The Technical Area – Milner in the Middle
Starting the season as a winger before moving into centre midfield, it has been James Milner’s versatility, in addition to his quality, that has been fundamental to Aston Villa’s impressive season to date. Fabio Cappello has also been suitably persuaded; not only is Milner nailed-on for the England squad, he has even been mentioned in some circles as a possible replacement at left back, if Ashley Cole fails to recover from his ankle injury.
With Aston Villa now looking at two consecutive double gameweeks following yesterday’s fantastic FA Cup win at Reading, Milner will now come under further scrutiny, with more FPL managers (30% and counting) looking to add him to their squads…
Closer inspection as to how Villa have performed in the 14 league games before his move to the middle to accommodate Stewart Downing in the first XI, compared to the subsequent 12 league games, reveals how Milner’s move has clearly affected a shift both in the team’s on-field stats and FPL points, with Villa becoming more defensively reliable as a result.
Goals Conceded
A quick glance at the Premiership table will tell you that Villa have the tightest defence so far, conceding just 21 goals to date. In FPL, Villa’s defence is the best value-for-money area of the team, and here’s one of the main reasons:
Pre Milner-to-the-middle switch, Villa played 14 games and picked up just 3 clean sheets, whereas post-switch, they have 8 clean sheets from 12 games.
Playing Milner alongside Stilian Petrov has clearly given them a steelier centre, which is a definite factor in making Martin O’Neill’s boys the only team left unbeaten in the league in 2010.
Scoring Goals
Villa’s improved resolve has came at the expense of them finding the net with less regularity. Pre-switch, they were far more likely to score in almost every game; despite failing to grab a goal in the opening game of the season, they still scored in 13 of the first 14. Post-switch, they have only managed to beat the opposition goalie in 7 games out of the last 12.
Richard Dunne
The star man at the back, with 40% of FPL owners, has caught the eye more than most in the Villa team. Due to the team’s overall improvement in solidity, Dunne has seen a downturn in Bonus Points since Milner’s shift, with the team perhaps not under siege at the back so much.
In spite -or because- of this, Dunne has seen his points per game average shoot up since Milner moved. Pre-switch, he averaged 4.7 points per game, post-switch he has averaged 5.6 points per game, even though his own individual performances have not been rewarded as much.
Gabby Agbonlahor
Tightening up at the back has seen Gabby’s goal output almost halving. Pre-switch he amassed 7 goals and 2 assists, scored over 9 games, meaning there was just 5 games out of the first 14 in which he failed to get amongst the points.
Post-switch he has managed 4 goals and 2 assists, scored over 4 games, meaning there has been 8 games out of 12 in which he failed to get amongst the points, with his average points per game dropping from 4.6 to 4.3 as a result.
Interestingly, Agbonlahor has scored just once in the 6 home games since the switch, with Villa’s counter-attacking play suiting him more, helping him net 3 times in 6 games away from home.
James Milner
With regards to overall contribution towards goals, there has not been much difference for Milner himself; 2 goals and 6 assists before the switch, 2 goals and 5 assists after. However, it is worth noting than since moving to the middle, he has failed to score or assist in 9 out of the 12 games.
Despite being the third highest scoring midfielder in the FPL game, Villa’s lack of goals means Milner has only scored or assisted in eight league games all season (even Stephen Hunt has bettered this). Instead, an increase in both clean sheet and Bonus Points have been the reason why his points per game has been boosted from 4.5 to 5.8 since the move infield.
About the Author
Sir Paulos is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season.
That second tweet fills me with Bendtner joy.
Fills me with joy, but also makes me a little confused? Surely no-one could be that happy with his performace?
He probably just felt the need to address the situation. He does say he wasn’t happy he missed the chances, but acknowledges what he gave the team.
If you don’t reduce his performance to his finishing (which is admittedly the most important part of a striker’s job and has been woeful) but look at his overall performance – which for example includes positioning as well – his performance wasn’t that bad.
