Rich_D

Blackpool v Aston Villa line-ups

Blackpool: Kingson, Baptiste, Evatt, Cathcart, Carney, Adam, Vaughan, Grandin, Campbell, Harewood, Varney.

Subs: Kettings, Southern, Eardley, Phillips, Puncheon, Reid, Beattie.

Aston Villa: Friedel, Walker, Dunne, Cuellar, Clark, Agbonlahor, Makoun, Reo-Coker, Downing, Ashley Young, Bent.

Subs: Marshall, Pires, Albrighton, Bradley, Delph, Heskey, Collins.

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

Now I've read the thread, it looks like maybe internationals might have had an influence - Delfouneso played ninety minutes in Italy didn't he?

Ye. But Bent played 90 mins.

I think they did have an influence but Bent is just undroppable as we don't really have a replacement. Others we do

Collins on the bench? He's a defender so surely wouldn't get that knackered. Squad rotation I guess but does seem odd.

Albrighton really should be starting instead of Gabby, playing big-names out of position instead of players on merit in their position is just not right. Petrov was pretty woeful last week and had a big trip mid week so understandable I guess.

Bannan >>>>>>> Pires.

Obviously never played football then?

Petrov played 90mins IIRC midweek for Bulgaria. At his age, it is ideal to give him a rest. Good on Houllier!!

Seems weird that Bannan isn't getting on the bench but he is definitely in Houlliers plans for the future.

No Delfouneso is a strange one. I'm sure Houllier has valid reasons for all the decisions.

Good to see Cuellar getting a start. Lets hope he plays well and gets given a run of games. Collins also played 90mins midweek for Wales.

If we can null the effect Adam has in the middle of the park, we should get a bag full here.

Wouldn't be surprised to see a 3 man midfield of Petrov NRC Makoun to combat their area of strength.

With Downing and Young on the wings and Bent up top on his own. Same back four as well.

UNLESS NRC is captain and replaces Petrov, which is a brave more from Houllier, but I really like it.

3 points needed here and hopefully the international midweek will breed a lot of confidence.

Wait until next season, when this kid kicks on. I think Houllier has big plans for him.

Ditto with Delph.

I think you've misread that. The quote is:

“Barry and the others will be training with the first team, which was not the case before this season.’’

He just means Bannan was with the reserves last season. Almost certainly Kmac who brought him through to the first squad.

Here is the whole article

Gerard Houllier today insisted none of Villa’s young midfield stars will be allowed to leave the club on loan.

Villa bolstered their options in January with the signing of Jean Makoun from Lyon and the arrival of Michael Bradley on loan from Borussia Moenchengladbach.

And the return to fitness of Nigel Reo-Coker and Stiliyan Petrov has meant that chances for Fabian Delph, Barry Bannan and Chris Herd have been few and far between recently.

The Villa boss has allowed American defender Eric Lichaj to join Leeds United on loan for a month, but he will not listen to temporary offers for the midfield youngsters.

“There is no chance because they’ve got four months to learn,” said Houllier.

“Barry will be training with the first-team which was not the case before, so in terms of intensity in terms of pace of the game he’s got to for the four months coming up.

“It will be part of a learning process and learn about the game and of course they’ll play some games.

“You can’t put the horse before the cart, you’ve got to work and then you’ll play games.

“He, Chris and Nathan Baker won’t leave — it’s as simple as that.

“Fabian has been injured for a long time so he needs these four months obviously to build up. I’ve spoken to them and told them this.”

Does not mention anything about the previous season but the fact it says that they have 4 months to get up to pace etc indicates that this will be something new for him.

Did not realise that he wasn't training with the 1st team until I read an article in the Express & Star earlier. Seems to be that he has only just, this week or next, joined in the training and was previously with the reserves.

VT loves a comparison (including me)

Haha. Arsenal play the football that I would love Villa to play. We have some players that fit in to the mould, but some are lacking.

OT but we need Walker to stay, a left footed Walker to be made and two footballing CB

Eventual CM:

Bradley - Makoun

------- Delph ------

?

Hopefully, yes.

Bradley is our Song

Makoun can be our Cesc

Delph/Bannan is our Wilshere.

Hopefully anyway

--------------Friedel--------------

Walker--Cuellar--Collins--Clark

--------------Bradley------------

---------Makoun---Downing----

Albrighton----------------Young

--------------Bent---------------

Play with Downing more advanced than Makoun but still having he ability for Makoun to burst forward if Downing has the ball at feet.

I said it other post that on the left Young>Downing>Albrighton and on the right Albrighton>Downing>Young so I'd rather have 2 players playing in their best positions and Downing in a midfield role that is more advanced than the norm but more midfield that Young plays normally.

