Aston Villa beat Bournemouth over the weekend, and while it wasn’t Villa’s best performance, Villa still came away as the victors in the game. Winning a game while playing poorly is always a good sign, especially while Villa’s team is still gelling.
From the new boys, it became very clear that our defensive back line has been heavily improved with the arrival of Micah Richards and Jordan Amavi. During pre-season I thought that perhaps Richards was better suited for the right-back role and would struggle in the centre of defense. I was wrong, badly wrong. Richards and Clark played very well together, Richards (who is quick) had good positioning awareness and used his experience well to get the better of Bournemouth’s attack. His performance was recognised and was placed in BBC’s team of the week. Ciaran Clark was his usual self, provided lots of clearances and last ditch tackles as usual. Amavi was incredibly impressive, his energy is superb and his pace means that he can afford to support the attack as he can always make it back in time. I think it’s fair to say that Sherwood has finally found the perfect left-back since Bouma and Warnock.
Rudy Gestede made an instant impression. All throughout last season, zero of Villa’s substitutes scored while coming off the bench. Gestede ensured that statistic wouldn’t repeat itself. Gestede showed great movement and held the ball up well. His headed goal was top class and pundits compared him to Alan Shearer. He might not be exactly like Benteke, but Gestede did show that he is capable of scoring in the Premier League and will pose a threat in the air for Villa.
It also became clear that the likes of Jordan Ayew and Veretout will need time to develop in the Premier League. It might be harsh to make judgments right now (especially to Ayew who didn’t necessarily get much service) but I think that those two players will need some time. Both are young, and Ayew showed great energy and moments of creativity. Whilst Veretout could’ve been more adventurous in attack. Still I’m not too concerned right now.
There were only two things that concerned me or I was confused about. I didn’t understand why Bacuna was selected as right-back. I don’t think that’s his best position and after playing all pre-season in midfield, I thought that Bacuna would be upgraded to midfield (where I think he’d be more of a threat). Bacuna’s positioning is sometimes poor and isn’t always aware of who he should be marking. Whilst Hutton might not be as big of an attacking threat as Bacuna, I think that Hutton is more defensively solid and for a right-back, he is quite attacking as well. My other concern is that Agbonlahor isn’t much of a threat. He had two moments of brilliance, his cut back pass was good and managed to find Gana (Gueye) and when he runs at defenders he can be a threat. But I don’t see Agbonlahor as our attacking solution, not yet anyway. He could prove me wrong, and I sure hope so.
Pretty fair summation. Wasn’t sure why some on here were quite critical of Richards performance – although I accept I only watched extended highlights on Sky (apologies for swearing!)
We did seem to lose concentration for the last 20 minutes of first half which was of concern – better sides would definitely have punished us for that. Overall I thought we looked more mobile than last year and Amavi looked the real deal. Gestede’s goal was special – reminded me of Andy Gray and Andy Lochead – but just hope we don’t resort to continually pumping long balls up the field. The bonus will be his ability to help the defence at corners and dead ball situations.
Let’s hope the law of averages finally decides the dice to fall for us on Friday.
Villa are a team that’s been put together [from very promising ingredients] in just the last few weeks, from what I’ve seen and read since Saturday afternoon it was a good first result; newly-promoted sides are all quite unpredictable in the first few weeks.
3 points on the board, 37 to go before we’re safe!!
Agree Ardent were like a cake in the oven, we can go two ways burnt and tasteless or cooked to perfection. Let’s all hope head chef Sherwood knows his ingredients…..
I think TS set the team up at the weekend to catch them on the break, knowing that they where going to come at us. The goal return last season won them promotion and they are in the EPL on merit. Fair play to TS he changed it in the second half and things improved, but when we are questioning the team selection then we may be being a bit over critical as we now have options to change it, where as the team that usually starts is our fittest 11 players, we just did not have anyone who could change a game coming off the bench for the 3 or 4 seasons, now we options to totally change a game. If we had been beaten then by all means question the selection, 3 points at a potential first banana skin of game is a good result.
Let’s just hope we can now break the hoodoo and turn over the Mancs on Friday. We are due one, so it has to end sometime. Keep the faith UTV
Pretty fair overall, but I think thats a bit harsh on Veretout, I thought for his first game he did really well. You can see he has the ability, just needs to play a few games.
I think Veretout and Gueye will make an excellent partnership in the middle with another players (Gil, Grealish?) playing as a number 10 in front of them.
Spot on Benno – I honestly think that Veretout may well need a bit longer to bed in than the others, but when he does will be the pick of the lot, Gil or Grealish just in front, and a footballer, like somebody that can play football to replace Gabby and happy day’s ahead.
