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Another game, another draw. That’s four draws and a win now in the Premier League. Gabby Agbonlahor gave cause for optimism when he opened the scoring somewhat against the run of play during the first half, but Leon Best cancelled that out during a second half the visitors largely controlled.
Gabby has now equalled his league goal scoring record from last season, scoring three goals from just five games. Barry Bannan started in place of Emile Heskey and played on the right of a 4-4-2. Stiliyan Petrov looks a much better player given some freedom to get forward. Shay Given was outstanding and made a few crucial saves, one of them absolutely outstanding. Stephen Warnock gave everything he had.
Those are the positives.
Darren Bent clearly isn’t fit. He went close with a couple of efforts, but we’ve come to expect him to go closer. Like scoring. Charles N’Zogbia was disappointing. He’s yet to spark into action this season. Fabian Delph was bypassed in the centre far too easily when Petrov was in advanced positions.
Alex McLeish elected to withdraw Bannan and Petrov to bring on Stephen Ireland and Marc Albrighton. Petrov’s legs may have gone, but N’Zogbia and Delph must have looked at the fourth official’s board and expected to see their numbers displayed.
Ultimately, right now, a draw which maintains an unbeaten run would be far more acceptable if it felt like two points dropped at home, but this was definitely a point gained. The natives are getting restless.
However, last season we were disorganised and shipped sloppy goals while Houllier tried to implement too many changes too soon. Right now, we’re far more organised and disciplined. That’s not particularly exciting, but it’s a results business and it is at least something to build upon.
Assuming McLeish is looking to build on this. N’Zogbia has better form ahead of him, as does Bent. Bannan was encouraging, Albrighton tried to make things happen during his brief cameo. Hutton’s fitness isn’t there, but he can improve too. Jermaine Jenas might be able to bring some additional dynamism to the middle.
There is potential there, but QPR were able to really have a go at Newcastle last weekend, it’s shame we couldn’t follow their lead.
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16 Comments to “Aston Villa 1 Newcastle 1: Unbeaten, but outplayed and uninspiring”
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A point is a point. No matter how boring or fortunate it may have been.
Nonsense. That is two points dropped. We have to win the games we can win, not throw away two points, because they will be missed when we play decent teams.
Dan you are talking utter tripe pal. We played you off the park today and should have won in the end and you know it. A ‘p~isspot outfit’ we are er above you in the league so shutup. If it wasnt for an amazing save from our ex-keeper and the ball hitting the bar and a questionable disallowed goal we would have rightfully won. You had some good chances but we had the most possesion and more chances so come on mate who you kidding we were the better team and you know it.
Don’t doubt it mate, but that is only because we put 9 men behind the ball and wanted to ‘protect’ our vital lead against the mighty Newcastle with Obertan and Leon Best fizzing sparks out of their world class boots. If we had gone at you with the intent we showed at 0-0 perhaps there would have been a game to watch. As it is we played the most negative football I’ve ever seen, and as you say you dominated. Apart from all those clear cut chances Bent missed and the fact we played a 8-1-1 formation for 70 odd minutes.
Yes you were the better side but don’t bother crowing. We were really poor. As for your other comments. Your goal was offside, your disallowed goal was after we stopped playing, and are you trying to take credit for Given’s save because he played for you 2 sides before us. joker. I watched your team ripped apart by QPR last week and you got a lucky draw. You are no better and no worse than us so jog on.
Wrong. That formation only shows what we spent the first 20 minutes doing. As soon as we scored, Hutton and Warnock tucked inside parallel to the edge of the box, and Bannan and N’Zog played as wingbacks. That is officially the first use of a 6-2-1-1 formation, with Bent and Aggy alternating as attacking mid. I don’t think I’ve ever been so disgusted at our approach to a game. We are Aston Villa, draws are what happen when you fail to win, not a point gained against a p*sspot outfit who we should have thrashed.
CNZ was as invisible as Ireland was last season – hopefully he can show why he was so highly rated.
Bent and Gabby should have scores in the 1st and second to make it easy. Bent never does much apart from scoring goals and he missed one he normally gets today.
The back 4 looked solid and Bannan is thriving on his chance.
Compared to previously seasons we look to seriously lack width – something that Albrighton gives.
We played hoof it out of the danger area for most of the game …but there was no outlet. the ball did not stick with gabby or bent – or was played too high. The full backs were doing full back stuff and so it was hoof out of danger.
p.s. was best off-side? …and cabaye was a bit special – he would have looked ore special if given was not on show-reel form
Yet another draw.
I agree with the barcode.
They deserved it more than we did.
Shocking start, when you consider who we’ve played.
And having around 42% possession at home????
At least we used to create a fair amount under a certain previous manager.
Now look at the games we have upcoming
I’m a Stranglers fan.
What’s that track?
“Something better change”.
If it isn’t going to be the manager, it had better be the approach, else we’re in trouble.
