A'Villan

50 minutes ago, NeilS said:

Yeah I said to my Dad afterwards that City never carved us open like we were expecting. They had a couple of decent chances, but Martinez easily saved the ones they had. For us Ramsey should have done better on his 1v1 and Bailey had a decent chance that he put wide before he scored, and Coutinho was inches away from tucking in a late cross, and that is before you ignore the perfectly legit effort that was ruled out by the same lino who was hesitant with his flag in the first half for Kyle Walker’s effort.

I would say we were good value for our point, even pretty unlucky not to come away with a victory.

Nice post. 

Martinez

Cash - Bednarek - Mings - Digne

Luiz - Dendoncker - Kamara 

Coutinho

Bailey - Watkins 

2 hours ago, BleedClaretAndBlue said:

How composed are Kamara and Luiz? Dont understand how a midfield genius like Gerrard hasnt been starting them together since day 1. At least he is now noticing McGinn is not the answer. Probably more of an ego thing and admitting his mistakes. Now he knows he very job is on the line he will start de-clouding his judgement

I think it has to do with team morale, or at least the way SG perceives it in regards for how he wants to manage and coach this team. Maybe Luiz has had to sit because SG wants to build and develop an ethos of loyalty among the athletes that will make this club a fierce competitor and force to be reckoned with.

McGinn has been vital in this club finding itself in a position to be able to say we want and expect to be competitive at the top end of the Premier League again. If you want to deny that, go ahead it's your prerogative. Even if he isn't commanding the same level of influence now as he was, I can see why Gerrard or any coach would want to reward his attitude and commitment. It's easy to criticise and say he was a SPL player then, and now he's out of form and therefore not good enough so thanks but good riddance, let's replace him. If anyone embodies the drive ans fighting spirit to get stuck in and support our lads it's Super John. I recall his words regarding Jack moving on in an interview, the guy is humble. He also had reports of a 50 million pound move to United in the tabloids. Whether that was ever on the cards or not, I don't know. The point is clear enough. 

I know Luiz considering a change of club is as much a to do with him being asked to play a role that is is questionable as to whether it's where he plays his best football, and when you also consider which clubs are interested, you can appreciate the uncertainty as to whether he would commit here.

I can appreciate SG's thinking if it has parallels to what I'm suggesting here.

If you saw Buendia's body language and expression when he was coming on in the way I did, he wasn't exactly embracing Gerrard with the same enthusiasm as the manager. It's just a guess but the language and interaction for me was SG saying, "it's your time Buendia, have an impact". And Buendia's reaction was, "yeah okay, SG, 90 minutes in.. thanks for the vote of confidence."

It's tough to manage morale and keep everyone happy. If you have ever been involved in team sport, at any level, you know what I'm saying.

Has anyone read, "Gerrard's Blueprint: The Tactical Philosophy Behind Rangers 55th Title Triumph"?

I'm going to renege on my stance that Gerrard should be replaced.

I really enjoyed and liked Dean Smith. Within a month of his appointment I was a fan and thought his approach was going to be effective and deliver, even though results took their time to complement his coaching philosophy and tactics. I liked that he challenged our team to play with the ball and embody his ideals as a coach, even though some would have to develop as players to be able to allow for the implementation of the tactics to be even somewhat effective. Aesthetically Smith was the ultimate contrast to Bruce. And that bode well for us, and for him alike.

The reason I am reneging on my Gerrard stance is that I think there are a myriad of factors that are going against him at present, and I'm no longer so sure that him making a few mistakes in regards to team selection and tactical approach are cause for the kind of concern that we should look elsewhere.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not singing his praises because I've done some reflection on what his situation is, what success for Villa as a coach and manager will entail, and some brief reading on Gerrard's coaching style at Rangers, I'm not. I just think it's a bit premature for me to pass judgement that what he has in mind is going to be as hopeless as the first few games of this season suggest it may continue to be.

Quote

 

The appointment of Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard in 2018 was a move that brought along a tactical identity that they were lacking before and also an effective recruitment strategy that helped them win the title. By the 2021 campaign, the club had just four players from the 2018-19 squad and the title win shows how effective their recruitment strategy and playing style were. Let’s take a look at the tactics that brought Rangers back to the promised land.

Positional Build-up Play

 The Glasgow side builds up using their full-backs who drop deep to receive the ball. This is complemented by the positioning of the center midfielders. The center midfielders position themselves such that if the wide forwards of the opposition attempt to press the full-back, the center midfielders find enough space to receive the ball. 

Central midfielders’ positioning to pin the opposition wide forwards deep

The fullbacks dropping deep also means that they cannot be pressed by the opposition full-backs as such an action would leave their defensive line vulnerable to the Rangers front three.

