Sukhdev
i agree with martiin that would our best line up but we have hendrie and hughes out,we will have go with de la cruz and some else in midfield.......up the villa!!!
luke
come on the villa.
martin
i think the starting line up for our next game should be: talyor, hughes,mellberg,ridgewell,
bouma,milner,hendrie,davis,
barry,baros,phillips.
GARY
I feel that O'Leary should give the new goalkeeper a chance instead of Sorenson all the time, and I believe that if players do not play well they should have there salaries docked for not performing well on the pitch
James
I agree with Richard, with Phillips and Baros missing Villa should match Chelsea's 4-5-1. I honestly think that the combination of Barry, Hendrie and Davis through the centre will be a thorn in the side of Chelsea's middle three. Not forgetting Erik Bakke and Djemba who could be introduced. Angel is both excellent in the air and strong in holding the ball up, if Berger can find his form from old, along with the attacking capabilities we have already witnessed from Milner we just might be able to sneak something on the break. I also agree that moving Hughes to the centre and introducing either Delaney or even De La Cruz back in on the right side would tighten up the back four.
Colin, I would say Upson would be the only one I would choose at present, and if Laursen was at full fitness I wouldn't take any of them. Baros, Phillips and Angel are better than Heskey on their days. Butt has never found the form he occasionally showed for Man Utd hence been rejected by bottom half Newcastle and I would always pick a fit Gavin McCann ahead of him. David Dunn for me had half a decent season at Blackburn Rovers he is a wide boy who has chosen not to live his life as a proffesional footballer should do and therefore has suffered the consequences with injuries and lack of fitness, weight problems etc... problems that now seem irepairable. He is not a player I would want to see in a Villa shirt.
Obviously my blinkered view has an effect on my opinions, a neutral would probably think differently, but what can I say.....I'm a Villa fan.
Richard
James, as Delaney is getting close to being fit how about moving Aaron Hughes across from full back to play alongside Mellberg? He did'nt do too bad against England!
On Saturdays game against Chelsea its looking as though Barros will be out so what do you think Mr O'Leary team selection will be? my guess is that he'll try and flood the midfield with Barry, Davis and Hendrie in the centre, Milner and Berger out wide with Angel up front on his own. Much as I dislike changing our formation to match the opposition, with only Luke Moore to come in up front I don't think he has much choice. Moore still looks a bit lightweight to me, maybe a few pints of Guinness when he's out on a Friday night with Jlloyd would do some good ( Jlloyd must be out every Friday night to explain his performances over the last 18 months)
Pricey
this blog makes interesting reading. keep it up mate.
Thought you was bit harsh on oleary for calling our fans fickle. Think he was referring to the individual abuse certain players were getting i.e samuel, sorsenson and de la cruz which i think is disgraceful. There is a certain section of villa fans that always target it a certain player and give him abuse, it happened with Alan Wright and Gary charles and hendrie. its a joke and im ashamed we have got supporters like this at the club that i support.
colin
Good call on Matthew Upson James. I would accept that he is a quality centre back capable of slotting in to most premiership teams, including Villa. Whilst I am fairly confident that you wouldn't switch goalkeepers, and I believe that Milner is capable of matching Pennant on the right side, what about Melchiot at right back or a fit David Dunnon the left/centre midfield? I also believe that Heskey is going to enjoy himself on the day, bearing in mind Villa's current defensive frailties. Nicky Butt (if he's not suspended?) would probably get in the Villa team aswell, bearing in mind the Barry/Davis arrangement that I witnessed on Saturday.
What do you think?
