Conceding four goals at home tells one story, but that's not the one those in replica claret and blue will be taking home from Villa Park - or even just watching on the box - tonight.
A central midfield of James Milner and Stiliyan Petrov was proven to be defensively lightweight during a difficult first twenty minutes, but, with that attacking six on the pitch, it was only a matter of time until the home side got on the scoresheet - and then they scored six.
Martin O'Neill's side has a brilliant combination of discipline and youthful exuberance. A growing maturity was displayed when they used their man advantage to play keep-ball early in the second half, before the tie had gone away from Blackburn. They kept their heads after conceding two within the first 15. The boys know the jobs they've got to do, but they've also been given the freedom to go out and express themselves, with all their abundant athleticism. Milner, Young, Downing, Agbonlahor are always willing to take their man on.
Ashley Young's last-minute sixth provided the story I will remember. The corner flag was gaping; it seemed an obvious choice, into injury time with a two-goal aggregate advantage; run the clock down and you're in the cup final. It didn't cross his mind. He drove towards goal from the left-hand-side, curling the ball home from the edge of the area. Villa Park was alive.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Spot the difference
He's got his own - increasingly successful - company.
He's just about to get the sack.
It's all in the smile?
(I got into work early, thought I'd make good use of my time)
Saturday, January 16, 2010
To be a Villa fan
When the first-half goal that put Aston Villa firmly in charge of their Carling Cup semi-final tie with Blackburn nestled in the back of the net, four players embraced by the corner flag. James Milner, Stewart Downing, Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor are the scintillating young Englishmen who form the arrow in Martin O’Neill’s well-shaped bow.
The goal was typical Villa, a brilliant but brutal breakaway starting on the edge of their own area. Downing to Milner, Milner galloping over the halfway line, out to Downing, back to Milner, and into the net.
I’ll start with Gabby Agbonlahor though. The Villa Academy graduate has 8 league goals so far this term, including the winner at Old Trafford. He added a greater physical presence to blistering pace over the summer, and so was able to be deployed by O’Neill as a lone front-man early in the season. He’s normally up top with Heskey or Carew nowadays though.
Into the midfield, and Ashley Young, who moved from Watford in January 2007. ‘Is he really worth £9 million?’ many asked of O’Neill. The 2008-09 PFA Young Player of the Year can shape a cross like David Beckham, but has got pace to go with it.
Young now interchanges wings with Stewart Downing, who has finally got up and running after his signing from relegated Middlesbrough in the summer of 2009. ‘Why sign him when you’ve already got Young and Milner?’
O’Neill has given Milner his head in the centre of the park, and been rewarded by a series of fine goal-scoring displays from the tireless, intelligent former Leeds and Newcastle man. A one-time youngest ever Premier League player, he’s ready to fulfil great potential.
Rounding off a four-man midfield of some intent is captain Stiliyan Petrov, a manager’s favourite from his spell at Celtic. He’s hardly a holding man. Very few Premier League sides play with two in the middle anymore, let alone those two. But whilst ‘on their day’ they have shown they can overrun the best, being soft in the centre has resulted in defeats against lowlier sides Wigan, Blackburn and West Ham.
With Heskey and Stephen Warnock – part of O’Neill’s rebuilt defence – also pushing for places, it could be a Villa-dominated squad going to South Africa.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So it turns out Fabio Capello is superstitious after all. The England boss has banned his players from making a World Cup song, the first time there will be no official supporters’ chant since 1966.
No, no, no. The Italian has stopped the players making a rival ‘Three Lions’ or ‘World in motion’, because putting together a song adds to the whole ‘isn’t this an exciting adventure?’ feeling around an England party at an international tournament. This summer, Capello’s boys have got a job to do.
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It’s not exactly the fashionable thing to say, but referees and their assistants are bloody excellent. Yes, we all like a good moan on a Saturday evening, but, for the vast majority of the time, in the vast majority of the millions of decisions made every weekend up and down the country, they get it spot on. And that’s despite refereeing officials, the media and fans scrutinising their every move, players conning them and, possibly worst of all, managers lambasting them in every press conference.
Two key decisions in the two FA Cup third-round games played between Liverpool and Reading highlight this. In the replay, won 2-1 after extra-time by the Championship side, Reading were awarded an injury-time penalty after Yossi Benayoun inexplicably fouled Shane Long. Contact was minimal, Long went down softly. In this instance, technology can be of no help. There was no right and wrong decision, and yet Phil Dowd still got it right in pointing to the spot. As Reading’s caretaker boss Brian McDermott said, it wasn’t a ‘brave’ decision – in the last minute, at Anfield – but just a good one.
