A Good Point - LFW's Reaction

Phillips revitalised, Sherwood best avoided - knee jerks

Thursday, 9th Apr 2015 00:11 by Antti Heinola

Antti Heinola provides his regular six reactions and talking points to the Tuesday night action as QPR and Aston Villa fight out a dramatic 3-3 draw.




A good point
Some were distraught that we didn't win after leading so late on and you can't blame them - the delicious feel of two away wins on the spin combined with reeling Villa right back in to the mire is hard to let go of.

When asked after the game who would be more pleased with a point, Ramsey seemed surprised and said “Them, surely,” as it kept the status quo. Smart move. He's not getting carried away by two decent results amidst a season of slurry. But I doubt he really believed that. Look at it from Villa's point of view. They probably have an aim of getting perhaps 37 points. Before Tuesday night, their last three away games are all toughies, but their last four home games are much easier. Of those, Sherwood would have been banking on a win against us. Not being able to beat us at home does not bode brilliantly well for the rest of their season. While a point for us may prove not quite enough, in the circumstances it was a good one and it stopped Villa from becoming pretty much out of reach. Put it this way: this won't be the result that sends us down. In fact, it's a result that gives us a fighting chance. Three wins from our final six might just - just - do it.

Ramsey v Sherwood
That said, Villa, especially first half, played very well. They passed it quickly and with purpose. They made chances. They fought back from a goal down and in Christian Benteke they have a match-winner (or match-drawer, if you like). With their remaining fixtures, I think they'll stay up, if only because of the current bottom six they look best equipped to do so.

But there are concerns for Villa fans - at least there should be. And those concerns should focus on Sherwood. I've never been a fan of his shtick - he clearly rates himself far higher than he has any right to given his short run in the managerial game and repeated (and dull) claims about his bloody win percentage at Spurs don't mask how often they failed against any half decent side. First half last night, Villa were at it. Delph was superb (as he was throughout), Benteke a constant danger and I was also impressed with young Grealish. They looked motivated and certainly much more of an attacking outfit than when under the deathly grip of Lambert. But after half time, QPR - and Ramsey in particular - turned it around magnificently and Sherwood didn't seem to know how to respond. So he didn't.

Given our injuries and lack of options in particular down the left hand side, most teams playing us at home should know how to exploit our many weaknesses. Villa managed that first half, but that switch to 3-5-2, matching up their three in midfield, and injecting a bit more pace in the unreliable form of Traore down the left, changed the game. It was a courageous moment for Ramsey and Bondy Bond. 3-5-2 has not worked for us this year and here we were 2-1 down and in danger of being swallowed whole. But it worked.

Now, we may go down with Ramsey and Villa may stay up with Sherwood, but if I was a Villa fan I'd be worried about how easily Sherwood was out-manoeuvred here, and by his failure to react. I look at the two men and know which one I'd rather have. There's Ramsey, calm and concentrated on the touchline. And there's Sherwood, all exaggerated mannerisms, all playing to the gallery, flinging his coat off over minor incidents, over-celebrating a first half equaliser against the worst away team in the division and then a cocky stroll down the touchline at half time, a little smug, hands in pockets, apparently thinking it was in the bag. Everything he does screams: 'LOOK AT ME!'

Ramsey, his good mate, was almost the opposite. Calm, measured, never carried away by anything. He may have not looked greatly pleased with the result, but I suspect he was very pleased with it because we are far from out of it now, despite looking dead and buried 10 days ago. Meanwhile, Sherwood used his interview time to bemoan injuries (as if we don't have any) and says: "I'm very confident that I will be able to keep Villa up." I. *I*. No thanks.

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