Aston Villa News 24/7James Collins grabbed a point for Villa with a well taken half-volley from close range to cancel out Roger Johnson’s fortuitous opener early in the 2nd half in a game that was low on quality, but high on chances, and will have done little to ease the nerves of fans of either team.
Once again it was a case of early chances wasted, Gabby practically served the opener on the plate thanks to some comedy goal keeping from Ben Foster, only to slice his effort over the bar. The woodwork came to Foster’s rescue at least four times and other chances fell narrowly wide or over.
Birmingham had plenty of opportunities themselves and will feel that they could and should have scored more than one with better finishing.
In the end though, it was an open, if at times scrappy, derby game and in normal circumstances we’d have to feel reasonably satisfied with a point – that’s eight league games unbeaten against City now – but a draw doesn’t help either side particularly at the moment.
A point of concern, perhaps, as both teams now head on separate tracks towards the end of the season, is that David Bentley looks like he’ll have an impact with City, he won the man of the match award today and his quality shone though. He also seemed to link up well with Hleb and with Robbie Keane possibly on the way to St Andrews, we can’t assume that we’ll finish above them.
By contrast, it’s hard to spot many signs of improvement among the Villa side. Stewart Downing was employed in the central play maker role behind John Carew and ahead of the double six pairing of Petrov and Reo-Coker, and Gabby retained on the left wing. I’m sure that will be the subject of much debate among the fans, but both players could have scored from these unfamiliar positions and I wouldn’t feel confident saying the other would have finished the chance had they been there instead.
However, it has to be said that Stewart Downing is a winger and Gabby Agbonlahor is a striker and although there’s a case to make for asking them to play different roles, in the end, it has to be assumed that they’d be better employed in their natural positions.
On the other flank, Marc Albrighton expressed his acute disappointment at missing the last two derbies recently and I can’t help wondering whether this game meant a bit too much to him, he continues to be something of a liability when tracking back and didn’t deliver his best performance we’ve ever seen in the final third.
But rather than single individuals out for any particular praise or criticism, the biggest concern for me was the apparent inability to make a decision quickly, which is a problem prevalent throughout the side now. I’d love to see some comparative possession analysis showing how long our players have the ball at the feet when not dribbling, i.e. looking around trying to decide who to pass to. It’s certainly not pass and move right now!
Time and again they were their own worst enemy by getting caught not only in possession, but clearly in at least two minds. It could be a confidence thing, they’ve certainly shown signs of being capable of playing an expansive, flowing game at times in recent games when they appear to have brushed the pressure off their shoulders.
It could be that they’re still trying to adapt to Houllier’s vision of how they should play. It could be that they’re just not technically proficient enough to play a more sophisticated brand of football. Or it could be that this was a just derby game, a whole different kettle of fish, and we shouldn’t read too much into it.
There probably isn’t too much point analysing the performances in too much detail, this is a game we could easily have won by fair few goals, or equally, had they taken their chances in the manner Newcastle did, Birmingham could have been the victor by some margin themselves.
As ever, it just comes down to burying chances when they come. They came today and, despite my concerns about the team’s familiarity with the game plan, there were enough chances to have grabbed all the points today.
Now, taking each game one at a time, we look to the next one; Man City at Villa Park. For now, at least, we are out of the bottom three and we did, for once, manage to come back from behind.
That’s something. On to the next one, I’m actually just glad this one, in particular, is over.
Aston Villa Starting XI: Friedel, Walker, Dunne, Collins, Clark, Albrighton, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Downing, Carew, Agbonlahor. Subs: Marshall, Hogg, Baker, Delfouneso, Cuellar, Pires, Bannan.
Birmingham Starting XI: Foster, Carr, Murphy, Johnson, Ridgewell, Gardner, Bentley, Ferguson, Derbyshire, Fahey, Hleb. Subs: Taylor, Bowyer, Phillips, Zigic, Beausejour, Mutch, Jiranek.
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19 Comments to “Birmingham City 1 Aston Villa 1: Collins levels after chances spurned”
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Dan,
I have to agree with the feeling that Villa just take too long to get the ball off their feet. While I haven’t noticed that they sit on the ball, I have noticed that at least 2 or 3 times a player passes a “through” ball forwrad and it goes right to the opposition. In each case, I think the problem was with the recipient not moving into space rather than a poor pass. The problems seem to be off the ball rather than skill on the ball — players aren’t seeing space to run into and end up getting the ball passed to them at their feet in a static position.