In the first game, at the Madejski, Liverpool’s equaliser was scored by captain Steven Gerrard, whose 36th-minute cross went all the way in past Adam Federici, its intended target, Dirk Kuyt, cleverly letting the ball go under his foot. Kuyt was five yards clear of the defence by the time the ball arrived, and certainly interfering with play. The linesman had a decision to make, or, in fact, he’d already made it. When the ball was played, Kuyt was a body-width onside, and thus the linesman kept his flag down. The linesman’s job is actually an impossible one, as he is not able to look in two places at the same time, and so know what’s happening ‘along the line’ as the ball is played. But he gets it right anyway.
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First game of the season, Paul Lambert’s Colchester beat Norwich 7-1, at Carrow Road. Lambert made the switch from Essex to Suffolk soon afterwards, and when his Canaries returned to the Weston Homes Community Stadium this afternoon, they won 5-0. Not a bad turnaround.
The goal was typical Villa, a brilliant but brutal breakaway starting on the edge of their own area. Downing to Milner, Milner galloping over the halfway line, out to Downing, back to Milner, and into the net.
I’ll start with Gabby Agbonlahor though. The Villa Academy graduate has 8 league goals so far this term, including the winner at Old Trafford. He added a greater physical presence to blistering pace over the summer, and so was able to be deployed by O’Neill as a lone front-man early in the season. He’s normally up top with Heskey or Carew nowadays though.
Into the midfield, and Ashley Young, who moved from Watford in January 2007. ‘Is he really worth £9 million?’ many asked of O’Neill. The 2008-09 PFA Young Player of the Year can shape a cross like David Beckham, but has got pace to go with it.
Young now interchanges wings with Stewart Downing, who has finally got up and running after his signing from relegated Middlesbrough in the summer of 2009. ‘Why sign him when you’ve already got Young and Milner?’
O’Neill has given Milner his head in the centre of the park, and been rewarded by a series of fine goal-scoring displays from the tireless, intelligent former Leeds and Newcastle man. A one-time youngest ever Premier League player, he’s ready to fulfil great potential.
Rounding off a four-man midfield of some intent is captain Stiliyan Petrov, a manager’s favourite from his spell at Celtic. He’s hardly a holding man. Very few Premier League sides play with two in the middle anymore, let alone those two. But whilst ‘on their day’ they have shown they can overrun the best, being soft in the centre has resulted in defeats against lowlier sides Wigan, Blackburn and West Ham.
With Heskey and Stephen Warnock – part of O’Neill’s rebuilt defence – also pushing for places, it could be a Villa-dominated squad going to South Africa.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So it turns out Fabio Capello is superstitious after all. The England boss has banned his players from making a World Cup song, the first time there will be no official supporters’ chant since 1966.
No, no, no. The Italian has stopped the players making a rival ‘Three Lions’ or ‘World in motion’, because putting together a song adds to the whole ‘isn’t this an exciting adventure?’ feeling around an England party at an international tournament. This summer, Capello’s boys have got a job to do.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It’s not exactly the fashionable thing to say, but referees and their assistants are bloody excellent. Yes, we all like a good moan on a Saturday evening, but, for the vast majority of the time, in the vast majority of the millions of decisions made every weekend up and down the country, they get it spot on. And that’s despite refereeing officials, the media and fans scrutinising their every move, players conning them and, possibly worst of all, managers lambasting them in every press conference.
Two key decisions in the two FA Cup third-round games played between Liverpool and Reading highlight this. In the replay, won 2-1 after extra-time by the Championship side, Reading were awarded an injury-time penalty after Yossi Benayoun inexplicably fouled Shane Long. Contact was minimal, Long went down softly. In this instance, technology can be of no help. There was no right and wrong decision, and yet Phil Dowd still got it right in pointing to the spot. As Reading’s caretaker boss Brian McDermott said, it wasn’t a ‘brave’ decision – in the last minute, at Anfield – but just a good one.
