Could Tim Sherwood and Aston Villa be the perfect match?
Aston Villa’s dramatic 2-1 victory over West Brom meant so much more than just the three points on offer. It proved Sherwood could be the man for the job, writes John Howell.
Sitting second bottom going into the clash with Baggies and with new boss Tim Sherwood failing to gain a point in his first two fixtures, anything but a win would have been touted as writing on the wall by Villa fans and pundits alike.
With the score deadlocked at 1-1 and 93 minutes flashing on the clock, keeper Ben Foster’s careless challenge on Villa’s Matthew Lowton inside the box allowed the inconsistent Christian Benteke to step up and coolly slot home. Symbolically, it’s the biggest goal of their season so far. The enormity of this win will be there for all to see come May, if Villa can use this as a springboard to finally put their relegation fears behind them.
But where have Villa gone wrong in the past five years? Everything seemed rosy under Martin O’Neill. The Northern Irishman took the Midlands club to the top six and three consecutive seasons in European competition from 2008-10.
With the resignation of O’Neill in August 2010, Villa brought in Frenchman Gérard Houllier, who helped his side finish 9th. With £18million signing Darren Bent and prospect Ashley Young performing on song, the outlook for the claret and blue side of Birmingham was bright – or so it seemed.
The untimely departure of Houllier due to long-term illness saw the introduction of former Birmingham boss Alex McLeish to the protest of many loyal fans. Worse still, came the tragic news that club captain Stiliyan Petrov had been diagnosed with acute leukaemia. Villa finished a mere two points above the relegation zone and many pinpoint 2011-12 as the beginning of their gradual decline.
The introduction of Paul Lambert was meant to hail a brave new era for the club. Many criticised his straight face and perceived lack of ability to shake things up in a relegation tussle, but he was hampered in acting on his ambitions for the club by owner Randy Lerner. After nearly a decade at the club, the American has grown tired of investing in what seems to be a fruitless operation.
So now we are at the introduction Sherwood. It could be perceived as one last roll of the dice by Lerner, who wants to sell the club, and it’s one that the Midlands club can’t afford to see fail.
What Sherwood needs to get right on the pitch is there for all to see – play attacking football and score goals. Despite a good win/loss record as Tottenham boss, many felt he was keeping the seat warm for someone else. The Villa job is his to throw away, so he has to step up and prove himself to an unconvinced audience.
Sherwood’s enjoyable touchline antics clearly demonstrate that he has the passion for the job, but his tactical and technical nous has yet to be established. For example, the decision to play Gabriel Agbonlahor and Charles N’Zogbia up front whilst benching Scott Sinclair on Tuesday had many perplexed. The Villa boss got away with it this time around, but there is not much room for trial and error in a relegation dogfight of this magnitude.
Sherwood has lots to do in such little time. Villa have a new manager with a point to prove and are a team in desperate need of leadership; now they may be about to find themselves in the perfect storm.
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The Offside Rule 
Hi,
I normally never comment on articles like this one, but now i just had to. I have also been sceptical towards his tactical sbilities, bit to say “he got away” against WBA is just wrongm he played a strong, narrow diamond that had overpowered the narrow and outnumbered the central midfield of WBA. You can say a lot about this animated character, but to say he got that one wrong is simply a huge lack og understanding for football tactics.
The fact that it took a 93rd minute penalty to win the game for Villa despite more possession, more shots on goal, and more shots on target shows you that he got it wrong at the top of the park, IMO. Villa should have put the game to bed long before and if it was not for a poor decision from Ben Foster, Villa would probably have only bagged a point. To me, that is getting away with it.