Written By: Zidave

Tonight England matched up against Holland.  While I could talk about Defoe's goals or Ferdinand's fowl up I'm not.  I'm a Villain and while claret and blue runs in my blood I'm also American and if I’m honest I’m about as concerned with that as I am with the next time I might eat beats again in my life. What I am wrapping my mind around are three specific players: Ashley Young, James Milner, and Emile Heskey.  I might be inclined to mention that Barry was worthless.  Entirely at fault for the second goal after not just an extremely poor back-pass, but a combination of that and something only Villa fans may be aware of; his inability to put in the effort to track back a ball.  If he wasn’t too busy counting the money he’s making at City, he may have gotten back in time to make a block.  We will never know, but as it stands he had a poor game and was at fault for the second goal.  I might accidentally mention the fact that I’m smiling.

Heskey didn’t look any better or worse than he did last year.  The man works hard and he does defend, but his first touch was enough to give the ball back to Holland on multiple occasions and give him reason to defend.  Hopefully he does score more this year, but he’s behind Agbonlahor who is also behind Carew in my books.

Ashley Young I felt looked very comfortable tonight.  Mind you this is a rare cap let alone start against one of the world’s best teams.  This was enough to impress me.  He didn’t give up possession lightly and had a desire to get on the ball, something that is essential if he wants to do well.  He whipped in a few quality crosses and drove on goal when space permitted.  I think it’s safe to say we will have another brilliant season from him.

Finally, James Milner, a player who last season left somewhat to be desired in his crossing ability.  Very often did he have trouble getting it past the first defender and in my opinion lacked the confidence to dribble inside to get on goal at times.  Tonight he surprised us all.  Not just the fact that he was playing on the left instead of the right, but he was as hot as Ana Kournikova can get on a day hot enough to swim.  Delivery Boy Milner showed all that he had been lacking previously.  He drove into the box patiently waiting for the right pass.  Credit to Defoe for the run, but all credit to Milner in picking out the low cross.  He consistently whipped in quality balls and drove into space, a marquee of the confidence as well as the level of patience and intelligence on the ball I’ve wanted to see.  There is so much to offer in his game whether it is his willingness to run through two pairs of socks in a game, his delivery, his vast experience, or any of the other vast amount of things he offers.  I believe in the end this game is a testament, a sign rather of what we can expect to see even more consistently this season.

UTV

Summer 2008, James Milner signs for Aston Villa, for a fee judged to be around 12m.  Were you skeptical of signing him?  Are you still skeptical?

The fact is Milner is not the same type of player as Ashley Young and we can't expect him to be. And would we really want two out and out wingers? Look how much good that did for us with Routledge. It gives Young less of the ball, a complete negative, and it weakens our already makeshift defense, neither of which we want to see in our team. This isn't an excuse, but rather an explanation.  This is a part of his game as Right Midfielder, not to be confused with Right Winger. 

If you watch closely in games and at least attempt to take off the 12m price tag sign hanging from his neck, James Milner has vision and his touch isn't letting him down as often as I hear from other fans. I have seen him make some outstanding long passes down to Gabby that require both vision and accuracy. 

When you look at his overall ability, its there, it just needs some coaching. He has the shot, pass, and cross, but he is still in the process of refining them. If you can't see my point, look at in this way. Do you think it will take Lennon more time and work to fix his crosses that barely go the distance, that flutter over behind the goal consistently, or do you think Milner's crosses that are pin pointed at a player, but hit a little low will take more work?  But you say this takes a quality manager who is known to get the best out of his players and very intelligent use of youth players.  I think we all know O'neill is a perfect manager to bring the best out of him.  And just maybe with his knack to bring out the best in a players versatility, we will one day see Milner as a Barry in our CM.

I have discussed ability, but what about Milner's attitude? He is a perfect example of a loyal player. It seems as if everyone has forgotten how admirably he had handled his transfer to Villa; instead of making a fool of himself and upsetting his fans, a most unfortunate trend that we have all been subject to that needs no reminding.  Milner quietly handled his situation like a man.  Being represented by the PFA and going about things quietly. Milner had only wanted a new contract to begin with, but was undervalued.  Considering the context of his transfer, I consider him more loyal than the average footballer today.  

