Swanny's View: THFC 0-0 Aston Villa

[Swanny]

Disappointed, disappointed disappointed;

I was disappointed when we arrived at WHL and could not see the Villa bus in the car park, my heart sunk as I thought here must be some delay on their journey and thoughts of our long trip to Leeds on Wednesday night came flooding back; thinking let’s hope they make it because it will be a good game tonight. The answer was soon very clear, once again a team coach had arrived and drove straight through our car park and found a way onto the pitch! How disappointed I was in Martin O’Neil tactics, granted they have a great defensive record but surely they can do better than this. Today’s ploy was simply not to lose this game, a tactic much used by teams fighting relegation not a team chasing a CL spot, and so the bus was well and truly parked in front of goal. I have a few contacts at WHL and will be seeing them this week to ask if they can reduce the size of the tunnel and stop large vehicles entering the ground.

I’m not disappointed at our performance in any way, as a team we took the game to the Villains and stretched them whenever we could; switching flanks with a good array of passes long and short, to the feet and obviously to the head of Peter Crouch, All that was missing on this occasion was a goal just as it was in other games like this we have played this season. For whatever reason we just cannot break the deadlock in these games and it is a trend that is becoming increasingly worrying, although we have only lost once in the last twelve games and can boast five clean sheets on the trot at WHL we are still looking for only our second win in the league this year.


I’m pretty much convinced that privately Arry knows he mucked up against Birmingham with his substitutions and was not prepared to mess around again this week, the only thing that was missing was a goal and in fairness to Arry and his tactics the players he sent out today all performed to instructions except finding that elusive goal. Arry did appear to wobble after 75 minutes when Eidur Gudjohnsen who had been warming up for sometime took of his coat and appeared ready to come into the fray, only for Arry to stand firm and finish the match with his starting eleven.

Once again plenty of chances to put the game to bed but with Brad Friedel in great form as usual and a very solid pairing of Richard Dunne and James Collins in front of him, a lot of what we threw at them was dealt with as you would expect from a very mean Villa defence who have conceded only 18 goals in 24 games and are unbeaten in eight.

David Bentley again was proving his doubters wrong with another fine display, surely if he keeps this form going he will continue to feature in Arry’s plans, he never will compete with Aaron Lennon for pace but has a great array of skills and is very competent at free kicks. Twice in the first half he provided the ammunition for Ledley King to get his name on the score sheet, the first from a cross that LK could only manage to direct straight into Friedel’s hands. The second came from a free kick that Crouchy flicked on to LK who poked a shot and this time produced a fine save from Friedel, the resulting loose ball was somehow put over the bar by JD. Probably the best stop though was from an exocet missile 30 yards from goal by Tom Huddlestone again Friedel was at his best to stop this great effort from hitting the net.


But for me the most significant moment in the first half was a world class goalkeeping exhibition with a double save by Hurelleo Gomes, HG reactions were as quick as any gunslinger you could find in the ‘Old Wild West’ throwing his body at the first effort from Milner and up at lightening speed to get his legs in the way from the follow up from Agbonlahor, truly world class goalkeeping.


Luka Modric was creating his usual magic in the midfield probing and prodding at every opportunity linking up well with Gareth Bale; these two are building a very good understanding and will only get better with time. I feel it will be some period of time before Benoit Assou Ekotto forces his way back into the first team after GB’s run of very good performances, also came very close to scoring on two occasions only to have both fine drives blocked by the Villa defenders. His defensive duties are improving quickly and showed in the second half making an inch perfect sliding tackle in thwarting an impending cross from the right flank.

Wilson Palacios was as strong as an ox in midfield and let Emile Heskey feel the full force of his no nonsense tackles and forced him to retire from the game in the first half.

For all our attacking football we still could not find the net, GB was raiding the left flank and as he did against Leeds midweek putting in a variety of crosses to no avail. We really do miss the pace of Aaron Lennon ripping defenders backsides taking the ball to the byline and cutting it back creating havoc in front of goal.

Peter Crouch for all his hard work is still way short in converting his efforts into goals and I counted three very good chances that he failed to convert late in the second half to wrap this game up.

Jermain Defoe for all his goal scoring epics this season still fails to hit the net on a regular basis. I had him down for at least seven attempts on goal with no return. JD was however very unlucky not to be awarded a stone wall penalty for the second time this week when Petrov clearly took his legs after 85 minutes, referee Chris Foy had a clear sighting but waved away all protests, strange because he obviously saw it and if JD was diving he should have booked him for simulation.

The referee’s assistant on the West Stand side hardly covered himself in glory either, throughout the whole game he was totally unable to put his flag up for any infringement until he saw which line the referee was taking, a very poor performance.

We failed in January to sign the player I and many others have been calling for, the type of player who constantly hits the back of the net for fun, Arry obviously knows this and although he would never admit it in public I'm sure that when he has the opportunity to sign such a player he will, hopefully this summer.

As Arry says there is still all to play for and more twists and turns before the season ends.With all this wobble in our current form we are still in 5th place, still in with a shout and that's where we want to be, still in there fighting. Let's hope we can put this right with a win on Wednesday at Wolves, so please Arry don't let me and all those loyal Yids be disappointed again and return down the motorway with all 3 points from Molineux....simples

[BigDub]

Good stuff as usual Swanny. Really glad you mentioned that double save by Gomes. I feel like that has sort of gone overlooked given all the other issues from the game. If he isn't a top 3 keeper in the prem then i dont know who is.

[kevfball63]

That must have been painful going through all that again mate.

I dont think you can say we have failed to sign the player your taliking about yet until Gudjohnson has had a run out .