I think Townsend may well come in as Hutton and Bacuna on the right is a combination that will spell trouble long term. UTV
Like many on here Sasa, I just don’t understand how Agbonlahor still gets a start…
Anyway, it’s Sherwoods job so I suppose we just wait and see how long he gives the Road-Runner.
Ardent, it just baffles me mate, the match of the day commentary tickled me after his run with no end product on Saturday…”Agbonlahor rolls back the years there”,,,,,,too bloody right he did,, and the irony wasn’t lost on me,
All will be revealed in a new book “The hunt for Red 11”. Just as there is no 13 button in an American lift, if you key in 11 Red on a subs board it flashes up another number. Gabby’s mate works at the factory.
A fair assessment, but tbh Richards was not tested by a physical aerial presence – like Rudy. When he is – he might not look so good as a CH.
Did Tim set the team up really astutely, or was that all he had fit? We won’t have long to find out, because he needs a different approach to 1/ a home game, 2/ United.
Ayew may have been the least impressive of the newcomers – but the rest of the side hardly passed him the ball, perhaps because we haven’t had a right winger for over a season. He was just getting into the game when they subbed him, instead of Gabby.
What I think we all might agree on is that it’s far too early to make any real judgement on the new players but there were some promising performances and Gabby better look to his laurels! OLL makes a good point – would he have played if Gil / Grealish had been fit. I can see Gabby doing quite a bit of bench polishing this season!
ts is running extra training sessions to try and get the new players up to speed . im not judging any of them for at least 10 games .it would be unfair to criticize any of the new signings until they get a chance to get used to the premier league.
If, as the papers suggest, we’re after Praet and Traore, will that be too many in the squad in midfield? Still, if the price is right we can always sell on those who don’t make the grade…Also got a good feeling about friday and it’s not blind optimism this time!
Think it’s just paper talk Bum Bum, unless TS is trying to mislead everyone with his reference to now only looking at home grown players.
It’s been reported in Spain that Traore has chosen Aston Villa and will sign for three years with an option to extend for a fourth. His buyout clause is being reported as €6m.
http://app.football-espana.net/?referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.football-espana.net%2F53282%2Fadama-chooses-aston-villa#article/footballespana-53282
Also here
http://www.insidefutbol.com/2015/08/11/race-won-aston-villa-snap-up-liverpool-linked-adama-traore/228546/
and here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/33590102
Now my head is really spinning!
sweet if its true , we all love a new signing.
can we have a good rightback next 🙂
here to
http://talksport.com/football/aston-villa-beat-liverpool-and-stoke-city-signature-barcelona-starlet-reports-150811162336
but we all know what talkshit is like. the love a rumour.
Now being widely reported that Villa are in pole position to sign Traore. Don’t know anything about him but the guys on here that do seem to rate him. Well known that TS has been looking for a winger having been linked with Townsend and Lennon. Fits with TS (and Villa’s) strategy of buying young exciting talent but they will need experienced players around them – but then in today’s world when is young, young?
They are reporting in Marca, who are the more respectable Spanish sports paper that the deal for Traore is done !
He is a fantastic prospect, who is not afraid to get stuck in, but more important, he chose us over the scouser’s.
How much is the buy back clause though. Barca having their cake and eating it
Get him through the door first, whatever the clause is I’m sure we’ll benefit from him however long he stays.I gather this is how barca do their business.love to see him at the VILLA in yer face scousers.
So basically if he’s any good they give us our £12m bk and IV he’s shit we are stuck with him! Why don’t they just do a loan deal instead
Another negative view Oohah.
No I just wonder why do a buy bk instead of a loan what’s the difference
In case he doesn’t do well? Because he wants to be sold for regular football? Makes both teams happy? Many reasons.
But a loan would cover that as well
If he doesn’t do well, he goes back to them and they struggle to sell him.
He wants to be sold for regular football and he might like it in England, who knows?
Barcelona does this with a host of youth players, Bojan most recently.
Reports there will be no buyback clause, but if there was, it’d be relatively large. Probably upwards of 20m next season of 30m the following, if not more.
Reported in Spain – deal done 3 years with an option on a 4th!
14 assists in the 2nd division of Spain last season. He has an eye for pass/cross and that will be great for Gestede.
Fair enough do at least we turn a profit
Just had a call from my lad we have beaten Liverpool to A Barcelona player.
http://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2015/aston-villa-make-approach-for-aymen-abdennour/?
Make this and Traore happen and there will be heart attacks for Vila fans around the world!!
Sounds like a long shot to me,yes it would be nice but can we compete against barca & Roma???possibly wages could be a stumbling block.nice to be hearing no more adebeyor links.
Why would anyone choose us over barca lol. Complete rubbish article
Because Barcelona are only linked, not putting a bid in yet?
