tommo

I think in a modern world of forward thinking tactics, my team and system would always be something along the lines of ................Friedel Young Cuellar Dunne Warnock ................NRC...Petrov Young/Gabby.....Milner.....Downing ........Heskey/Carew/Gabby We should have enough though for Hull even with the rigid MON system to nervously win 1-0 or 2-1. What concerns me slightly is Bullard's ability as he is the sort of player who Petrov will have trouble coping with and can cause problems. Milner in the centre or on the left is the way forward for me, as he can do some defensive work also, with Downing and Young causing general havoc switching places. I wouldn't like to see Milner in a 442 in the centre as I just feel he will be covering for Stan too much against decent opposition, much how Delph and Sidwell have struggled when paired with him. In my opinion we would have one of the best destroyers in the centre in NRC, and Petrov can in that way be effective in his keeping it simple in possession role and winning free kicks. Both are crucial players for us when played around the right personnel. Gabby could switch right if neccessary to accommodate the big 2 up front also. There is also a wealth of attacking talent in front of them, (with Delph and Albrighton on the bench) so in no way is this a negative system...it is a winning one. If the right system is used we have easily the makings of a top 4 side. I really hope MON can see this.

that's good to hear... well not that he was injured but just that it wasn't the outrageously bad tactical move I thought it was.

Of all the sides that have come to Villa Park this season, as much as it pains me to say it, Spurs have looked the most impressive, and were well worthy of a point. I personally thought the team selection was reasonable, and NRC's inclusion was a more than pleasant surprise, whilst Warnock's injury disappointed. There was lots of energy in the play, particularly for the first 20 mins, although you got the impression that Villa couldn't keep that sort of level up, and we tired (or became shit, or were outclassed, whatever the reason), much faster than we did against say Manchester City, which was a similar game. The defence again had a superb game, but even with NRC in there, Spurs dominated that area and we sat too deep. Some ratings; Friedel 8- crucial saves Beye 7- solid enough. Dunne 8- solid Cuellar 9*- a super defensive display, comfortable moving forwards, and an excellent goal saving clearance in the first half. Young 7.5- thought he was neat in possession consdering he was on the left, and made some good bursts forward. Milner 6.5- effort again was unbelievable, but was again let down by the system in an attacking sense. Too much defending to do, but he did excel in that area. Petrov 6.5- I thought he did one or two things today which showed what talent this guy has. However he again tired, didn't have as much of the ball as he should have in his role, and sat far too deep defensively, considering he was alongside NRC. NRC 7- well it seems when he is in the side we win, and as soon as he was removed we effectively could have conceded two in 5 minutes. In terms of breaking up the play, he was very good, without having any effect on the overall performance. Young 5.5- Not brilliant, but produced a good cross for Heskey at the end. Carew 6- showed a few glimpses of strong play, but didn't have enough of the ball or the support needed. Gabby 6.5- tried very hard. - Heskey 7- good stuff when he came on and was unlucky not to score Sidwell 5- Mr Invisible, but had a wayward shot. As for MON, he gets personal praise from me for his team selection. However, he should have changed things much sooner. An extra midfield player should have been brought on when it was clear we were being dominated. Our play became hoofball again and there were no ideas. Was NRC injured? If he was then I will let it go, but if the substitution was tactical then it was undeniably bad management from a defensive point of view. I think we will continue to drop points in this sense. Overall it was a good effort, but the management and style of play became all too predictable.

Right with City drawing and NRC playing, i'm suddenly up for this. Hopefully we'll see Petrov playing more of the role he did for Celtic today. Not convinced by Luke Young at Lb versus lennon, but now shorey's gone he's our best option there. Hope he's up to the job. If we win the midfield battle we can win this I think- let's see how NRC and Stan shape up. It's a change anyway, although it didn't work at sunderland

For me if Spurs go with the same team that beat Wigan with Palacios and Huddlestone in the middle it could play into our hands a bit- as there's a lack of pace and innovation. However if Jenas comes back in, or if they go 4-3-3, we could be in trouble, as MON will almost inevitably pick the same central midfield system which doesn't work. I'd like to see NRC start, ideally in a central 3, but that won't happen i'm sure. It's just I thought that Man City played into our hands when they came by playing de Jong and Barry. And that could be the case again with Huddlestone and Palacios. I'm interested to compare Palacios and Petrov today- I think Palacios plays a role that Petrov is expected to play by MON, and the former is much better at such a role IMO

All I can hope is that for as long as MON continues to play this system, it will eventually be found out, as it has been on numerous occasions. If we had deployed correct tactics in games this season I think we'd be sat in 2nd place. And to be honest the only time I have seen this system work was in the first half against Man City, I wasn't as impressed with us against Chelsea, and our goals came from hideous defensive errors by Chelsea. As someone suggested earlier, the lack of awareness of Petrov and Sidwell in the middle makes the rest of the team perform like headless chickens. Without the support next to him (in NRC), Sidwell can't run on and support the strikers. He is constantly aimlessly running about in a midfield that is doing next to nothing. This central midfield problem is going to cost us, and whenever the right personnel have been deployed there, we have achieved good results and have looked fairly potent.

its time

Notice how everyone play well without him in the team, he comes back in and everyone's shit again going forward. He does **** all. The amount of times I've seen midfielders run past him today is unbelievable, I haven't even seen him get on the ball, which is what he's supposed to do. Central midfield is one of the most important positions on the pitch and of course it affects the players around him. Yes, it's clearly all Petrovs fault. Had that been NRC on the field, Friedel wouldn't have been beaten to the ball. But we might not have looked so crap had NRC been on, we would have done a better job in the midfield. I hardly seen anyone suggesting its Petrov's fault. It's MONs fault.

