Tales of the brochure Michael Owen's management company has been hawking around major clubs have been bouncing around for several days now. Finally a full copy has surfaced, courtesy of the Daily Mail. I give you "the athlete, the ambassador, the icon"...
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I haven't posted here for such a long time, but I think I'm going to make this my personal blog again at some point.
I'm still being kept pretty busy with astonvillacentral and I've a lot of ideas for the site during the summer that will keep me occupied.
I've also just started a new blog on a subject that's been bouncing around my mind a lot recently - laughing at religion. Not the first site to do this of course, and it won't be the last, but I've got a few observations I'd like to share.
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I'm still being kept pretty busy with astonvillacentral and I've a lot of ideas for the site during the summer that will keep me occupied.
I've also just started a new blog on a subject that's been bouncing around my mind a lot recently - laughing at religion. Not the first site to do this of course, and it won't be the last, but I've got a few observations I'd like to share.
Read more...
A 2-0 victory against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium after two disappointing loses to Newcastle and Boro wasn't quite what most of us would have expected, but we'll all be delighted. Obviously.Sometimes it seems to me like we allow ourselves to sink to the level of teams we'd expect to beat and turn on the style against the teams we'd expect to struggle against. Is that complacency perhaps?? It certainly shows how good we can be and exposes our consistency as a key area of improvement.
Was it just a coincidence that Petrov returned today and the team once again showed how good they can be??
MON sent most of the XI out to play in their natural positions, more or less. Did that have an influence?? (On that subject, what was up with Shorey?? He wasn't even in the squad, but earlier this morning was really looking forward to the game.)
The back four aside, MON assembled a midfield five of A. Young, Barry, Sidwell, Petrov & Milner all playing roles that suited them. And it worked. Without the big target of Carew up front the long balls were a little more limited and I actually spotted some passage of play with some impressive passing and movement.
That said, Villa only enjoyed a third of the game's possession and were out-passed by Arsenal by close to a 3 to 1 ratio. Stats can often reveal the hidden nuances of a game, they can also gloss over the true nature.
In this case I barely recognise the game I watched from the stats. I felt Villa pretty much bossed the first half. Arsenal looked slick, but apart from a couple of early warning signs from the impressive Walcott running riot on the right, they never looked to have Villa stretched at the back.
Villa, on the other hand, created some very good chances at the opposite end, but failed to finish. Young earned a penalty at a conclusion to some good build up play from the midfield. Barry was apparently unable or ineligible to take the penalty, but who was concerned about that when Ashley Young placed the ball on the spot?? I wasn't. That changed as he commenced his run up to take the shot though. Somehow he just didn't look confident and the resultant effort was poor. Just where goalkeepers want them. They guess the right way and it's an easy save. And so it was.
There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth among a certain section of Villa fans in the online chat. Apparently that was our chance to win the game squandered. It's academic now, but surely a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes would have lead to Villa sitting a bit deeper and Arsenal taking the initiative. I wouldn't have felt confident about heading into the break in the lead.
As it was, the stalemate continued until the 70th minute when Ashley Young's perfect delivery into the box caused Clichy to nod into his own net attempting to prevent Gabby Agbonlahor from having the same opportunity.
Ten minutes later, with a classic piece of route one football, Martin Laursen cleared his lines and hoofed the ball up field to Agbonlahor at full pace. A deft little nod on while holding off Gallas put Gabby in a great position to fire home from just inside the box. An assured finish to the near post and it was game over.
So that's it. Do we get carried away again now?? Do we expect the same when Man Utd visit Villa Park next weekend?? One thing I do expect, since we're playing one of the big boys, is a performance. I can take losing to anyone when the lads play well and, naturally, I don't mind winning when they play badly. I just can't stomach a loss when the team don't look interested in winning.
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Yesterday I did some statistical research on Villa's Premiership history which I intended to publish today to celebrate Villa reaching the 900 point mark. Sadly Middlesborough didn't read the script and after the final whistle was blown on their visit to Villa Park today the club are still sat on 897 points.
So instead I'm going to do some finger pointing and for the first time I'm going to shove it directly in MON's direction. Don't get me wrong, MON is one of the best managers we've had at Villa Park (I have the stats to prove it, but I'll save them for another time) and last year I defended his lack of activity in the transfer market to the hilt. I was more than patient with him apparently wanting to wait to bring in the right players. And I think he did a great job this past summer bringing those players in.
So what's the problem then? Well, for me, it's simple.... having spent a shed load of Randy's money and brought in a bunch of quality players he's not actually using them properly!!
*facepalm* - Sidwell's strange back pass gifts Boro the win.
I didn't hear whether Luke Young had an injury today, but again we see Carlos Cuellar playing there. Shorey did get to play at left back with Laursen and Davies between the pair.
Today, once again, MON asked Reo-Coker to play on the right. Barry and Sidwell paired up in the middle with Ashley Young playing his usual left wing role.
