Steven Gerrard

[VillaChris]

With the Conte talk...one thing managers can never ever complain about under NSWE is not having a go. They are complete opposite to the Ellis years, just a shame we're so far behind the elite now and that won't be fixed in next 12-18 months.

Imagine adding likes of Digne and Coutinho in a Jan window (I think Conte would be happy with that) and then results get quickly worse. Gerrard is having a right good go at that currently.

[MakemineVanilla]

6 minutes ago, Tomaszk said:

They were playing a formation Gerrard hasn't ever played at Villa.

Which one?

The one in the first-half or the one in the second?

[Zhan_Zhuang]

Re: Conte, he is currently struggling to get the players to perform consistently at the levels he wants. Again the players aren't quite good enoughfor his style...

Sounds familiar? Conte is clearly blaming the players and I am veering more towards blaming our Villa players as just not good enough.

Conte and Guardiola are supposedly two of the best Managers in the world but they can only operate with what they have hence why Conte is struggling just now.

 

[JAMAICAN-VILLAN]

28 minutes ago, Tomaszk said:

They were playing a formation Gerrard hasn't ever played at Villa.

I don't think you can take much from that rangers performance as an example of what Gerrard is trying here.

To be fair, he's played 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 at Rangers as well.

But you might be right.

However, the only way to know if their setup is a totally new template, or a continuation/improvement of what Gerrard was doing, is by asking a Rangers fan.

[Vive_La_Villa]

22 minutes ago, Zhan_Zhuang said:

Re: Conte, he is currently struggling to get the players to perform consistently at the levels he wants. Again the players aren't quite good enoughfor his style...

Sounds familiar? Conte is clearly blaming the players and I am veering more towards blaming our Villa players as just not good enough.

Conte and Guardiola are supposedly two of the best Managers in the world but they can only operate with what they have hence why Conte is struggling just now.

 

If we were great under smith then I’d be quicker to blame it all on Gerrard but we’ve been poor for over a year now. We had a great start to last season with Smith but it soon fizzed out. Sheffield United also had a great season and look what happened the year later. Gerrard really does need time with these players and those he continues to bring in before he can truly be judged.

I get those saying he has no experience or pedigree to prove he is the the right man for the job but his here now and is backed by the owners and the club. Fans need to do the same and be a little patient.  Next season I see us starting a lot stronger and then going on to have a good season.

[Vive_La_Villa]

27 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

To be fair, he's played 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 at Rangers as well.

But you might be right.

However, the only way to know if their setup is a totally new template, or a continuation/improvement of what Gerrard was doing, is by asking a Rangers fan.

I personally think it’s unfair to give the new manager all the credit for what Rangers are now doing when he took over a team Gerrard managed and created for over 2 years. Just how its now also unfair to give Gerrard all the blame for a team he has taken over that a previous manager managed and built for over 3 years. 
 

edit: not that I’m saying anybody is doing the above. I just thought I’d put it out in there in case anybody did.

Edited February 25, 2022 by Vive_La_Villa

[Tomaszk]

47 minutes ago, MakemineVanilla said:

Which one?

The one in the first-half or the one in the second?

Neither half had the midfielders sat at full-back, the full-backs up front and one player in midfield like we do.

Their switch to 3/5 at the back won them the game.

Hope our management take note.

[Zatman]

44 minutes ago, Zhan_Zhuang said:

Re: Conte, he is currently struggling to get the players to perform consistently at the levels he wants. Again the players aren't quite good enoughfor his style...

Sounds familiar? Conte is clearly blaming the players and I am veering more towards blaming our Villa players as just not good enough.

Conte and Guardiola are supposedly two of the best Managers in the world but they can only operate with what they have hence why Conte is struggling just now.

 

He is blaming his board not his players

[Tomaszk]

10 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

If we were great under smith then I’d be quicker to blame it all on Gerrard but we’ve been poor for over a year now. We had a great start to last season with Smith but it soon fizzed out. Sheffield United also had a great season and look what happened the year later. Gerrard really does need time with these players and those he continues to bring in before he can truly be judged.

Totally fair comment.

10 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

I get those saying he has no experience or pedigree to prove he is the the right man for the job but his here now and is backed by the owners and the club. Fans need to do the same and be a little patient.  Next season I see us starting a lot stronger and then going on to have a good season.

I'd have few complaints if we'd signed no one in January.

Signing older players on huge money means results and performances now. "No excuses". We look just as bad as at the end of Smith, but now nearly everyone is fit.

He's already mentioning future windows and I'll be honest it worries me. I don't want us lumbered with players on massive money who aren't hugely beneficial to the team.

The next few weeks are massive. Not out of the question we are drawn into a relegation battle this season. We're right on the edge of it for now but I can't see more than four points in our next eight games. And a lot of teams beneath us have suddenly started winning.

I don't think it's out of the question he does eventually make a good Villa manager. But he'll have to start by binning off this silly formation 100% of the time.

[Tom13]

He said that having watched it back, there wasn't much wrong with our performance against Watford...really?