I have always thought that, and i agree its the most important part, apart from his finishing he is a very good player. Gets in great position and is good at holding the ball up. Just needs to work on his finishing and he could be a good striker someday soon.
We know Bendtner’s finishing was non existent. I’m on a hiding to nothing with what I’m about to say. But damn it i’ll say it anyway.
The one positive to take from his “performance” was that he kept on getting himself into goalscoring positions. He didn’t hide away in midfield.
I’m eagerly awaiting the next session of “Bendtnertainment”.
Is it possible to get any more words with Bendter in, for us? Bendtnertainment, Bendy bus among others!
http://www.soccerbible.com/cfs.....0_main.jpg
Pink boots, what a hero.
If he had buried one of those chances – and he has shown on other occasions that it’s not beyond him – he could have easily scored three goals, and everybody on here would be raving.
It wasn’t a bad performance as in “he had one shot on goal” but as in “he missed 5 sitters”, which is an important difference.
I’m not knocking him. Just think it was amusing that he couldn’t score. He does give Arsenal a much needed physical presence up front.
If he carries on trying eventually he’ll score . . . .
Hull up next for the Bendtnertainment show. Anyone got the guts to captain him?
You should ask Mark about that. His strike ratio is 1 in 4 for arsenal. If that can improve to 1 in 2, he’ll be a top, top striker.
The reason he kept getting ‘himself’ in a good position is because Arsenal have the most creative midfield in the Prem, i could get myself in a good position with that team around me opening up defences. You Goons cant keep making excuses for Bendtner / Wenger – He isn’t good enough for you or the top 10 Prem teams.
At last, some sense. Thank-you ViG.
No, no, champ explained it perfectly earlier. He played very well against Stoke and Sunderland and got the points reward. He had a stinker against Burnley yet still got an assist and had a positive influence on the team. That’s a good striker in my book.
Stoke, Sunderland, Burnley – Not the best opposisiton in the PL, in fact 2 of the worst. He is an average striker at the very very best.
how many teams have won that the Britannia this season?
You Arsenal fans are like buses…. do you all have a ‘Someones slagging off Bendtner’ radar? I dont know, how many teams?
Well certainly not Liverpool.
I’ll take Wenger’s judgement & ability to develop a young player over Rafa’s any day of the week. With or without rose tinted glasses.
Different argument Winston. Both Rafa and Wenger have a debilitating stubborn streak.
Pointing out Wenger’s ability to develop and judge young players – and doing so by comparing it to Benitez’ ability – is not a different argument at all when it comes to believe in him or in the players he believes in.
Do you think Bendtner is good for Arsenal?
*good enough
I don’t know. I think he could become a very good striker, yes. Obviously he’s not there yet, but I would say it’s definitely worth giving him some more seasons to prove us right/wrong.
What I do know is that Wenger is rarely completely off the track with his judgements, so there’s every reason to believe Bendtner can make it if Wenger thinks so.
Ok, he could be good enough, the jury is still outwith you then? How many seasons will you give him?
I think he has done well enough to justify the faith he gets. If he continues to develop the way he did in the last year, he can stay some more years as far as I am concerned.
The thing is, Wenger sees him every day in training, if he wasn’t good enough for Arsenal he would probably be loaned out or sold. Only few can fool Le Professeur.
Although Wenger has a habit of turning players considered crap into top quality footballers – Alex Song is a prime example of this.
I even remember Wenger talking about how he was heavily criticised for keeping faith in Lillian Thuram at Moncao, who was considered a waste of space at the time. Of Course, Thuram went on to play in two World Cup Finals, win Euro 2000, a host of club honours with Parma, Juve & Bareclona, and become France’s most capped player.
Maybe Wenger’s stubborn with some players because he knows something we don’t.
Same quesiton, Do you honestly think Bendtner is good enough for Arsenal?
http://sgstb.msn.com/i/40/A2C9.....D5FBBB.jpg
I’m not defending the indefensible.
As a deputy for Van Persie? yes.
