Aston Villa

Set-piece Shambles; Aston Villa 2, Chelsea 1

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:05:26 -0500

Aston Villa once again have shown some real class in the way they went about the game against Chelsea on Saturday. Right from the start it was clear that we were going to really press Chelsea and ask the questions, it wasn't just a case of lets sit back, and roll over. Agbonlahor caused numerous problems for the defence, and he does really look like a striker in form. Thankfully the 'penalty' call was never something that came back to bite us. Leaving the usual debate aside, you have to question Chelsea as both the goals came from corners and on both occasions it was just poor defending, you some times have to just wonder whether a pub player would have put more effort in than say Carvalho or Drogba's lack of effort.

Saying that, nothing must be taken away from Collins and Dunne's desire and ambition to get their head on the ball. It was two terrific deliveries from Ashley Young that resulted in a 2-1 victory at Villa Park. Apart from these specific involvements there were times when it was clear that Young just wasn't really part of the game, numerous times it felt like he was a passanger. So many players impressed me, and it really is hard to pick out a man of the match, but for me, if push came to shove, it would have to be Milner. He really busted a gut up and down that right hand side, and his decision to bring down Essein when it looked like a certain break away for Chelsea in my eyes shows how he has progressed, he really is thinking about the game and is showing Capello why he should be in that World Cup Squad.

All in all a very good day, and number of positives to take into the game against Wolves. It looks as if our back four is gelling together very well, both Dunne and Collins have looked absolutely solid at the back, and have had no problem putting their bodies in the way of anything that is thrown at them. We wondered what we would do without the 'Lionheart' Laursen holding our defence together, I can see the makings of two potential greats! Add to the fact that we have Davies, Young, Beye, Bouma, Downing, and Shorey around as well, things do look bright! SO up the Villa and well done all!

Hughes comes a knocking on Villa's door

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 07:07:06 -0500

Apologise for the lack of posts, it has been somewhat of a hectic and frantic couple of weeks.

Villa take on Man City this evening, in what is no doubt to be a heated and exciting game of football, especially with the return of our once great iconic hero, Barry. Now I don't really want to touch on this topic, just because I can already imagine how quite a few people will react. We looked in good form for the first half of the Blackburn game, with the early goal it looked destined for us to continue our good run, which is something we could have really done with - momentum. Anyhow like any good team, you look to put a defeat behind you and bounce back straight away, obviously our next two games are not the sort you would ideally choose to do that, being City and Chelsea in one week.

I have a funny feeling (and an obvious hope!) that we will get something from this game, although Manchester City are on a good run, they are not that top four/title winning side just yet. So for one we shouldn't go into this game with any fear. Second of all, they are a counter-attacking side and maybe lack some imagination, I think with a team like ours that has some real pace we could trouble Man City.

However they do pose the same question to us, as on the whole especially with our new defensive central duo, we lack considerable pace at the back, which may well mean we need to defend quite deep to stop the likes of Bellamy or Tevez etc from exploit any space.

So all in all it could be a very interesting game which will ultimately boil down to MON getting the tactics 100% spot on for us to take all 3 points. Ideally we should utilise (in my opinion of course) a 4-5-1 system as it will break up that increasingly lethal parternship of Barry and Ireland.

Villa on cruise control

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 05:33:05 -0500

Aston Villa once again looked like a team on the up, with a fairly decent performance which was capped off by another 2-0 victory at home. Two goals, one a penalty converted by James Milner put Villa ahead just past the half an hour mark, then just prior to half time on form striker Agbonlahor struck home with a cheeky in off the woodwork finish.

All in all another sound performance and 3 more points on the board, which has taken us upto 6th spot. And stretched our unbeaten run to four games, add to this another clean sheet and things are looking fairly rosy at present. However, I would say that we haven't had a real test apart from Liverpool away, but the way they are playing at present they certainly do not look like true title winning team. The big games to come against City and Chelsea will be the real test of how things stand at present and how good our defence is.

But for now, a good start to the season and Villa fans can rest easy with another 3 points on the board, Everton struggling and a defence that looks very much revitalised with Dunne, Collins and Warnock lending their services to the Villa cause!

Struggling Portsmouth coming to town.

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 02:47:30 -0500

Aston Villa take on a seriously struggling Portsmouth, having no points under their belts, they are truly rock bottom of the Premiership going into this weekends Premier-League fixtures. Whereas Villa find themselves on a fairly good run of form, having won their last 3 games, sitting 8th at present and with a game in hand on quite a few clubs.

However, I for one don't think this game will be so simple as I am sure people would like/make out that it will be. Portsmouth have showed at points some real venom when going forward, often powered through their two fall-backs, Belhaj and Van der Borre. These two must be shut down as both like to rome forward a great deal. But at the same time this could also be utilised as a point of attack by both Milner and Young who could in theory exploit such space with their pace.

It will also be another interesting day to see how our new looked defence copes, now having a full week of training under their belts you would imagine that things feel a little more natural to them now, saying that, they put on a grand performance against Birmingham last weekend.

Also, with the news of the MON and Reo-Coker bust up, it could well see us either play a 4-4-2 formation against Pompey, or we could see either Gardener or Delph start, (personally would love Delph to play!). I think Delph is going to be a huge player for us, in similar terms to Dunne. The Kid's distribution is brilliant, he puts himself about in terms of tackles, and also can hit them from long range!

So prediction time, well we need all 3 points and considering the circumstances that both sides find themselves in, Villa are clearly the favourites. Portsmouth just aren't in the same league as Villa, maybe they would have been, but considering they have completely changed the team compared to last year; Distin, Campbell, Johnson, Defoe, Crouch, etc! In my eyes it has to be a Villa win otherwise I just don't know what to say! I hope its a good performance to boot!

