Analys efter derbyt av Pete Bland
Denna genomgång får räknas som facit tror jag.
It's a bit late for a match report, although all the ones I've read today have been most enjoyable.
Going to Wolves yesterday was very enjoyable for me. I used to live in dingle land and on the way back I wandered past the places I used to go in 20 odd years ago and was happy to see that all the pubs are still there, and every one of them still has the same name. Sadly I went on my tod, so didn't nip into any for a quick pint before going home (one in the Bush?). Didn't spoil the mood though.
There's been change on the pitch for Villa over the last 2 years, since JG walked out and into semi obscurity. In a way you wouldn't know it though. JPA up front has improved, and his second goal was that of a quality striker in form. He recieved the ball right in front of me, controlled it in one touch, took it on with Craddock trailing in his wake and without so much as gving a hint of setting himself the ball was suddenly past Jones and in the back of the Wolves net.
JPA played up front with Vassel, and here there has been a change for the worse. Although they remain the best front two, DV is far from at his best. He works hard, worries defenders with his pace, but too often lacks the confidence to drive at the goal and with his ability to pick out another player in the Villa shirt not his strongest point he ends up frustrating, mainly due to a lack of belief in himself.
At the back, Olly continues to excel, despite giving away a penalty yesterday, and with Ronnie Johnsen alongside him DO'L is picking the best partnership and it's working well. I've always liked RJ, even when he was at man u, and as long as he stays fit, he's a real asset. and allows Olly to play in the way at which he excels. This isn't the case with Dion alongside Olly.
Another regular from JG's team, Lee Hendrie had a blinding game in the centre. His movement and quick feet and quick mind were a menace to Wolves all game. If he played like that every week then he'd have a lot more than just the one cap for England.
Hitz played in the centre with Lee, and he's the first of the younger players to make a big step forward this season. it didn't happen quickly, but he has now lost the annoying habit of going missing for long periods. He's realised that he has to MAKE himself involved. He now looks a very good young player and his shooting and corners are a real threat. It was GT really who brought Hitz back into things and another who benefitted from GT's good work with young players is Jlloyd. He's perhaps been my player of the season so far. He looks a quality full back, has pace and skill and his defending and concentration, as well as confidence have come on a bundle.
Jlloyd links so well with Gareth Barry that the two of them together, in an unconventional way make perhaps one of the best left sides in the prem (the other being Pires and whoever for Arsenal). Barry lacks any real pace, but he is pretty strong, has a fantastic touch and generally knows where to put the ball. In the second half, with him attacking right in front of my viewing position it was easy to appreciate what GT and DO'L see in him as a midfielder.
Nobby Solano is still settling in, but he has the ability to make some space for himself, pass well, and although some of his crossing was woeful in the first half he had the intelligence to adjust to the windy conditions, change his game and put through a peach of a pass for JPA's second.
Another excellent DO'L signing was Tommy Sorenson. He saved a penalty (his second pen save of the season) made a couple of other very good saves, and generally looks solid and capable at the back. He also seems to appreciate the fans, which is something I like in any player.
Ulises at right back has his weaknesses as a defender, but nevertheless does his best, benefits from not being booed (No! really!) and didn't let us down. A useful GT squad signing.
With most of our squad being fit we had Crouchy, Luke Moore and Peter Whittingham come off the bench once the game was safe. While they are all young players and all have talent the full strength bench is an area where the criticisms of Ellis' penny pinching are brought into stark view (the other 2 subs were Dion and Stefan Postma) - had we needed to replace JPA, Olly/RJ Nobby or Hitz/Hendrie the replacements would have been, at this stage of their careers a drop down in class. This is the difference between us being REAL contenders and a quite good side, that can play some lovely stuff, tear teams apart on occasion and get run ragged on other occasions.
It's important that we start games well, as there is not the quality to change the personnel if things go a bit wonky. DO'L and Roy Aitken have excelled here and the players have responded brilliantly. They give of their all, seem a "tight" group and play for each other. The style of play is no doubt hard work to keep up, but it's lovely to watch and must be great to play in too. Something that has not been the case for a good few years.
Let's be blunt. Wolves are a poor side and we're a decent side. That's what yesterday proved.
Looking forward, if we are to keep DO'L, keep JPA, Barry, Olly et al and build on what has happened so far this season then something has got to change at our club. Something with the initials HDE. He and Villa have so often failed to take the opportunities available to the club, shrinking back from the big choices, prefering to do nothing and hope instead for the best, that the omens are not good.
The board consists of Ellis who said he would step down but hasn't done so, an NED on a 3 month "trial" whose trial period has expired and 2 time servers in Steve Stride and Tony Hales - Ellis yes men to their cores.
When things go awry, many people will look at the way the club is run at the top and rightly get pretty angry with the nepotism, the mediocrity and the disregard for both the supporters and the history of the club.
When we are doing alright, we are doing so despite the ball and chain, not because of it. How much better could we be doing, and could we be run if only professionalism and the best people were in place?
Yes be happy that the miseries of last season on the pitch seem to be banished, be happy with the improvement in our fortunes as a team, but don't forget that it only takes Ellis and chums a short time to mess things up, and they can usually be found hiding away counting their huge wages and doing very little to take the club onwards and upwards, when they should be helping the manager and players and supporters. look back a year and we were cacking it about relegation, which we eventually missed by 3 points - some poor Sunderland finishing at VP kept us up. Look back 2 years and we were roughly where we are now - comfortably going to stay up, harbouring hopes of Europe.
Like Barry Hole, we're up, we're down, but I didn't go in the Rose and Crown.
Pete
Lytham