Wenger is in the market for a replacement, hasnt their been a pre-agreement made with Chamakh (spelt wrong im sure) – Even Wenger knows he isnt quite good enough.
That Chamak’h guy isn’t an out an out striker though. I find that transfer hugely baffling. There must be a talented big humux who can shoot in europe for wenger money.
Wenger is in the market for another forward because he realised that having just two players who can lead the line in your squad isn’t enough.
Both Bendtner & Van Persie were injured this season, and Arsenal dropped points because of that.
I take it back, Chamakh is 6 foot 2. Interestingly his strike rate is the same as Bendtner: 1 in 4.
MF when it comes to arsenal’s results you have the blinkers on i’m afraid. Arsenal lost to Utd, then City both with VanP in the team. Same pattern as later on in the season without him.
Your best friends Spurs have a strike force you should be very jelous of – With those strikers you would have walked the Prem easy. Just imagine if Wenger didnt take 6 years to develop a player and actually bought the finished article = Silverware.
Zzzzzz…
Alan P: I’m not saying Arsenal would have beaten United/Chelsea with Bendtner or RVP, but you can’t deny that Arsenal would have more likely beaten Sunderland, Burnley and Everton had we played with a proper striker, rather than having Arshavin leading the line.
You also have to compare The two United & Arsenal games. Arsenal were at least equal to United at OT with RVP, while they looked toothless at the Emirates.
Voronin: Are you serious? do you really think Crouch and Defoe is a title winning attack? Both hugely overrated players who need a very particular system in order for them to play well.
It’s true you were much, much better at OT, but you weren’t at City where you got battered. I totally agree Arsenal are a far better team with either those two in the team but you still get turned over by the big teams.
Bendtner or Crouch / Defoe / Pav? Your team is far superior to theirs, thats not in question. However with a strike force with that strength in depth at you disposal you would win the league.
I cant believe Bendtner has sparked so much debate, its been a pleasure.
Next week, Ngog. I will start – He is not good enough, discuss.
Of course, Arsenal’s new system clearly makes us more flat track bullies, mainly because we’re so easily caught on the break – I think that’s a problem with the full backs and Denilson(!) refusing to track back when the opponents have the ball.
Something that needs some serious work in the off season – i.e. picking Gibbs ahead of Clichy & selling the passenger Brazilian.
You nailed it in one Voro, nothing more to discuss.
agreed. rafa develops ryan babel’s into confidence-shot, over regimented robots, whilst wenger develops alex songs into superb holding midfielders.
Uhmm.. is John Terry suspended now? He’s got 10 yellow cards apparantly
http://www.soccerbase.com/play.....erid=15275
No, some of those are from internationals, europe etc Only the English competitions would count towards it.
Oh I didn’t know that… so Mascherano only has 7 yellow cards to all intents and puposes then
Which is the better long-term pairing:
Ivanovic and Bendtner or
Baines and Tevez
I would say Baines safer bet than Ivan(espec with cech injured). Bendtner have couple of nice games but then again Tevez has double coming up and bendter needs about 5 chances to convert one where Tevez only needs half a chance…what often works in a situation like this is to ask your wife or girlfriend…ask them which name sounds the nicest…
Always nice to have some expert advice.
If I want to be able to get Baines and Tevez for Ivanovic and Bendtner in the coming weeks I will have to to Dawson to Collins instead of Ricketts to Collins. Worth it?
I wouldn’t ship Bendtner out. At least until Van Persie returns.
I’d say so. It would be a shame to lose Dawson, as I think he’s worth keeping. But altogether, the new combination is better.
Thanks Soop. You unsettled me on the previous page.
I like Dawson as well, but he has three good fixtures and it stiffens considerably after that. Baines is better than Ivanovic in the run in, and Bendtner may be a bargain (I could still keep him, mind), but Tevez is… Tevez.
Dawson has 3 nice games coming up but thereafter spurs play sun/ars/chel/man u all in a row and could possibly concede in all of them. i will ask my wife tonite and let you know tomorrow..hehe
no seriously, i think it’s worth it.
