| Donate |
|
|
 |
|
 |
| Links |
|
|
|
|
|
| Users Online |
 Welcome Guest
Join Us!
 
Register! It's free and you can post to the site
 Create an account | | | |  Login:
|
| | | | |  Admin |  limpid | |
| | | |  Moderators | | LancsVillan | | | BOF | | | bickster | | | blandy | | | NurembergVillan | | | PauloBarnesi | | | OutByEaster? | | | TrentVilla | |
| | | | | Members: |  New Today: | 13 | | New Yesterday: | 56 | | Total: | 41323 | | Last: | | suentSeet |
| | | |  Online |  Members: | 39 |  Guests: | 216 |  Total: | 255 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Menu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Posted by: Peter_B
on Wednesday, August 07, 2002 - 10:07 PM
Aston Villa 0 - 2 Lille : What Went on There Then?
UEFA Intertoto Cup,
Semi Final Second Leg,
Villa Park.
Villa needed to produce a good performance in order build on the useful draw gained against the French team in the first leg. What was produced instead, was a dour, uninspiring and gutless effort in the last game Villa play before it really matters.
Peter Enckelman reclaimed his place in goal, while Villa switched around their defence. Steve Staunton was moved to left back, as Taylor still refuses to play Barry where he belongs, and alongside Mellberg and Delaney, Dion Dublin started in defence. Apparently Alpay felt ill and as a result was ecluded from the match day squad. Nothing to do with the fact that any potential move would be stopped if he took part as he would be cup-tied for European competitions then? The midfield (if you can call it that) was filled by Gareth Barry, once again being played out of position at left wing, Hitzelsperger and Taylor being played in the middle and rather bizarely, no right winger. Up front, Vassell played just behind the fron pairing of Allback and everyone's favourite Geoffrey from the 'Toys 'r' Us' Advert lookilike - Peter Crouch.
The game started off at a slow pace for Villa, something they managed to maintain throughout the match. The first real chance for Villa was created by Crouch, as he beat his man and made a darting diagonal run into the box from the left hand side. With the 'keeper only left to beat, Crouch had done the hard part. However, instead of smashing the ball past the stranded Wimbee, he went to place the ball past the French goalkeeper. It was such a tame effort a Lille defender found the time to run back and hook the chance off the line. A chance that should have been converted and Villa would regret missing.
Lille always looked dangerous on the counter attack. Their plan was plain to see. They were prepared to mop up any pressure applied to them by the Villa and then produce a piercing, swift counter-attack. This was particulary worrying as Dion Dublin, who looked particulary over-weight seemed to have difficulty in return to defence from corners earned by the team. Even more worrying when Hitzelsperger failed to put the ball past the first man during the whole game.
It wasn't just Lille's plan that was plain to see. Villa's was even clearer. And it was repeated time after time after time after time after time. Dublin, Staunton or Mellberg would hoof the ball up to Crouch to knock down, but Crouch would fail to win the ball. For all his fancy flicks, Crouch rarely does anything useful with the ball, and when presented with a golden chance, he fluffed it. Crouch had a free header put wide from Barry's central cross with another chance he should have knocked in. Barry then came close himself after a cross from the right was met by his left foot, but this too sailed past the bar. Villa had had only three opotunities in the first half, but all three were golden chances with which proffessional footballers should have done better with.
Just before half time disaster struck. The poor excuse for a referee, Mr P. Gomes Costa, who had already missed two punch ups between players, gave yet another free kick to the French team. Fahmi's 35 yard striker clipped Steve Staunton on the way towards goal. Enckelman was flat footed and could do nothing about it.
The two teams went in at half time to a chorus of boos.
Aston Villa 0 Lille 1
A halftime substitution of Dublin off for Lee Hendrie as Villa moved to a more 'round' 433 formation - Hendrie, Taylor and Hitzelsperger in midfielde with Gareth Barry being pushed back into his better defensive position. Staunton return to his better central defence place. Though, at the begining of the half, it was like he was playing there for the first time in his career.
Staunton presented the ball to a Lille attacker, Who then found Brunel. Enckelman saved the shot, but the ball found itself spinning towards Bonnal who showed Crouch how he should have done it by firing Lille 2-0 up, ending the tie within 45 seconds of the restart.
But surely Villa would now attack Lille? Go for goals like Taylor promised when appointed? No, this, along with the promise of dealing with things inside VIlla Park and 'entertaining football' has disapeared. Villa just went to the endless tactic of hoofing the ball up to the now tired and hopeless Crouch, and time after time, nothing being produced.
People may have moaned about Gregory's football, but at least it got the result more often than not. However, not only has Taylor produced a team as boring and predictive as his predecessor, but it is even more infuriating. There was no passion, no urgency. At times it was almost as if the team had forgotten how to pass the ball. They constantly looked for the long ball up to Crouch and even just tossed the ball up to where the expected the gangly striker to be, without even looking.
The last five minutes descended into a farce, as the referee failed to control the game. As Darrius Vassell raced through on the Lille 'keeper, he caught the Frenchman and Staunton ran across the pitch with more urgency than he'd shown throughout the game in order to get involved in a good old punch up. He eventually got booked,as did Lille midfielder N'Diaye. Unfortunately for him, it was his second yellow, which meant an early bath. The Holte then began to come alive, spewing forth sings mocking the French teams efforts in the recent World Cup and even the bizarre "Stand up, if you hate snails".
The full time whistle went and Villa had failed to threaten in the second half. Not one real chance on goal. Which, I'm sure even Mr Taylor will agree, is a disgrace. Should Villa turn out a performance like this against the Red Scousers, namely one of no guts, no invention, no determination and no attacking guile, then they will be given an even bigger shock than the one they were given tonight.
This performance was shocking, make no doubt about it. And it's something that adding the likes of De La Cruz and Tim Cahill (who was rumoured to be in the Villa Park crowd tonight) will do. Tonight was all about the tactics, in which Lille excelled. Villa played right into Lille's hands with their one way of attacking and lack of width, which enabled Lille to counter attack with great effect.
I'm sure some of the Pro-Taylor extremists will try and get something positive out of tonights game. The Intertoto was a route to the UEFA Cup - a route to extra money for Ellis and a bit of recognition for Aston Villa. So here's my positive thought: My burger on the way out of the ground was quite nice.
John Cresswell,
deputyeditor@villatalk
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
