3. Manage the game better.
One criticism I (and many others) would have of Dean Smith and the coaches is the game management. They seem to let things run too long before making changes to tactics or personnel, and on a number of occasions this season, the substitutions they do make have left many of us slightly non-plussed, to say the least.
I love our brand of football this season and our have-a-go attitude, but this has cost us on occasions – Arsenal and Liverpool, to name but a couple. I think most of us would have been happier seeing Henri Lansbury or even Konsa introduced for Wesley when leading 1-0 against Liverpool with minutes to go, rather than an anonymous and ineffective Jonathan Kodjia (no disrespect to Kodjia, but he was not the man to help contain and relieve the considerable pressure Liverpool were piling on at the end).
If we find ourselves ahead against Leicester heading into added time, I for one would be more than happy to shut up shop, rather than to keeping looking forward and trying to finish the match off on the break.
Of course, that’s not to say I enjoy us sitting deeper and deeper – point number one alludes to the fact we struggle to hold on to a lead, but by becoming more compact and solid defensively, we might have a better opportunity to hold firm. If we deny Leicester the space they need, half of the battle will be won.
Please feel free to add your thoughts, either below or in the match thread in the forum.
In truth, I am not expecting anything from this very difficult examination, but I’ll take a point, ideally a clean sheet and further confidence coming to the end of a tough run of games.
UTV.
Christmas is coming, and it would be remiss of me not to remind you of mighty leader’s book, an ideal stocking-filler for that special Villan (or non-Villa, for that matter!) in your life.
“A fascinating look at his battles and victories…” (it says here…)
You can see all the details, how to buy and the reviews at: The Fear.net/ and on Amazon (if you don’t have Prime, it is cheaper to buy directly and means he can donate more to the AVFC Foundation: Amazon and reviews there: Fear Conquers All – Reviews