In the first game, at the Madejski, Liverpool’s equaliser was scored by captain Steven Gerrard, whose 36th-minute cross went all the way in past Adam Federici, its intended target, Dirk Kuyt, cleverly letting the ball go under his foot. Kuyt was five yards clear of the defence by the time the ball arrived, and certainly interfering with play. The linesman had a decision to make, or, in fact, he’d already made it. When the ball was played, Kuyt was a body-width onside, and thus the linesman kept his flag down. The linesman’s job is actually an impossible one, as he is not able to look in two places at the same time, and so know what’s happening ‘along the line’ as the ball is played. But he gets it right anyway.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First game of the season, Paul Lambert’s Colchester beat Norwich 7-1, at Carrow Road. Lambert made the switch from Essex to Suffolk soon afterwards, and when his Canaries returned to the Weston Homes Community Stadium this afternoon, they won 5-0. Not a bad turnaround.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Burnley's new boss
Owen Coyle’s decision to turn down the chance to manage his childhood club Celtic, and quadruple his Burnley salary, before accepting the top job at struggling Bolton six months later provides nothing less than a damning reflection on the state of Scottish football. But I’m not going to dwell on that.
As Clarets fans continue to spit vile towards south Lancashire, their chairman, Barry Kilby, has reportedly drawn up a four-man candidate list for the Turf Moor post. Eyebrows have been raised; those names might not look like a statement of intent. It makes fascinating reading.
Leading the pack is Brian Laws, who started his playing career with Burnley back in 1979, and left Sheffield Wednesday by mutual consent a month ago. He began his managerial career at Grimsby, and nine years at Scunthorpe included two promotions.
Next up is Sean O’Driscoll, who ended 23 years as a player, coach and then manager at Bournemouth with a move to Doncaster in 2006. The 2007 Football League Trophy and promotion to the Championship during his first full season in charge followed. Expansive football on a low budget can’t be far off the perfect fit for Burnley.
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson’s stock has risen since he masterminded the famous FA Cup Third Round defeat of Manchester United, but he takes his place on Kilby’s shortlist thanks also to guiding Blackpool to League 1 promotion in 2007 in his first manager’s job.
Lee Clark, who has taken his Huddersfield side into the League 1 playoff positions since he arrived at the Galpharm Stadium in December 2008, is also in with a shout. The gritty former Fulham midfielder was previously first team coach and reserve manager at Newcastle, and Glenn Roeder’s assistant at Norwich.
Just last week, the former executive director of the FA, David Davies, presented a 90-minute show on 5 Live entitled ‘A Lost Generation of English managers.’ Terry Venables and Tony Adams joined him to consider primarily the absence of English names in the ‘Big Four’ hotseats and a shortage of home-grown candidates for the England job when Fabio Capello steps aside.
If it was up-and-coming English managers they were after, they were looking in the wrong place. Why should England international players make great managers? The demands of the jobs are completely divergent.
Tony Adams was a suitable choice as guest. The former England skipper was given the Wycombe job in November 2003, resigning after relegation a year later. Yet when Harry Redknapp walked out on Portsmouth in October 2008, Adams was handed the reins of a Premier League club. 10 points from 16 games told its own story, Adams gone and Joe Hart to the rescue to keep them in the division. The failure of another former England captain, Alan Shearer, to keep Newcastle up showed that even the weight of a Geordie army is not enough to turn a novice into a managerial genius. But Barry Kilby is not Mike Ashley, none of it’s for show.
Burnley’s shortlist is hugely refreshing, prioritising as it does managerial success over a name. All four candidates have built strong CVs that are management – rather than playing-days heavy, making the most of their chances, not being afraid to drop down the divisions to learn their trade. Coyle of course was a virtual unknown when he was given the Burnley job in 2007, ironically recommended to Burnley by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside after successful spells up in Scotland with Airdrie, Falkirk and St Johnstone.
The four contenders all had solid yet unspectacular playing careers. Sean O’Driscoll is the oldest at 52; Clark is just 37, Grayson 40. Although he was capped for the Republic of Ireland, O’Driscoll was English-born. The others are all English. While Grayson at Leeds – who will always be news, whatever division they’re in, Laws at Wednesday and Clark as a top-level professional in the Premiership era have experience in dealing with media scrutiny, O’Driscoll, a reserved man, is less accustomed to the spotlight. An increasingly significant part of the job, this is the one area where the former big-name player has the edge.