Do they need more practice or do we need other/better players? Probably a little bit of both. Kyle Walker really showed the ability to move into space today. So did Delfouneso but Gabby was virtually invisible after the first few minutes of vertical play (one trick pony?).
i think all of that is valid, but what frustrates me is pure indecision. often times there is a pass on, maybe more than one, but the time taken to decide where to send shuts down the opportunities.
it’s a fear, it’s a lack of confidence, but it’s also technical too.
i should watch the game again, but there were a couple of moments in particular that had me banging my head on table..
downing was around the half way line i think, in possession, dunne just ahead of him, collins to his right, and he faffed about so much that by the time he laid it off to dunne, half arsed, he put him in trouble with no cover. dunne was dispossessed, the noses broke and very nearly scored.
in the second half there was a moment where petrov was practically in the final third and became so paralysed with indecision that when pressed he turned and ran back into our half before passing backward, to friedel i think.
not sideways, not diagonal, literally back, head down, running away. it was bizarre.
Yes, I’ve seen the same. I remember the pass back to Friedel — I was yelling at the television.
I think this is a hang-over from O’Neill. We have players that were brought on for their toughness and “fight” not for their “football brain”. Skill at the PL is as much about seeing the game faster than the other players as it is technical ability. Warnock and Dunne are two cases in-point. Point them in the right direction and the will tackle a lamp post but ask them to do anything beyond kicking it clear and they get indecisive. They just can’t compute the options and the best decision at the speed of the game.
I agree with the general assessment of the malaise. A lot of it is confidence right now, I think.
I have been an advocate for Delfouneso for a long time, and today illustrated why. Instant energy boost when he came in, and a goal followed. He makes his share of useful mistakes, and obviously he can’t do what Carew can (or theoretically can), but he is not hesitant and he makes things happen. His hard shot from distance off the crossbar could easily have won the game – I had forgotten what that a Villa player could take an accurate shot from that distance.
It does appear that Dunne is fully back in the fold – I think we can dispose of the theory that he is just being trotted out for interested suitors.
oh wow yeah, that delfouneso effort deserved a goal and what a goal it would have been too. more like that please!
actually, i’ve just seen an interesting opta stat; apparently we’ve struck the woodwork 13 times this season, only arsenal have been denied by the frame more with 14.
what a difference just half of those going in could have made to our season!
I am not familiar with the term “faffing about” (the language barrier again) but from the context, I would say Delfouneso is a non-faffer. I don’t think we have really seen what he can do – he tends to come in in the 87th minute. Mercifully, he got in early today and changed the tone immediately. Even if those shots hit the crossbar, it gives the defense something else to think about, instead of just waiting for the angst-ridden attackers to give the ball away. In particularl, I don’t know why Downing and Albrighton can be so inconsistent. I hope Makoun isn’t inclined to faffing…
ha, you seem to have grasped it and no, i don’t think makoun is a faffer.
but he’s not a goal scorer either, so someone needs to get their act together pronto, unless we have someone new coming in to put the chances away.
That was an incredible shot. I really hope that Fonz gets a good run of games. I honestly can’t see why not. I really like Gabby but he just doesn’t seem to have it this season.
One interesting and perhaps telling moment was on a throw-in. Gabby and Fonz both made moves to get open and the ball ended up being thrown to empty space (ultimately to a defender). Gabby started talking to Fonz and making pointing gestures as if he thought Fonz should have made a different run. Maybe I’m making more of it but perhaps Delfouneso has a tendancy to just do what he thinks is right in a given situation and rubs the senior players (and managers?) wrong?
That was an incredible shot. I really hope that Fonz gets a good run of games. I honestly can’t see why not. I really like Gabby but he just doesn’t seem to have it this season.
It doesn’t help when you play Gabby on the left wing, imo.
MON did the same and I suspect this is where the mug GH has got it from, but we used his pace a lot more then.
Play the bloke in the middle, simple, because he’s a bloody striker first and foremost.
You might be on to something. I hope Fonz continues to just do what “he thinks is right” – he will make some mistakes, but I don’t want him to get caught up in this kind of paralysis that is affecting others.
I really don’t know what to make of today’s game.
I actually thought we did ok in what was a particularly good game for a Brummie derby, in that it was very evenly matched and more importantly, open, imo.