If the ball-near wide forward pushes to press the full-back, the rangers pivot finds himself an angle to receive the ball in space  

Rangers mostly use a double pivot in their build-up with their left midfielder Joe Aribo taking a more attacking position on the left side of the pitch with Ryan Kent and the left wide forward shifting inside to operate in the Number 10 position. Thus their shape during build-up resembles a 4-2-3-1 shape. 

Automatism in Movements

 The Rangers attack made up of Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and Joe Aribo is flexible and their movements have an excellent sense of positional responsibility and automatism that they almost never leave important positions or spaces vacant.

Both the pictures above are from the same situation where the Rangers interchange positions and occupy important zones. This spatial occupation and automatism not only makes their progression smooth but also creates automatic counter-movements that the opposition may find hard to defend.

The Intention Behind the Overloads

 One of the things this Steven Gerrard side is good at is overloading areas of the pitch and using it to their advantage. Whether they are defensive overloads or offensive overloads they make sure they use it to their good. When in possession, they overload with the intention of not just providing more options to the ball carrier but also in case they lose possession, to win the ball back with numbers.

The above image shows the numerical superiority that Rangers offers in possession. In the same situation, the overload in possession helps them to press effectively if they do turn over the ball.

When out of possession, their zonal defence shifts across to the ball near side and become so narrow that they choke the ball out of the opposition and in doing so when they recover the ball they have enough numbers to keep the ball or hit the opposition on the counter-attack. 

The defensive overload they create on flanks helps them counter attack

Their rest offence forms a triangle with Alfredo Morelos on top between the opposition center backs and their wide forwards dropping deep and moving slightly inwards. This complements their overloading system as their wide forwards can overload the flanks while screening back passes and also initiate a quick counter-attack

Protecting the Centre

 Out of possession, Rangers deploy a man-oriented pressing system where they man-mark all possible options to the opposition ball carrier. The front three moves in synchronisation in relation to the ball with the aim of preventing the opposition from playing through the center. The wide forwards prioritise defending the ball from reaching opposition pivot or pivots and instead lures the opposition to pass to the flanks where they can overload and win the ball back.

Rangers’ front three prevent the opposition from progressing the ball through the centre.

Rangers’ man-oriented pressing scheme causes issues for opposing teams during their build-up

 

https://breakingthelines.com/tactical-analysis/tactical-analysis-steven-gerrards-rangers/

Makes for an interesting read.

Especially for those of us who think the double pivot is beyond him.

What alarms me with SG is that he doesn't own what's happening and take a step of leadership and the responsibility for it, and I'm not even talking publicly, or to the playing staff. I'm talking about to his own self. It's like he hasn't even considered the possibility this is on him.

Seems to me that his energy was spent becoming the great midfielder that he was for Liverpool, and while so much of the principles that got him to that level of success are ingrained in who he is to this day, the desire to work on his current game, managing and coaching, more specifically, managing and coaching us to where we need to be, is in stark contrast to his playing career. I could be dead wrong, but I'm saying it, I think this is more of a post career pastime than a career he's willing to invest in enough to be great at. As is, at least. Hope I'm misguided in that.

I'd welcome Dendoncker from what I've seen of him. He can be quite good, both on the ball and reading play. Physical presence. I don't know him well enough to say with any real confidence but if he's consistently as good as I've seen him be, he'll be giving McGinn a good run for his money and the only thing JJ is ahead of him in is driving forward at the defence for a run.

Edit: I'd just like to add I know nothing about the fee or wages. And I think he is very much an addition to fit in with the current approach Gerrard has, which will see more of us winning the ball back, or attempting to, and then playing lofted and direct passes forward, and less of us developing prolonged and deliberate sequences of passing on the floor to find space and then exploit it. Currently Coutinho is the only one consistently incisive and precise enough with his passing, movement and ideas combined to have a real go at attacking meaningfully both solo and making it so team mates are better off for his involvement in our attacking half. Buendia is capable and has moments of genius but Coutinho even the most simple of touches or plays means we continue on in good stead, or at the least it was the right idea. The rest of it is too reliant on individuality and our approach is contrived, predictable and lacks ingenuity. Sad because we have players in every position that can hold their own at the very least among the best. Collectively, we're miserable in my view. Thanks to Gerrards current approach. Hope he changes it up and we find our stride, I don't think he will be able to deliver that for us though. 

I'd rather not continue with Gerrard. I've rarely ever expressed desire for us to move on from a manager, opting for silence if I can't muster support.

The pieces we have are just too great and able, to continue with this approach, and at the risk of us losing the players due to poor league standing, and worse, poor football. 

Knew the passing would get more deliberate, incisive and precise with Coutinho on.

I am a fan of the subs at least.

Think we will see some more incisive and effective build up.

Edit: Trust me to get it wrong!

We just don't command any presence at all in the contest. Whether that's fifty-fifty battles, or ball retention to allow some meaningful sequence to come about and bring us a goal threat. 

