Villa are finally set to start playing games that count. And we’ll quickly see what’s been learned in games that don’t.
While I agree with the general premise that preseason games are primarily about fitness, there’s obviously more at stake: Players are auditioning for starting roles, and systems and tactics are being implemented. For Villa, with a new manager, new style, and new players in key roles, the preseason had to be about more than fitness.
And we could see that reflected in the formation, style of play, and rotating cast of characters getting a look in over the last few weeks.
Coming as it did a week before the season opener against West Ham, most fans were looking to the Werder Bremen game for an indication of Paul Lambert’s preferred starting XI. But I’m not sure we saw that. Or maybe we did insofar as there won’t be a “preferred” line-up, particularly when it comes to Fabian Delph, Stephen Ireland and Barry Bannan.
Lambert again set out in the narrow 4-4-2 we’ve seen employed, so no surprises there.
Mainly I was a bit surprised that neither Ireland nor Bannan started. Lowton, with a knock, was an understandable absentee, as was Stephen Warnock. Beyond that though, Holman and N’Zogbia, Vlaar and Clark, Enda Stevens and Eric Lichaj, Bent and Weimann, along with Given in goal, were all predictable enough names in predictable enough positions, as was El Ahmadi. Fabian Delph was, to my mind, the one unexpected selection.
He didn’t do anything to hurt himself, didn’t really do anything that shone particularly brightly. He was steady when in the middle, and then switched to left back when Stevens was brought off. Perhaps Lambert’s just keeping things fresh. Perhaps he knows he’s going to use all three.
Bannan and Ireland both, I thought, have been less effective coming off the bench, which isn’t terribly surprising. Bannan, in particular, seems to have had his best outings when starting. Ireland made a bit of an impression, but was employed in a “wide” role. Although he, and Charles N’Zogbia, had license to roam, it seems to me that Ireland has more impact in a central role.
What else was there? Obviously good news that Darren Bent tucked two chances away, combining well with Weimann on one. Also good that when Villa went one down, we equalized and then took the lead. It was a bit of a shame we couldn’t protect 2-1 and 3-2 advantages, but Bremen were playing well, and certainly have had much more continuity with their manager in recent years. No one could argue they deserved anything less than a draw. Villa made the most of their chances, but carved out fewer than Bremen.
Perhaps the one troubling aspect was the relative ease with which Bremen were exploiting the channels later on and getting into dangerous areas. Given had a fantastic save to preserve the draw, and the woodwork was on our side. I wasn’t convinced by Given’s performance otherwise.
And I wouldn’t say Lichaj, and perhaps to a lesser extent Stevens, had the best of days, but they’re an improvement on Hutton and Warnock and should only get better with more experience. Lowton I think will generally be preferred to Lichaj at right back, so I don’t know whether Lichaj and Stevens will be battling it out on the left.
Villa are still looking a bit shaky from set pieces, but obviously we’re playing with a new CD pairing, and a revamped back four, so it might take a little bit for things to tighten up. I really wish Given would do more to command his area, but I don’t think he’s changing his game much at this point in his career.
Eric Lichaj, though, said something interesting about having things Villa want to do, but not wanting to talk about it before West Ham.
Personally, I’ve yet to be convinced by the formation itself. I wondered earlier if it perhaps leaves us too vulnerable down the flanks, and I’m still not sure it doesn’t. I’m also not sure whether two forwards are really what we need…I have a strong bias toward playing five in the middle to get Ireland up in the hole behind Bent, and I’m not necessarily seeing that we have two forwards who are really troubling enough to defenses to make up for being a bit lightweight in the middle.
Of course, we also know Lambert can and does change things round, so we’ll be seeing other approaches in due course.
Villa did pass it around, kept bringing it up from the back, and generally looked fairly comfortable with what Lambert’s trying to impress on them. While it’s a touch slow and methodical at the moment, I’m sure that the pace will pick up as the season goes on, and it’s certainly moving in the right direction.
And with rumors that Tony Pulis might have his eye on Dunne and Warnock might be rejoining Martin O’Neill, well, the only way to go is up. Even if the deals don’t come off.
So here’s to Villa taking confidence from an entertaining, competitive Bremen game, having something to work on at the back during the week, and pushing on to a positive start to the season at Upton Park.
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