Bigger concern i would say is when is right time to bring tevez.
Bigger concern i would say is when is right time to bring tevez.
Indeed.
But I will at least be able to get him in if Bendtner fails to score in the following games. And even if I don’t get Tevez, Baines and Collins are still better than Ivanovic and Dawson.
Cheers for the input lads!
Wildcard – Done!
Hart Sorensen
Song Ivanovic Cuellar Baines Wilkinson
O’Hara A.Young Milner Fabs Pienaar
Bendtnar Tevez Drogba
£0.4M
Might consider Wilkinson>Ricketts before Saturday, other than that i’m good to go
No Utd players?! They are top of the league you know!
Personally I would go for Arteta instead of Pienaar and save some money by going for collins instead of cuellar.
Im thinking of Rooney > Drodga, I’d have same front 3 as you.
Gonna wait until after the midweek Champs games anyway first and make the move towards end of the week. See how Rooney fairs.
And wouldn’t go for Young
Will probably get rid of Milner or Young for Arteta next GW
Cuellar>Collins & Pienaar>Arteta is a fair comment
Good team, I can’t see much benefit in having cuella over Collins though- if you did that you could upgrade wilkinson considerably… Or even better could you afford pienaar to artera?!
I think I should have refreshed my browser before replying- still great minds think alike!
Da Diggy Diggy Doc & Marky i fell ya man, just done the move. Although i disagree re. Young, i think he’ll be a great asset over the next few weeks
Depending on Fabre inj, do you guys think it’s an option to bring in Arshavin as differential?
Yeah Arshavin is a differential alright, but not to the person who has him, but for all his opponents.
Unless that russian starts farting goldballoons, he is not worth the money.
im stuck between 2 options for week 31.
already have ivanovic and lampard,
so its
1 Arteta and Tevez (4 points hit)
or
2. N zogbia and Drogba
right ok……..opinions please lads………..
im considering a 4 point hit..with money in the bank i could do………
out go hangeland, gera and matty taylor…..in come collins and a young of villa and arteta…
sound like a good plan?? anyone any other ideas??
Arteta and Collins wud be good moves. Not sure on Young though, I’d prefer Milner.
i wouldnt touch young, with a ten foot clown pole.
did you see his goal, he was well jammy. he has been found out, hes muck and contributes nothing but bile to games.
Sounds like a no brainer – Milner or Young, pays ya money make ya choice, both could do well / bad in the double double.
Current team:
Sorensen, Jensen
Evra, Shawx, Dunne, Vermaelen, Insua
Milner, Pienaar, Bowyer, Cohen, Nzog
Rooney, Bendtner, Tevez
Shawx > Collins?
Rooney > Drogba?
Also thinkingCohen > Arteta
Rooney > Agbon
Any advice please guys?
Cesc out of Porto tie.
http://www.skysports.com/story.....71,00.html
Think they’ll have trouble beating Porto now. He’s that important.
does that mean there’s more chance of him being fit for this weekend?
Wegner has a serious problem. Porto will be a tough nut to crack in CL. Fabre by far the best player he has an he needs him to be fit for the reminder of the season in premiership, but i don’t think he will be ready/risked vs Hull….he could agrevate the injury like last time and then miss even more games.
I have even bigger problem then Mr Wegner…do I bench or dump Fabre?
to bench or not to bench IS the question
So his hamstring is ‘damaged’. Not looking good for next weekend then. 2-3 weeks out i imagine.
yes, i agree, more money for my midfield though, makes things interesting a bit more- changes things up, introduces more variables to my quest to make up points differences.
When do we find out how f ucked he is though, sin e an ceist (that is the question)
Fabregas > Arteta for anybody owning Fab, might be a decent option.
Fabregas -> Milner with extra cash to upgrade a midfielder or striker to Young/Agbonlahor is what I’ll be looking at.