However a positive attitude and ability aren't everything.  My business classes have all taught me that when you get an assignment from your boss, he is setting a bar for you.  That bar would earn you anywhere from a C to a B.  If you want to shine and get an A you need to go above and beyond and to work your socks off.  Here Milner is a perfect example.  Many of our players had become ill earlier this season and we all know how miserable it is to have the flu.   Milner, while catching this bug, still put in a powerful 90 minutes for all of 3 games of being sick.  Epitomizing our success under O'neill.

In the end, yes we have paid 12m and that may be a bit over the odds, but it may very well be a bargain in a few seasons.  Only time will tell.  But I know one thing.  Amidst the crying and toys getting thrown from the pram each transfer window to get who we need.  Mon has gone out and paid whatever it took to get his man.  And I'd much rather have another 5m in Randy's pocket than David Benchly and that crustball haircut.

Are you still skeptical?

Written by: Zidave

It has to be easy for anyone not wearing the claret and blue that is of Aston Villa to declare the team completely undeserving of 3 points on Tuesday.  Even for myself amidst the frantic cheering I have become almost accustomed to around the 90th minute to feel at the time we did not. I even caught myself swearing our side's chances off from a draw or maybe it was feeling like my feet were touching ground once more. Despite all of the indications that we did not deserve the win maybe we do?

Let me first be clear, this is not an excuse for the way Villa played offensively, but more of a (hold your breath) analysis of why we may have actually have the right to the three points. I believe there is a correlation when you look at the top sides.  They not only have a winning mentality in that they never give up, but they have key players who can change a game from nothing and I think that without a doubt all of them experience their own bit of luck each season. 

I don't want to sound arrogant, because it can be very easy to do so why your team wins and I will admit we are sure as hell a long ways from being a Manchester United; seasons and massive amounts of spending.  However they are who I am comparing this result to.  Take for example Manchester United's win versus Sunderland who put out a full 80+ minutes of solid defending.  Compare that to a Hull side who defending Villa very well.  Even their forwards pressured Villa while their defenders sat back.  Many times they had 11 men behind the ball, but they have the right to do that and it was very effective.  Yet in the dying minutes of the game a flash moment of brilliance from Ashley Young turning his man to whip in another classy cross that results in a goal.  Villa win 1-0 in thanks to a player who can change a game in the blink of an eye and a little bit of luck, just as Manchester United have.

To say it's a win without problems is naive of a team wanting to move into Champions League. And with the transfer window being the most highly discussed subject as of yesterday I want to look at what we need to fix.  If we had one major problem our midfield was the problem.  We hardly had anyone looking to get on the ball.  And I think we all could see this frustration in Petrov who had to take defending and attacking into his own hands on more than one occasion.  Either way our midfield needs to be a little more dynamic and willing to string together a few passes together to build up a chance in the center of the field.  As we've seen on Tuesday when the opposition is sitting back and not allowing us to break forward we are in need of finding ways to work around it. Antanio Valencia anyone? The fact that he is still sitting in a Wigan team, versus a Real Madrid team is pure grace and is a great opportunity to purchase who in my mind is a world class right winger.

But did we have anyone in front who could get the ball? Hull defended Agbonlahor superbly. This is why I am so adamant about the purchase of another center forward and not a midget like Defoe.  Would Defoe have changed anything in this game for us?  Not with the Hull's center backs putting so much pressure on our forward.  What about someone like Roque Santa Cruz?  His strength and his height would have won us a few balls and his silky layoff passes would have gotten us more into the game.  If Man City go in for him I'm afraid he's not worth our time and I am certainly not a big fan, but I can very easily see Martin O'neill moving for Crouch, mostly because no one else wants his beanstalk legs!

Thank you for reading!