O’Driscoll provides further interest as another to graduate from the Brian Clough school, of which Martin O’Neill is the chief alumnus. O’Driscoll played under Clough – who actively acknowledged the influence of his own teacher, Sunderland boss Alan Brown in his autobiography – at Forest between 1988 and 1993. The Sir Alex Ferguson apprenticeship has provided a great number of young managers in recent years. Bryan Robson and more recently Paul Ince and Mark Hughes have shown promise but not had things all their own way, but Alex McLeish has come into his own at Birmingham and Sunderland boss Steve Bruce remains a top English prospect. Another Englishman with a bright future is Steve Clarke, a top-tier professional but far from a star. The former Chelsea man, heralded for his defensive organisation in particular, is Gianfranco Zola’s assistant at West Ham.
Pep Guardiola’s spectacular success with Barcelona must be the exception to the rule that it doesn’t require a great player to make a great manager. If only more followed Burnley’s example and recognised hard, and successful, graft as the key ingredient. But who will Kilby give a shot at the big-time to?
As Clarets fans continue to spit vile towards south Lancashire, their chairman, Barry Kilby, has reportedly drawn up a four-man candidate list for the Turf Moor post. Eyebrows have been raised; those names might not look like a statement of intent. It makes fascinating reading.
Leading the pack is Brian Laws, who started his playing career with Burnley back in 1979, and left Sheffield Wednesday by mutual consent a month ago. He began his managerial career at Grimsby, and nine years at Scunthorpe included two promotions.
Next up is Sean O’Driscoll, who ended 23 years as a player, coach and then manager at Bournemouth with a move to Doncaster in 2006. The 2007 Football League Trophy and promotion to the Championship during his first full season in charge followed. Expansive football on a low budget can’t be far off the perfect fit for Burnley.
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson’s stock has risen since he masterminded the famous FA Cup Third Round defeat of Manchester United, but he takes his place on Kilby’s shortlist thanks also to guiding Blackpool to League 1 promotion in 2007 in his first manager’s job.
Lee Clark, who has taken his Huddersfield side into the League 1 playoff positions since he arrived at the Galpharm Stadium in December 2008, is also in with a shout. The gritty former Fulham midfielder was previously first team coach and reserve manager at Newcastle, and Glenn Roeder’s assistant at Norwich.
Just last week, the former executive director of the FA, David Davies, presented a 90-minute show on 5 Live entitled ‘A Lost Generation of English managers.’ Terry Venables and Tony Adams joined him to consider primarily the absence of English names in the ‘Big Four’ hotseats and a shortage of home-grown candidates for the England job when Fabio Capello steps aside.
If it was up-and-coming English managers they were after, they were looking in the wrong place. Why should England international players make great managers? The demands of the jobs are completely divergent.
Tony Adams was a suitable choice as guest. The former England skipper was given the Wycombe job in November 2003, resigning after relegation a year later. Yet when Harry Redknapp walked out on Portsmouth in October 2008, Adams was handed the reins of a Premier League club. 10 points from 16 games told its own story, Adams gone and Joe Hart to the rescue to keep them in the division. The failure of another former England captain, Alan Shearer, to keep Newcastle up showed that even the weight of a Geordie army is not enough to turn a novice into a managerial genius. But Barry Kilby is not Mike Ashley, none of it’s for show.
Burnley’s shortlist is hugely refreshing, prioritising as it does managerial success over a name. All four candidates have built strong CVs that are management – rather than playing-days heavy, making the most of their chances, not being afraid to drop down the divisions to learn their trade. Coyle of course was a virtual unknown when he was given the Burnley job in 2007, ironically recommended to Burnley by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside after successful spells up in Scotland with Airdrie, Falkirk and St Johnstone.
The four contenders all had solid yet unspectacular playing careers. Sean O’Driscoll is the oldest at 52; Clark is just 37, Grayson 40. Although he was capped for the Republic of Ireland, O’Driscoll was English-born. The others are all English. While Grayson at Leeds – who will always be news, whatever division they’re in, Laws at Wednesday and Clark as a top-level professional in the Premiership era have experience in dealing with media scrutiny, O’Driscoll, a reserved man, is less accustomed to the spotlight. An increasingly significant part of the job, this is the one area where the former big-name player has the edge.