I have Milner, but thinking of bringing in Arteta as think he’ll be on fire for the rest of the season.
ok lads, need some help here;
my plan is, head to the post office to get my dole, cxome back have a light lunch, then grab the car, head the beach with the dog for and hours cardio, a few sprint landings, followed up with a cup of tea for eastenders this evening, while watching wigan hold liverpool to 0-0 on my laptop.
Can anyone see any reason i shouldnt do this, based on the fact i cant jog tomorrow as im busy, and i have only one tea bag left in the jar.
Also, my dog is looking a bit lethargic lately, but i fully expect him to pull out of it, and chase the shit out of birds and start a few dog fights on the beach.
Help, please? I can’t make decisions for myself.
I see what you did there.
an hour of cardio, as well as boring, is unnecessary, unless you are training for a marathon.
no it isnt.5 mile run foolowed by some sprints is never unnecessary if you want to be a superhero like i do.
20minute row, 20minute bike ride then a half hour speed interval jog/run i find works best for me
well you didn’t mention the super-hero bit. in that case an hour of sprints is what you need. lactic acid is for pussies and non-super heros
CrossFit breeds super hero’s, check it out.
I think you should just bench the dog
Shoddy time management really not to allow yourself more time for a jog tomorrow. A balanced lifestyle is the key to everything and here you are on FFS in the mid-afternoon procrastinating on tomorrow’s hectic schedule when you could have spread the load a bit onto today. As Johnson’s brother would say – ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail’. And to leave just too tea bag left in the jar is the kind of unprofessionalism that could re-ignite Saipan Mark II.
I’d recommend you chalk off some of tomorrow’s personal commitments this afternoon and give Theo Walcott a ring to walk your talk. Your dog will be fine and healthy for the rest of the week after a sprint with Theo along Dollymount Strand and you will have found some personal use for the flying Arsenal midget winger. Kill three birds with the one stone if you will.
Yes Wigan and Liverpool will be a bore draw.
*walk your dog.
thank you!!!
I hope Fab gets fit again soon…
I hope not. I badly want Lamps in my squad.
..me too, but if he is ruled out for the weekend it will sure make for some interesting transfer permutations. All those Villa/Chelsea/Everton midfielders with looming doubles gws.
I reckon the next two gameweeks will be the season-defining spell before it all settles down again for the run-in.
Yeah I agree. The next 2 GW will define the season. Especially the captain choice! Especially. So many option out there and I bet that some of them will have big point hauls and some of them will disappoint. It depends which one you and your competition has as a captain. I hope will be in the winning side.
No correction, I know I will be in the winning side. This is my time of the season.
having doubts on agger playing tonight AP. the more i look at the benitez quote which is entirely what all preview sites are going on in saying he will start, the more vague it looks and the more it may suggest a bench place in case of emergencies than a starting place. i really do hope i’m wrong.
With Skrtel out? Who would he play instead??
mascherano carragher kyriagkos insua. just the lack of concrete news on agger is making me a bit more pessimistic. and with mascherano at rb rafa doesn’t have to drop one of benayoun, lucas and maxi.
Dont forget Degen as well.
I’ll take the lack of news on Agger as a positive, and keep my digits crossed. You’d think if he was out, he would say so. Rafa has never had a problem dropping Benayoun for a DM before has he? Also can i just say Aquilani 20 million: LOLOL.
just building it up so if agger starts it’s party time, if he doesn’t oh well was always very possible he wouldn’t
If he trained over the weekend he’ll play surely? Do you have any photos of said training session like you did a few weeks back?
no photos. they’ve stopped them lately since they gave away the starting XI 3 weeks in a row. we don’t even know if agger has trained over the weekend. all rafa has said is he thinks agger can train, not he will train.
GASH.
