Aston Villa pre match chat

[Cjay]

Have hung off doing this just in case, but looks like for the time being Daniel Farke will limp on.

He has a challenge ahead of him with our upcoming fixtures coming against for one reason or another tricky teams.

First up is Unai Emery's resurgent Aston Villa.

A difficult start saw Villa on 3 points after 5 games, they are now one of the form teams, 15 points from the last 6 with only defeat to Liverpool as a blip and only league leaders Arsenal with more points in that time (16).

Overall they had won 8 of their last 10.

They aren't quite the same side away though with only 1 win and a 1 point per game average.

Tactically Villa use a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3

He likes as patient build up from the back with Villa having the most touches in the Premier League in their own penalty area, but isn't wedded to just short passes as Villa rank fairly high for both long and medium passes.

And Emery is not afraid to have players recycle possession rather than go forward fast as he preferred to maintain structure.

But he does encourage once an attack has been started one of his 2 or 2 of his 3 midfielders to join the attack and make runs into the box.

Some frustration has occurred because of his slow build up with Villa not particularly creative offensively and in fact before Bournemouth they'd only scored 9 goals in 10 games.

Defensively they aren't afraid to press but usually set up in a mid block with Emery preferring to keep his team compact than risk the gaps that can come with overly aggressive pressing.

But tend to counter press hard especially in midfield if the ball is lost.

They are vulnerable down the flanks as he asks his full backs to push on in possession, but this is limited by the amount of control he likes.

In terms of key players.

Daniel Farke's wet dream Emi Buendia is seeing a career rejuvenation this season under Emery. After injury issues and an underwhelming loan the Argentinian attacking midfielder is becoming a key player. He has scored a goal or created one in all but 1 of the last 5 games (got a goal and an assist in 1 so technically 5 in 5). He ranks top 80 percentile for chances created in the league.

Spanish international cb Pau Torres is a key player at the centre of the Villa defence and his return to the starting lineup (only started 1 of the first 5 but has started all of the last 6) has coincided with the good Villa form. The silky cb is good on the ball, calm under pressure and has previously worked with Emery at other clubs so understands what his manager wants.


Holding midfielder Boubacar Kamara is the glue in the Villa midfield whose job it is to not just start attacks but to stop them. A tall, strong leggy player Kamara is known for his reading of the game, upper body strength and prowess at winning the ball back. He is also technically gifted, good at beating the press and has an eye for an attacking pass with 2 assists this season.


Despite all the positives Villa aren't untouchable by any means. They don't create huge amounts of chances, they do struggle to get the ball into the attacking 3rd (rank low for shots, big chances created and xG) and are somewhat reliant on Emi Martinez to dig them out at the other end at times.

However their form can't be ignored, they have beaten Bournemouth, Man City and Tottenham this season and are clearly capable of beating us.

But we have shown an ability to be competitive this season, unlucky against Spurs and Bournemouth ourselves.

So from our point of view then.

What will Farke do?

He does tend to be a bit braver at home, on the other hand he's massively fixated on his 1ppg average which he brings up as often as possible.

Could he go ultra cautious in order to protect it? Would seem ridiculous with our upcoming fixtures but self preservation?

What changes could we see?

A return finally for Willy Gnonto? Or will the Aaronson obsession continue

We certainly seemed brighter when James and Piroe came on vs Forest, are they pushing for a start?

How about the defence? Will we see a return for Pascal Struijk?

You would think Nmecha did enought to keep his place but given DCL only was dropped due to fitness and Farke tends to be quite set in hus ways could DCL return?

Finally the result, would a draw be enough to satisfy a frustrated fanbase?

Is it not just about the result though? Performances have been poor, does it need to be a draw earned through a good performance or will points be enough?

Or alternatively would a good performance but a defeat be enough? Or a bad performance but a win?

[whiteswan]

I don't care about the performance, they can bore everyone to sleep for all I care. Just Win!
Ps don't think they will though.

[The Subhuman]

Good post CJay

Anyway at home needing 3 points

Perri
Bogle
Gudmundsson
Ampadu
Rodon
Struijk
James
Stach
Piroe
Tanaka
Okafor

Gnonto needs 30 and James not yet fully match fit so a change there around the 60 mark irrespective of score.

[Johnsie123]

3pts that's all that counts,James for Aaronson no Harrison near the team I might even think of Darlow to start.
I think if this result goes south it could well be his last as manager and no matter what he does I think it's to late for him .

