Aston Villa News 24/7Marc Albrighton crashing into the first team with such style this season could be the real catalyst for raising this question, after all, Stephen Ireland was considered a like-for-like swap for James Milner and there’s no reason in the world why I’d be asking where Milner would fit in if he was still with us now.
Albrighton made a name for himself last summer with some fine performances with the first team during the Peace Cup in Spain, an opportunity afforded to him as Gabby, Milner and Gardner had been given extra time off after taking part in the European Under-21 tournament in Sweden.
I think he would have played a significant part in pre-season 2010 in any case, but the fact that Milner was again given extra time off – the World Cup this time – and Ash was pushed into a more forward, central role to cover the lack of fit strikers, also magnified the opportunity to play. And boy did he play well.
Now we’ve ended up with a 4-4-1-1 system with Ash playing a key role, in an advanced position, but encouraged to roam as necessary. At times it’s looked good, at others the line separating it from the ubiquitous 4-4-2 have been revealed to be soft, blurry and frequently trampled.
Stewart Downing has shown signs of why MON thought he’d be worth splurging £12m on and is currently the joint leading scorer at Villa. I’m not sure what the fact that he’s sharing that record with Emile Heskey says, but it remains just that, a fact, make of it what you will.
And, of course, our attacking quartet has been spearheaded at various times by John Carew, Gabby Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey, three players more than capable of dividing opinion, but that opinion is outside the scope of this piece.
Either playing behind, or frequently wrapped in the middle of this quartet, is the midfield duo, most recently the Petrov / Reo-Coker partnership. I won’t lie, I did hope that Petrov making way towards the end of the Wolves game suggested that his days as captain – since that implies he must be picked – could be numbered, but Gérard Houllier seems to have poured cold water on that notion this week.
However, I equally have to admit that we probably don’t have a player who can do what Petrov does as well as he does it at the moment, even though I still think that he’s almost always the weakest link in most XI’s we have on the pitch. To be more specific – and to get to the point – I don’t think Stephen Ireland fill Petrov’s boots, but the same could be said of Reo-Coker’s boots too. Which leaves us with a bit of a problem.
To illustrate this point, I thought I take a look at the passing game of Petrov and Reo-Coker at Molineux, the maps below show the complete passes in blue, the incomplete in red. As you can probably tell, Petrov is on the left and Reo-Coker is on the right.
I’ve added my own “heat maps”, there’s nothing scientific about it, it’s just my own interpretation, but it’s easy to see why NRC is so frequently referred to as a “box to box midfielder” in comparison to Stan.
What’s also clear, as you study the two players’ games, is that Stephen Ireland doesn’t really provide a suitable alternative to either player. Clearly NRC is up and down the pitch, breaking up play, carrying and passing the ball around. Petrov is more of a holder, lots of lateral movement, linking up particularly with Downing and Ash on the left.
I took the passes in the above graphic and reassembled them in the graphic below so they all emanate from the same point for each player, forming a “passing wheel” of sorts, highlighting the relative direction and distance of their passes.
Both players attempted 23 passes during the game, Stan completed 100%, whilst NRC completed 19, 83%. Interestingly though, all of the passes NRC failed to complete were in a forward direction, three of the four were in the opposition half. Overall, 74% of the passes NRC attempted were ahead of the horizontal, while just 52% of Stan’s passes could be described as forward passes and many of those weren’t very forward. The overwhelming majority of Stan’s passes were in the middle third of the pitch.
I think the range of passing and movement reveals exactly where Stephen Ireland should be playing, which also happens to be his best position according to most City fans: as a central attacking midfielder as part of a central trio.
Just one problem.
That’s kinda what Ash has been doing, although I believe he’s failing to drop deep enough and is probing the flanks too much to be as effective in the position as he could be.
The answer seems obvious and logical; Ireland could be included in his natural attacker / play maker role, ahead of Petrov and Reo-Coker as double pivots, and Ash moves out wide.
In place of who though?
Well, sorry, Albrighton’s great, but he’s still young and learning. He’s also been noticeably tiring inside an hour and perhaps he’d be better employed towards the end of games when his fresh legs against defenders’ tired legs can yield the greatest advantage.
It seems simple, but there’s another problem.
Houllier has recently said that he doesn’t think Ash’s best position is on the flank, he seemed to suggest that Ash is better in middle, in the role he’s currently occupying. This illustration shows, I think, where we need the play maker and where Ireland would work best. The reality is that Ash has often played too high, which not only detaches him from Petrov and NRC, but has also forced him to play with his back to goal too much for my liking.
Am I alone in sensing that Houllier was avoiding going back on his word when he brought Gabby on to play on the wing whilst Ash remained up top? Nothing wrong with Gabby playing wide of course, nothing new, but it just didn’t make a lot of sense under the circumstances.
And that really is the quandary in a nutshell: Ireland doesn’t seem to fit the central midfield holding roles occupied by Stan and Reo-Coker, but placing him further forward as the point in a central triangle forces Ash to the wing, a position that Houllier doesn’t think is his best – and means dropping a winger, most likely Albrighton.
