Aston Villa News 24/7I’ve been working on developing Statshack 2.0, but I have to confess that I left myself with more to do than I realised and despite a late night last night, it’s still not ready. Also, I’m not sure why, but the average position map data doesn’t seem to be working, so I’m using my own interpretation of the general positions the players took up for now.
System wise, it was more of a 4-4-1-1 than a 4-2-3-1, although they may look similar, it’s the role of central pair, Petrov and Milner, both pretty much attacking today, that defines the system. Ash did a fantastic job in the “hole”, a role he’s played for much of the pre-season and this was easily the best I’ve seen him play so far this term.
Actually, it’s obviously the best we’ve seen all of the team play in the last few games, but some of the bright signs we saw against Valencia and Feyenoord in particular came together with a real intent to get the goals and keep looking for them, even when we were ahead. That’s encouraging.
I don’t want to take anything away from the performance, every player was brilliant, no question, but West Ham fans will have good reason to feel their side didn’t really put in a shift. They weren’t good, not good at all. A lot of that, of course, is down to Villa’s approach, John Carew was frequently spotted encouraging his team mates to press up, defend from the front and West Ham were left with little space to play in. They didn’t help their cause with the unforced errors when they did have the ball though.
I don’t want to take anything away from Kevin MacDonald either, it was a brave call to start James Milner – although that would surely have required sanctioning from the top, I can’t believe he’d be allowed to risk our £26m man without permission – but from reading some of the reactions around the web, you’d think he just revolutionized the system and team selection.
Let’s not mess around, the nature of Martin O’Neill’s exit has surely soiled his reputation, but apart from Milner, this was essentially the team and system he played through pre-season, let’s not get sucked into any revisionism. Kevin’s only had five days in the hot seat, I would expect nothing less than an extension of what they were doing anyway. He did a fine job, but nothing really changed, we played some great football against Valencia, just at a more relaxed pace and without the same bite in the final third. Let’s not forget it was pre-season.
That said, the hunger in front of goal was palpable and reminded me very much of the side we were treated to in 2007/08 that scored 71 goals. And Kevin’s use of substitutes was a masterstroke, a textbook example of giving the players and the fans the opportunity to feel good about themselves. If the players are playing with a fresh, brighter outlook, then great. If a cloud has indeed been lifted, great too.
This was just one game though, we’ll hopefully have at least another 50 to play, so I’m not going to get carried away just yet.
It was a bit good though, wasn’t it?
Here’s the numbers, no real surprises:-
| 3 | Aston Villa | August 14th 2010 | West Ham | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 57% | Possession % | 43% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | Shots | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | On Target | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Corners | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Offsides | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15′ Downing, 40′ Petrov, 66′ Milner | Scorers | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Albrighton | Booked | Tomkins, Faubert | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sent Off | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 304 | Good Passes | 222 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 58% | CPS % | 42% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 62 | Bad Passes | 72 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 83% | Completion % | 76% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | Interceptions | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 42 | Tackles Won | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | Tackles Lost | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 60% | Success % | 54% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Blocks | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | Free Kicks | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Formation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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You can find Statshacks from other games here.
[Original data and graphics courtesy of ESPN and The Guardian]
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10 Comments to “Statshack – Aston Villa 3 West Ham 0”
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“Petrov and Milner, both pretty much attacking today, that defines the system.”
Which is what we’ve not seen for a while, especially with Petrov.
It made a fair difference imo.
I just got the impression that there were differences to instructions specific players were given, probably involving looking to attack more, if given the opportunity.
Quite subtle, when opposed to what I suspect were very rigid rules set by MON.
I’m not getting carried away after a woeful West ham performance, but it just seemed to me that the players might have had some input about how they thought they should play.
And boy, did it show.
that’s a fair assessment, subtle changes can make all the difference. a little encouragement to be a bit more adventurous might make all the difference, you’re absolutely right.
i said on twitter earlier, but forgot to include it here, that was the best i’ve seen from stan in a very long time. thrilled with his goal.
It’s easy to play without restraint when you have no manager, against a team that fails to turn up.
Is there a player power thing here? They did look like they’d been set free. From what?
I shall continue with my mood of doom and gloom for a while longer.
aw nan, you *are* down.
seriously, i watched the last three pre-season games and as many highlights of the rest as i could find, on top of following as closely as non-video methods allow live, and what we saw today was just an extension of that.
there was a freedom, a determination, a confidence, yes, but this wasn’t radically different football from what we were playing a week or two ago.
i don’t want to detract from kevin macdonald’s achievement, but he hasn’t installed revolutionary new football, he’s probably just encouraged the players to express themselves a bit more, as badger suggests.
i was suprised that Villa didn’t have more posession.
However I will call this now, Albrighton, AVFC’s next PFA Young Player of the Year
i was thinking the same thing, but i think rodwell and wilshire will give him a good run, depending how much they play.
i’m hoping to see a good 30 odd games out of albrighton this season.
Just when Lerner praises MacDonald as a quiet, low-key, players’ coach who wants no prima donna salary or headlines, Maradonna announces he is interested in the job. Hard to know where to start on what’s wrong with that idea.
Maybe he could get Tevez to come over.
Yes, it’s definitely wrong for loads of reasons.
But imagine the players he could persuade to come to Villa.
That’s a juicy thought.
Interesting comment from Petrov about appointing KMac. Kind of adds to the player power theory. They feel free without MON and don’t want someone else coming in and telling them how to play?
Tut tut Nan (hey up mate, btw).
That’s provocative to say the least.
While I suspect they are quite happy to see MON gone, I’m sure all players realise they need to be told sometimes.
That said, I’d get the right hump if I was told how to do my job.
But I’m not in my 20s/30s unfortunately
Not so much player power, more… fair play, I’d guess