Hopefully by now you’ve seen the three goals from this game and if so, I’m willing to bet that you enjoyed the slightly unusual nature of all of them. Richard Dunne thumped Villa into the lead with a very non-central defender like shot that ricocheted in off the underside of the cross bar from about 8 or 9 yards. Just as impressive was the pass James Milner fed the Irishman in acres of space under cries of “shoot”
When I did the first of these Player of the Month blog posts I set the rules that players had to play in all the Premiership matches that month in order to be eligible, but I was concerned that might be a bit harsh. I was trying to stop someone playing only a single, maybe a couple of games, getting some freak rating and topping the table unfairly.
However, in August and September there were only 3 Premiership fixtures each
It’s time once again to review this season’s Premiership performance against last year, the next one will be at the half way stage if you can believe we’re already heading there!
In summary, we’re a point behind last season chronologically, but a point ahead comparing apples with apples.
Season
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
Pts
2009/10
14
6
5
3
22
14
23
2008/09 Chron
14
7
3
4
22
16
24
2008/09 Apples
14
6
4
4
18
18
22
December is going to be a tough month. We took 11 points from the next 5 fixtures last year chronologically and 10 points apples for apples. That’s Hull (H), Man
I don’t do it often, but sometimes I check the average position map at half time and compare it with the version at the end of the match. Villa are frequently a second half team, I’ve never seen our team pushed back so much during a second half that the full time map reveals deeper positioning than at half time. Until this game. Rather than simply saying we were too deep in the second half, I think
I feel bad, there’s lots of things I could have filled the international break with and Actim is ideal, but it completely slipped my mind. I thought I better throw this update out there before Jermaine Defoe’s 5 goal haul against Wigan wins him every spot in the top 20!!
Of course, I also want to make sure this update is seen as there are no less than 9 Aston Villa players in the Top 100, bested only by Chelsea:-
8th
From a statistical perspective, probably one of the most even games you’ll see. It’s fair to say that Burnley edged the first half and Villa the second, 1-1 has to be regarded as a fair result.
As I mentioned in the first review, Burnley had a home record coming into this game of played 6, won 6 5, so we managed to resist that trend at least. [Edit: My mistake, Burnley have lost at home… to Wigan, if you can
5
Aston Villa
Nov 7th 2009
Bolton
1
57
Possession %
43
23
Shots
13
12
On Target
6
8
Corners
1
2
Offsides
1
5′ A Young, 43′ Agbonlahor, 53′ Carew, 72′ Milner, 75′ Cuellar
Scorers
44′ Elmander
Gardner
Booked
Cohen, Cahill, Davies, Robinson
Sent Off
277
Good Passes
159
59
Bad Passes
68
18
Interceptions
18
48
Tackles Won
48
35
Tackles Lost
37
2
Blocks
3
18
Free Kicks
18
Starting XI:
1. Friedel
2. Young
25. Warnock
24. Cuellar
5. Dunne
20. Reo-Coker
4. Sidwell
7. Young
8. Milner
10. Carew
11. Agbonlahor
Subs:
22. Guzan
14. Delfouneso
26. Gardner
21. Shorey
47. Clark
12. Albrighton
16. Delph
Average Position Map
The average position map reflects the fact that 53% of Villa’s attack went down the left channel. Considering Ashley Young pretty much spent the first 45 minutes on the right wing, that’s some achievement.
Again, since MON made a change at half time, Reo-Coker on for Heskey, I’ve included 12 players on the map. You can see how lop sided and unbalanced the shape is. Can’t help feeling sorry for Habib Beye.
2
West Ham
Oct 31st 2009
Aston Villa
1
57
Possession %
44
20
Shots
19
7
On Target
8
6
Corners
14
3
Offsides
3
45′
It doesn’t matter how you approach research, it’s almost impossible not to have a pre-conceived notion in your mind about what you’re going to find. Sometimes you’ll even be looking specifically for data to back up a position or opinion you already hold.
Personally, what I really enjoy about research is when I find that the raw data doesn’t match what I expected to find and challenges the ideas I had formed. In simple terms; I find that I’m