As for Ruud Van Nistleroy = I think he valued himself too highly , and we'll find out by how much soon enough = he hasn't featured for Hamburg yet.......!!!

[HeroesComesandGoes]

The referee was disappointing...we had a clear penalty on Defoe in the second half. Richard Dunne was amazing, he's one of the reasons why Villa kep a clean sheet, he made some crucial tackles in the first half. But Bale was magnificent. Great post BTW, Swanny. Wanted to meet you guys at the Gilpin but we were running late

[Swanny]

That must have been painful going through all that again mate.

I dont think you can say we have failed to sign the player your taliking about yet until Gudjohnson has had a run out .

As for Ruud Van Nistleroy = I think he valued himself too highly , and we'll find out by how much soon enough = he hasn't featured for Hamburg yet.......!!!

Sorry mate but I wasn't not considering Eidur, merely do not believe he has been signed to be that player that rattles the net for fun, he is more for unlocking defences as we have talked about at great length. More like the player we saw on Tottenham High Road on our way home...simples

[kevfball63]

Sorry mate but I wasn't not considering Eidur, merely do not believe he has been signed to be that player that rattles the net for fun, he is more for unlocking defences as we have talked about at great length. More like the player we saw on Tottenham High Road on our way home...simples

Oh yes the stalker strikes again = Swanny practically dived on Sir Les Ferdinands bonnet

[Swanny]

Oh yes the stalker strikes again = Swanny practically dived on Sir Les Ferdinands bonnet

That's a bit harsh mate after all he saw me and made the first move

[BrumSpur]

Oh yes the stalker strikes again = Swanny practically dived on Sir Les Ferdinands bonnet

Oh, right! So, it's OK for HIM to stalk Sir Les. But, if I waffle on about my little Niko-crush, he gets all hissy!!!

[kevfball63]

That's a bit harsh mate after all he saw me and made the first move

Yes the first move being to slam his brakes on otherwise he would have ran you over......!!!!

[ParkLaneMal]

Nice summary Swanny. The lads played well.

Little doubt Sir Les has heard about the '3 Yids on Crutches' and panicked. lol

[Audere est Facere]

great read. keep em coming!

[ctw01]

Swanny, I have to say that your report is bang on and I completely agree with everything in it.
If I may , I"d like to add a couple of observations, as you say Arry made subs against Birmingham which seemed to go against him which as a result he received quite a bit of stick, I wonder then if this is the reason why he did"nt make any changes in the Leeds and Villa games , admittedly against Leeds he did"nt need to , but yesterday it looked obvious to me that some change was required .
However I do think he was a little light on the bench, for an alternative striker , GUDJ not match fit for example,so maybe he just stuck to his guns.
The worrying thing for me is wether we have enough goals in us to really compete for the CL place. Arry seems intent on the Crouch Defoe partnership to achieve this , but the Villa game was for me another example of their failures in front of goal. I know they have got thirty goals between them this season and a lot of people will give me flak but I believe we need more than this stereotypical style of play.
If we are to challenge for a CL place then we need to be able to change our style and sometimes you need that bit extra to win games.
The answer could be waiting in the wings ala Gudj and Pav , they will offer that "something extra" that can get the vital goals we will need . They both possess intelligence to link up well and know how to finish , if Gudj is still hungry he should be an asset , but I really want Arry to "bury the hatchet" and give Pav a decent chance of establishing himself in the team, he"s done it with Bentley so why not Pav ?
That is the managers job is"nt it , to get the best out of his "fantastic squad"
Of course only Arry knows what he wants but thats my feelings on the subject.

[Roscono3]

Thanks swanny i enjoyed your read more than MOTD....lol

[Swanny]

Swanny, I have to say that your report is bang on and I completely agree with everything in it.
If I may , I"d like to add a couple of observations, as you say Arry made subs against Birmingham which seemed to go against him which as a result he received quite a bit of stick, I wonder then if this is the reason why he did"nt make any changes in the Leeds and Villa games , admittedly against Leeds he did"nt need to , but yesterday it looked obvious to me that some change was required .
However I do think he was a little light on the bench, for an alternative striker , GUDJ not match fit for example,so maybe he just stuck to his guns.
The worrying thing for me is wether we have enough goals in us to really compete for the CL place. Arry seems intent on the Crouch Defoe partnership to achieve this , but the Villa game was for me another example of their failures in front of goal. I know they have got thirty goals between them this season and a lot of people will give me flak but I believe we need more than this stereotypical style of play.
If we are to challenge for a CL place then we need to be able to change our style and sometimes you need that bit extra to win games.
The answer could be waiting in the wings ala Gudj and Pav , they will offer that "something extra" that can get the vital goals we will need . They both possess intelligence to link up well and know how to finish , if Gudj is still hungry he should be an asset , but I really want Arry to "bury the hatchet" and give Pav a decent chance of establishing himself in the team, he"s done it with Bentley so why not Pav ?
That is the managers job is"nt it , to get the best out of his "fantastic squad"
Of course only Arry knows what he wants but thats my feelings on the subject.

Your correct in thinking that Arry made a bloomer with his subs at Birmingham and as I said in my post I believe he knows it as well, as for another striker Iv'e been constantly calling for someone to rattle the net for fun and I'm convinced as soon as Arry locates this missing link he will get Mr. Levy to sign the cheque. In the meantime we have still got Pav and as Arry has just stated over David Bentley he doesn't hold grudges, so we can only assume when fully fit Pav will return to the squad. I'm sure he has been watching how the fortunes of DB and Gareth Bale have changed dramaticly and hopefully he will be saying quietly to himself 'I can do that as well'

[Justice]

Great read as always, Swanny.