I’m happy with a point and would have snatched your hand off if you’d have offered it to me before the game, but hitting the bar 4 times says something in itself, I feel.
The defence looked tighter, but the scum aren’t known for their attacking prowess are they?
Shame Fonz never scored, as it was a cracking effort.
Main point for me?
Bannon.
I thought he was shockingly bad today, whereas I’ve seen a lot of posts that say he did well?????
Not his fault though, as he should never have been brought on, imo.
A physical game will never suit him.
Which also begs the question, why on earth was NRC taken offf???
He was easily our best CM imo.
That, to me, definitely decides who’s place Makoun is going to take.
the bannan / nrc swap was definitely curious and i’m glad it panned out in the end or there would no doubt be some major inquisitions.
i feel bad for barry as he’s a cracking little player, but he’s always going to struggle in the middle of the pitch, especially if he’s thrown in late and can’t get into the pace of the game straight away.
i didn’t notice him being bad, bad, but wasn’t bowled over either. except for one little reverse ball he played to link up with albrighton nicking into some space on the right. it wasn’t the cleanest execution, but it worked and was encouraging to see some of the kids, who have played together for so long, display the understanding they’ve built up.
it bodes well, but we really need to see these guys playing in their best positions and barry’s isn’t in the middle.
I am just getting a little Frustrated by GH’s Tactics, Gabby was playing Wide again, and Downing was in the middle? Jesus man, know your players!
When I saw the line up I was excited that we were going 4-4-2 with Gabby & Carew up-front, Downing and Albrighton on the wings. Then of course reality intervened and we all realized that Gabby was deployed as a winger and Downing in the middle! I don’t get it either Aussie.
GH seems to be fixated on a trailing striker in the “hole” and is adapting anyone he thinks can play that role (Ash, Downing, Bannan, Ireland, Pires…). The rest of the team sheet then gets shifted around this one silly concept.
as i said in the post; downing is a winger, gabby is a striker, completely agree, but one thing i’d say in GH’s defense is that if he’s determined to play a 4-2-3-1 then gabby is not the player to put in the middle of the ’3′ and, of the players he had available, downing was.
the question really should be whether 4-2-3-1 was the right approach using players not ideally suited, or whether it’s better to use the system that suits the players, but might not be the best way of taking on the opponent.
hobson’s choice in many ways.
one issue; there’s a consensus view forming that gabby isn’t ideal in a lone striker role, it doesn’t use his skillset best playing with his back to goal; that’s where you want carew or heskey.
so, if you don’t want to use a two striker system and gabby lacks the smarts to play deeper, as the central member of the attacking threesome in “upper midfield”, where do you use him?
the answer seems to be on the left flank cutting in as an inverted winger.
i suppose you could just go 4-4-2, but we all know that there was considerable disquiet aimed at MON for playing such an “old fashioned” system.
4-3-3 perhaps?
i like 4-3-3 a lot. needs real quality in the middle 3 tho.
we could also solve our lack of depth at full back and abundance of centre halves by going crazy with a 3-4-3.
i’m only half joking.
Dan,
I think this is the crux of the problem. If GH wants to run a 4-2-3-1 in the game (as he clearly did) then use the best players for that system. Of the available strikers, Carew was the best choice up front. I wouldn’t use Gabby there and I don’t think Delfouneso is quite right in that role.
For the middle attacking mid role (or hole striker) I think Downing is completely unsuited. He is very much a winger. I think also that Gabby has been played is this role and it hasn’t been his best position either. Downing may have been a bit of an experiment (as has much of this season) but you still had Bannan on the bench. He didn’t do much in the game but his skill set would have been a natural. How about going crazy and getting that Ireland kid? I hear he is a creative attacker…oh, yeah he is still out in the cold. Personally I think Ireland is a lost cause but then I would have said the same about Carew until striker options completely dried up.
Unfortunately, I think the Gabby problem is simple – he doesn’t seem to fit into anything but a MON-style 4-4-2 pairing with a big striker. He may be a local lad but he might become the odd man out in GH’s schemes.
the whole thing changes completely when we’ve got darren bent. gonna have to knock out a quick blog post now, been in a cave and missed it.
updated the aston twitter page though:-
http://astonvillacentral.com/aston-twitter/
the transfer market could be about to go into a frenzy, it just takes one domino to start them going.