Highlights from the U19s 3-0 romp over Ajax at Villa Park with the inimitable Gary Gardner grabbing all three goals and the match ball.

[Email subscribers can find the video here if it doesn't appear]

This is not an attempt to absolve anyone of any blame for the unacceptable performance at White Hart Lane last night, but it’s become painfully obvious to me in the last 18 months or so that in the fans’ eyes it’s players that win games… and managers that lose them.

Let me give you an example:

Towards the end of last season, in what would be Gerard Houllier’s final game on the sidelines, we took on the hapless West Ham at Upton Park. Robbie Keane put the home side into the lead after just two minutes after being played onside at a corner by Ashley Young’s failure to leave his post.

It was a mistake by Young, plain and simple. It happens. Everyone else pushed up. Stewart Downing left his post on the other side, Ash didn’t, and Robbie Keane scored. Then my Twitter absolutely lit up with calls for Houllier’s head. Of course, it was entirely his fault that Ashley Young had a brain meltdown.

Just about 90 minutes later, Ash made up for his error by supplying the injury time cross that Gabby Agbonlahor would nod in to win the game. I didn’t notice Houllier receiving too much credit for that cross or the goal, that was down to the players. Perhaps I just missed it.

That’s just one of countless examples where there weren’t any real problems with the tactics and strategy on the day, not really, it was just individual errors or failures to convert that led to poor results.

But the way the manager was deemed culpable for individual errors a 12 year old would be embarrassed about conjured up images of the players being controlled by some sort of radio controlled device, Xbox style. Or it did for me anyway.

I’ve just stumbled on this video featuring Tom Meighan from Kasabian and Darren Bent doing exactly that:

[Email readers can find the video here if it doesn't show up]

That’s it in a nutshell.

Blame

What we saw last night was dire, there’s no getting away from it. I described it as “anti-football“, and that’s not a term I use lightly, but I stand by it. I’m too pragmatic to believe it prudent to play attacking football at any and every venue in the country, but I do think we should endeavour to play football against all opponents.

McLeish promised he would do that and I hope he thinks long and hard about whether his approach to the game last night matched that promise. I don’t believe it did. However, he might not be willing to accept his share of the blame, he’s not wrong when he points to basic failures on the part of the players either, although the fictional missed chances are a bit much.

Once again, a simple example: I saw a player – there’s no need to identify him – lift his foot to receive a pass in Tottenham’s half, under no real pressure, only for the ball to cannon off the underside of his boot straight back to the home side to launch yet another attack. Spurs didn’t even need to do anything. Nothing. They just stood off and we gave the ball straight back to them. How nice.

That probably seems a silly example, and it is, but it’s also our performance last night in microcosm. It was just an individual error, it happens, every professional footballer is capable of trapping a ball in their sleep. But when McLeish talks about a lack of retention, that’s exactly what he’s talking about and he’s not wrong.

Again, I can’t stress this enough, I’m not looking to absolve McLeish of any blame – we’ll come to that in good time – but I’m so, so tired of seeing these highly paid professionals putting in less than 100% whilst their boss takes all the flak. Could you get away with that where you work?

The consensus view seems to be that Chris Herd is about the only player to come out of last night with much credit. The youngest, least experienced, and, I dare say, the lowest paid.

There’s something very wrong about that. I guess the manager will need to check the connection to Herd’s headset, I think the batteries must be flat.

[Also available here]

[Email readers: if the video isn't displayed, it's available here]

Gabby

In related news, I’m sure you’re already aware, but Gabby was forced to withdraw from the England squad once again with a hamstring strain. A frustrating blow for a player who can’t seem to catch a break with the national side.

This is added to the two call ups last season he was unable to fulfill and the back problem that ruled him out of consideration for the last England squad when he looked likely to receive the call.

Gabby’s set for a scan, and though Alex McLeish says it’s too soon to say for sure, he’s hopeful that the Tottenham match being on Monday night will provide the time necessary to get him fit:

Gabby just felt his hamstring and he’s come back to the club as a precaution, so our medical staff can check him over. It’s disappointing for the lad because he’s been in fine form for us and we were all excited about what he could do for England.

It’s too soon to say whether he’ll be fit for the game at Spurs, but with the game being on Monday night it will give us those extra couple of days to get him right.

Fingers crossed he’ll be okay for us because he’s shown maturity and has also had the confidence and bottle to deliver the goods, as expectation levels of him grow.

If you’re so inclined, I suggest crossing fingers, toes, legs, whatever, that Bent comes through the games against Spain and Sweden unscathed; missing one of these two would be bad, losing both would be disastrous!

Nathan Delfouneso was in the starting eleven, but left the pitch with the game barely 10 minutes old after pulling up chasing a ball into the box. It didn’t look like anything major so hopefully there’s nothing to be concerned about. Nathan Baker wasn’t included in the 18-man squad due to injury.

Gary Gardner, who came on as substitute for the last half hour, makes his first appearance at the 3:49 mark with a delightful cross-field diagonal ball to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Actually, it was quite reminiscent of Barry Bannan’s ball to Mark Albrighton at Craven Cottage, only without the net rippling on this occasion.

You can find our Gary’s first goal at 5:14, a brilliant free kick from more than 25 yards out, whipped in with pace and accuracy to the top corner on the wall side of the goal. Practically unsaveable.

His second goal came from a short corner routine in injury time; teed up by Oxlade-Chamberlain, with Gardner doing very well to control the ball as it bobbled up before sending in a low drive to the far corner.

This was only Gardner’s third appearance for the Under-21s and he’s now got two goals to his name.

Graham Burke, who was missing last night through suspension, scored twice. Gary Gardner, who was also missing last night as he’s away with England U21s, and Michael Drennan grabbed a goal apiece.

[Email subscribers can watch the video here]

Villa’s final game in the group stage is against Ajax at Villa Park on November 22nd. As it stands, they’re not assured of qualification for the knock-out phase next year, but that may change once Rosenborg have taken on Fenerbahce in Turkey on November 16th.

Group 3 Standings

The players are Darren Bent, Charles N’Zogbia, Ciaran Clark and Gary Gardner. The fella with the hair and the mic is Lukey Moore from the Football Ramble (no relation to the lazy former Villa striker). The competition is IGN FIFA 12 pro player tournament. The venue is Bodymoor Heath.

The winner is…

[Email subscribers can see the action here]

Here’s a two minute interview on the training ground with Gardner, pausing just briefly to allow Delfouneso to take a penalty in the background. Eventually.

[Email subscribers can find the video here]

Both strikers now have five goals apiece so far this season and should be expecting a call from Fabio Capello ahead of England’s upcoming games against Spain and Sweden.

The video has only just been published, and it’s not the best of quality, but you get a glimpse of some of the future stars in action. The goals came in the second half, Derrick Williams put Fenerbahce on the scoresheet with an unfortunate own goal, but Daniel Johnson and Lewis Kinsella struck back to grab the points.

[Email subscribers can see the video here]

I’ll post the video from last night’s win against Rosenborg when it’s available, Gary Gardner is receiving more rave reviews.

The Young Lions head out to Norway to again face Rosenborg next week and will likely need just a point from either that fixture or the final game, Ajax at Villa Park on November 22nd, to secure their place in the next round.