Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Phillips revitalised, Sherwood best avoided - knee jerks
Thursday, 9th Apr 2015 00:11 by Antti Heinola

Antti Heinola provides his regular six reactions and talking points to the Tuesday night action as QPR and Aston Villa fight out a dramatic 3-3 draw.

A good point

Some were distraught that we didn't win after leading so late on and you can't blame them - the delicious feel of two away wins on the spin combined with reeling Villa right back in to the mire is hard to let go of.

When asked after the game who would be more pleased with a point, Ramsey seemed surprised and said “Them, surely,” as it kept the status quo. Smart move. He's not getting carried away by two decent results amidst a season of slurry. But I doubt he really believed that. Look at it from Villa's point of view. They probably have an aim of getting perhaps 37 points. Before Tuesday night, their last three away games are all toughies, but their last four home games are much easier. Of those, Sherwood would have been banking on a win against us. Not being able to beat us at home does not bode brilliantly well for the rest of their season. While a point for us may prove not quite enough, in the circumstances it was a good one and it stopped Villa from becoming pretty much out of reach. Put it this way: this won't be the result that sends us down. In fact, it's a result that gives us a fighting chance. Three wins from our final six might just - just - do it.

Ramsey v Sherwood

That said, Villa, especially first half, played very well. They passed it quickly and with purpose. They made chances. They fought back from a goal down and in Christian Benteke they have a match-winner (or match-drawer, if you like). With their remaining fixtures, I think they'll stay up, if only because of the current bottom six they look best equipped to do so.

But there are concerns for Villa fans - at least there should be. And those concerns should focus on Sherwood. I've never been a fan of his shtick - he clearly rates himself far higher than he has any right to given his short run in the managerial game and repeated (and dull) claims about his bloody win percentage at Spurs don't mask how often they failed against any half decent side. First half last night, Villa were at it. Delph was superb (as he was throughout), Benteke a constant danger and I was also impressed with young Grealish. They looked motivated and certainly much more of an attacking outfit than when under the deathly grip of Lambert. But after half time, QPR - and Ramsey in particular - turned it around magnificently and Sherwood didn't seem to know how to respond. So he didn't.

Given our injuries and lack of options in particular down the left hand side, most teams playing us at home should know how to exploit our many weaknesses. Villa managed that first half, but that switch to 3-5-2, matching up their three in midfield, and injecting a bit more pace in the unreliable form of Traore down the left, changed the game. It was a courageous moment for Ramsey and Bondy Bond. 3-5-2 has not worked for us this year and here we were 2-1 down and in danger of being swallowed whole. But it worked.

Now, we may go down with Ramsey and Villa may stay up with Sherwood, but if I was a Villa fan I'd be worried about how easily Sherwood was out-manoeuvred here, and by his failure to react. I look at the two men and know which one I'd rather have. There's Ramsey, calm and concentrated on the touchline. And there's Sherwood, all exaggerated mannerisms, all playing to the gallery, flinging his coat off over minor incidents, over-celebrating a first half equaliser against the worst away team in the division and then a cocky stroll down the touchline at half time, a little smug, hands in pockets, apparently thinking it was in the bag. Everything he does screams: 'LOOK AT ME!'

Ramsey, his good mate, was almost the opposite. Calm, measured, never carried away by anything. He may have not looked greatly pleased with the result, but I suspect he was very pleased with it because we are far from out of it now, despite looking dead and buried 10 days ago. Meanwhile, Sherwood used his interview time to bemoan injuries (as if we don't have any) and says: "I'm very confident that I will be able to keep Villa up." I. *I*. No thanks.

Pace

A frequent theme, this one, I know. And it's not one you can really blame Ramsey for because his options are so slim, but that left hand side of Hill and Kranjcar has been tried and tried and it never, ever works.

The commitment is there, but not the mobility and that lack of speed down an entire flank is a gift for any team in this league. Hell, it would even be a gift for us if we were playing against it. The second goal was a great example of how slow our team is - we just cannot keep up with teams when they attack us on the break. Sandro couldn't even foul effectively to stop it. I'm not convinced 3-5-2 is the answer - it worked here for sure, but having Phillips trying to deal with Hazard is a recipe for disaster. So if we do revert back to 4-4-2 and assuming Yun is fit again, it might be worth starting him in midfield with Clint behind. Yun can get up and down that pitch all day and can cover Clint too. It's not perfect, but we can't field that left-side line-up ever again.

Matty Phillips

Two more assists and another goal. A player re-born under Ramsey. I'm not sure what he's said to him or done with him, but it's worked. Not 7/10 every game, but he has become a key player and someone we can actually rely on to create chances in every game. Like Lee Cook, even on a bad day, he will do something that will give a decent striker a chance of a goal. Last night, of course, was not a bad day. A good header to open the scoring, another goal from a corner (another improvement since Redknapp left) and then a lovely piece of skill and a great pass to set up Charlie for his customary goal.

On the TV highlights commentary Andy Hinchcliffe (always a sign the channel doesn't care about your game if he's on comms) actually criticised him for hitting that pass too hard, saying he should have rolled it in to Charlie. Two things there, Hinch: first, had he rolled it to him, it would have been intercepted or at best the defenders would have had time to close Charlie down. Second, have a look at the replay where Charlie says to Phillips: 'Fucking superb!' I suspect Charlie is a bit better qualified to say what is and isn't a good ball into a striker. Well done Matt. Don't get injured. Please.

Clint

Ah, Clint. Just when you think it isn't possible to love this man any more, he does something to make you do exactly that. Finally, finally, finally, after hitting the posts and the bar, having headers cleared off the line and having a header touch the goal net only to see it ruled out for not crossing the line, he gets his Premier League goal. Off his shoulder, but who cares? He's one person that when he celebrates and grabs the shirt, you know he means it. Although Christ knows why after what he's had to endure over five seasons here.

Every time you think you've seen the last of him, he's recalled because of some disaster or other and he does the same solid job over and over. If he makes mistakes, and he does, they are honest ones more often than not only down to his age and declining pace. Throughout all the joy and the crap over the last five years, he's been the constant. A proper leader. A club man. An inspiration. A ruddy good bloke. A throwback. Must be brought onto the coaching staff this summer if he, as expected, decides to call it a day. I remember last season fantasising about him scoring the winner at Wembley long before we even cemented our place in the play-offs. This season I'd love to see him score the winner at Leicester. That would be some fairy tale.

Belief

I liked the attitude last night at the end. Not delighted, a bit disappointed, but still determined. It may have come a bit too late, but I think that the players believe they might be able to pull this off. Wins v Leicester, West Ham and Newcastle, plus a point anywhere from the other three games would do it. But, while I'm delighted we're showing fight that was absent this time two years ago (we already have more points than we did that season, remarkably), I still think we're not quite good enough to not slip up in at least one of those key games. Hope I'm wrong.

Pictures — Action Images

Photo: Action Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.


You need to login in order to post your comments

Bristol Rovers Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© FansNetwork 2024