I don't understand how Arsenal, Liverpool (at times against Chelsea) and Chelsea have midfielders and attackers that are fluid as opposed to sticking to positions like we seem to do. Lets try and get a more fluid style of play as we have the players that can play in a number of positions.

Dunne and Collins should take a long hard look at themselves. Both are liabilities.

This

Foreign name syndrome.

Arm chair fan point of view clearly

On the radio today they were raving about his passing, they were saying when Petrov gave him the ball, Petrov didn't look like he expected it back or in some cases back as fast as Makoun was giving it to him....Petrov was caught out a few times by that today, so they said on the radio anyway...Was that right?

Yes. And it wasn't just Petrov that this happened to. In all fairness, Makoun is showing all the players around him up. He is too quick for them and they are not ready for the ball that is coming their way.

Said it when he joined. This boy is quality. He has a pass for every situation. Wether it is a simple pass to someone close, a long ball to the wing, give and go. He has class movement.

He is so good that when he plays next to Petrov, Petrov looks like Sidwell. Remember, Petrov was the one midfielder that we had who could pass at the start of the season and has been one of our best players over recent years. Not now son, you've been shown up

No way I'd be throwing Bradley straight in with Makoun in the middle of midfield. Has to be Petrov/NRC.

why not?

Houllier has bought him in because he believes in him.

I dont think we know how good he is.

Dont think wigan at home is something we should fear.

I say go for it with Makoun with Bradley.

Seen stranger things happen.

Collins Dunne Warnock all making debuts against Blues away last season.

Petrov would be fuming if he does not start.

Friedel, Walker, Collins, Dunne, Clark, Makoun, Downing, Young, Bent will defiantly start.

Fridel

Walker Collins Dunne Clark

That will be the 5 defensive ones.

Article on BMail saying Houllier challenges him to up the tempo, says he speaks limited english but the other players have welcomed him in well and pass him the ball etc..worth a read.

I have said it before (I've seen him play many a time before he came here, and do not have FM) and will say it again...He is a class act.

He is the type of player that we have been crying out for since Houllier came here because he can actually pass the ball. He looks so so comfortable on the ball and it is a joy to watch.

It will be difficult for him being in a different country, only Houllier, Duverne (sp) and Pires around him that speaks the language (I suppose, Gabby is the only one that speaks his language so it is a similar situation), he hardly knows anyone etc. Once he finds his feet proper, he will be a breath of fresh air and so people why top, top clubs were after his signature a few years ago.

Next season I might be looking at something like this

Rotation 1

-------------------GK----------------------

--Walker --Collins --Dunne --Attacking LB

-----------------Petrov--------------------

--------Gardner----- Delph----------------

Delfouneso----------------------- A.Young

-----------------Gabby--------------------

Rotation 2

----------------GK--------------

L.Young--Cuellar--Clark--Baker

------Makoun----Bradley-------

Albrighton--------------Downing

-------Heskey---Bent-----------

Slightly OT but rotation 1 your first team, rotation 2 back up? If so

Petrov over Makoun?

Gabby over Bent?

Delfouneso on the wing over Albrighton?

-------------------GK

--Walker---Collins------CB --------Taiwo

-----------------Makoun

--------Bradley----- Delph

Albrighton----------------------- A.Young

-----------------Bent

Delfouneso will be a top top player, but playing him anywhere near out wide is just stupid. He is as near a striker as the definition is. He can be a very influential player for us, and I think he will.

He can learn his hold up play and professionalism (apart from the falling over like a sack of spuds) from Heskey, his movement and scoring ability from Bent and how to lift weights in the gym from Gabby.

First I did say that with the line ups i suggested we wouldn't be playing all our best players in the same team. I sugestted those line ups because you can pick your best players but that doesn't mean you will get the best team. What I was looking at with those was the blend, niether team is first choice. If you look at Man U these days only Van Der Sar, Rio, Vidic, Rooney, evra and maybe Berbertov are first choice players. Fergie tends to rotate the all of his players and in important games all those 6 play if fit plus the form players in the other positions. Also the reality is it is rare that a manger has ALL of his best players available to him.

Throw in the fact that We have 5 or 6 youngsters that have the potential to be better than any of our first choice players it makes sense to give them games, but to have a decent chance of winning it is advisable to play them with some experienced players.

Secondly GH is currently trying to use Gabby in a similar manner I suggested for Delfouneso however its not really working as Gabby was never a particularly good dribbler, he knocks the ball past players and then runs after it. This is fine if you have one player on you a lots of space in behind but if not your just going to give the ball away. Delfouneso for me is the best dribbler in the team, when he runs with the ball he terrifies defenders (as the ball stays close to him and he is quick with great acceleration, balance and agility) and if he developed a consistantly accurate long range shot (which he's more than capable of) He would be very effective coming inside onto his right foot and Walker as we all know is excellent attacking down the outside.