James
I think Villa look as dodgy at the back today as they have since the day I first entered through the Villa Park turnstiles. Mellberg is holding it together on his own most of the time, but I standby the fact that Sorensen cannot be solely to blame for goals conceded. Lets not forget that we also have the spine of the Sunderland team that destroyed everything in its path in the Championship (winning with a record points haul of 105), a League Cup Final and a very impressive first term in the premiership (finishing 7th)(loving the stats!). I do think we are vulnerable at the back - evidence being three headed goals conceded in one half against Wycombe, highlighting how much we depend on Mellberg who was benched for the League Cup game. O'Leary has stated that he would like to bring in another centre half in January and we have been unfortunate in losing both Laursen and Delaney. I think even the very top teams would struggle defensively if they were to lose two first team international quality defenders. Mellberg was at fault for West Hams first goal and allowed Defoe clear through only for Sorensen to deflect the shot onto the bar against Spurs. I think both Mellberg and Sorensen deserve credit in this time of defensive threadbareness (if that's a word?) I believe that we have always had the players to to put the derby problem to bed but maybe not the right attitude or game plan. If I could take a player from the Blues I would say Upson as I do think he is a very capable defender and a better standard than Ridgewell. What do you guys think? Would you like to have Matthew Upson plug the hole at the back ;-)
colin
I acknowledge your comments James, and respect your blind loyalty, but I'm afraid I have to agree with Jim. Sorenson has conceded 8 goals in 3 games, and 3 of these against a team well below Villa in the league rankings. If the problem isn't the goalkeeper then what is it and how should it be remedied?
On another matter. October 16th is approaching, bringing with it Villa's 7th Premiership clash with their local rivals. Do you feel that this Villa team finally has the players to put this particular problem to bed? Where do you feel Villa are still vulnerable and, hypothetically, which positions would you switch a Villa player for a Birmingham player? Remember, it's just a bit of fun.
Jim Guest
Using your reasoning as a basis for excusing Sorenson's consistent lack of ability to display maximum levels of concentration for a full game, and applying the same sentiment to David James, would you have kept faith with David James for England? Thought not :-)
That said we're all after the same thing at the Villa and that's success, I just don't see how the spine of a relegated Sunderland team (when those players were at their peak) can win us anything. If Barry puts more effort into his ball distribution so he can match the levels Milner has so far, then things might look rosy, but he's becoming an old dog you can't teach new tricks too (e.g. same career as Hendrie).
As for Bouma he was woeful defensively against West Ham, and a liability going forward. However, it was his 1st game and the jury's still out, especially as he fared a little better against Spurs.
James
I think you are forgeting the many times Sorensen has kept us in a game with unbelievable saves. If he is going to make a mistake then I'd rather he did it to let in a third goal in a four-nil 'hammer'ing than during a close game. To blame him for the second is unfair as Harewood was being marked by a defender who allowed him to get to the ball and failed to block the shot. The defender in question was Bouma I believe, yet he goes without criticism. I realise that certain sections of supporters will always find it necessary to single out a player for criticism - it has been happening since I can remember and as I have discovered, since a long time before I was born. I urge Villa fans not to get on Sorensens back, we have seen the ability he possesses and to continually knock him will do nothing but make him more unsettled and nervous and as a result more prone to errors. I noticed Paul Robinson give the thumbs up to the Spurs fans during the second half as they reminded him of his Englands no.1 title, even though he had let in a shot from 25 yards less than an hour beforehand. Yet Sorensen has saved a penalty and performed well, getting good reviews in tabloids the following morning - so not just from biased me, yet people still criticise. I understand that there are goalkeepers performing better at present but overall I would keep Sorensen in place.
I have purposefully avoided the topic of Russian takeovers for the time being as we have all got carried away with such talk previously only to be left disapointed. However, if such money became available I would suggest that possibly only Olof Mellberg would be completely safe although a partner for him is an immediate area of concern takeover or not! The midfield also needs attention particularly on the flanks. Maybe a permanent deal for James Milner would be a start to that and Robert Huth in defence. I honestly don't believe we are as far off as others seem to think. I would invest the money in quality youngsters and maybe one star to bump up what was a shocking attendance at 'the home of football' on Sat afternoon.
