The Real Power In Midlands Football

[The whole world smiles]

The 23rd May 2014 was a momentous day in Midlands football. We didn't realise it at the time but this was the day the balance of power shifted from Aston Villa in the West to The famous Leicester City In the East.

 

The reason.... Aston Villa staggeringly let Albrighton leave on a free transfer.

 

I have just seen in today's merc that the reason Paul Lambert's Aston Villa didn't offer Marc a contract was because they couldn't afford to keep him. 

 

Paul Lambert is wrong as usual the opposite is true Aston Villa couldn't afford to to let him leave. The history of both clubs since proves this to be true. If I was the manager responsible for such a catastrophic transfer I would be to embarrassed to speak Albrightons name at press conferences. I hope today that Marc once again rams that ridiculous transfer down his throat. 

[Tuna]

I still can't understand why Nigel barely played him for about 6 months after signing him.

[The whole world smiles]

1 minute ago, Tuna said:

I still can't understand why Nigel barely played him for about 6 months after signing him.

Strange one eh? Especially as Albrightons attitude and professionalism come across as top notch. You would have thought he would have been a Pearson player. Nige was a top manager but also a strange stubborn man at times.

[SpacedX]

4 minutes ago, Tuna said:

I still can't understand why Nigel barely played him for about 6 months after signing him.

While you're at it, could you also try and figure our the flat back five at home to Hull? Cheers.

[davieG]

I don't think he'd played much at villa so I'd suggest he wasn't physically up to playing the way NP wanted him to play.

 

We don't have all that back up support for nothing.

[Ted Maul]

2 minutes ago, Tuna said:

I still can't understand why Nigel barely played him for about 6 months after signing him.

I can't. Love Nige, but I'll admit I lost a bit of faith in him at Old Trafford that season- played Vardy on the right wing to no effect. Albrighton came on, caused problems and set up a goal pretty much straight away.

[AKCJ]

11 minutes ago, Tuna said:

I still can't understand why Nigel barely played him for about 6 months after signing him.

Because he wasn't performing.

 

Villa didn't let the Albrighton we all know and love go on a free.

 

Villa let a very average, lower PL/Championship winger go on a free. Something changed at Leicester.

[Gerard]

14 minutes ago, Tuna said:

I still can't understand why Nigel barely played him for about 6 months after signing him.

 

Especially every time he played he had a really good game only to be dropped.

 

IIRC he preferred Simpson playing RWB.

[Gerard]

2 minutes ago, AKCJ said:

Because he wasn't performing.

 

Villa didn't let the Albrighton we all know and love go on a free.

 

Villa let a very average, lower PL/Championship winger go on a free. Something changed at Leicester.

 

That's not true.

 

Statistically he was about the 6th most creative midfielder in the PL at Villa by minutes played, it's why we brought him in on a freebie.

[Lincolnfox]

All said and done f**k the scum bags in the west, their total lack of belief in a player is our gain... sometimes does me ed in but love him at the same time

[Ashley]

1 hour ago, Line-X said:

While you're at it, could you also try and figure our the flat back five at home to Hull? Cheers.

Because we lined up like that when we went on the run, they were obviously thinking about it.

[SpacedX]

7 minutes ago, Ashley said:

Because we lined up like that when we went on the run, they were obviously thinking about it.

I think you missed the part that said "at home to Hull". 

[Ashley]

21 minutes ago, Line-X said:

I think you missed the part that said "at home to Hull". 

Point being? Chelsea line up 5 at home to lower league opposition? 

[SpacedX]

3 hours ago, Ashley said:

Point being? Chelsea line up 5 at home to lower league opposition? 

 3-5-1-1 many times...but could you give me an example of Chelsea employing a flat back five at home to "lower league opposition"? - Precisely how Pearson set up against Hull City at home in March 2015. If this defeatist philosophy hadn't had changed several weeks later, the great escape would never had happened. The latter also coincided with the selection of Albrighton. 

[Ashley]

Just now, Line-X said:

 3-5-1-1 many times...but could you give me an example of Chelsea employing a flat back five at home to "lower league opposition"? - Precisely how Pearson set up against Hull City at home in March 2015. If this defeatist philosophy hadn't had changed several weeks later, the great escape would never had happened. The latter also coincided with the selection of Albrighton. 

Last Season look at there games this season too. Its a good formation played right 

[SpacedX]

2 minutes ago, Ashley said:

Last Season look at there games this season too. Its a good formation played right 

I've never seen them employ a flat back five - could you give me an example? You should have plenty to choose from by the sound of it. 

 

3 minutes ago, Ashley said:

Its a good formation played right 

A flat back five at home to Hull???? So you're saying that it wasn't deployed correctly in the 0-0 that ensued? and we should have kept it during the Great Escape instead of utilising the attacking potential of our players? 

[Ashley]

3 minutes ago, Line-X said:

I've never seen them employ a flat back five - could you give me an example? You should have plenty to choose from by the sound of it. 