But that’s the manager’s job, to figure these things out. One concern I have is that Houllier won’t be building the solution around a 4-2-3-1 framework (which I think is the key to unlocking Ireland’s potential), but will instead be more focused on a 4-4-1-1 / 4-4-2 system, believing that be more suited to the English game.
I hope I’m wrong, I don’t really have anything tangible to back that assertion up beyond most of the criticism from Liverpool fans of his tactical approach at Liverpool – certainly in the second half of his time at Anfield – reads almost exactly like a lot of the criticism aimed at MON from Villa fans: 4-4-2, too rigid, too much long ball, too one dimensional, too predictable, lacks plan B.
I’m not making any of those up, I’ve read them all and had to check that it was indeed Houllier I was reading about, not Martin O’Neill. Let’s hope the six years of separation from the English game, rather than being the problem some fans seemed to feel it would be, will actually be beneficial.
My hope lies with Houllier’s two year stint with Lyon, where I think his approach was more sophisticated, and the fact that he was one of many authors of the FIFA technical report on the last World Cup where the widespread adoption of 4-2-3-1 and the decline of 4-4-2 was duly noted.
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19 Comments to “Where does Stephen Ireland fit in?”
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Great visualizations! I’ve always felt Petrov plays too many sideways and backwards balls – especially when under pressure. I’d like to see him toward and press forward more often.
thanks. that’s really the heart of my gripe with petrov.
he’s frequently credited with being clever in possession, often positioning himself between ball and opponent to win a free kick. that’s useful to a degree, but it breaks the flow of the game and neutralizes one of our key assets, pace.
like you, instead of him shifting the ball off to a safe option so often, i’d prefer to see him take a chance in an attacking sense now and again, even if it doesn’t always come off.
I’m not exactly sure how this would work,but I’ve never seen any talk of a 3-3-3-1 or anything of the sort. Your pick of three in the back, NRC/Ireland/Petrov in the mids, Downing/Ash/Marc up front, and then Heskey/Gabby at the very lead.
Does that narrow the defense too much? I wonder if having to play a bit more narrow would force our defenders to play a bit more heads-up.
mmm, the chilean system i think. entertaining, for sure.
i’ve been thinking about a three man defence a lot recently. it seems to me that the only way to challenge at the top of league these days, since we’ll never do a chelsea or a city (i hope), is to do something different and revolutionary. (there may be something on this in future here)
3-3-3-1 certainly fits that bill, but the thought of actually doing it scares the crap out of me!!
the thing with all systems and formations is it comes down to the personnel. also, if you’re going to do something radically different, there needs to be footballing philosophy behind it that’s pervasive at the club.
not sure the world’s ready for us to assault the premier league with 3-3-3-1, but that would be a fantastic watch!
Likely in the cateogory of crazy schemes, but how about a 4-3-2-1 with both Ash and Ireland in the hole, allowing Ash to move wide if necessary and Ireland to become the second wave of attack on any cross.
This would leave the “mid-field” as Downing-Petrov-Albrighton with Downing and Albrighton free to make runs forward down the wings.
The big issue in this approach is not where to play Ireland, but rather would it expose Petrov? It seems that in a full-on attack, you might end up with 2 midfielders — Petrov would need to be able to cover a lot of ground.
yeah, very attacking. would easily morph into a 4-1-4-1 in possession, would require some unusual discipline for downing and albrighton to “tuck in”.
one downside, i would suggest, is it seems a shame to go to the trouble of putting three recognized wingers on the pitch in ash, downing and albrighton, but somehow contriving to play none of them in that role.
Or ALL wingers as Stu & Marc attack from the back of the mid-field and Ash / Ireland push out wide! Hence the overly attacking formation!
Very good post Dan !!
I wonder if Houlleir was in charge over the summer would he have took IReland and I come to resounding NO.
Ireland does not fit into the team if as Houllier indicated Ash is no long for the wings. Houllier has always played narow and the likes of Downing for me is perfect for an houllier team on the left where he will probe and come inside and the sppedier player on the right.
In other words those areas are covered. IReland will not work with either NRC (he goes forward far too much), nor Petrov for some of the reasons given and would it suprise me to see Ireland leave within 9 months
nope
i’m not writing ireland off until we see him play as the point of a central three. he could be absolutely brilliant as an advanced play maker – his eye for a pass is top notch – but he needs to be backed by two holding players, ash needs to go wide again, and either downing or albrighton have to make way.
i feel houllier’s painted himself in a bit of a corner with his assertion about ash’s best role. what’s best for ash isn’t necessarily what’s best for aston villa.
actually Dan I believe Ash is far better in that position than Ireland is as the more natural forward.
No question that Ireland will play and has to be a central three which is possible with Ash on the left of the attack and say Gabby on the right, like the Vienna formation but will take time.
