The Rémi Garde thread

[DeadlyDirk]

The way I see it, under Garde we're creating a lot more chances and having a lot more shots on goal than when Big Eck was in charge, which is a positive. In a few of these games under him we've failed to win, we would have probably won had we a more clinical striker up top than Gestede. Now I know Gestede hasn't started all of his games so far, but has missed quite a few clear chances despite being a menace. A clinical striker, an upgrade in goal and a Defensive Midfielder should be the 3 priorities in the window. For me it should be Remy, Mandanda and Toulalan. We have Cissokho back who despite what people think is a solid player, when Richards is fit I think it's fair to say he may be given a go at Right Back, as for all of the gamesmanship, streetwise and aggression Alan Hutton brings, he's just not good enough in my opinion.

The other thing that irks me is that for the first time in years we have a manager who says to me "This is a long term project" - he's changing the way we play, settling down the squad and the performances are improving. We've had fire-fighting managers, Managers not up to the job and Managers who are still in the 20th century. We now have one that's from the 21st century and is trying to drag Villa up to speed on the playing side. He's done a lot so far that I agree with in a chin-stroking sort of way, and although we're in dire straights at the moment table wise, I think one win will be a springboard for the rest of the season. There's a new found spirit and belief in this Villa side, and I'll take gradual improvement with the modern way rather than the kick and rush, "get in to them you slaaaags", archaic type manager who can only deliver for a season at best before they run out of ideas, the ilk of a Pearson, Pulis, Allardyce, Sherwood et al.

Even if we do go down, Remi is still our man and we'll come back stronger than ever.

[Dave J]

For me there is some progress albeit not to the level that all of us would have wanted to have  seen by now, however given the mess that we were in when Garde arrived I honestly believe the guy deserves to be given longer before he can truly be judged. I would love to  be in the fortunate position to be able to ask the players what changes they have witnessed in training and routine and so forth and if they feel lmprovemts have been/are being made. 

I for one are backing him fully at the moment however I'm not sure he could withstand the backlash of relegation and fully expect to see another new face in charge come next August! 

[thunderball]

3 hours ago, VillaChris said:

 

Yeah, we really need a cock sure bullish risk taker, all or nothing, happy to gamble on our strengths when we have nothing left to lose......maybe some one like Tim Sherwood?

 

Wow, this thread is going to cause a civil war! We will see the same hypothetical, arm chair Football Manager views and circular arguments until we either drop or by some miracle survive. Anti-Garde will then have "told us so" or Remi will be the greatest Villa Manager ever having re-written history by performing the previously impossible task.

What I would say to the anti-Garde camp, if he was the wrong choice, who should we have appointed (include any Manager in the World), and what would they have done with our squad to deliver this immediate reversal of fortune that would guarantee the wins you expected in the fixtures so far?

Edited December 26, 2015 by thunderball

[Butterfingers]

16 minutes ago, thunderball said:

Yeah, we really need a cock sure bullish risk taker, all or nothing, happy to gamble on our strengths when we have nothing left to lose......maybe some one like Tim Sherwood?

 

Wow, this thread is going to cause a civil war! We will see the same hypothetical, arm chair Football Manager views and circular arguments until we either drop or by some miracle survive. Anti-Garde will then have "told us so" or Remi will be the greatest Villa Manager ever having re-written history by performing the previously impossible task.

What I would say to the anti-Garde camp, if he was the wrong choice, who should we have appointed (include any Manager in the World), and what would they have done with our squad to deliver this immediate reversal of fortune that would guarantee the wins you expected in the fixtures so far?

More to the point, would any manager have gone 4-2-4 as these cranks appear to be suggesting is the way forward?

It's mild entertainment to read the "football manager" posts. It deflects the dire situation that we're in, away for 5 minutes.

[Zatman]

nobody has suggested go 424 except yourself

the fact is the previous manager got criticized early on for his lack of subs or tinkering so its only fair the same criteria for current regime 

[gilbertoAVFC]

1 hour ago, Zatman said:

we had 3 centre midfielders on for 80 minutes and should have took off Gil off as he looked awful. Gil for Traore and Veretout for Grealish would have gave us a 4-4-2 with width especially against a team who lacked ambition

no guts no glory

No guts I agree. But taking Gil off?

[gilbertoAVFC]

Ultimately it's somewhere in the middle.

Sherwood and Garde are polar opposites. Sherwood goes out on the pull every night and Garde is married to the lass he met in primary school.

[dont_do_it_doug.]

A lot, lot better. We're finally seeing cohesion and some form of consistent plan A. He's winning me over, slowly.

That first win can't come fast enough.

[Jimzk5]

Garde was never going to be parachuted in and get a new manager bounce, Sherwood never got that bounce, neither did lambert, McLeish did ok for half a dozen games, houllier likewise.

the new manager bounce Is a myth, allardyce at Sunderland isnt doing much better and he was viewed as guaranteed safety.

I honestly believe we are going down, but also believe we have a manager who will bring us straight back up.

