Aston Villa in search of The Holy Grail
Article by Luke Heyes
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From the knights of medieval legends to India Jones, the Holy Grail has been the most sought after Christian Relic for centuries. A clandestine, enigmatic object in popular culture, this figment of medieval literature is even beginning to haunt the foundations of Aston Villa Football Club. Not in the form of a dish mind, a stone, a plate or even a chalice – ‘the grail’, for Paul Lambert and his squad of players, is quite simply ‘a goal’.
Villa were thumped by Arsenal in emphatic style on Sunday and have now not scored in ten hours of premier league football with their overall goal tally of eleven goals being the lowest of any of the 649 teams in the top nine tiers of the English football pyramid. Lambert argued that the match didn’t have the characteristics of a five nil defeat and then uncharacteristically spoke some home-truths, that Villa at this juncture did not rise up to the occasion and were guilty of ‘throwing in the towel’.
Aston Villa have been lauded this season for their defensive qualities but what was seen on the pitch against Arsenal was sharp in contrast to their recent praises. The team looked extremely vulnerable in the opening quarter of the match and their lack of organisation was painfully evident. In a game where Villa were pressing very high and aggressive in the tackle, they were easily caught out when Arsenal were on the counter attack. Misplaced passes and lethargic decision making governed play and it only took eight minutes for Arsenal to score their first goal. Oliver Giroud, on the end of a delicious reverse flick pass from Mezut Ozil, managed to evade the pursuit of Jones Okore and lift the ball over Brad Guzan.
Villa started to gain composure in the middle third of the half and their new signing, Carlos Gil, the only positive of Villa’s performance, moved energetically between both flanks, trying to carve chances, crossing the ball into the box with fervour. In fact, the quality of Gil and his ability to create flashes of creativity and intelligent play simply made the other holding midfielders look evermore one-dimensional. The only real chance Villa had in the half fell to Andreas Weiman who could only head insipidly a superb Gill cross into the hands of Ospina. Villa had a commendable amount of possession and there were some first-half warning signs for Arsenal but it was becoming clear, early on, that they were exhausting themselves and running out of ideas. Subsequently, Arsenal turned up the intensity of their play and Villa were resorted to last gasp long balls to Benteke, who for the most part, looked like a lost man. ‘Hanging on by a thread’ was an understatement as Paul Lambert’s men miraculously succeeded in keeping the score line at one nil.
After well needed respite, Villa started the second half more confidently and with more composure, keeping their shape and formation more rigid but it didn’t take long for the familiar problems to reappear. After very sloppy play from the experienced Kieran Richardson, giving the ball away in midfield, Santi Carzola found Giroud who fed Ozil who put the ball decisively into the only place possible past Brad Guzan. At two nil though, there was seemingly still a chance for Villa. Soon after, Theo Walcott, riding the wave of another Arsenal counter attack, took a great first touch to give himself the space to fire past Guzan into the right bottom corner. Lambert made the right decision to bring on new signing Scot Sinclair and Gabby Agbonlahor who both gave Villa more pace and width but within fifteen minutes, Arsenal got their fourth courtesy of a Carzola penalty that Guzan was unfortunate not to prevent. At this stage, the exasperated Villa fans were undoubtedly thinking when Arsenal would get a fifth goal, rather than Villa a first and deep into stoppage time, their feelings were clarified when Arsenal’s young full back, once a former Barcelona youth player, struck the ball exquisitely into the bottom left corner; the technique accentuating the confidence of Arsenal’s play.
‘Pressure’ and ‘Lambert’ have been synonymous with one another for some time now and although he has the backing from Lerner and the remainder of the upper hierarchy, might it be time for Lambert to step aside and accept defeat. Aston Villa face Chelsea in their next fixture and it is becoming extremely difficult to envisage where they can actually get any points from. The goal drought continues and the manager has an incredible task ahead of him. Motivating his players will be rough enough but after so many negatives, is he truly capable of motivating himself. The search for The Holy Grail continues.
