Things can only get better - Aston Vila thread

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I've frequently said that worry is the default emotion of football fans, and that to make yourself feel better about your own team you should imagine being a fan of the oppoes whenever we attack (as opposed to thinking "he'll balls it up", "yon mon never scores" etc).

Sounds like the 'Villa' commentary last night proved that.

Some tasty food for thought last night for Coyle. Options in several positions - and (gasp) formation. No bad thing.

[Dartisan]

I've frequently said that worry is the default emotion of football fans, and that to make yourself feel better about your own team you should imagine being a fan of the oppoes whenever we attack (as opposed to thinking "he'll balls it up", "yon mon never scores" etc).

Sounds like the 'Villa' commentary last night proved that.

Some tasty food for thought last night for Coyle. Options in several positions - and (gasp) formation. No bad thing.

4-5-1! Woooooop! What's more, we played a 4-5-1 and by all accounts played decent football, and scored goals. This was the biggest positive of the night for me, because it surely means Coyle will be more inclined to consider it in future.

Great to see Bibi return as an option too. Not that he's the left-back answer though, he's a little too long in the tooth now I'd say so his pace is waning, but he's an option that's not Robbo at least.

[thebish]

I've frequently said that worry is the default emotion of football fans, and that to make yourself feel better about your own team you should imagine being a fan of the oppoes whenever we attack (as opposed to thinking "he'll balls it up", "yon mon never scores" etc).

Sounds like the 'Villa' commentary last night proved that.

Some tasty food for thought last night for Coyle. Options in several positions - and (gasp) formation. No bad thing.

4-5-1! Woooooop! What's more, we played a 4-5-1 and by all accounts played decent football, and scored goals. This was the biggest positive of the night for me, because it surely means Coyle will be more inclined to consider it in future.

Great to see Bibi return as an option too. Not that he's the left-back answer though, he's a little too long in the tooth now I'd say so his pace is waning, but he's an option that's not Robbo at least.

I'd still back him to be faster than Robbo...

[Lord Kangana]

Is he the left back answer for the next few games though? Till christmas? Maybe this season?

Robinson is no spring chicken himself, so age shouldn't necessairly preclude him from our thoughts. And being Bolton Wanderers we have less time to plan our team for the long term. If he can provide a decent enough alternative for a reasonable amount of games this season, then that in itself is an answer. Until another transfer window opens, at least.

[thebish]

Is he the left back answer for the next few games though? Till christmas? Maybe this season?

Robinson is no spring chicken himself, so age shouldn't necessairly preclude him from our thoughts. And being Bolton Wanderers we have less time to plan our team for the long term. If he can provide a decent enough alternative for a reasonable amount of games this season, then that in itself is an answer. Until another transfer window opens, at least.

indeed - spot on!

And - we gave ricardo a contract - and he is a squad member just the same as Robbo - so it is no more valid to ask "is Ricardo the answer" than it is to ask "is Robbo the answer". The left-back berth no more belongs to Robbo than it does to Ricardo...

[Bruno3]

Is it a coincidence that we left out Jusseless, Knight and Robbo and kept a clean sheet?

[thebish]

Is it a coincidence that we left out Jusseless, Knight and Robbo and kept a clean sheet?

you might argue about the impact of replacing Knight and Robbo - but Bogdan didn't have that much to deal with, and in the same circumstances, I reckon Jussi would have kept a clean sheet too...

[Dartisan]

I've frequently said that worry is the default emotion of football fans, and that to make yourself feel better about your own team you should imagine being a fan of the oppoes whenever we attack (as opposed to thinking "he'll balls it up", "yon mon never scores" etc).

Sounds like the 'Villa' commentary last night proved that.

Some tasty food for thought last night for Coyle. Options in several positions - and (gasp) formation. No bad thing.

4-5-1! Woooooop! What's more, we played a 4-5-1 and by all accounts played decent football, and scored goals. This was the biggest positive of the night for me, because it surely means Coyle will be more inclined to consider it in future.

Great to see Bibi return as an option too. Not that he's the left-back answer though, he's a little too long in the tooth now I'd say so his pace is waning, but he's an option that's not Robbo at least.

I'd still back him to be faster than Robbo...

Good point, he's still lightning in comparison.

Agreed Kangana, an alternative for a reasonable number of games is a win alone. Would he start him just now though? I doubt it.

[Loyal White]

Glad to see Ricky back at left back, think he's suited much more to that position than centre-midfield.

Also nice to see we had a clean sheet with Wheater starting. Not sure what's happened with him, he took over when Knight got injured last season. Did well, Knight came back and sat on the bench. Then Knight returned the game before the FA Cup Semi as Wheater was one card away from a suspension and he hasn't been seen since (bar Macclesfield).

[thebish]

let's not forget that we are the first to beat Villa this season, are we not?

[boltonboris]

Not sure I agree about Bogdan being in front of Jussi for Arsenal. The only shot he had to save all night, he palmed back into the centre of the goal. Luckily nobody was near to capitalise.

[thebish]

Not sure I agree about Bogdan being in front of Jussi for Arsenal. The only shot he had to save all night, he palmed back into the centre of the goal. Luckily nobody was near to capitalise.

indeed - it was a decent save - the rebound was in the danger zone - had Jussi done that, I venture to surmise that someone would have used "flap" and "jussi" in the same sentence...

[boltonboris]

Indeed... He got down well and the ball was moving, but he should still be pushing it wide..

Like you say. Had Jussi done it......

[TANGODANCER]

Good to see the media bigging us up "The two goals lit up what was a dire game". Really, it sounded anything but and I bet if it had gone the other way it would have been described as a superb performance by Villa. Then again, nothing new.

[bobo the clown]

excellent. Can go on my jolly's happier now. May even buy a paper tmrw.

Ease yourself into it. Get a local one first with the propaganda before you brave the nationals!

Well, I did it. A national too !

Cost me £1 and I got a free bottle of water (which I didn't really want) 'valued' at £1.79, so I'm in profit !

[jmjhb]

Was it 4-5-1, or 4-2-3-1?

[boltonboris]

4-1-4-1 / 4-2-3-1

[jmjhb]

Thanks. Hopefully we'll see that on Saturday rather than the ridiculously open 4-4-2.

[officer_dibble]

Feel vindicated. dropped knight robinson davies, gardner at left back, clean sheet and win. Coyle has to keep those 3 out of the team for the next few games (ie not just arsenal and chelsea, give wheater gardner ngog a proper go). if not it proves the favouritism.

[Wandering Willy]

Feel vindicated. dropped knight robinson davies, gardner at left back, clean sheet and win. Coyle has to keep those 3 out of the team for the next few games (ie not just arsenal and chelsea, give wheater gardner ngog a proper go). if not it proves the favouritism.

I'm not sure how you draw the conclusion that dropping Knight and Robbo resulted in a clean sheet.

There's are lot more involved than that. Reading the Villa forum it seems that the general consensus is that they had nothing to offer in midfield and upfront. Combine this with a different formation, a particularly strong midfield and pace upfront and perhaps there is a case that the back four had a lot less to do than in recent games.

There's a stark contrast playing a very poor Villa side and the likes of Man U, City and Liverpool and as such the Gardner/Wheater vs Robbo/Knight comparison is a little unfair.

For me, more pace upfront and a stronger midfield will get us results against the non "big" teams, moreso than changes at the back. However, if OC deems that changes need to be made at the back then so be it. It's about playing the current best player in every position.

Great win though and a much needed shot in the arm for a club low on confidence.