85th minute heartbreak for Birmingham! 0-1 Villa!

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 08:11:31 -0500

Nothing can beat the feelings that come with a victory over your local rivals, especially in a game which seemed at points so evenly match that a draw was looking like the only feasible outcome.

But with a Villa side that struggled to really get going in an attacking sense a substitution which saw Villa hero John Carew replace Reo-Coker and Villa revert to a 4-4-2 formation. This caused numerous problems for the Birmingham back four with Carew brilliantly capable of holding up the ball and also winning any aerial challenge. It was this key characteristic that saw Villa take the game, with a cheeky Carew header from an Ashley Young free-kick, Agbonlahor was present to header home from the penalty spot passed Hart.

It was a very tense final few minutes and despite some brilliant counter attacking play that saw Villa with two, (you would have thought) certain goal oppurtunites, the game ended 0-1 to Villa.

Full credit has to be given to our back four that looked rock solid. I didn't feel nervous compared to in the past when watching them. Collins looked very cool, while Richard Dunne was all that we had expected and hoped for, that Leader at the back that we have missed since Laursen's retirement. I think Dunne will be a brilliant signing, him and Collins were constantly winning any aerial threat and both looked fairly calm on the ball.

All in all, very glad to see us get the three points, could easily have been so different, and I have to say I was quite impressed with Birmingham's work rate. But Villa win and are now in 6th place, a game in hand and have Portsmouth up next at home, it could be a top four spot for Aston Villa by Saturday 19th.

Second City derby, don't you just love it!

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:23:49 -0500

Its the big game we have all been waiting for, there is nothing like a good derby especially one that consists Blues and Villa!

Now I am going to just dive straight in as I am very busy today and tomorrow. But we are clearly in the driving seat with our start to the season. We have beaten Birmingham in our last four encounters, while we have won our last 3 games, all spelling an optimistic prediction. What I will say, this game won't be easy, Birmingham are stronger than when we demolished them 5-1 at Villa Park, I honestly cannot see it being a repeat of that again. But I would hope and really expect a victory over Birmingham who I think will possibly be in that dog fight at the bottom for survival!

It looks like apart from Bouma and Downing we could have a very fit squad in place to play at St Andrews. Luke Young could well be in contention to start, while with Davies being out, you have to imagine that having been given the week off from internationals, that Richard Dunne could well make his bow against Birmingham.

So positive verdict, but it won't be easy, it will be knitty gritty as it always is, plenty of tackles, but I hope and would expect us to prevail!

Up the Villa!

Dunne Deal

Wed, 2 Sep 2009 09:46:22 -0500

Aston Villa have now OFFICIALLY completed the signing of Richard Dunne. In my eyes this is a brilliant signing and someone I think who will really help to fill that void left by Martin Laursen. As for Collins very happy to see this signing also, it means we now have a very decent squad with four senior central defenders, all being seasoned premiership players. Fills me with confidence.

Add to that the fact we have a bigger squad than last season, and arguably more quality. We have 3 more players in than last season, and in every department there is adequate cover.

I am especially pleased by the signing of Delph, I honestly think that he could be our Gareth Barry replacement and that he is already up to that ability to grab the oppurtunity with two hands. We sawa a glimpse of his quality against Rapid Vienna. He dribbled past three players and unleashed a agnosingly close left foot curling shot. Not only this we know the kid can tackle, while also is very good at passing and bringing players into a move.

Furthermore, Downing, the forgotten signing, I think will be great come November and December, it will be like a fresh signing and probably add some momentum.

Also, I am happy that the Shorey loan deal broke down as I feel it will mean we retain cover/competition in that left-back situation.

So what does everyone else make of these new signings?

Dunne deal hangs in the balance!

Wed, 2 Sep 2009 04:29:08 -0500

Well isn't it exciting that we are still waiting for confirmation from the Premier League on whether the Dunne transfer has been accepted, you know what I say NO! If this falls through we are really in it!

Lets hope something happens and fast, because it does look positive that the deal was done in time, although taken very much to the last dying seconds by the sounds of things!

Anyhow more to come and a transfer round-up post to follow.

Has or hasn't Dunne signed?

Tue, 1 Sep 2009 12:13:42 -0500

Yes it has gone 5, and that means that the summer transfer window has slammed shut. Some good news in my opinion, Nicky Shorey's loan deal has collapsed and that means that we still retain a decent squad depth and cover in that area, as well as some fierce competition. Also, the signing of James Collins is what I would class as a good cover signing, and a great replacement for Zat Knight.

Now, the Richard Dunne deal, one really taken to the wire. But with all the confusion, it does look like Richard Dunne has signed for Aston Villa and that deal is it Dunne!? Finally, great to see we have potentially got a top class defender in, but how about taking it to the dying second!?

Just waiting on confirmation from the Premier League on whether this deal has gone through. Updates to come!

It also means that we have a bigger squad than last season, by 3 players (if the Dunne deal does go through) which is good news as well.

In:

Delph, Dunne, Warnock, Marshall, Beye, Collins, Downing,

Out:

Barry, Laursen (retired), Knight and Taylor

Less than an hour to go: Collins signs four-year contract!

Tue, 1 Sep 2009 10:05:21 -0500

Its very good to see that we have now got 3 central defenders at the club. James Collins has signed a four year contract, and with only an hour to go, where is Richard Dunne?

Hopefully he puts pen to paper to sign for Aston Villa with just 50 minutes to go until the transfer window shuts. Quite happy with the Collins deal, think he will provide some great cover and squad depth. But really need to see Dunne brought in or we could struggle.

Also, whats happening with David Bentley, could he be on his way to Villa?