Villa 1-1 CSKA Moscow – What could’ve been, what should’ve been but what was

February 19, 2009 by Martin Banks
Filed under: Aston Villa, Match Reports 

martin o'neillIt was very nearly Wigan all over again. We hammered the CSKA goal with near constant threats but it didn’t seem to want to go in. This time, thankfully, it did in the end.

The game was exciting the entire way through, with Villa attacking down the wings relentlessly and the Russians retaliating with their own strengths, which was quick fluid passing movements and a sublime ability to carve their way through. The opening goal was a perfect example of this.

If it hadn’t been against us, I’d have really enjoyed watching Moscow. They played some really attractive passing that went forward with what seemed like very little effort, exactly the kind of football you’d expect from a team managed by Brazilian legend Zico… but he’s only just started the job!

We still need a Van Nistelrooy

Villa showed again why we were linked with so many strikers in the transfer window, if we had had a real goalscorer on the pitch last night, we would’ve romped home. We created buckets of opportunities, but Carew and Agbon often weren’t in the box, or if they were they weren’t first to the ball. That may sound like criticism of them, but it’s more just that we lack someone who just puts the ball in the net. Both Gabby and Big John played well and got involved in the play plenty, but little of it was in the real danger zone.

Carew’s goal was a superb strike, catching the keeper out with it’s pure pace, but again he was near the back of the area. Had we got a ‘poacher’ in the team the goal would’ve come 5 seconds prior when Ashley Young played a ball across the six yard box. Many of similar opportunities also went begging.

Shorey not

One man who was in dire need of seizing his opportunity was Nicky Shorey… and he did. He was superb, with some solid defending, some great balls to Young and some penetrating surges forward. Hopefully this will restore the lad’s confidence and we can see the best of him at Villa finally.

Bring on the Fonz

One thing I would’ve liked MON to do last night was bring on Nathan Delfouneso. The youngster showed in the Zilina game that he can produce something special when a goal doesn’t seem to be coming easily and then again against Hamburg. This goal proved that he may well have what we are looking for. Salifou shot woefully off target, but the Fonz saw it heading his way and, with a split seconds notice, he turned his body and hit it goalwards. When I saw it go in I thought he’d fluked it, but the slo-mo showed that he has a real scoring instinct, the kind you’ve either got or you haven’t. Sadly I haven’t, so I’m stuck with writing about it, but the Fonz has.

Second-leg

Over to Russia in a week then to battle it out. Here’s to our away form triumphing once again. Up the Villa.


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