[Tom13]

I do like it when he talks about the longer term though. Many fans do need to be a lot more patient, not going to be an overnight transition.

[Tom13]

Also, has anyone got an 'individually and collectively' counter?

[JAMAICAN-VILLAN]

10 minutes ago, Tom13 said:

Also, has anyone got an 'individually and collectively' counter?

Right next to the " From afar " " Strong win " " Lookkkkhhhh " and " BUUUUUUHHHHHHT " counter.

[foreveryoung]

I'm willing to give him time like I have said. But its bloody hard, especially when I just noticed Palace destroyed Watford last night. Its like Leeds getting battered, proves more and more, we are a absolutely shockingly crap football team at the moment.

[romavillan]

35 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

Right next to the " From afar " " Strong win " " Lookkkkhhhh " and " BUUUUUUHHHHHHT " counter.

Let's not forget the "best version of myself/their self/ourselves"

[IrishVilla10]

6 hours ago, Demitri_C said:

As would i. The football isnt great but with these players he really could turn us into a great team.

If spurs can get him we can too. We have more ambition, more money.its a exciting project

Just no. Spurs were in a champions league final a few years ago. Are an established top 6 club. Have their new stadium, in London. Have two of the best players in the world in Kane and Son. We’re no where near that level yet. 

[IrishVilla10]

5 hours ago, nick76 said:

Washes over my head now because he always talks a good presser, he’s passionate but he’s also trained how to come across in media interviews.  

Total respect for him but I know exactly what he’s going to say and he says it well.  

I don’t need that, I need the talking done on the pitch because the pressers at the moment just feel a little hollow to me.

This is where I’m at now, for the first time since the arrival. 

[TRO]

23 hours ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

Conte has always seemed stressed out. 
 

Be interesting to see how Gerrard reacts to the pressure now fans are starting to turn. 

I think the only pressure SG has, is what he puts on himself.....He could walk away, anytime.....but being the winner he is, I see that as unlikely.

Financially, and commercially, he is set up for life.....He is only at Villa, because he see's the project and believes in it....I think he genuinely wants to make a mark, with us......and I still think he will.

Right now, it doesn't look good and I see the issues, the non believers in Gerrard see....their argument is yet to be disproved, but I think it will be, in time.....sure many changes will be made, until the real changes can , be made in the summer, and mistakes are inevitable.

I think he knows far more about our team now, than he did when he first arrived and in the midst of his good start.....He is now starting learn about the warts'n all.

I also think some of the players we think are ok.....will be replaced.

This soft under belly has taken some time to build, I think it will be broken up.

 

Edited February 25, 2022 by TRO

[Zatman]

11 minutes ago, TRO said:

I think the only pressure SG has, is what he puts on himself.....He could walk away, anytime.....but being the winner he is, I see that as unlikely.

Financially, and commercially, he is set up for life.....He is only at Villa, because he see's the project and believes in it....I think he genuinely wants to make a mark, with us......and I still think he will.

Right now, it doesn't look good and I see the issues, the non believers in Gerrard see....their argument is yet to be disproved, but I think it will be, in time.....sure many changes will be made, until the real changes can , be made in the summer, and mistakes are inevitable.

I think he knows far more about our team now, than he did when he first arrived and in the midst of his good start.....He is now starting learn about the warts'n all.

I also think some of the players we think are ok.....will be replaced.

This soft under belly has taken some time to build, I think it will be broken up.

 

Such a winner he sulked in his seat vs Newcastle

[TRO]

22 hours ago, Rightdm00 said:

I made the McLeish quip because it was very much what he would do. More CBs on the pitch wont make you more defensively solid If you scatter them all over the pitch.  Playing CBs in the midfield doesn't make you more defensively solid if you leave them isolated to defend midfield alone. 

You defend with an effective shape.  A shape that allows players to support each other and work cohesively as a unit. That is currently what we are lacking.  

Take any elite PL side and put them in this setup. You will see an equally poor performance compared to their peak. That's how bad this setup is for a PL team. I don't see how it functionally works without an overwhelming talent disparity. 

I couldn't agree with you more......but I always believe a good big 'un will beat a good little 'un......sure there are exceptions, and in creative positions, it might not be so clear.

I accept your point, about playing Centre backs in midfield,  I am not suggesting that or equally, playing creative lightweight midfielders in those defensive roles either.....but we do need specialists who can play those roles, not just deploy players who come close.

You defend with an effective shape, with personnel with the effective Nous......of course they have to support each other and work as a cohesive unit.....but if they keep losing the ball, that shape and cohesion, gets breached and becomes disjointed...particularly when there is questionable talent to win it back.

I am not advocating this recent set up is right.....anymore than I am advocating, if it was right, the problems would go away.....its just one issue, amongst many.

you seem to have failed to recognise, that different systems under 2 managers have been tried and failed to show any consistency with results, we was still win one drawn one lose one.....and we have won 15 games in 42 during 2021.....that does not strike me, that its all down to systems....that is equally, me not dismissing is out of hand, either.

Many factors applied at the same time, need to happen to fix this.....one factor, has not caused this demise, while I accept it may have irritated it.