Aston Villa confirm slump after losing to Bolton at home
Saturday, 16 December 06, 08:20 PM
There isn't much to say that everyone isn't already thinking; we're in that slump Martin O'Neill has been talking about and January couldn't come quickly enough.
Tonight in the second half anyway we should have actually scored. Gary Cahill went close as did Gardner (on for Smiler for the second half), Sutton and Angel but we didn't convert the opportunities.
We shouldn't have scored in the first half, despite the lions share of possession simply because we only had one shot. This is something I've written about before and I'm not wanting to go over old ground but more shots are needed.
I'd also like to say that it probably isn't a coincidence that the best spell of the match for Villa tonight took place at the same time that Villa Park woke up. I've said it before and I'll keep saying it; the Villa Park crowd can win us games.
Martin O'Neill called for the supporters to make some noise tonight and it came for about twenty minutes but during that period we could have won the game. The problem is when you've only got 27,450 in at Villa Park it's not going to be as loud as you want it. Where exactly has everyone gone?
Put simply, we lost to a team that took their chances. I don't think Király had to make a save from open play and Petrov bringing down Anelka was all that Gary Speed needed to take the chance and quite literally win the match for Bolton by drilling the ball straight down the middle.
I have a few things to say though about the match; Bolton are a dirty team for starters and I know some defend them but I saw it tonight and it wasn't nice.
It would also be nice to see Milan Baros try to stay on his feet. All a defender has to do is get close to him and any chance of contact means Baros drops. While it is an element of his game we all knew about before he joined I'm not sure Martin O'Neill is going to continue with it.
Onto the manager quickly. It's clear that he likes Sutton and he gave Angel a chance at the beginning of the season and Baros is now getting his. It's sensible management; not just a game or two but a run in the team. I just don't think it's going to be enough for either of them I'm afraid and although I like Angel and it will be sad to see him leave it will be for the best all round I think.
I'm going to leave it tonight with a little controversy. Barry shouldn't be the captain and the armband should be given to Petrov.
You see Petrov getting involved and communicating and you see Barry running around, looking a little lost and confused. Barry has lost free kick responsibility by the looks of things and I suspect it wont be long before the captains armband is lost also.It has to happen!
To summarise, we played better football tonight than Bolton and when the crowd got behind the team it looked really good but we didn't get enough shots off and we didn't take the chances when they came; Bolton did.
Comments (6)
I was totally sickened by the way Bolton played tonight--and grow sicker just thinking about Big Sam waxing smug about it afterward, as he's bound to. Honestly, they fouled us all night, cheated in our half to win kicks, and won the honely honest foul all night, that penalty. Kiraly's stupid routine prior didn't win me over. But the worst thing I saw tonight was Baros in the second half, giving up on what could have been one of the best plays (a set up by Sutton), and best chances on goal, all night. I'm just sick about the whole thing. We should have taken our chances, but didn't, and conceded to a side far inferior to us. Schiesse.
On a side note: I saw that Mellberg is growing his beard back. Good. Does he finally realize what bad luck a cleanly shaven Swede brings us?
From seeing the game, Villa were unlucky to lose this game. Jaskelinen really kept them in it, and the difference was Bolton managed to take their chances. It is inevitable that all teams will go through a period of bad form, and it looks as if this is it now for us. In saying that though, should we be worried? No, MON knows that task that it's hand and he's never been under any illusions that this is going to be a big job.
However I cannot agree one bit with the Gareth Barry comment, even in the dark days under DO'L last season he showed that he was a worthy captain when Mellberg was injured, and he's done everything right so far this season...why put even more pressure on a player who we are relying on the be the creative influence in our team by givin him the captains armband, especially when we already have a decent captain! Seems like a bit of a kneejerk reactionary statement, but it wouldn't be for the first time.....
We were far superior to Bolton tonight and should have won. We"took our chances"-the ball just wouldn't go in; a combination of Jaska-whatever and poor luck. Singling out Baros because he stopped chasing that pass as an example of overall play is nonsense. It makes we wonder if I watched the same game as some of you. We were all over them; all they could do was foul us and pray. They won because Petrov stopped thinking for one second-thats it! They are a dirty team, Bolton are, and they deserved nothing out of that tonight.
Having now seen the replay and listened to both managers, Allardayce summed it up well. "We were a bit fortunate and they had some poor misses - that's where you pay the price in the Premiership"
We do not have that Dwight Yorke or Vassell type player up front who scores regularly and this game was one where that was very apparent. Suttons miss would have been a goal 3 to 5 years ago and the Angel stumble when through on goal should have made it 2 definites. Add the other from Baros on the line and Petrovs miss, a player like Bent or Yorke of old would have come away with a brace if not a hatrick and Villa would be in the top 5 or 6 right now.
As for the captaincy, well that is open to debate, but there is a point in there that Barry does look inexperienced with the role, but he does lead from the front.
The Christmas/New Year period is going to be a real test of character for the squad and will have O'Neill's man management stretched.
he plays with heart, but not with any amount of head on him. He misses opportunities by taking the wrong angles on breaks, and constantly moves the ball toward the wing, and not the box as a striker should. He'd be fine on the wing of a 4-3-3 formation, but Angel's lack of luck, an injured Luke Moore, and Agbonlahor's brilliant play as a wing midfielder make it essential that we use Milan and Sutton as central strikers. And unfortunately, Baros has lost the instinct to play that role.
Couldnt agree more with Keith. Baros has no footballing intellect. He shows little understanding of leading a line, making runs to create space or even pick out a team mate with a pass.He lacks desire and passion for the Villa cause. I would far rather see him leave in January than Angel, who with a little more luck this season would have a far better return for his considerable effort