Aston Villa 1/2 - Build Up & Match Thread

[YoungWolf]

Was it October, November time that Hobbs came out and said he was really happy with the squad balance?

All part of the plan

 

[Lycan]

We don’t have the depth of players to play any system at this level. Back four - no. Midfield 3 - no.

343 is about as good as it gets without shoehorning, though we now have to play a lightweight midfield without Gomes Traore or even Lemina being available. Adding another lightweight midfielder doesn’t solve that.

Exactly.

Plus, Vítor has never been wedded to any particular system in his entire career, he hasn't turned up at Wolves and all of a sudden decided that the only way he can coach is 3-4-3. He's gone with it initially because our defenders are all woeful so the obvious thing to do is make the spaces they're required to defend smaller. You can see it's not his ideal shape anyway with the way he's used Doherty and talked about having a full back in the back 3.

It's the best option for right now given the situation we're in and the horror show of a squad.

He's decided that he can coach that system, that it can work at this level and that the majority of the players at his disposal (plus the players he's expecting in good faith to be signed to plug gaps) can play it. We don't dig ourselves out of this mess by continuing with Gary O'Neil's wheel of tactical innovations, all that ever did was sow confusion and a lack of confidence throughout an unbalanced squad. We get through it by being well drilled, hard to beat and by signing some fucking centre backs.

 

[sycophantia]

Exactly.

Plus, Vítor has never been wedded to any particular system in his entire career, he hasn't turned up at Wolves and all of a sudden decided that the only way he can coach is 3-4-3. He's gone with it initially because our defenders are all woeful so the obvious thing to do is make the spaces they're required to defend smaller. You can see it's not his ideal shape anyway with the way he's used Doherty and talked about having a full back in the back 3.

It's the best option for right now given the situation we're in and the horror show of a squad.

He's decided that he can coach that system, that it can work at this level and that the majority of the players at his disposal (plus the players he's expecting in good faith to be signed to plug gaps) can play it. We don't dig ourselves out of this mess by continuing with Gary O'Neil's wheel of tactical innovations, all that ever did was sow confusion and a lack of confidence throughout an unbalanced squad. We get through it by being well drilled, hard to beat and by signing some fucking centre backs.

Good post (and YWs). Explains in terms I understand why it's not just a case of changing formations.

 

[Tony Towner]

May as well pick Lemina then

https://twitter.com/x/status/1885434323492372690

 

[slink]

Exactly.

Plus, Vítor has never been wedded to any particular system in his entire career, he hasn't turned up at Wolves and all of a sudden decided that the only way he can coach is 3-4-3. He's gone with it initially because our defenders are all woeful so the obvious thing to do is make the spaces they're required to defend smaller. You can see it's not his ideal shape anyway with the way he's used Doherty and talked about having a full back in the back 3.

It's the best option for right now given the situation we're in and the horror show of a squad.

He's decided that he can coach that system, that it can work at this level and that the majority of the players at his disposal (plus the players he's expecting in good faith to be signed to plug gaps) can play it. We don't dig ourselves out of this mess by continuing with Gary O'Neil's wheel of tactical innovations, all that ever did was sow confusion and a lack of confidence throughout an unbalanced squad. We get through it by being well drilled, hard to beat and by signing some fucking centre backs.

I’m going to disagree with this based on Vitor’s last few management jobs and things he’s said since he joined. This formation is exactly how he wants to play now, he didn’t play it earlier in his career but right now 343/3421/3412 however it wants to look is how he wants to play and whether you think our squad is suited to it or not i think he would have played this system.

Understand that by having a back 3/5, however you want to look at it should mean the gaps between players are smaller and should provide them more security but i don’t think that’s been the case for us really and at times has exposed big weaknesses in the squad. Our press in this system too has been very suspect and especially so at Chelsea. Examples of this would be…

- Spurs goals/penalty caused by asking RAN to press to high to pin Porro back but leaving acres in behind for Kulusevski and Johnson to expose Dawson, Bueno and Andre at times having to come in to that space.

- Forest’s opening goal when we were too high and out of shape in possession, now this might be Doyle not understanding his role but the rest of the team were all over the place too.

- Forest’s second goal where we have Doc isolated against CHO and under that pressure makes a significant error. Doc has been in that position quite a few times and we’ve got away with it too.

Chelsea’s second goal and numerous chances they got particularly in the first half where a simple switch of play and an overload in midfield meant the wing backs were having to tuck in too often and leave that space.

I do agree that he needs help with additions to the squad, he needs another centre half and without doubt a midfielder with excellent physical attributes. He could also use some players he’s got here like Rodrigo who will help with the press and energy that is much needed.

 

[C.L.D]

 

[SSB]

For fan travelling into Wolves:-

#M6 closed both ways between J10A #M54 and J11 #Cannock

 

[Dire Wolf]

For fan travelling into Wolves:-

#M6 closed both ways between J10A #M54 and J11 #Cannock

I knew we were all a bit disillusioned with the club...

 

[Lupo]

Toti back in

Bellegarde and Guedes start

 

[Mel Evo]

It’s the Bellegarde Andre midfield we’ve been waiting for.

 

[Lupo]

 

[jd1981]

That’s a painful bad side for a PL side

 

[YoungWolf]

what a terrible squad.

 

[The Bear]

Looks like they've dropped Kamara back into central defence alongside Konsa and are playing 4-2-3-1.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Doherty, Bellegarde and Guedes all in a starting XI.

 

[Lupo]

 

[The Bear]

Not sure about Guedes playing through the middle. He's been better* in the channels recently.

*a relative term.

 

[thisisgil]

Guedes > Hwang

 

[Dire Wolf]

Well this could be fun. What a lousy team. I don't want to watch. But I will. It'll be like rubbernecking at a car crash.

 

[Squeak]

Doherty, Bellegarde and Guedes all in a starting XI.

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You missed Sarabia...lost your game?