Also Delfouneso doesn't need to beef up, he has great balance and a nice first touch and good skill, if you have that you don't need so much body strength to hold the ball up and he is 6'1. Thierry Henry was never bulky but Rio Ferdinand no less claimed that Henry's strength was very hard to deal with. Gabby needed to bulk up as he never really had great balance, his touch is average, and his skill is averge, but Gabby was fast as **** and is actually a good finisher. My only issue with Gabby is that his movement in the box is poor. Plus of all our strikers Gabby is best suited to play as a lone striker as he is quick but is also good at holding the ball up. So long as we keep the ball on the deck Gabby makes an Excellent lone striker, Delfouneso one day yes, but he needs more experience to play alone upfront. Once Delfouneso hits 29/30 then he should gradually increase his muscle mass as his natural agility and pace will start to decline and he will need to change the way he plays by the time he hits 31. Until then he should just let his body fill out naturally, because its dangerous doing lots of wieght training on top of his normal training while his body is still developing. Up until he hits 21/22 will his bones will still be getting denser.

Playing Young as a winger limits his contribution and means that when hes out wide he won't see so much of the ball. But playing as one of 3 strikers coming in from the left and being allowed to drift inside if we had a quality attacking LB would see him more involved and harder to pick up.

Finally Petrov as a sitting holding midfielder is the second best at the club, why because he works hard, rarely gives the ball away and holds it up quite well too. The problem is he lacks the speed and acceleration to get up and down the pitch so well and so is better suited to being at the back of a three man central midfield as opposed to in a 4-4-2. And with 2 attack minded midfielders in front you want your holding midfielder to hold his position most of the time.

Seems like an adaptation of the formation Arsenal play nowadays. No?

The holder - Song/Petrov

Box2Box - Wilshere/Delph

Creator - Fabregas/Gardner

Right side - Walcott/Delfouneso

Striker - RVP/Bent

Left side - Nasri/Young

If there was a way Ash can play on the left so he can still cross the ball in but have a more involved part in the game then that is it.

Next season I might be looking at something like this

Rotation 1

-------------------GK----------------------

--Walker --Collins --Dunne --Attacking LB

-----------------Petrov--------------------

--------Gardner----- Delph----------------

Delfouneso----------------------- A.Young

-----------------Gabby--------------------

Rotation 2

----------------GK--------------

L.Young--Cuellar--Clark--Baker

------Makoun----Bradley-------

Albrighton--------------Downing

-------Heskey---Bent-----------

Slightly OT but rotation 1 your first team, rotation 2 back up? If so

Petrov over Makoun?

Gabby over Bent?

Delfouneso on the wing over Albrighton?

-------------------GK

--Walker---Collins------CB --------Taiwo

-----------------Makoun

--------Bradley----- Delph

Albrighton----------------------- A.Young

-----------------Bent

Delfouneso will be a top top player, but playing him anywhere near out wide is just stupid. He is as near a striker as the definition is. He can be a very influential player for us, and I think he will.

He can learn his hold up play and professionalism (apart from the falling over like a sack of spuds) from Heskey, his movement and scoring ability from Bent and how to lift weights in the gym from Gabby.

They'll finish top four easily, Tottenham will miss out due to their CL commitments.

This. Add injury worries to 'arrys list.

However, they have game changers in their team and a good performance in the CL may spur them on to play well in the PL. Very interesting race ahead

I was told in the summer from someone that has worked closely with him for a few years (not an agent as he hasn't got on) that it was for pure footballing reasons that he was leaving.

The temptation of playing week in week out in a team full of big names and the potential to be competing for the league and playing CL football eventually was the major draw to him moving. Obviously, the money issue was going to help as well but he is one of the most honest footballers out there, a true professional and not one that would be swayed by finances alone.

That being said, the chances of Milner coming back in the summer are still slim but not impossible from his side I would say. I get the feeling though, that if he came back he would have to stay for a long long time to make it worth while (in terms of apology to the fans etc)

I'll probably get slated for saying the above because my name is not the usual name that post stuff that players have said, but it is true.

I'm looking forward to seeing Makoun and Delph together. I think Delph has the movement and intelligence that Petrov/ NRC lack.

This. Similarly with Bannan and Makoun and Bradley and Makoun.

Delph, Bannan and Bradley all different types of players but will all be complemented by the class act of Makoun

If they mark and add pressure to Makoun over the weekend we are totally going back to hoofball, no doubt about it.

Not if Bradley has the ball at his feet. He can pick a pass, unlike Petrov and NRC