and Petrov making the hard yards.

I was pleased to see Delph start, however, I would have preferred it at Petrov’s expense. That will come in due course. It’s not that Petrov played poorly at all, au contraire. It’s just that Petrov slows us down a little too much, his head doesn’t get up quick enough, and given our keenness to exploit opponents with pace, his selection (particularly when we are at home and wanting to be on the front foot) seems somewhat contradictory.

I am sure we will see Ireland and Makoun get their chances very shortly, and it was interesting to see Clark get the last few minutes over either. I’d imagine his height and a required defensive responsibility at the time were forefront in our managers mind rather than any preference over the others for a CM berth, or indeed any suggestion that Eck sees Clark as a CM in the long-term. Horses for courses, as it were.

The Business Up Top

While Fulham didn’t really trouble us, the same could be said of our attack. With Bent central, flanked by Heskey and Gabby, we lacked a cutting edge in the final third, in some part hampered by not enough support going forward from midfield. We looked most threatening late on with a succession of corners and Albrighton was unlucky with a good effort which flew just wide of Schwarzer’s goal with the keeper beaten.

I don’t worry about Bent in the slightest—he is a constant threat and nuisance and will score a lot of goals this season playing as he does off the shoulder. The style and work-rate of our front three also restricted Fulham, who couldn’t play too high up the field wary of leaving space in behind. While I am not the biggest fan of Emile and Gabby in terms of scoring record, no-one can question their willingness, and they worked the flanks well, pressing Fulham at every chance. As strikers, however, everyone looks at the Goals For column and neither will hit more than 10 this season for all their industry.

I think at home we’ll see Albrighton (another one unlucky to have missed out) get the nod nod over one or the other as he offers something more going forward, a player who genuinely excites and creates a buzz. N’Zogbia can also be advanced with Makoun/Ireland slotting into the middle three if we retain the same formation.

Overall: What we Learned

Well certainly the first thing for me is McLeish’s ability to surprise and he did exactly that with his team selection and it paid dividends. Before a ball was even kicked in anger ‘Eck showed he is not afraid to be true to himself and this will stand him in good stead.

He had obviously done his homework on Fulham and Jol, and set up to nullify and achieved his goal. I also get the impression that away from home we can expect a pragmatic approach in the main. However, I don’t perceive this as a negative in the slightest given our need to improve our Goals Against column. If I called us porous last season, that would be kind. Adventure will come at home and I am satisfied with this given McLeish is our fourth manager in little over a year and stability is a must if we are to move ahead.

I think we also learned that Eck realised the importance of getting something (indeed anything) from the game and putting a point on the board. While a little more adventure might have seen us steal all three points, I argue that it just as easily could have seen the game swing in Fulham’s favour and we’d all be sat here cursing a point lost. As it stands, its one gained and we’re up and running. Bring on Blackburn.

Reason to be Fearful: Insipid at times lacking invention and attacking nous.
Reason to be Cheerful: Very strong showing at the back.

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