© e-Football 2014 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of e-Football
Subscribe to the e-Football Podcast for FREE!
From the knights of medieval legends to India Jones, the Holy Grail has been the most sought after Christian Relic for centuries. A clandestine, enigmatic object in popular culture, this figment of medieval literature is even beginning to haunt the foundations of Aston Villa Football Club. Not in the form of a dish mind, a stone, a plate or even a chalice – ‘the grail’, for Paul Lambert and his squad of players, is quite simply ‘a goal’.
Villa were thumped by Arsenal in emphatic style on Sunday and have now not scored in ten hours of premier league football with their overall goal tally of eleven goals being the lowest of any of the 649 teams in the top nine tiers of the English football pyramid. Lambert argued that the match didn’t have the characteristics of a five nil defeat and then uncharacteristically spoke some home-truths, that Villa at this juncture did not rise up to the occasion and were guilty of ‘throwing in the towel’.
Aston Villa have been lauded this season for their defensive qualities but what was seen on the pitch against Arsenal was sharp in contrast to their recent praises. The team looked extremely vulnerable in the opening quarter of the match and their lack of organisation was painfully evident. In a game where Villa were pressing very high and aggressive in the tackle, they were easily caught out when Arsenal were on the counter attack. Misplaced passes and lethargic decision making governed play and it only took eight minutes for Arsenal to score their first goal. Oliver Giroud, on the end of a delicious reverse flick pass from Mezut Ozil, managed to evade the pursuit of Jones Okore and lift the ball over Brad Guzan.
Villa started to gain composure in the middle third of the half and their new signing, Carlos Gil, the only positive of Villa’s performance, moved energetically between both flanks, trying to carve chances, crossing the ball into the box with fervour. In fact, the quality of Gil and his ability to create flashes of creativity and intelligent play simply made the other holding midfielders look evermore one-dimensional. The only real chance Villa had in the half fell to Andreas Weiman who could only head insipidly a superb Gill cross into the hands of Ospina. Villa had a commendable amount of possession and there were some first-half warning signs for Arsenal but it was becoming clear, early on, that they were exhausting themselves and running out of ideas. Subsequently, Arsenal turned up the intensity of their play and Villa were resorted to last gasp long balls to Benteke, who for the most part, looked like a lost man. ‘Hanging on by a thread’ was an understatement as Paul Lambert’s men miraculously succeeded in keeping the score line at one nil.
After well needed respite, Villa started the second half more confidently and with more composure, keeping their shape and formation more rigid but it didn’t take long for the familiar problems to reappear. After very sloppy play from the experienced Kieran Richardson, giving the ball away in midfield, Santi Carzola found Giroud who fed Ozil who put the ball decisively into the only place possible past Brad Guzan. At two nil though, there was seemingly still a chance for Villa. Soon after, Theo Walcott, riding the wave of another Arsenal counter attack, took a great first touch to give himself the space to fire past Guzan into the right bottom corner. Lambert made the right decision to bring on new signing Scot Sinclair and Gabby Agbonlahor who both gave Villa more pace and width but within fifteen minutes, Arsenal got their fourth courtesy of a Carzola penalty that Guzan was unfortunate not to prevent. At this stage, the exasperated Villa fans were undoubtedly thinking when Arsenal would get a fifth goal, rather than Villa a first and deep into stoppage time, their feelings were clarified when Arsenal’s young full back, once a former Barcelona youth player, struck the ball exquisitely into the bottom left corner; the technique accentuating the confidence of Arsenal’s play.
‘Pressure’ and ‘Lambert’ have been synonymous with one another for some time now and although he has the backing from Lerner and the remainder of the upper hierarchy, might it be time for Lambert to step aside and accept defeat. Aston Villa face Chelsea in their next fixture and it is becoming extremely difficult to envisage where they can actually get any points from. The goal drought continues and the manager has an incredible task ahead of him. Motivating his players will be rough enough but after so many negatives, is he truly capable of motivating himself. The search for The Holy Grail continues.
© e-Football 2014 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of e-Football
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