It was all going oh so well at Filbert Street, as we went 2-0 up against one of the real form teams of 2015. Villa attacked with purpose, the defence with the recently signed Joleon Lescott seemed to be acquitting itself well, suddenly it felt that the 2015/16 season had started in earnest. But then, Villa did a Villa. Managerial madness, player mistakes and then the old favourite of conceding a goal in the last few minutes.
Still, here’s five reasons to be cheerful as Aston Villa fans…
When making a good cake, icing can be essential to making it look and taste better.
1. Grealish Looses His Cherry
Jack Grealish opened his goalscoring account for the Villa in sublime fashion, in what was a great personal moment for the 20-year-old Villa supporter and his family. If you’re going to get your first goal for the club make it one to remember. Of course it was a shame that the goal didn’t contribute to a positive result, but in the first hour of the game Grealish again hinted to supporters why he’s going to be a big player for the club.
He’s not going to be a big player though in a three-man midfield playing away from home against a team who were on the rampage to get back into the game and try and win it. So god knows what Sherwood was thinking putting him there when Jordan Ayew came on for Gil to join Sinclair and Gabby up front.
Play Grealish to his strengths and he will flourish.
2. Icing on the Cake G-Force
Go on, admit it, when Carles Gil’s stunner hit the back of the Leicester net you thought Villa were firmly on the way to starting an attacking-football revolution with Grealish and Gil pulling the strings in midfield. The final result unfortunately though dampened such optimism.
Gil looked very promising and you got an insight against Leicester of what the Spaniard could potentially bring to the team this season. When he’s been given the chance, he’s normally stepped up and added sparkle and dimension to Villa. The main issue remains is this team strong enough to accommodate him and good enough to play with him.
Sherwood last season called him an ‘icing on the cake’ player, which begs the question – is the Villa cake firm enough to support both Grealish and Gil?
Ironically, Villa conceded three goals after Gil had left the field. What’s over looked in the ‘ice on the cake’ analogy is that Gil retains and moves the ball well, and if the opponent doesn’t have the ball, they can’t score (unless Peter Enckelman is in goal).
When making a good cake, icing can be essential to making it look and taste better.
Villa’s possession was more than Leicester’s during the 90 minutes and a lot of that has to do with Grealish and Gil using the ball and linking up play constructively. When they were removed from their original positions (Gil subbed and Grealish withdrawn to a deeper role), that’s when it all went wrong for Villa.
We can have our icing and eat it, but only if Sherwood is savvy with his selection and tactics (see point 3)
3. Promise of Better to Come?
The first hour or so against the Foxes was good and you couldn’t help but think that we still had three possible starters to return to the team.
The first of which is ex-Barcelona winger Adama Traore, who presents Sherwood with a decision to make in terms of the balance between turning on all his offensive young bright lights at the same time – Grealish, Gil and Traore – and defensive solidity.
When the dynamic midfield presence of Gana returns, and if Jordan Veretout gets up to speed in midfield, that duo would ideally play behind the tricky trio in midfield, with a sole spot left for a striker in a 4-2-3-1.
While Westwood has played admirably at times, you’d hope Veretout would turn out to be an upgrade. Then the likes of Sanchez, Westwood and Sinclair would be useful tactical subs, or starters depending on the opposition’s strengths.
4. Ahead of the Champs
Despite a less-than-average start, Villa are STILL above last season champions Chelsea in the league table. Put it this way, if Villa finished above them at the end of the season I’d be more than happy.
5. Snake Bite
It’s been reported that Fabian ‘Snake’ Delph should be fit again within around six weeks after he picked up a hamstring injury after just nine seconds on international duty for England. That means he should be fit to warm the away bench at Villa Park, when Manchester City visit on Sunday November 8th. We wouldn’t want him to miss our big snake party to welcome him back 😉 .
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A sickening way to lose a game but Leicester have been there many times over the years believe me – snatching defeat from the jaws of victory! Villa were a little unlucky not to get something from the game after looking so comfortable for so long but the truth is that when this Leicester side get rolling they are very difficult to stop … and their never-say-die attitude is not unlike that during O’Neill’s reign. Best of luck to Villa for the rest of the season. I’d like to see Villa back in the top half where you should be – too big a club to be skirting around the relegation zone … I thought you looked well organised & Agbonlahor’s pace was a real threat
You missed out the main reason for Villa fans to be cheerful … great football is never far away as the King Power Stadium is only a short drive from Birmingham
Haha. Yes, 2015 is certainly the Foxes’ year.