Another week, another 0-0. It may not have been a thrill-a-minute ride, but it certainly wasn’t stale, mate. As each games passes, I become more confident in the ability of our first choice back 5 to repel most attacks and keep us in the game. Allied to the bottom half of Worthington’s diamond formation, we are showing we can absorb pressure, wrest and retain possession and then distribute wisely, in most instances.
The main problem, which will be of no surprise, is the lack of a cutting edge in the box. Or anything in the box, for that matter. David Bentley seems context to twist and turn, eventually managing a glimpse at goal, toward which he ‘unleashes’ a shot, which is not in the Hamann or Hitzelsperger class of thunderbolt, or even close. Huckerby remains willing and eager, but is prone to run straight into the tangle of defenders waiting to receive him on the edge of the penalty area, and he comes off second best more often than not, prompting an agonising trot back to an onside position.
The few quicksilver passes Bentley and his midfield chums are able to thread through are generally too quick for Doherty to capitalise on. He does not have a striker’s brain, or pace, and even the occasional long balls we attempted on Saturday came to nought. Worthington is rightly worried about throwing McKenzie in for a full 90 minutes, and Svensson seems to be in the doghouse at present, in the same way that Helveg has suffered after an indifferent performance. We could well get a chance to see them in action against Bristol Rovers tomorrow night, although how much of an insight this will provide the manager is unclear. If the unlikely, but not unthinkable, happens and we lose, then the bench may remain a home from home for a while longer.
For all this, Saturday’s performance was heartening, coming on the back of a steely display against a rejuvenated Spurs last weekend. It is always heartening to see strikers of the class of Freddie Kanoute and Carlton Cole withdrawn because they can make no headway against our centre backs. The Villa fans were a lot quieter towards the end of the second half, as we looked periodically threatening, without leaving gaps for their international attack to exploit at the back.
So then, steady progress seems to be the order of the day; we are doing the basics well, and retaining possession. We have not been overawed, except in forgivable circumstances, and the manager is realistic enough to accept that avalanches of Premiership goals do not come without a concomitant avalanche of cash. We will do extremely well to continue with our current miserish form at the back when we travel to Anfield, but we have learnt enough from trips to St James’ and White Hart Lane to suggest that any defence will struggle with Huckerby, and this might leave a chink of light for someone else. We shall see.