Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: Murph 
Date:Monday October 22 2007
Time: 1:12PM
UK time is: 11:11:26
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Comms Breakdown at the Back!
Olof Mellberg has admitted that a complete lack of communication was the key to conceding the goal that started the Aston Villa collapse on Saturday.
As the TV saw it, Zat Knight left the cross-goal ball for no particular reason and in doing so, allowed Wayne Rooney to steal in at the back post to score the equaliser.
Our current stand-in at right back believes that it was a lack of communication that was to blame for this, and not the former Fulham defender for being an idiot:
'I felt we were in control but we gave away the goals. With the first one there was a communication error. Zat thought the keeper shouted so he left the ball. It just came from nothing, Mellberg told avfc.co.uk.
'The second goal was the same - Wayne Rooney was on his own and we should take care of that. The third goal was an own goal. You can't afford to do that against Manchester United.'
Mellberg is indeed no stranger to a lack of communication, previous seasons have seen him regularly engaged in arguments with former first choice keeper Thomas Sorensen. I do however feel this time he does have a point. The cross was no more than 5 yards out, something that perhaps Scott Carson could have easily claimed.
He didn't come to get it, Zat Knight was hearing voices and Wayne Rooney was left with the simplest of simple finishes. Something clearly needs to be sorted out on the training field, and quick.
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Your Comments
Carson has been very average so far I dont like him
Pking
Zat Knight was extremely poor on saturday. Time to have a look at Davies.
weller77
Thinking about it now, had Knight intercepted it, surely there was a huge risk of him doing nothing but firing it past Carson?
murph
Defenders are taught to clear the ball in that situation regardless of whether the 'keeper called or not. You don't take chances at the back. Murph: The only way he would have put it into his own goal would have been to play it with his right foot, which as a professional footballer, would be a ridiculous choice!
On Carson - I'm yet to be convinced - Taylor and Sorensen's weaknesses are their inability to come out for the ball - it seems like Carson has the same problem. I saw Taylor play on the USA tour and in subsequent games and he has looked as good as, if not better, than Carson.
Knight was also at fault for the second goal, he got caught ball-watching and lost Rooney. He was also at fault for Berbatov's first goal at Spurs (ball-watching again and left his position in the zone) and it was he who allowed Ghaly THREE free headers in our box leading to the fourth Spurs goal. He is an athletic and mobile defender, but quite obviously does not have the intelligence or tactical ability to be anything more than a squad player....
gmvillan
I hear voices aswell Zat but they are all telling me that YOU need to bloody concentrate for 90 mins.
Villan444
Davies deserves a chance now. A RB is a essential come January.
tarzan
Tarzan - who should we sign?
Gordonsleftboot
Every defender has an off day, agreed Zat is average and should only be a squad player. Every defender takes time to settle. Vidic for United wa shaky as hell in his first few games now he's a rock. This is Davies chance to prove he's worth 10m. Carson is miles better than Sorryson and Taylor, he's only 22 remember.
son_of_cher
My friends over at Fulham laughed when you bought Zat Knight! Now I know why :-) Even though the fecker scored against us :-(
merlin
The problem wasn't just Knight it was the whole defence. If you mark space then someone like rooney will score everytime. Space doesn't score - strikers do. nuff said.
myleftfoot
The defence is not as rock solid or self assured as many would have us believe. We cracked at WHL too remember, which suggests something is definitely not right.
glensider
Zat has been playing above himself since he joined,Saturday was more what most expected of him.Curtis was a main transfer target for us its a big worry that he hasn't got into the starting xi yet
Pking
Knight deserved to be in the team and rightfully kept his place, now he's had a poor game it's time for Davies to have his chance. If he plays well then he stays in the team.
weller77
We have to give Davies and Maloney a run in the team in my opinion. We can't have string views on these players if they aren't given a chance. Interesting to see Spurs last night; they too have defensive difficulties, but like us, tend to be a bit one eyed when it comes to our own players. Speak to Spurs fans and they think Dawson is tremendous - not last night. Reserves beat Chelsea last night, the togolese guy was brilliant apparently and Berger had 90 mins.
tarzan
We seem to conceed goals in quick succession. Laurson was still MOTM for us, they were just unbeatable saturday ("they" as in Rooney and Tevez) their movement would have destroyed even the best in europe. lesson learnt, lets move on 3 points against Bolton.
*Holte*End*Star*
Me thinks it was our lack of movement rather than their expertise in the said area........
Villan444
I think my point was proven last night Villan444, against Kiev, not the best team in the world but manures movement was quality yet again, and yet again they scored 4 goals.
*Holte*End*Star*
Other teams seem to communicate during games, it may well be Olaf is trying to make excuses for a pityful 15 minutes at VP.
col8
No doubting those fifteen minutes cost us dearly. Until then we had looked o.k., not in control, but still very much in the game.
glensider
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