The International Break Edition
This week Neil is joined by Rob Gutmann, Andy Heaton, Jim Boardman, Scot Williams, Krisitian Walsh and debutants Steve Graves, John Gibbons and Robbie Fowler (Not that one).
The agenda?
The international break, Stadium naming rights, Newcastle, Llambias comments on Andy Carroll, Kenny on fixture congestion and a look forward to Chelsea, all with a bit of Backbeat.
Get On It
Direct link to Episode Sixteen podcast download
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Agree with Kristian on Downing starting on the right. Every Villa fan I’ve spoke to has made it clear Downing is better on the right cutting in or in an Gerrard-in the hole-central attacking midfield position. Watching him play twice there for England recently he looked quite impressive and was willing to cut inside the left back or beat him down the line. He set up a goal pulling it back from the byline and stood up a shit load of other balls with his right that Andy Carroll would love.
This is quite a problem for me: we haven’t got a winger-full back partnership gelling yet. Downing-Enrique looks like it’s not going to work, but Enrique-Bellamy created the goal at Goodison for example. I think when Carroll’s playing then isolating the opposition full backs and allowing us to cross from the byline as opposed to trying to hit him from too deep (which we do too often) is priority. Therefore we need to try different winger/full back combinations ’til we find a couple that stick. And I’m putting my money on Bellamy-Enrique and Johnson-Downing.
Just a note lads – There is no Wales fixture this week, unlike England et al and Bellamy hasn’t been captain since Gary Speed took over – the Captain is Aaron Ramsey. His position is part of a rotating front 3, not exclusively wide left. Also Bellamy is on a tailored exercise regime that was built by the Welsh Asst Manager, Raymond Verheijen. Cheers
nice work dubliner78.
I thought this was one of the best podcasts so far.
Tom – i know I know = pedant alert!!
Cheers for that clarification, Dubliner.