We probably have little chance but if we actually pulled this off, holy moly that would be the most incredible signing we’ve made.
Just looked up his Wiki entry – seems to have signed a few ‘4-year’ contracts in recent years but only stayed for one season?
Was at Toulouse for 3 seasons, then moved to Monaco and has played there for 2. Played in Switzerland for 2 1/2 and Germany on loan for half. So he’s not quite a 1 season then move kinda player.
Gil and Grealish back in training, not ready for United obviously, Traore close to signing and linked to Abdennour, what a day for Villa.
Agree massive long shot, but it really makes a change to be linked with some of these types of players, who are mooted to some of the biggest clubs in the world rather than English overpaid dross (O’Neill era) and Championship players (Lambert era)…just feel the tide is turning a little.
And on that note, i like the age we are buying,OK if they do well we may be forced to sell on, but at a big profit, but we may have a shed load of potential for 2-3 years down the line rather than getting 27/28 year olds who are the immediate fix which so many teams seek without looking at the bigger picture and how the club may progress longer term.
A player of this ability at VP? Wake me up I must be dreaming.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAzWdFg0nd8&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1
Reminds me off messi why are barca loaning him out there must be a catch somewhere
We’re buying him, not loaning him. Because he won’t play, wasn’t given a squad number and they gave Sandro and Munir each a squad number. It’s Barcelona, they have the greatest academy going, not everyone who’s incredibly talented will get into that side.
Oh and the up and coming Rafinha who’s even starting tonight that plays ahead of him. 8th choice isn’t what he wants.
Shows how good they are if a player like that can’t even get on the bench
Exactly my point, add in Turan in January. Barcelona have the best attack and the best up and coming youth. They’re scary as hell.
It is more like we are leasing a player. We pay to own him for a set period but we cannot sell him on without the seller’s (Barca) permission, and they have the right to buy him back for a fixed price. This stops him being bought by a Champions league rival, but gives him and Barca the chance to assess him against 4 CL teams.
But if that’s the case why don’t they just loan him that way they can still control where he goes etc?
Not just his ability on the ball but his awareness in front of goal – even given its the best bits still very impressive. Hope he signs; can’t wait to see him leaving some of the older PL defenders on their backsides!
Between him, Grealish and Gil, we have an incredibly exciting young AM group. If we can even add in Praet which I don’t think we will at this moment, we’d have the most exciting young AM group alive right now.
Is this Villa we’re talking about?
The team that hasn’t an attacking AM for he many years?
*how
From Milner, Young and Downing to Gil, Grealish and Traore. It’s about time, right? Be nice to add another out and out striker that’s different to Gestede and Kozak, but then we’re asking for a lot.
Now ur getting greedy lol
H60, have a good look at that YouTube clip and tell me (without looking it up) which his is dominant foot?
Cause I’m f**ked if I can tell.
Good call BWS – I did notice that he used both feet with equal ability – I was always told that is the sign of a great player
Better than Messi then who only has one foot. Why don’t they keep him and give us Messi for a few million lol
Messi’s one footed Lol. Next I’ll be replacing him at Barcelona. 😉
BWS – he’s very quick and tax great feet but what impressed me most was he clearly has a footballing brain. His unselfish awareness in front of goal (with lay offs) and his crossing ability were stand out – Gabby should watch that u tube clip – he could learn from it!
Agbonlahor: Old dog, new tricks? No Chance!
Remember this was only Barca reserves remember how good the Moore brothers looked in our reserves!
Oohagh you’ve a good point
Difference is Oohah, Barcelona’s reserves play in the 2nd division of Spain, our reserves play against other reserve teams. He has senior experience against talent.
True
Did you change my post OohAh – that’s naughty
I’d Get Praet too – alright Lerner might say that’s too much and you may argue other areas need strengthening – but my argument would be we’d have one of the best potential group of AM’s in the world and given the age, no need to spend money on that area of the team for another 10 years…
Might have to look to sell off players first, like Richardson and N’Zogbia.
It is true though that Grealish and Traore don’t have to be registered as they’re under 21. Don’t think Praet would either as he is only 21.
Registered for what? Driving a tractor? Buying alcohol in a supermarket? All this activity is making me ga ga! ( Nothing new there then…). Roll on Friday. Van Gaal must be as perplexed as we are. 3-2 Villa.
Haha nah the 25 man squad we’re only allowed to have. Which is why some have to relax on this “oh we should keep buying we have to have money” when we’re already over that limit.
Have another drink Bum Bum – that’s what I’m doing – about time we had something to be excited about. To be fair both Fox and TS said that (if we got through last season) we wouldn’t be in the same position again – here’s hoping