Tony P Sun 09 Nov 2014, 9:37 am
It was never going to be an easy 3 points. They rarely are. However too many of our players had below par games. Valencia, Sakho, Jenkinson, Kouyate and Noble. That was enough to make it more even than it could have been
However, it was clear to me that with Villa set up "not to lose" as opposed to trying to win, we did not need 3 "holding players" (Song, Kouyate and Noble). Too many times the ball was cleared by the Villa defence and those 3 players were on the half way line. It was crying out for the removal of Noble or Kouyate to be replaced by an attacking midfield player (Nolan or Amalfitano). What has happened to Zarate BTW?
Once again I witnessed how Noble slows the game down too much for our new style of play. He wants the ball all the time which is admirable but rarely does anything constructive with it; nor does he do it quick enough, giving the opposition time to get behind the ball and re-group. With Kouyate below par ( and/or lacking match sharpness) it weakened us. I am not a Noble "hater"; far from it - BUT - if Kouyate and Song are both fit then Noble should be on the bench
Andy Carroll showed us just what a threat he is and how he draws more than one defender to him, freeing space for others. He will hopefully have a big part to play in the rest of our season
Downing had a quiet first half. Weimann doing a good job of man-marking him. He found more space out wide in the second half and produced some great deliveries into the box
A frustrating afternoon where we didn't create enough chances on target; only 5 to Villa's 4. Hardly domination. However, that is a game that we would probably have lost last season so it is another point in the bag and gives us our best ever start in the Premier League. Not to be sniffed at
My MoM was James Collins. He and Reid were excellent
The future
At home - my preferred starting 11 when everyone is fit is a back five of Adrian, Jenkinson, Collins/Tomkins/Reid (perm 2 from 3) & Cresswell. Kouyate and Song in front of them. A three of of Valencia Downing and Sakho behind Carroll. That line up gives us everything IMHO
Away from home - by all means bring in an additional midfield player but do NOT isolate one striker up front like we did in the first half at Stoke City