Well there’s only one place to start this week’s post and I have to comment on Monday night. It was a disaster, make no mistake. Everything about it was wrong, from the line-up to how we approached the game to individual performances. Everything stank. When I first saw the line-up I felt exactly as I did upon seeing Houllier’s team in the cup game at City last year. When I glanced at the names that night I knew we had already lost and worse still we’d lose timidly—well deja-vu time for me.
It was the first time I genuinely felt AM was out of his depth and I take no pleasure in saying that. I have long fought in his corner but what happened Monday makes it very difficult for even his keenest supporters. The team selected to face Spurs was an absolute mess and in keeping with this, the team performed accordingly. I hate to highlight individuals but there are some who command special attention.
Dunne and Collins (in particular Collins) were atrocious at the back and as many have pointed out Cuellar—our best defender on the night—was the one brought off. Cuellar must be bitterly disappointed at his withdrawal and it raises the question what AM is actually watching versus the rest of us. Warnock on the left was ineffective and is not a Villa player.
In midfield, Petrov is finished. Unable to drive the team forward at all. To think this guy still has another year left on his contract—thanks Martin. He would be one of the first out the door but who’s gonna take him? Alongside him, young Herd, had well much as the rest. He huffed and puffed some but was swimming against the tide all night long. I have doubts over his technical ability if I’m honest. He lacks any finesse and while I know that’s not what he’s in there to do, I think he is nothing more than a decent young player and I wouldn’t consider him first choice. Delph for me is a better footballer and should be starting alongside Jenas next time out.
As for the attack – well it doesn’t exist really. Gabby had a forlorn night of ball chasing. Heskey was his usual self, running around but getting nowhere fast. But at least he was running. Bent, on the other hand, is as lazy as you like. And I think it could be his attitude. Now I am not suggesting he is trouble, more that he must be truly miffed at how the move has worked out. His service from last season is gone and AM’s style of play will never get the best out of him. On Monday we just continuously hoofed the ball up and expected him to feed off knock-downs—what a waste of an £18M resource. The player himself however must lift his work-levels. He looks disinterested and a little disaffected right now and I can’t blame him.
With regard the game itself, AM set up to get a scoreless draw. When Tottenham scored, it was AM’s reluctance to change things around which gave me the greatest concern. Everybody in the ground or watching the game via TV, despite their allegiance, could see it needed changing. Everybody except Eck. The changes should have been made at HT when we had some chance of turning it around. When the changes did come, it was much too late and the second change was just baffling unless there was a minor injury concern. What the hell was Fabian Delph going to do with 4 minutes left? Even the first sub, bringing off Cuellar, was an absolute disgrace. He was (and this isn’t saying much) our best defender: he looked to get forward and play football at times. The fact that it didn’t always come off I can live with. At least he was trying.
There’s so much else I could say and write but you guys have been saying it for a long time. I just didn’t wish to believe it. I say this with such a heavy heart, but AM is starting to look like he isn’t the man for us.
So Where Now?
South Wales. Well, Swansea to be precise. The trip to the Liberty on Sunday has suddenly become massive. AM needs a win. Randy Lerner needs a win. The players need a win and more importantly we Villa fans need a win. With some very tricky looking fixtures to see the year out we must pick up 3 points you feel against a newly promoted club. On current form, the Swans would have to be fancied to get something, especially if we turn up as we did Monday. They play good football and base their game on playing possession football—someone we can only dream about. There have to be significant changes to our starting line-up for me if we are to get something from this one. If we lose, AM becomes a dead man walking and unless significant improvement is witnessed in performance a win itself will not be enough if the football is as dire.
I’d reshape the back four a little with Cuellar and Dunne in the centre, Hutton at RB and Warnock at LB—although I’m half tempted to play Delph here—but he gets a start in the middle with Jenas for me. Although employed to sit in front of the defence, Jenas in particular would be required to act as a link man to the three attacking midfielders ahead of him in Gabby, Gary Gardner, and Charles N’Zogbia. With Petrov squeezed out I’d give Gabby the armband. That midfield has enough footballers in it to retain the ball, something we are seemingly incapable of doing at present. Indeed even Bannan and Ireland on the bench like to play a more attractive style and could easily come into the team.
I want to talk a little about Gardner also, who as you can see gets into my starting line-up and here’s why. He is fresh off scoring a hat-trick in a wonder display against Ajax in the NextGen series, for which the team have reached the quarterfinals. The player has long been vaunted and I could wax lyrical about his potential all day long but it’s time to thrust him into the spotlight. The team is crying out for a player like him in the middle. He is young, yes, and so I know I must be cautious and not expect too much too soon, but he has to be given the chance now. There are others who can’t be far behind him also.
This leaves Bent up front with decent supply and more importantly creativity behind him. He plays off the shoulder and needs slide rule passes to run onto— that’s how he’s made his living to date. And he’s one of the best in the business at it, so play to his strengths.
The players must also take their share of responsibility. It’s starting to feel like last season all over again. Defensive shambles, no fight, and the players know come what may that the manager will take the heat. They know he is deeply unpopular with fans and this I’m afraid gives them an all too convenient an excuse. He might not be the man for the job but most of the current first team aren’t the men for their jobs either, and I’d happily offload the majority. It’s time they ‘man up’ and show the fans they care for the club and for our support.
Well, that’s it folks. I’m pretty drained. I feel beat up by Monday night. The fog of young love has lifted and I’m starting to see with some clarity. Alex McLeish, I know you won’t be reading this but I really wanted you to be our next best manager ever. But you aren’t and you won’t be and so it’s time to go. You don’t need the hassle and nor do we. And while I am only newly converted to this way of thinking…us Villa fans, well, we’re just not that into you.
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