Aston Villa V Arsenal

Friday 26^th, December

17:15 GMT

@ Villa Park

 

A game that could be deemed as the biggest game of the season for both Aston Villa and Arsenal.  This is also a game that could potentially propel one club into the Champions League and break the seemingly impenetrable grip that the Big Four have held for so long.  It would give the the supporters something they have been desperate for... and after the appointment of Martin O'Neill something that has left their mouths watering in the wake of his revelation.  But while one club’s supporters will surely be hitting the bars every single day of the entire summer in celebration, it could spell more than disaster for the other. Villa taking Arsenal’s spot in 4^th would leave one word hanging at the mouth of every Arsenal fan in the world… crisis.  It would leave them without Champions League qualification and potentially unravel the team. They have struggled to hold onto their stars over the summer, most notably their current club captain Cesc Fabregas and attacking talisman Emanuel Adebayor who are two players that could walk into any team's starting XI and are certainly not short of suitors.

 

Match Stats

Played: 18 v 18

Wins: 10 v 9

Draws: 4 v 4

Losses: 4 v 5

The only separation between Villa and Arsenal at the moment is 3 points.  These were 3 points gained from a shock 2-0 result at the Emirates, Arsenal’s home turf.  This should give strong indication of the significance of this game.  If Villa win and they will be a strong 6 points clear of Arsenal; Arsenal win and they will be even with Villa on points.  This match is clearly a ‘six-pointer.’

 

Goal Stats

For: 30 v 30

Against: 20 v 21

Goal Difference: 10 v 9

Both teams are very similar in terms of goals for.  It shouldn't come as a surprise to see either side hitting the 30 mark at this stage of the season. Both Villa and Arsenal are arguably two of the most exciting teams to watch in attack.

 

Last Six Games

Aston Villa:

0 – 1 West Ham - Aston Villa

3 – 1 Hamburg - Aston Villa

4 – 2 Aston Villa - Bolton

2 – 3 Everton - Aston Villa

1 – 2 Aston Villa - MSK Zilina

0 – 0 Aston Villa – Fulham

Villa are unbeaten in their last 6 in league.  They have shown good character in their defense and the most exciting counter attack in the league.  But they will be hoping for a fit Martin Laursen after a knee pain complaint following the game at West Hamm.

Arsenal:

1 – 1 Arsenal – Liverpool

1 – 1 Middlesbrough – Arsenal

2 – 0 FC Porto – Arsenal

1 – 0 Arsenal – Wigan

2 – 0 Burnley – Arsenal

1 – 2 Chelsea – Arsenal

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 4 in league.  However, they have arguably now lost any hope of the league title after failing to gain a win against Liverpool and in which seeing a ban on Adebayore as well as an injured Cesc Fabregas.

 

Head to Head

This game shouldn’t be missed.  It is a fixture of two teams that has been highly competitive in recent seasons, seeing Arsenal hold 3 wins, Villa with 1 and a total of 3 draws for both since 2005/2006 season to current.  Even in losing games Villa have been worthy opponents.

 

Key Players

Aston Villa:

Ashley Young:  He has been in sizzling form.  Scoring 3 goals in 3 games including 1 assist.  While not scoring at West Hamm he still terrorized their defense with his pace narrowly missing twice and hitting the post once. Easily one of the best wingers in the league at the moment.  Look for him to exploit Sagna who will be wanting to push forward on the attack, leaving space for Young to work down the left.

Gabriel Agbonlahor: This is a game of which both teams will be attacking, leaving a gap in the field.  Gabby will be keen to exploit them with his pace and Barry’s vision.  Even more worrying for Arsenal’s defense is that he is 2^nd in goals scored on the season with 9 and that is also including 4 assists.

Arsenal:

Robin Van Persie: After scoring a brilliant goal versus Liverpool putting his tally to 8 goals on the season, any defense should be terrified of the player.  He is a player who I hold as arguably one of the top 3 strikers in the league when fit.  He has a bullet of a shot and a deadly volley rendering him capable of scoring anywhere around the box.

Samir Nasri:  A player who has come in this season and impressed.  He has the pace to split defenders and an excellent shot in addition to his dribbling.  With Fabregas’s absence he will be Arsenal’s talisman in the midfield.

 

Watch for:  Counter attacks