Hi Dan,
I have just got back from the game. I think some perspective is required. The game was more than just frustrating – it was disappointing. But I believe a second goal either early in the first half and / or at the beginning of the second (the two stages in the game when Villa were clearly on top) would have changed the whole complexion of the match.
Villa were handicapped from the outset by Bent’s injury – he should never have been in the squad, let alone on the park. N’Zogbia was totally ineffectual and should have been subbed.
AM has only had 5 EPL games and is only in the early stages of getting to know his players and the formations best suited to them. Please bear in mind that SAF had 5 years before he won anything and Wenger has gone 6 years without winning anything.
I am confident that AM is right man to take us forward. The club is in a period of change. Given the chaos of last season, obvious progress is already evident. The comments you made about the formation are valid, but AM will have learned from this. As I mentioned, after only five games in charge, he is yet to find out his best team and optimal formation.
Yes, today’s display was frustrating, but Newcastle showed today they are not the pushovers many people seemed to expect. They could easily have won. To have saved a point under such circumstances is a pointed gained.
I agree with you in regarding certain things have been sorted out from last season – the defence is much better and reinstating Warnock was definitely the right decision – he got a standing ovation for a determined double-tackle and throwing his body on the line towards the end yesterday.
BUT, we have gone backwards in other respects. At least Houllier tried to get us to play the ball on the deck, pass & move, create space. Under AM, we are hoofing it long and just inviting pressure back on ourselves. Yesterday was more than disappointing, it was shocking. Whilst Newcastle are no pushovers, they are a team we will probably be rivalling in the league, and thus we should be beating them at home, not b eing lucky to get a point.
One step forward, two steps back. It’s worrying.
After watching that match a second time, we were very fortunate to end up with a point. Having said that, had Bent converted late in the first to put us up 2, I feel we would have run away with the points. It is disheartening to see us struggle to put together some quality passing and scoring chances. 1 shot on goal in 95 minutes… Really?
Too soon to panic. We knew it wasn’t going to be fancy, but after GH’s football folly, we needed a practical approach. We are not getting beat.
We will get better. Bent fit is the key. N’Zog, hmmm, not so sure ’bout him.
Villa were poor, because they were restricted by trying to protect a point. Boring football can win you a point here or there, but it wont get you into Europe
some really interesting comments in there, i like the varied perspective.
i watched the first half again last night, i couldn’t enthuse myself for the second half at the time. maybe later.
i thought we were better on second viewing tbh. there were some good moments and i think it’s worth pointing out darren bent’s contribution in the build up to a couple of chances and the goal.
it was a bent flick-on that sent gabby running in on goal for a chance that was snuffed out through his own indecision. he should have done more with it. at least got a shot off.
it was bent’s flick-on that opened up the chance for bannan to have a crack from the corner of the box. had that gone in, we’d still be gushing over it.
and bent’s movement, dropping deep as bannan took the ball into the left channel before picking out gabby, dragged taylor out the box and that left all the space for gabby to get his shot off. had bent and taylor stayed where they were, the opportunity may well not have presented itself.
not that any of that is worthy of special praise, that’s the least he should be doing, but it’s worth mentioning.
the most frustrating thing was the silly mistakes which seem to mostly be due to poor decision making. n’zogbia trying to dribble deep in our half, getting robbed and giving away a free kick trying to get it back.
bannan’s little one or two touch passes putting someone else, hutton on a couple of occasions, in difficulty. that’s just a lack of experience.
delph making poor passes at the wrong time and generally being unaware of his immediate opponents’ positions when petrov had advanced, leaving him as the solo central midfielder.
it will come with time together. it’s just about drilling new ideas into them. and it’s easier without the pressure of poor results.
What do you expect? Newcastle could of easily been beaten by QPR 4-0 after the way they played so they were out with a point to prove today and they did. We didn’t help ourselves though ok the passed well and the looked dangerous on the counter attack. Villa’s midfield needs someone to protect the back four I was hoping Delph would be the man. He had his work cut on yesterday three of Newcastle’s midfield were great and were running the show but only because we let them! Once the opposite gets the ball the villa player’r retreat into their own half and are way to deep against better sides we would have been beaten heavily (And that’s no disrepect to Newcastle because I was there and they played well) We just need to try and break up the play and move quicker the players were too close together especially the centre midfield if we can get that right then I think we will be ok. yes we lack quality it was to be expected however we could have beaten Newcastle had we battled harder in the midfield and moved the ball quicker.
after watching yesterday’s game,i have to say of the first X1,only Gabby and given are deserving of their places.The defence is a shambles,and we Aston villa need athletic center backs,like colocini and taylor.Collins dives in too much and Dunne gets caught out of position too many times.We have Clark on the bench who is about the same height as the Newcastle center halves but Mcleish wont play him.He’sthe type of player we need-a future Villa captain if he gets enough chances at Villa