O’Driscoll provides further interest as another to graduate from the Brian Clough school, of which Martin O’Neill is the chief alumnus. O’Driscoll played under Clough – who actively acknowledged the influence of his own teacher, Sunderland boss Alan Brown in his autobiography – at Forest between 1988 and 1993. The Sir Alex Ferguson apprenticeship has provided a great number of young managers in recent years. Bryan Robson and more recently Paul Ince and Mark Hughes have shown promise but not had things all their own way, but Alex McLeish has come into his own at Birmingham and Sunderland boss Steve Bruce remains a top English prospect. Another Englishman with a bright future is Steve Clarke, a top-tier professional but far from a star. The former Chelsea man, heralded for his defensive organisation in particular, is Gianfranco Zola’s assistant at West Ham.
Pep Guardiola’s spectacular success with Barcelona must be the exception to the rule that it doesn’t require a great player to make a great manager. If only more followed Burnley’s example and recognised hard, and successful, graft as the key ingredient. But who will Kilby give a shot at the big-time to?
Saturday, January 2, 2010
That Saturday morning feeling
Club colours around town, up the motorway with the club sticker in the back window, scarves and songs on the train, ‘who will he pick up top?’, ‘surely we can’t be as soft at the back as last week’.
Lights of the city suburbs on the way home, the darkness warmed by the voices of fans on the phone-in. ‘Did you see that? What a goal.’ ‘He’s got to go; it’s just not good enough.’ Watch it all again on the telly that night.
And FA Cup Third Round Saturday is no normal Saturday. English football’s finest day of the year, it’s 11 against 11, snowy pitches, so many stories…
Premier League vs non-league. Barrow have never reached the fourth round of the FA Cup, have never knocked out a Premier League club. Maybe today will be the day, Sunderland the victims.
York City still talk of their great day, when they Arsenal in the fourth round in 1985. Unbeaten in 11, the Minstermen go to Stoke, who haven’t scored in their last three. Surely not.
Reading haven’t got a manager, if they win this afternoon maybe Liverpool won’t have one either.
The fans finally forced Gary Megson out, so caretaker Chris Evans leads Bolton against Lincoln, 22nd in League Two.
Paul Ince back at MK Dons, but no tail between his legs. A big-time boy, a first chance to show them he’s not finished. Burnley don’t enjoy playing away, their afternoon won’t be an easy one.
Billy Davies played under Alex McLeish at Motherwell. Birmingham haven’t lost in 11, Forest in 16. Only one will play in the fourth round.
Pompey bottom of the league, an uncertain future. 2008 FA Cup glory seems a lifetime ago, Coventry won’t have any sympathy.
Three all-Premier League games, Villa and Blackburn will play again in the Carling Cup semi-final on Tuesday. But this is the FA Cup.
Seven all-Championship ties. Newcastle go on an 820-mile round trip to Plymouth.
Tomorrow is derby day. Hammers haven’t forgotten beating Arsenal in the 1980 final. United – Leeds, now two divisions apart, rivalry undimmed.
Lights of the city suburbs on the way home, the darkness warmed by the voices of fans on the phone-in. ‘Did you see that? What a goal.’ ‘He’s got to go; it’s just not good enough.’ Watch it all again on the telly that night.
And FA Cup Third Round Saturday is no normal Saturday. English football’s finest day of the year, it’s 11 against 11, snowy pitches, so many stories…
Premier League vs non-league. Barrow have never reached the fourth round of the FA Cup, have never knocked out a Premier League club. Maybe today will be the day, Sunderland the victims.
York City still talk of their great day, when they Arsenal in the fourth round in 1985. Unbeaten in 11, the Minstermen go to Stoke, who haven’t scored in their last three. Surely not.
Reading haven’t got a manager, if they win this afternoon maybe Liverpool won’t have one either.
The fans finally forced Gary Megson out, so caretaker Chris Evans leads Bolton against Lincoln, 22nd in League Two.
Paul Ince back at MK Dons, but no tail between his legs. A big-time boy, a first chance to show them he’s not finished. Burnley don’t enjoy playing away, their afternoon won’t be an easy one.
Billy Davies played under Alex McLeish at Motherwell. Birmingham haven’t lost in 11, Forest in 16. Only one will play in the fourth round.
Pompey bottom of the league, an uncertain future. 2008 FA Cup glory seems a lifetime ago, Coventry won’t have any sympathy.
Three all-Premier League games, Villa and Blackburn will play again in the Carling Cup semi-final on Tuesday. But this is the FA Cup.
Seven all-Championship ties. Newcastle go on an 820-mile round trip to Plymouth.
Tomorrow is derby day. Hammers haven’t forgotten beating Arsenal in the 1980 final. United – Leeds, now two divisions apart, rivalry undimmed.
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