[1964white]

Three points, a must.

We can do it if we apply ourselves efficiently.

Take the game to Villa & once in control, don't allow them back in the game.

Points at ER, likely to be are only avenue for victories.

MOT.

[The Subhuman]

As it stands Liverpool looks the easiest of the next four, they're well out of form for some reason

[Irish Ian]

Bijol needs dropped.

[Cjay]

Still think we should be playing a back 3.

. . . . . . . . . . . Perri . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .Rodon. Bijol .Struijk . . . . . .
Bogle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Guds
. . . . . . . .Ampadu . . Stach . . . . . . .
. . . Gnonto . . . . Piroe . . . . . .Okafor.

[The Subhuman]

Still think we should be playing a back 3.

. . . . . . . . . . . Perri . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .Rodon. Bijol .Struijk . . . . . .
Bogle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Guds
. . . . . . . .Ampadu . . Stach . . . . . . .
. . . Gnonto . . . . Piroe . . . . . .Okafor.

I think if you change to a back three mid season, remembering positioning, assignments and partnerships completely change, you can expect a few bad performances until it beds in, can we afford that? Time to have done that was in pre season as I think the last time we had a 3 at the back Ferdinand was playing

Plus your sitting a DMF in front of it, meaning it's basically a one man central midfield which would get over run.. Take Amps out for Aaronson who's a box to box by nature might be better idea

[Musicman1965]

I don't think DF has the imagination to change things around, he still believes that it was only small margins why we lost at Forest.
I would like to be surprised but he is stubborn as a mule.

[Cjay]

I think if you change to a back three mid season, remembering positioning, assignments and partnerships completely change, you can expect a few bad performances until it beds in, can we afford that? Time to have done that was in pre season as I think the last time we had a 3 at the back Ferdinand was playing

Plus your sitting a DMF in front of it, meaning it's basically a one man central midfield which would get over run.. Take Amps out for Aaronson who's a box to box by nature might be better idea

It probably is too late.

But Bijol for example was signed off the back of playing in a back 3

Stach has played for a team using a back 3, and Bogle,

I just think it suits us better.

It would offer flexibility

[Jammy 07]

It probably is too late.

But Bijol for example was signed off the back of playing in a back 3

Stach has played for a team using a back 3, and Bogle,

I just think it suits us better.

It would offer flexibility

Agree that we should give it a go but away at Man City would be the right time.

[The Subhuman]

Agree that we should give it a go but away at Man City would be the right time.

You'd need 4/5 games not one.... especially one we could lose big in, forcing us to abandon the experiment

[Jammy 07]

You'd need 4/5 games not one.... especially one we could lose big in, forcing us to abandon the experiment

We have good home form so no need to change much there and with 3 of our next 4 matches at home Man City away represents the only chance to try something a little different. Personally I think it's worth a try as we're currently not the same team away from ER. Plus if it works then it could be a template for the rest of the season when on our travels.

[pjm2019]

Still think we should be playing a back 3.

. . . . . . . . . . . Perri . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .Rodon. Bijol .Struijk . . . . . .
Bogle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Guds
. . . . . . . .Ampadu . . Stach . . . . . . .
. . . Gnonto . . . . Piroe . . . . . .Okafor.

this is the formation i have been saying for ages but only when we either play away or against the top 4 or 5 teams

[Tom the Cat]

Unless I am mistaken we will have eleven internationals on the pitch so it will be a sad reflection if we cannot take the game to Villa when playing at home. If Farke tries to sit back and hope for a point we are doomed. With Villa's indifferent away form we have a decent chance of turning them over.

[FeelsLikeThunder]

We just have to go for the three points. If DF sets us up to do that, at Elland Road, we'll probably get them. Just want the manager to show some initiative and set us up to really give our all for a win.

[Cjay]

Agree that we should give it a go but away at Man City would be the right time.

I'd just like him to put his ego aside, drop the meaningless ploddy ball stuff and try something different for a change.

Nothing to lose now.

And I think a back 3 suits our players better.

[Cjay]

https://theleedsview.ie/pressure-builds ... lla-visit/

[Jammy 07]

I'd just like him to put his ego aside, drop the meaningless ploddy ball stuff and try something different for a change.

Nothing to lose now.

And I think a back 3 suits our players better.

It's a bit early after 11 games to be saying nothing to lose.

Point per game remember