I am fairly confident that by January we will be playing a MON type set up and MON type football but will be in a DOL type position in the league table. I hope I am wrong on all counts.
i hope you’re wrong too, nan.
december is a nightmare of a fixture list, there may be trouble ahead…
…but let’s face the music and dance, what choice to we have?
I agree that NRC and Petrov are basic requirements and should both play at the moment.
As a short term solution I don’t see a problem with Downing/Ash/Albrighton starting and Albrighton coming off, with Ireland going into the middle and Downing/Young playing the wings as required.
It gives Albrighton an easier time and I believe Ireland isn’t fully up to speed yet anyway.
Of course that doesn’t solve the long term problem.
The thought of quality like Ireland not starting is nice though, as is the thought of Ash being dropped if he’s not performing.
Before anyone says I’m mad, I’m not advocating that Young be dropped.
It’s just that I think the thought that he might be would surely spur him on.
I just hate it when players think they’re undroppable, something that might have worked against us under the previous incumbant.
Just an opinion (ooh err).
all dependent on results though badger, winning games and I doubt Houllier will change that much, from recollection he did not change teh core players at all.
Yes, that’s fair comment Ian.
But then, everything depends on results.
I’m very much in the camp that say’s if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.
But seeing as I expect a poor return this month, I expect experimentation.
You know I’m not mad keen on Houllier’s appointment, same as you.
Let’s hope we’re wrong eh?
Defensively, I like the central solidity offfered up by Cuellar & Collins (and/or Dunne) aided by the full back options of Young and Warnock. Last week I heaped praise on NRC as a Gattuso/Essien type to assist the defence and make lung bursting box-to-box runs as needed. Within this five I believe we have sound defensive options and the ability to play an orthodox back four or, as we should have done against Stoke at 1-0, play a 3-man central defence (Cuellar, Collins & Dunne) for when we play against teams who play big forwards and launch aeriel bombs.
On either flank we have options. My first inclination is to play Young wide left and Gabby on the opposite flank, probably because I grew up on seeing Villa play with ‘traditional’ wingers, be it Tony Morley, Mark Walters, Tony Daley. Those images are hard to shake. Given Ashley and Gabby’s physical attributes I still feel they’re better playing wide, where space is more plentiful and they can run at full backs rather than play with their backs to the Shawcross, Vermaelen, Alex, Vidic types. For me, a more advanced/central role negates some of their advanatge and thrusts them into the punishing middle area of the park. This position doesnt immediately banish them from grabbing goals as either are adept at cutting in and making incisve runs from deep (‘a la’ Ashley’s goal against Everton at Goodison when we won 3-2 late on).
For me, with the back four and NRC ‘a lock’, both wings covered and assuming the either Ivanhoe or JC plays as a big man up front this then leaves the middle and the need to balance defensive sensibilities with the creative element.
Now, whether we like it or not, I feel Stan is a suitable foil for NRC in that he’ll sit and compensate for Nigel’s forray’s back and forth. Okay, so he’ll play too many square balls but if those passes translate into ball retention from where we can build and/or take impetus away from the opposition then this isn’t a bad thing. For now, I think we need Stan as our holding midfielder in what’s a thankless, glamourless role.
Completing my midfield would be Downing to give a staring line-up of:
Friedel
L.Young, Collins, Cuellar, Warnock
(relative to circumstance we can add Dunne (sacrifice winger) to create a five man central defence with full backs)
Central midfield three: NRC, Stan + Downing
Wingers allowed to drift inside: Ash + Gabby
Striker: Heskey
This all brings me back to the dilemma of Marc and Stephen. Both are creative sorts with minimal emphasis on defensive sensibilities. For me, right now they’re interchangeable with Downing, Gabby and Ash with neither being able to replicate Stan or NRC’s role without making us vulnerable (that’s what Sidwell is for). Whether or not Ireland or Albrighton start is IMHO relative to form/injury.
I can see the roles of Stuart, Gab or Ash being filled by Marc (specifically the wider role) and Ireland (central role) so ultimately, we ‘may’ just have the makings of a squad with genuine depth and real options and Gerard may have the luxury of squad rotaion, something that O’Neill seemingly avoided at all costs. A dilemma…but a a good one!!!
funny you mention gattuso, reo-coker often reminds me of him in some ways. if he could just grow a gattuso style beard, it would be awesome.
plus ten internets for mentioning tony daley too, he’s probably the reason why i’m a villa fan.
We’re on the same page Dan! If NRC did grow a Gattuso beared he’d have to dye it white (like Abel Xavier) just to make it visible. As for Tony Daley, I was at Villa Park the night he first graced the club in the reserves. Recall my Dad taking me to the game (Tony Morley is possibly mt first Villa hero). Anyway, I saw Tony at the Wolves game last weekend as he’s their fitness coach now (guess you knew that).
i did, yeah. i think they dragged a quote or two out of tony when MON quit. nice to see he’s still in the game and in the region. shame we couldn’t have tapped him up, don’t know how good he is, but would be good to have him at the villa.