 

A flat back five at home to Hull???? So you're saying that it wasn't deployed correctly in the 0-0 that ensued? and we should have kept it during the Great Escape instead of utilising the attacking potential of our players? 

 

 

Moses Azpliuceuta Christiensen Ruddiger Alonso  

 

Theres ya 5 

[SpacedX]

Just now, Ashley said:

 

 

Moses Azpliuceuta Christiensen Ruddiger Alonso  

 

Theres ya 5 

No, there's your three - Moses and Alonso as WB. As I said - typically 3-5-1-1.

 

I'm talking about the flat back 5 that Pearson line up at home to Hull City in March 2015. Fortunately he had the sense to go all out attack and similarly utilise Wing Backs for most of the remainder of the season. The addition of Huth in the January window allowed us the option of three CBs with Wes and Wasilewski.

 

Back to my original question, why did Pearson play a flat 5 against Hull at home?

[Ashley]

Just now, Line-X said:

No, there's your three - Moses and Alonso as WB. As I said - typically 3-5-1-1.

 

I'm talking about the flat back 5 that Pearson line up at home to Hull City in March 2015. Fortunately he had the sense to go all out attack and similarly utilise Wing Backs for most of the remainder of the season. The addition of Huth in the January window allowed us the option of three CBs with Wes and Wasilewski.

 

Back to my original question, why did Pearson play a flat 5 against Hull at home?

Its a 5-2-3/3-4-3 what ever you wanna look at it. Our full backs were getting forward too. 

 

He played that formation for a reason 1. Its defensively sound 2. It allows you to attack in numbers, during that period players were low on confidence so factor that into it too. 

[GaelicFox]

6 hours ago, Tuna said:

I still can't understand why Nigel barely played him for about 6 months after signing him.

He also had Harry Kane handing out water bottled  

 

 

[lcfcsnow]

6 hours ago, Tuna said:

I still can't understand why Nigel barely played him for about 6 months after signing him.

I still can't understand why no one but me (and Pearson) can see that he can't play right wing..As a wing back he did ok towards the end of that season but he's only performed well since Ranieri moved him to the left.

[SpacedX]

11 minutes ago, Ashley said:

 

 

Moses Azpliuceuta Christiensen Ruddiger Alonso  

 

Theres ya 5 

Fair point, against Barcelona I concede and under much criticism he did effective deploy a five man defence as you list above in a 5-4-1...but this was against arguably one of the best teams in the world - (you said against lower league opposition). Not quite the same as Hull City at home. 

 

4 minutes ago, Ashley said:

Its a 5-2-3/3-4-3 what ever you wanna look at it. Our full backs were getting forward too. 

Not against Hull City at home they weren't - were you there?

 

4 minutes ago, Ashley said:

 

He played that formation for a reason 1. Its defensively sound 2. It allows you to attack in numbers, during that period players were low on confidence so factor that into it too. 

I disagree here - I think the manager was low in confidence which is why he doggedly stuck to a containment strategy all season. It allows you to attack in numbers????? How did that turn out? 0-0 at home to Hull City. Several weeks later the players pulled off one of the greatest escapes in league history. The change in set up and tactics was key - not some new found confidence. Prior to the win against the Hammers we were setting up to avoid a thrashing. The potential was always there. 

[Ashley]

4 minutes ago, Line-X said:

Fair point, against Barcelona I concede and under much criticism he did effective deploy a five man defence as you list above in a 5-4-1...but this was against arguably one of the best teams in the world - (you said against lower league opposition). Not quite the same as Hull City at home. 

 

Not against Hull City at home they weren't - were you there?

 

I disagree here - I think the manager was low in confidence which is why he doggedly stuck to a containment strategy all season. It allows you to attack in numbers????? How did that turn out? 0-0 at home to Hull City. Several weeks later the players pulled off one of the greatest escapes in league history. The change in set up and tactics was key - not some new found confidence. Prior to the win against the Hammers we were setting up to avoid a thrashing. The potential was always there. 

When you're up against it confidence is low things dont come off and yes i was there.

[SpacedX]

1 minute ago, Ashley said:

When you're up against it confidence is low things dont come off and yes i was there.

I agree. - but we were up against it due to odd decisions such as bizarre selections and playing a defensive five at the back against Hull at home. The situation was rescued by having faith in the potential of our squad, dropping geriatrics like Konchesky, utilising our attacking prowess and actually taking it to the opposition instead of ludicrous decisions such as a a flat five against Hull City at home. 

[SpacedX]

24 minutes ago, lcfcsnow said:

I still can't understand why no one but me (and Pearson) can see that he can't play right wing..As a wing back he did ok towards the end of that season but he's only performed well since Ranieri moved him to the left.

He had an outstanding game against Man City at home last season when as I recall he was on the right flank. He's done it a few times in fact.