Not what I wanted waking up at 4am to watch live. Don't care about the record for the season, just a showing tonight. 

Get Coutinho on. Now. Unless he's unfit.

There's a few available who I'd have here.

Half a dozen or so out of work who I think could improve our position from last year.

I'll have a think about who I would back to get us to where we need to be. 

1. Our playing personnel.

Special mentions:

• Coutinho 
• Bailey 
• Buendia 
• Martinez 
• Dougie
• Kamara
• JJ
• Diego Carlos

Lesser but worthy:

• Watkins
• Mings
• Cash
• Digne
• Ings
• Archer
• McGinn
• More..

2. Wes Edens. Do not underestimate this man, in my opinion. 

3. Each other as supporters. We are the heart and soul of this club and what it's capable of. Let's be careful of the thoughts we have, the words we speak, and the actions we take, as they will determine our destiny. 

4. Time is on our side.

Forgive me I rushed this, I'm out at present but have not been posting so wanted to write something I can return to.

I know some won't share my views and optimism, reconciled to that.

8 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

Where are these kind of stats found ?

Whoscored.com, for one.

I've never really discerned how these sites and statisticians ascertain their numbers and what exactly qualifies as earning a digit. So I don't rely too heavily on them.

I'd think some sites would be brilliant  others reliant on copy and paste from one or various other sources, and some poor.

Edit: the moment when I realise you may have meant specific to the stated stats. 

I'd like to see this line-up..

2 hours ago, Sam-AVFC said:

No idea what you wrote, but I'd trust VT to give some detailed balanced advice to sincere questions than most other sources.

Me too. I'd co-sign that for sure.

However I'm considering the situation before airing my thoughts.

Thanks for the reply and thoughts nonetheless. 

Sorry VT. Better avenues for counselling on this subject. 

21 minutes ago, paul514 said:

If you didn’t have to play to gerrards tactics/formation who would you bring in to sort out what’s going on?

You have 50 million 

Thiago Alcantara is a midfielder I'd love to see giving his best for Villa.

I'm not really concerned with whether he would be an equitable proposition for us in an economic business sense. He wouldn't be if we are talking numbers of future sale value. If our business is football and being good at it, great at it even, then I'd be looking to work with Thiago any day.

What he offers on the ball, without it, and the commanding presence he has. Would give us quality in midfield that we don't possess at present. Not because of a lack of individual skill or talent. Regardless of the reason behind what we lack in this area, Thiago in my mind would be a very welcome addition to amend that, make us dynamic and allow our other players on the pitch to shine brighter than what we've seen thus far under Gerrard.

Always been a fan of his.

10 minutes ago, useless said:

I was the one who called it, and this is the way it will be until we appoint Pochettino or someone on his level, of course we may get lucky and a lesser regarded manager might turn out to be great for us, we had that to a degree with Smith, but if you want the best chance of success have to stop messing about and go for a top manager proven at the highest level, there's a good reason that more often than not that's the type that big six go for when they need a new manger.

Evidence does not amount to proof.

I'm not here to undermine your views, it may come across that way, if it does know that my interest isn't in being dismissive. I don't feel I know enough to say with any certainty or even surety that I have insight on the matter.

I do however sense that you are coming on stronger than I can appreciate given what you've written. There's a myriad of ways this club can find success and pigeon holing that because you have identified one way we may find that success doesn't hit me with confidence that as supporters we understand what this club needs. Please don't take that as a shot at you, it's more that the club is in a position where there are many doubts and questions that aren't producing much in the way of confidence in our direction or philosophy. And that's not always, rarely even, a good sign.

Coutinho not being world class and Barcelona overpaying are comments that I'm not sure i agree with but am glad it was made because it challenges me to understand why I have the view I do. And that's always welcome.

Regards the price Barca paid, that's not for me to say, I don't care enough for the business side of football to have an opinion that's worth all that much and I'm fine acknowledging that.

As for him being world class, he was. And those who are emphasising the was in that statement will find no arguments from me to say that is stilll a status that is appropriate when discussing his game. 

That said, I don't particularly feel that is a fault of his or an indication of deterioration in his ability. I think its circumstances beyond his control. And before anyone jumps to deny that, please consider that it is not Coutinho who decides he is a world class player. Almost anyone aside from him does. We assign that worth. And that is out of his control. Then you have to factor in that because of the perception that Barca overpaid, he is not worth what was paid, and that's a negative connotation associated with his name that is, again, out of his control.

My interest in any discussion would be on why he is viewed in a certain way in relation to his football ability. What makes him great, or overrated, whatever the case may be. Fwiw I think he was world class and I'm a fan of what he is doing for us. 

Not sure I'll be engaged enough to discuss the ins and outs and why I or anyone sees Coutinho as they do from here but that is because I'm not sure I'll be here in time to respond.