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If it isn't broke don't fix it, if it is broke do something about it!
Today saw Aston Villa pull off a shock 3-2 victory against Manchester City. Much of credit must go down to Paul Lambert's bold move to switch from the tried and tested 4-3-3 to what is essentially a more negative 3-5-2 (or 5-3-2 depending on your opinion).
This was by no means a dominating performance by Aston Villa, and to describe it as a "smash and grab" would be fair. However Villa have struggled at home since Lambert's appointment and something needed to change. Despite conceding 2 goals it was fair to say that Villa looked pretty solid at the back, with Vlaar, Clarke and Baker proving a difficult wall to break down. The two goals conceded were from two corners and the sheer amount of pressure being applied meant goals were inevitable. Without the switch in formation today could of been another demoralizing defeat so hats off to Lambert.
Its difficult to single out a man of the match in what is very much a "team" result but the sponsors went for Bacuna and thanks to the goal and assist I will tend to have to agree. Manchester City will no doubt still be asking the questions as to how they came away with nothing. This is a lesson to all those people that bang the drum for the tiki-taka style of football, yes it might be good to watch but possession and passes completed doesn't guarantee results. If anything todays match was a result for determination, belief and team spirit. You can keep your 67% possession Man City, and we shall enjoy our 3 points courtesy of Mr Lambert.
Mission Impossible for David Moyes
David Moyes has had the toughest act to follow, and there will be some Manchester United fans calling for his head already following Manchester Uniteds worst start to a season for almost a decade. But has he really done all that bad? Ok the transer windows was laughable (and I did laugh) but that can't be blamed on Moyes, Edward Woodward is the one in the wrong. Moyes has a new bunch of players that will take time to adjust to the changes being brought in.
It will be interesting to see just how long Moyes will remain at Old Trafford, I can't see him lasting until the end of his 6 year deal. There will be some Manchester United fans already claiming that Moyes is "out of his depths" and needs to go. The reality is that the league has just got tougher, a top manger with tons of experience in Arsene Wenger hasn't managed to win a trophy in the last 8 years. So if Moyes was to go the whole of his contract and not win anything and still be as successful as Wenger has been in recent years but Manchester United fans won't accept that because if they aren't winning things then the likelihood is that their "Noisy Neighbours" will be the ones with the silverware.
I think David Moyes has just got to keep his head down and plan for something big in January. I think Edward Woodward will be keen to prove he isn't a fool by spending big and signing some marque signings that could seem them and Moyes end strong and challenge fo honours. The backing of Alex Ferguson will also buy Moyes some time but the Manchester United faithful will accept nothing less than a top 3 finish and possibly a trophy.
Will Moyes be in the Manchester United hot seat come the start of the 2014/2015 campaign?
"Don't shoot..........goal!"
If ever there was any doubt whether Jose Mourinho was the “Special One” or not surely now people will believe he is. Yes, after 258 games John Obi Mikel has finally notched his first Premier league goal, perhaps he is now the answer to Chelsea’s striking problems (or perhaps they may want to pick Mata!). Some of the best managers in the world have not managed to show Mikel the way to goal but finally Jose has, and hopefully this will mean I don’t have to listen to commentators quote the stat in every match.
I myself have been in the crowd screaming “Don’t shoot!” on numerous occasions only for a player to score a goal, this usually results in in a few laughs coming my way, and encouragement to do this more often. I am more than happy to be proved wrong when a player for my team finally finds his shooting boots, but don’t go think that makes up for the 500+ wild shots I have had to watch fizz wide in previous games. Yes John Obi Mikel you have scored a goal but for all those people in the crowd that like me would have been screaming at you to stop shooting I remind you that you haven’t scored in 258 games, and you have wasted plenty of good chances, and blasted hundreds of tame shots at goal in those games so please you have your goal, now go back to doing what you are good at which is….ummm…..anyway.
You don't become a bad player overnight...Or do you?
There are several famous phrases used in football to describe players experiencing a poor run of form. The phrase "you don't become a bad player overnight" is often uttered by pundits when suggesting that the player will return to form and perform at the level required given time. A lot of the pundits that use these phrases are ex-players so perhaps they don't want to accept the truth.
Watching last nights big match of Man Utd vs Chelsea it dawned on me that players do become bad overnight. I can clarify what I mean using two words...Fernando Torres! Need I say more?! This is a guy that continues to fill his trophy cabinet while experiencing the worst form of his career. By some players standards Torres is still performing well but by the standards he set himself that earned a £50 million transfer he is not; and he has not performed for a number of seasons. If the start to the season is anything to go by then Mourinho will bring to an end Torres's Chelsea career sooner rather than later. Mourinho has shown such a lack of faith in the Spaniard, he would rather play André Schürrle as a striker (he is more of supporting attacker) than call on Torres. With just 34 goals in 133 appearances for Chelsea you can see why Mourinho is on the look out for a new striker to lead the line, personally I would look no further than Romanu Lukaku.
I think that every fan of every club can think of several players that turned bad overnight. There are several reasons for this to occur - injuries, increased expectation, lack of motivation, trying too hard or to put it another way injuries and rich enough to not care anymore.
Who are your teams overnight flops?
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