Cant see Agger starting, i think Kelly is fit.
i agree
http://righteousrants.files.wo.....brook4.jpg
lol, very clever – Fit as Fu*k.
but on yesterdays evidence there’s none better than mrs arteta
Agreed – im thinking Mr Voronin could handle both (porn star hair gives it away).
shes a hottie
I’m new to this posting lark but my team for the following week is:
Sorensen (Green)
Dunne, Evra, Knight, Carr, (Zubar)
Milner, Fabregas, Kuyt, (Lee), (N’Zogbia)
Berbatov, Tevez, Bendtner
leaving me 3.1m in the bank
Im considering 2 changes with an eye to GW31 looking at an extra Villa player, with either Collins for Knight or Agbonlahor for Berbatov and a Chelsea player seeing as West Ham will be an easy enough fixture and with the form of Lampard atm I can see him getting more than 4 points, this would be for Kuyt as L’pool have United that gameweek. Anyone feel that i could do better than this?
Agbon for Berba looks decent move.
Pretty much set on Lee and Bent out for Milner and Agbonlahor this week. Thinking Rooney out for Torres for a 4 point hit aswell.
I’ll be benching Baines, Ridgewell and O’Hara in that order. Is that right do you reckon?
Pains me to get rid of Lee for such a favourable fixture.. but that’s the way it goes.
I am having the same headache with Lee. I ahve to bench him. Hope he doesn’t destroy Wigan. But he will have 5 pts surely.
im playing lee
Why not get rid of Insomnia? I am.
eh, hes a double- with one at home
Followed by Burnley at home… people selling him are mentalists. Selling Lee is hard/bad, but it’s better than that!
He has a DGW and Burnley at home the week after. Lee has one favourable fixture then lots of difficult fixtures – makes sense to get rid of him for me.
Oh yeah, good shout lads – brain a bit fried as it’s a Monday.
wigan liv 3/1 for the draw tonight- dem deres good value
Yeah, it’s got a draw written all over it.
No score draw would suit me perfectly.
A Carragher goal (not an own goal please) would be the icing on a cake. Rarer than hens teeth, but hey a man can dream.
Have a few plans lined up for the next few weeks, but not totally sure on which one to go with, so opinions would be nice.
Plan 1:
GW30: Evra & Tuncay > Collins & Milner
GW31: Rooney & Modric > Drogba & Arteta
Plan 2:
GW30: Evra & Tuncay > Collins & Milner
GW31: Rooney & Duff > Drogba & A Johnson
Plan 3:
GW30: Evra & Rooney > Collins & Agbonlahor
GW31: Tuncay & Modric > Lampard & A Johnson
?
Evra has Fulham (h) so not sure why you’d shipping him out in GW30?
This week, Lampard or Milner for Fabregas?
Probably Lampard, unless the money you’ll save for Milner will help you out elsewhere.
Look at the captin poll!
captain*
Cheers guys… baffled by Villa’s goalscoring form, first a string of zeros and now two goalfests against easier opponents. Doesn’t make it too easy! Milner for GW31 anyway.
Hi guys,
Team is:
Hart Sorensen
Ivanovic Evra Collins Baines Dann
Fabregas Nzogbia Lee Valencia Pienaar
Drogba Rooney Bendy
Thinking:
Sorensen > Friedel
Valencia > Milner / Young
this week, any good or Villa overkill?
think id bring in malouda for fabs before lamps lads…ive a feeling hell score big v west ham
Valencia > Milner looks good, but not sure of removing Sorensen for Friedel. I have Milner, Dunne and thinking of Shawx > Collins but that means 2 x Villa defenders.
Current Team for GW30:
Sorensen(Hart)
Ivanovic/Distin/Collins(M Turner/Zubar)
N’Zog/A Young/Arteta/Fab (Dunn)
Bent/Drog/Rooney
Have already taken 8 pt hit to get Rafael>Collins, Valencia>A Young, Tuncay>Arteta with 0.0 in the bank… Fab & Rooney fitness is a big concern now though.
As long as you transfer any non-playing player for a double-gameweek player, you’re almost guaranteed to get the points back (for a guaranteed starter, barring injury and yellow cards)
Guys is it too early to bring villa players say tonight? Is villa playing any non epl games between now and their next epl game? If not could it be a good idea to transfer say milner and abgo (I already hit dunne) to improve the value of my team?