Zidave's Analysis: A Sunday at the Bridge

posted by   rao (106)   1 month ago (www.oleole.com)

Zidave's Analysis: Sunday at the Bridge (including my introduction) Tuesday 10/07/08 By: David Atchison AKA: Zidave TODAY I am reflecting on this weekends failure to pick up any points, leaving many Villains as blue as Stamford Bridge. We all have a week to let our minds wonder, in disappointment, why our rich run of form has ended, at least for the time being. But, that is what I am here to discuss with you all. In hopes of maybe loosening up the rock you have most likely hid under the past two days at work. Pardon me for forgetting to introduce myself to the rest of you. My name is David. I am 22 years-old and attending Western Washington University, studying business, with a focus in Finance. I live in in the Pacific NW, the state of WA and... I am absolutely addicted to football (claps in the background), that is the first step, admitting it. Now that you know where I stand, let me introduce to you in detail, my football side. I am an American soccer nut. My apologies let me rephrase that for you in British; I am a Yank and I love footy. No, I am not confused which sport I am writing about. Before you dismiss me as having any football knowledge beyond who won the Super Bowl last season, let me give you the brief history of myself as a fan. I have been watching football for roughly four years now and more importantly I have been supporting Villa for the past two years. Let me please explain the first two years before I lose any credibility as a Villain fan! Where I live, you cannot simply watch football at your leisure on the weekend, with a few bucks sent to the cable company. You must first go as far as having digital cable, then monthly sports package that includes the Fox Soccer Channel (one of two soccer channels available in the US). I have played soccer for over 8 years, but the channel not coming till the 4th. At that point I found it much more boring to watch than to play. After checking her out for a while and dilly dallying on a few meetings once a week for big games, we began to get serious. I was falling in love, with soccer of course. Come the start of my 3rd year of watching I noticed an energetic man who I could share the same passion for the sport that I was beginning to have. As long as I remember, I always have rooted for underdogs and to see a team that I had never heard of amongst the top 6 in the table at that point in time, hell why not keep an eye on them. This man I later found out to be the manager of Aston Villa, Martin O'Neil. It was also his first year in charge. So, in a sense his birth to the club was my simultaneous birth as a Villain. With a very unique team name, an amazing manager, an American owner, a rich history, a vibrant and faithful fan base, an exciting style of tactics that is easy on the eye... need I go on? This was love at first sight. Now that you have an idea of whom I am lets talk football. Seahawks are my favorite team, they are the team I have grown up supporting, in thanks to my dad. Ok, lets talk real football now. A weekend we can all hopefully block out of our memories as well as the last time we have had to watch another man kicked in the bollocks. Now, we all know this game was certainly not pleasing, but is it really that much of a disappointment to the club? Lets not forget our progress this season, besides the fact that we have not seemed to improve our leaky defense and have managed to keep just one clean sheet. Here we are sitting in fifth of the league. That is a UEFA Cup slot any way you look at it. There are no if, ands, buts, in this position. More importantly I hope we are not ignorant enough to see the progress Chelsea have made this season under Scolari? They by all means are one of the top 5 teams in the world to beat at the moment. A hefty unbeaten run and a few players who are arguably in the finest form of anyone in their positions in the world. Enough with them lets look at Villa. I am on the forums enough to know who has everyone's finger pointed at them, not the middle finger, the index finger. Ashley Young, Garreth Barry, Luke Young, Nicky Shorey, and Curtis Davies ( I hope you are not surprised I can name them!). To analyze them, I want to talk about them together, minus the lotion, candles, and roses some of you other lads or ladies may be including. We were absolutely dominated in the center of the pitch, one of the largest problems we had. You could see this within the first 10 minutes of the game; it was end to end, minus Villa doing much in the box. The problem was the space. There was no more support than Barry running around with Petrov following his shadow. Chelsea had crowded us out. At this point we used the left and right side of the pitch as our only outlets. Solely attacking from the wings. Young did have a few fantastic crosses whipped in, but they were easily eaten up with the little support we had to get someone on the end of it. If one image besides Selma Hayek's ever improving cleavage rests in my mind, it is Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor, or James Milner facing Chelsea 1v4. We attempted to work the narrow side of the pitch with little support. No switch of play, no redirection or changing to work through the center. Mind you there is no simple solution to Chelsea's defense, it has always been top notch and this year they have been fantastic. I have had Peter Cech, and Jose Bosingwa sitting in my fantasy team from day one. Now our defense. I know what words come to mind, besides those in your prayers that we may some day keep another clean sheet, Curtis Davies. Let me first say he is a player I have been over the moon to have signed, especially this season on a permanent basis. His attitude and commitment to bettering himself is a level many can only wish to have. He will be in the England squad and maybe even captain Villa one day. Sunday, it was clear that he was a little nervous, but at his age you can expect to see that occasionally. I just hope no one has forgotten that he has been brilliant for us in the past 6 games, of which well over three months ago we doubted he'd ever play in. The fact is he has been consistent and one case of butterflies is nothing to hold against him. The defense works as a unit, along with Laurson, Shorey, and L. Young as we all know. And the unit was not performing, partially in thanks to our midfield. Now lets look at some positives. A 2nd half that Chelsea could not score. NRC dropped into RB, something that is becoming familiar and I must say less worrying. He has all the attributes to be an excellent wingback. He is fast, great at surging forward, has an engine that does not run out of energy, and he is one of the best tacklers in the league with all that I have and have forgotten to mention. Well, that and we don't have to worry about him pulling the strings with his passing game in the middle either... right? Cuellar was also subbed into the match. He looked about as worried as a sledgehammer would be about hitting a box of Styrofoam, he was very solid. His vision was excellent, it is apparent he has a long ball and can help build attacks. I quite like him and am very happy to have signed him. He will be class for us in time. James Milner, while not as significant as Cuellars impact, also did his job and did it well out there. As we've discussed he had absolutely no space to work with on the side, but he whipped in a few decent or better crosses, beat a few people, and most importantly he helped us defend, something that Routledge unfortunately hardly offers in his game. (Though I might touch I think he is a great squad player to have, of which we definitely need with Maloney's departure (nothing more though), but that is off topic). In summary I am disappointed; we didn't give them the game we had hoped. However, the next game is the game to examine in order to answer a few more questions. Can we bounce back? We are known to do this, thanks to having an absolutely fantastic dressing room and manager, so yes I think we will bring a game to Portsmouth. Can we score against a solid defense? I have no doubt we can and despite Portsmouth's two piss poor games of being demolished, they are a solid team as they have showed with their multiple clean sheets. How can our own defense bounce back and handle the flying Defoe? We have managed only one clean sheet, but it was against Liverpool and many decisions that have not gone our way have cost us a few goals of which I consider extremely unlucky to begin with. Can we beat a team who is a strong contender for our UEFA Cup spot? Of course, we will bounce back and rip them one. And do not forget that we have seen three players come on and perform for us either out of position or being subbed on in place of another. We have still had a fantastic season thus far, earning ourselves the 5th positon in league. One of which I'd be happy to end in at the end of the season, guaranteed UEFA Cup. Not, to mention we are only roughly 1/5th into the season, we could easily fight our way into a Champions League spot. My point? This result is not at all significant to the rest of our season and admittedly we were outclassed by a team that will finish above us and probably win league this season. Need I mention Chelsea is unbeaten in over 4 years at the Bridge? Keep your heads up Villains. Thank you for reading my first article/blog, Zidave