[Zatman]

not a dig but I make that no wins in 7. Is that the worst start by a Villa manager ever?

[terrytini]

3 hours ago, YLN said:

They're not stats. They're numbers of goals with no context. We conceded four goals to Everton. There were only 3 points up for grabs in that game. If we'd lost 6-0 to Chelsea and Man City and then beaten five teams 1-0, you could represent Garde's time with the club with the same information, despite the fact we'd have 15 points from 21.

A nonsense comparison

Additionally they are just two stats ! And from that you say " there has been no improvement".

You can't seriously think that goals conceded and goals scored define the level of performance of a Team ?

I would say add about another 20 well used stats, then add in all the indefinables like character, style, method, organisation, individual performance levels, opposition, luck. 

Then stir all that and by all means decide that, in your view, things are no better.

But to quote two figures then declare no improvement.......wow.

[Zatman]

16 minutes ago, dont_do_it_doug. said:

A lot, lot better. We're finally seeing cohesion and some form of consistent plan A. He's winning me over, slowly.

That first win can't come fast enough.

for me the Plan A is no different than what we have done all season and that is get ball in centre and hope for full backs to bomb forward as width. I wouldnt be surprised if Hutton has put in most crosses in Premier League 

Also this plan is easy to defend as teams are actually giving Hutton freedom of right flank

[DCJonah]

I love the idea that if you think we could be more attacking or use attacking subs you want some gung ho 4-2-4 all out, never defend, crazy attacking football. 

Yeah of course that's the case. 

[andym]

Regarding this supposed lack of guts, it does seem that the particular point Adama gets subbed on has become the defining factor in whether Garde has taken a negative approach.

Adama only got 7 minutes today, but doesn't complaining about that ignore the fact that for most of the 2nd half we were actually 'going for it' and doing well - what we had was actually working, and its totally understandable that it wasn't changed. Midfield was pressing, fullbacks were getting forward, we were getting balls into the box and shots on goal. Gestede missed an absolute sitter (and given how people have been going over past results picking out opposition misses as a reason we have been lucky and didn't deserve any points, shouldn't we do the opposite here?).

Ignore the team put out on paper, ignore whether the subs were the ones we all think should have been made, and look at what actually happened. I didn't see a negative approach today, i didn't see a lack of guts. And ironically it fizzled out a bit once Adama came on - we had pushed West Ham back all half, but this actually nullified Adamas main threat.

Edited December 26, 2015 by andym

[CarewsEyebrowDesigner]

Citeh play 4-2-4 quite a bit, but real life 4-2-4 is a bit less crazy than Fifa 4-2-4. Incidentally I think it is a formation that would suit us.

              Guzan

Hutton Richards Okore Amavi

        Gana   Veretout

Gil                                Grealish

        Gestede   Ayew

[Zatman]

the negativity is an ongoing thing though, was same vs Arsenal, Everton and Newcastle. Its not just one game people are picking up on

[gilbertoAVFC]

 

11 minutes ago, Zatman said:

for me the Plan A is no different than what we have done all season and that is get ball in centre and hope for full backs to bomb forward as width. I wouldnt be surprised if Hutton has put in most crosses in Premier League 

Also this plan is easy to defend as teams are actually giving Hutton freedom of right flank

 

In fairness we are far more organised, but yeah in terms of the style of football not much has changed except it is more low-risk. That is not what we need in the situation that we are in I'm sorry.

I really am not one to criticise managers but the lack of ambition is startling. We dominated them and deserved to win but were not, yet during the last ten minutes there was no urgency whatsoever.

If people are happy to accept we are down then fine, but whilst I can see why we are taking draws, they are not enough given the calibre of opposition if we have any desire to stay in this league. I still thought we could stay up up until 4:45pm today. Doubt it now.

[terrytini]

We may sink without trace under Garde.

But for those who want hope.

When Curbishley took over West Ham they were 17th.

In his first 12 games they Won 1, Drew 3, and Lost 8, scoring just 11 and  conceding 26.....!

But they then won 7from  9 to stay up.

Curbs has repeatedly said the key was developing a settled system with the same players, something we haven't had until recently.

Just saying, even if we don't survive, things can start slowly and develop just as much as they can start quickly and develop.

 

[Zatman]

Curbishley also had 2 world class players to choose from though

[dont_do_it_doug.]

the negativity is an ongoing thing though, was same vs Arsenal, Everton and Newcastle. Its not just one game people are picking up on

What negativity? I saw nothing of the sort today. I saw a measured, balanced performance against a side miles ahead of us in the table.

I wasn't a big fan a few weeks back, but now I'm quite bemused at the stick Garde is receiving on this forum. He inherited just about the biggest shambles in our history, he's taken a while to find his feet but we appear to be competitive again at least. We're probably going down, but when they do get that first win, soon, I expect they'll make a good fist of it.

He desperately needs a striker he can rely on though. That would be my number one priority. Because they're now creating enough to win games.

I guess people set their stalls out post Everton and now they're seeing it through.