Carew was out with a hip injury so Gabby played the lone striker role with Milner making up the numbers in some sort of free role.
Now, all of that isn't too dramatic, the real head scratching comes once again when MON finally decides to bring on some fresh legs. Today it was the perennially ineffectual Marlon Harewood joining the fray with 20 minutes to go. As consistent as ever MON elected to take off Shorey in his place which left a bit of re-jigging required.
So get this - Cuellar goes to left back. Coker drops back to right back. Milner goes to right wing and Harewood joins Gabby up front.
Cuellar looks a very good centre back and a passable right back - perhaps even edges Ollie Mellberg in that position. He isn't a left back though. Clearly.
Reo-Coker is a very decent defensive midfielder. He's not a very good right midfielder and worse still at right back.
Milner had a good game today and I think he's starting to settle in now. However, he looked best when he was finally asked to play on the right. He's not a striker.
OK, OK, this is a very long winded way of saying that I feel we lost today because MON played too many players out of position. Why does he do this?? The only explanation is he's playing favourites. Does he really feel that NRC is a better right back than Luke Young for instance?? Of course he isn't, but he wants to keep Nige on the pitch so either Luke or Nicky make way to bring on a much needed midfielder.
It's now time for this to stop. MON's man management is legendary and the vibe in the Villa dressing room is reported to be exceptional. But how long can that continue with so many players being asked to play unfamiliar roles and others left sat on the bench not getting a look in??
So, Martin please, unless you have injuries, suspensions or lack of form to deal with please put these four names on your team sheet first.... L Young (RB), N Shorey (LB), J Milner (RM) & A Young (LM). The rest of the team is a selection headache I realise, but it's a great problem to have and that's your job as manager to resolve.
Anyone else starting to wish Barry had been sold in the summer now?? And anyone else shitting themselves over the possible team sheet when MON has Petrov available again??
*updated* I hear that Luke Young was injured for today.
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So instead I'm going to do some finger pointing and for the first time I'm going to shove it directly in MON's direction. Don't get me wrong, MON is one of the best managers we've had at Villa Park (I have the stats to prove it, but I'll save them for another time) and last year I defended his lack of activity in the transfer market to the hilt. I was more than patient with him apparently wanting to wait to bring in the right players. And I think he did a great job this past summer bringing those players in.
So what's the problem then? Well, for me, it's simple.... having spent a shed load of Randy's money and brought in a bunch of quality players he's not actually using them properly!!
*facepalm* - Sidwell's strange back pass gifts Boro the win.I didn't hear whether Luke Young had an injury today, but again we see Carlos Cuellar playing there. Shorey did get to play at left back with Laursen and Davies between the pair.
Today, once again, MON asked Reo-Coker to play on the right. Barry and Sidwell paired up in the middle with Ashley Young playing his usual left wing role.
Carew was out with a hip injury so Gabby played the lone striker role with Milner making up the numbers in some sort of free role.
Now, all of that isn't too dramatic, the real head scratching comes once again when MON finally decides to bring on some fresh legs. Today it was the perennially ineffectual Marlon Harewood joining the fray with 20 minutes to go. As consistent as ever MON elected to take off Shorey in his place which left a bit of re-jigging required.
So get this - Cuellar goes to left back. Coker drops back to right back. Milner goes to right wing and Harewood joins Gabby up front.
Cuellar looks a very good centre back and a passable right back - perhaps even edges Ollie Mellberg in that position. He isn't a left back though. Clearly.
Reo-Coker is a very decent defensive midfielder. He's not a very good right midfielder and worse still at right back.
Milner had a good game today and I think he's starting to settle in now. However, he looked best when he was finally asked to play on the right. He's not a striker.
OK, OK, this is a very long winded way of saying that I feel we lost today because MON played too many players out of position. Why does he do this?? The only explanation is he's playing favourites. Does he really feel that NRC is a better right back than Luke Young for instance?? Of course he isn't, but he wants to keep Nige on the pitch so either Luke or Nicky make way to bring on a much needed midfielder.
It's now time for this to stop. MON's man management is legendary and the vibe in the Villa dressing room is reported to be exceptional. But how long can that continue with so many players being asked to play unfamiliar roles and others left sat on the bench not getting a look in??
So, Martin please, unless you have injuries, suspensions or lack of form to deal with please put these four names on your team sheet first.... L Young (RB), N Shorey (LB), J Milner (RM) & A Young (LM). The rest of the team is a selection headache I realise, but it's a great problem to have and that's your job as manager to resolve.
Anyone else starting to wish Barry had been sold in the summer now?? And anyone else shitting themselves over the possible team sheet when MON has Petrov available again??
*updated* I hear that Luke Young was injured for today.
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Great victory at Villa Park yesterday. Gabby hits a hatrick to seal a 4-2 win for Villa over Citeh.
clicky
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