JohnCresswell Posted February 11, 2007 Share Posted February 11, 2007 Reading 2 Aston Villa 0 FA Barclays Premiership Saturday 10th February There were two ways of looking at this game before it kicked off. You could either look at Villa’s faltering form and position compared to Reading’s position in the top six and look at it in a way to suggest that anything other than a loss would be a good result, or if you looked at the players in each separate teams that were to be playing then you could look at it in a way to suggest that Villa would win. The first way of looking at it turned out to be the right one. Let’s face it, we could have been playing Sutton Coldfield Under 9’s and the SKY curse would have still struck. For some reason, Villa haven’t managed to perform on a SKY game for years now – and they often seem to struggle to get into gear for early kick off games. It’s one of the really frustrating things about supporting Villa at the moment. For the majority of the game on Saturday, Villa seemed to struggle with the same problems they have done so for the past 18 months. With the transfer spending concentrating solely on the attack, Villa are looking much more dangerous up front. John Carew once again caused problems for an opposition defence and held the ball up well. Shaun Maloney made his debut, and despite Martin O’Neill calling him ‘the new Lee Hendrie’, looked rather bright on the ball. He looked like a player who could run with the ball at his feet without losing it, which may sound simple enough, but we haven’t had a player like that at Villa for some time. He also had a few efforts from outside the box – one which was saved rather well by the Reading ‘keeper. Ashley Young was subdued at times. He had two very good chances for a free header which were both fluffed and his control looked very poor at times. However, he showed glimpses of that creativity that Villa need and continue to need. Up front we are promising. I’d personally like to see Young play on the wing and Agbonlahor up front as Gabby is simply not effective enough on the wing as despite his pace he fails to beat his man. The trouble on Saturday, came from an area which has been a worry for a while now. Defensively, Villa are all over the place. With Bouma out, Barry was forced to drop to left back – a position he never looks comfortable in, and when he does, our midfield always suffers from him not being there. Just as West Ham managed last week, along with many teams this season, the defence was prized open and began to panic. Poor marking at a corner brought about the first goal, whilst a failure to close down an on-coming player caused the second. Compare this with Reading’s defence – no “names†amongst any of them, but they played in an organised, strong and intelligent way and in a fairly evenly matched game it was Reading’s defensive performance compared to our own which won them this game. Personally, I imagine this will be the next area O’Neill looks at after reshaping the attack in January. Not that the midfield is a great help at times. I understand that Gavin McCann is playing half fit, but when a player’s fitness is beginning to stop him putting in a performance which adds to the team, it’s time to take him out of the team and get him match fit. Petrov’s influence on the team at the moment is also very poor. He is struggling with the pace of the game and whilst I am 100% sure next season he will be a different player (no, not literally), he is another player who we need more from. And when a team has a central midfield performing so poorly, along with a defence who don’t seem to have much confidence at the moment, big problems will occur. Whilst Reading’s excellent set piece, clearly practised on in the training ground put them in the lead, when was the last time you could honestly say you remember something like that coming off for Villa? Villa’s set pieces were frustrating again on Saturday – corners not beating the first man again. I know these players are better than that – much better than that – which is why it is so frustrating at the moment. However, for all our deficiencies, we should not take Reading’s performance away from them, they knew how to counter attack and defended well, clearly knowing what each man’s job on the pitch was. Reading are currently a good team who, despite what their manager may say, will now be looking at Europe having now won five games in a row. Villa on the other hand, I imagine, can’t wait for the season to end. We do have some good players, we have a decent manager and fantastic owners, and a fantastic future. But that doesn’t stop people being angry or disappointed when the team lose, especially when you are in a run like ours at the moment. We’ll get there eventually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRL Posted February 11, 2007 Share Posted February 11, 2007 We’ll get there eventually. Shame this doesnt apply for all managers though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickster Posted February 11, 2007 Moderator Share Posted February 11, 2007 We’ll get there eventually. Shame this doesnt apply for all managers though. One post into a front page article and you post an off topic remark! - can we talk about the Reading game and not open up old old arguments just for the sake of it please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheriffvilla Posted February 11, 2007 Share Posted February 11, 2007 John, it just goes to show you do a much better report when you actually watch the game :winkold: Fairly spot on, and not just with the analysis of the match itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRO Posted February 11, 2007 Share Posted February 11, 2007 .....This is a very balanced report and one I wholeheartedly agree with Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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