Jim Guest
You say Sorenson has ONLY made a handful of mistakes? Well it wouldn't be so bad if that were merely the case, but in fact his howlers consistently influence the games either by handing the game at that point to the opposition (the Blues game), or in fact causing a complete breakdown in confidence among the defenders from that point onward (West Ham). Sorenson was at fault for the 2nd and 3rd of the 4 West Ham goals.
Mellberg's obviously unhappy demeanour, and body language when it comes to marshalling the Villa defence following these keeping blunders, underlines this. A goalkeeper who whould be available January, and is a million times better than Sorenson?
Niemi of Southampton!!!
colin
Hello James. Thanks for a great site. I must agree with Stan though on his comments regarding Sorenson.
All the keepers he mentions are of a higher calibre than Sorenson. Don't forget that Van De Sar is now the MU goalkeeper - and he's pretty useful aswell.
Be honest James, if the rumours are true about this £75m from Russia, top of O'Leary's shopping list should be a quality goalkeeper. Let's go abroad for one if we have to. If you disagree James - where do you think the money should be spent first in order to achieve a Champions League position asap? Also, which of the current squad of players do you believe would still be in the side if Villa were a top four team?
James
Hi Stan, on close inspection the shot that hit the bar from Spurs in the second half did receive a touch from Sorensen which along with the block shot hit straight at him makes at least two, anyway away from this petty tittle tattle. Sorensen has been overall brilliant for Villa with the exception of a handful of mistakes. Of the goalkeepers you mention I would ask the supporters of their clubs what they think, Howard and Lehman have both had their fair share of howlers, Schwarzer could bring out his own DVD of goalkeeping nightmares and Taylors kicking and unwillingness to come off his line makes all the Noses that I know have little confidence in him - their recent home match with Boro highlighting the fact. The grass isn't always greener Stan, Sorensen is a capable goalie and as good as anything else in the division - with the exception of Paul Robinson going on Saturdays performance! The people sitting behind me wanted to see Sorensen substituted during the second half - I couldn't believe my ears, he had saved a penalty and we were winning 1-0 at the time and they want us to substitute the goalkeeper! This sort of mindless criticism will do us no favours. I will never understand why such football fans will single out a player for criticism in this way - maybe since JLloyd and Ulises have been dropped, certain supporters need somebody else to direct all their anger (strange how the likes of Angel, Yorke, Saunders etc always avoided this though, even when they were poor?). I think with a couple more good performances Sorensen's confidence will be right back up and he'll be back to his best. A clean sheet at Stamford Bridge would go a long way to achieving that!
stan
I note with interest James your praise for Sorenson. I was at the match on Saturday and would say that his performance was adequate. Whilst Defoe's penalty was not the best, Thomas was strong in stopping the shot. I recall one 'point black' save in the second half which would have been harder to let in. I am not interested in critiscising any Villa players, but I believe strongly that the outfield 10, especially the defence, must have total confidence in the ability of the goalkeeper. I think O'Leary would agree with me - that's why he offloaded Enckleman (and he dropped less clangers than Sorenson has). I would suggest that, if O'Leary had not acquired Sorenson himself, Taylor would be in the team by now. I want Villa to become a much stronger force in this division, and I believe that the summer acquisitions are a step in the right direction. However, if I look at the goalkeepers in the other premiership teams this season, the vast majority are more reliable than Sorenson who, in my opinion, makes too many mistakes. What do you think James? Howard, Czech, Lehman, Martyn, Reina, Kiely, Taylor, Robinson, Kirkland, Schwarzer, Given, Carroll, etc. These are just off the top of my head (and I can't spell the chap at Bolton). Wouldn't any of these be a step up?
James
Could be John, but I just dont see the logic in Baros being worth 6/7 million while Vassell is only worth 2/3. From Vassell's form for Villa and Baros' for Liverpool I'd have priced Vassell higher - taking age, attitude, work rate etc... into consideration aswell as footballing abilty obviously. I hope your right though.
john seale
baros not worth the money? considering his age and his obvious quality this could be the bargain of all bargains and hopefully not another balaban