Notice how everyone play well without him in the team, he comes back in and everyone's shit again going forward. He does **** all. The amount of times I've seen midfielders run past him today is unbelievable, I haven't even seen him get on the ball, which is what he's supposed to do. Central midfield is one of the most important positions on the pitch and of course it affects the players around him. Yes again he is out of his depth. But that isn't Petrov's fault. It's like putting Heskey up front on his own with no support or something. He needs players around him that work in a system, and IMO so does Carew. And that is MONs stubborn fault

Is heskey on the bench? He'll no doubt be on at right back in a bit

Or perhaps its because our CM pairing can't get a foot in therefore Sidwell can't get forward to support the forwards as he was against Bolton, as he's having to do Stan's dirty work- where he is ineffective. Big Ron just got it spot on- Milner should play a bit narrower and match burnley in midfield You are blaming his serious inconsistency on the midfield? When he has had chances this season he's fluffed them. He's a waste of space. The system is completely wrong, so I have sympathy with underperforming players. The fact that sidwell can't get forward defeats the object of Carew being a powerful link man. As it is he relies on Milner and Young invariably whipping in the occasional decent cross, which doesn't happen in this system.

Or perhaps its because our CM pairing can't get a foot in therefore Sidwell can't get forward to support the forwards as he was against Bolton, as he's having to do Stan's dirty work- where he is ineffective. Big Ron just got it spot on- Milner should play a bit narrower and match burnley in midfield

yeah exactly, i'm also not in the strange camp that thinks petrov is shit. I just think MON deploys him incorrectly, and it gets on my tits to the point that I almost couldn't care less about the result. In my opinion, MON deserves to lose with stubborness like this. And I prepare to be shot down in flames by that last comment.

AVFC PoB you echo my thoughts. I'm just glad someone keeps posting what I feel. Good on you

simples

Its not Petrov's fault. But people are genuinely peed off with MON

The weekly Barrys Boots/AVFC PoB v Dappadan/Big John divide starts again. Im with the first two

I'm absolutely furious personally

My stomach has just lurched, please may this not be true

Big John I think if people are suggesting Stan is shit then they are wrong. Certainly he is a major player for us in our 433 system. I think the problem lies in MONs insistence on playing him in a 442, which IMO is destroying petrov, and people are now beginning to unfairly turn against Stan. It's MONs persistence that is letting us down, not Stan, in expecting him to take a role that he physically can't in a 442

Yeah AVFC, I would have no complaints if Stan came in for Carew, personally, because the system works, and Carew can be used for impact. In MONs eyes, I can't see that bringing in Stan for NRC or Sidwell would be an 'unpopular' choice amongst a lot of fans. Although for me that would definitely be unpopular.

Apparently in a paper this morning MON suggested he might have to make an 'unpopular' choice in his team selection. Anyone guess what that might be? Obviously it's to shoehorn Petrov in. I think it might be alluding to leaving Carew on the bench to go 451?

Happy to play under him as captain, why do the players decide who is captain i thought that was MON? Will be a good marker to all tomorrow, play well and you will be dropped as soon as my favourites come back in! Not entirely true, but certainly an element of it. If we win who cares, if we loose.... Do you really think MON would pick a captain that the other players didn't respect? And if petrov was as wank as some on here try to make out he is i can't imagine many players having much respect for him. I think the Petrov captaincy conveniently fell into place at the time having been a consistent player last season, and MON can't really turn back on that decision now. As Barry had left, Friedel was too old, Carew went to strip clubs, Davies too young and injury prone and NRC had been unfairly shunned to the point of non-existence. Now, I think NRC and Dunne would make better captains than Petrov, and benefit the team in the long run. Nevertheless, I would play Stan today, in a 4-5-1

My team would be, .................Friedel Young Cuellar Collins/Dunne Warnock ........Petrov NRC Sidwell Milner ................................Young ..................Gabby with Carew as an impact sub perhaps replacing Petrov if we aren't doing anything. Delph for Sidwell is also an option. Carew deserves to play at some stage. I wouldn't complain if I see the same 11 as against Bolton. I would be slightly frustrated if we see Petrov and NRC in a 442 as this was ineffective at Sunderland. If so Stan would need to play an energetic role like Sidwell further forward, which we don't see from him too often. If NRC makes way for Petrov... then I will wait for the inevitable defeat. Go with the team at the top or last game's 11 and I'm sure we'll win though.

3-3 burnley - get in