Signs of positivity as Villa change style
Buried amongst the usual pre-match build-up, ahead of Villa’s match against Leicester was the news that Paul Lambert had travelled to Germany to watch Bayern Munich train.
While Villa’s performance against Leicester wasn’t Guardiola-esque, there was at least notable signs of improvement.
Last Wednesday’s away win against Crystal Palace was a good result (especially considering they had beat Liverpool 3-1 at home previously) but Villa’s style of play was that of a team mired in a relegation battle.
Towards the end of the game Villa seemed content to hoof the ball up the pitch as soon as they picked up possession. It wasn’t pretty, despite the vital three points.
Sunday’s home clash against Leicester represented a conscious change in style. Lambert had rather mysteriously said the team had tried something new against Nigel Pearson’s men, and there was indeed something different about Villa.
Despite another relatively low attendance Villa fans will undoubtedly welcome the stat that their team had 65% possession, and whether Guardiola has passed on a few trade secrets or not, it’s starting to be a little easier to be a Villa fan.
There are several teams higher up in the table who are after a new centre-back so naturally Ron Vlaar, who impressed during the World Cup, is rumoured to be a target for several clubs.
A few months ago many would have told you relegation was imminent if such a sale went through but that was before recent team changes – albeit enforced ones!
The re-introduction of Jores Okore following his long-term injury has been particularly pleasing. The Dane, who arrived at Villa last year having reportedly turned down the advances of Chelsea, has so far lived up to the buzz that followed his signing last season.
Partnering up at centre-back with Ciaran Clark, who is also filling in for an absentee, the pair have impressed. They have played a key part in the upturn of form and with them in the line-up Villa have only conceded three goals in four games. Not bad after the team’s previous torrid run.
Alan Hutton has continued to impress in what surely counts as one of the most unlikely of footballing comebacks, and his goal at the Holte End rounded off a turnaround which has seen him secure Villa’s often problematic right-back position.
With Philippe Senderos and Nathan Baker still in the ranks perhaps the loss of Vlaar (whether he’s sold in January or released in the summer) wouldn’t hit Villa too hard after all.
It’s now the prospect of losing Fabian Delph which is more worrying, particularly with Villa’s shortage of central midfielders after the sale of Karim El Ahmadi and the loaning out of Yacouba Sylla.
Several Villa fans, including myself, have called for a managerial change in recent weeks.
The Leicester result doesn’t change the fact that there have been many questionable choices during Lambert’s reign, and real progress should of course be judged at the end of the season, but it’s impossible to ignore recent improvements.
Up next is the West Brom derby. Inconsistency has plagued Villa in previous seasons so what better way to lay down a marker than with a morale-boosting derby day win?
West Brom’s form hasn’t been brilliant of late and if Villa continue where they left off this weekend surely even the most critical of Villa fans will be able to enjoy some festive cheer – at least for now.
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