Villa lose reserve FINAL on PENS
A fantastic game of reserve team football finished 3-3 at full time, however we lost 3-2 in the penalty shoot out after poor pens by Collins and Fonz were saved and Albrighton hit wide. This was a thoroughly undeserved result for the Villa kids who deserved to win the title.
Villa totally dominated the first 40 mins and should have been 3 or 4 up but had to settle for 1-1 after the Fonz scored a good finish (after missing a simple header) and Man U equalised towards the end of the half.
The second half was fantastic stuff with Villa taking the lead twice through the Fonz and Clark on 86 mis only for a Roome slip to let in Diouf for the usual last gasp equaliser.
MOTM was Weimann and even though he did not score he was always dangerous.
Match thread here
RESERVE FINAL – Man U 3 VILLA 3 – The FONZ(2), CLARK – Man U win on Pens
RESERVE TEAM FINAL at Old Trafford, can Weimann fire Villa to the 2nd consecutive title
VILLA’s team is
VILLA: Marshall; Roome, Baker, Clark, O’Halloran; Albrighton, Bannan, Hogg, Hofbauer; Weimann, Delfouneso. Substitutes: Forrester, Bevan, Osbourne, Bradley, Collins.
Man U’s team is fairly strong
Foster, Rafael, Dudgeon, C Evans, De Laet, Gill, Stewart, Possebon, Diouf, Norwood, Macheda. Substitutes: Wooton, Zieler, Pogba, Obertan, Keane.
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MAN U win 3-2 on penalties after Albrighton, Collins and Fonz had theirs saved
FULL TIME and penalties and a very good game which Villa should have won comfortably
90 mins – Fonz spins and shoots wide, 3 mins extra time
88 mins – typical Man U late goal by Diouf, bad defending by Villa – Roome
86 mins – great move and Weimann’s shot deflected for a corner
83 mins – another corner, another Clark header but this time no goal but then justice as clear Man U pen turned down
81 mins – GOOAAAALLLL Villa’s captain Clark scores from a corner after Foster flaps
78 mins – Marshall gets away with a flap as Roome hits the crossbar but then Villa break and Weimann shoots wide
73 mins – Albrighton’s cross just a touch high
69 mins – Hogg should have done better after yet more great work from Weimann and blasts high
66 mins – Marshall saves well from Diouf
65 mins – we look shell shocked by that decision, Hogg NEVER touched the Man U player
61 mins – NEVER A PENALTY as Hogg apparently touched a Man U player, penalty slotted away by Macheda
56 mins – Weimann blazes over but he is showing the kind of quality that we should see in the first team soon
54 mins – fantastic work from Weimann to set up the FonZ on a plate
50 mins – Man U shoot straight at Marshall, very good start to the half
49 mins – Villa dominating as Hogg shoots over
47 mins – Weimann forces a great save, he looks the business
46 mins – Weimann shoots wide
SECOND HALF – James Collins on for Nathan Baker, injury
HALF TIME – Villa started brightly but Man U did not deserve the equaliser, however the Fonz’s first chance was a sitter, his goal though was very well taken.
44 mins – Man U’s pressure tells and Diouf equalises
42 mins – Man U more in the game Marshall has to make saves after our goal
35 mins – couple of Man U free kicks, not troubled Marshall
31 mins – First attack on Villa’s goal and Marshall saves well
23 mins – GOOOAAAALLLL, Villa’s domiance pays off as Bannan feeds the Fonz who scores
17 mins – all Villa
12 mins – Guess who, yes Albrighton causes more trouble, the Fonz heads just over
11 mins – Albrighton once again causes problems as a cross is just out of the forwards reach
8 mins – Clark gets onto an Albrighton corner but fails to hit the target
5 mins – Villa on the attack and Albrighton fires over
KICK OFF
Weather for Wembley poor, forecast for game, very good
First the public service
A storm is brewing over London (not Bridge vs Terry !!) and heading to Wembley for Sunday and it is going to be very wet and windy.
However the forecast is very good for the game and Villa in particular. Over the years we have had an inferiority complex with Man Utd but the result at Old Trafford earlier this season has changed the team and more important the fan’s psyche. We now go into Sunday’s game on an excellent run of form, unbeaten in 12 and 2010, scoring goals a plenty in the cups and knowing as so called underdogs the pressure is off us.
When the pressure is off we are capable of playing some stunning stuff and whilst we know exactly our team (see Burnley) as it appears Petrov is fine but Man Utd’s team is any guess.
You know what I do not give a damm who they played.
In 1994 we went into the game with Man U chasing a domestic treble and arguably a stronger team than now and we blitzed them because we had no fear and that is key for Sunday. If we play with fear then it is game over, however play with freedom, let Ash free and you know what we will win it.
The mass hordes of Villa fans depart Birmingham on Sunday by coach, car and train and I really sense there is a strong sense of belief and destiny in the fans which we do not see often. The fans and team are united and we expect every many to do his job.
Rob El Cid posted this on Villatalk, let battle begin
We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have had before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering.
You ask, What is our policy?
I will say; “It is to wage war, on the pitch, with all our might and with all the strength that McGrath can give us: to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark lamentable catalogue of football crime. That is our policy.”
You ask, What is our aim?
I can answer with one word: Victory – victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is nothing.”
There is only ONE Randy Lerner – The Quiet American
One stark contrast on Sunday ta the Carling Cup final will be to look to the directors box and notice the tale of two American owners.
In the RED corner (or should that be yellow & green) will be the Glazier family. Possibly the most hated people inside of Old Trafford and that probably includes any scousers. They have managed despite the club still winning and in contention to ensure the club has £700m in debt and for many do not have the resources to compete at the very top level. This is despite record turnover and large operating profits, which get wiped out by the large amount of interest Man Utd. have to play to service in effect Glazier’s own debt, that just can not be right.
So in the CLARET & BLUE corner we have the quiet American, Randy Lerner. Posted elsewhere what he has done for the club in just under 4 years but this season is a vindication of his and MON’s policy of what I call ‘organic growth’. We had a long way to when he took over from Doug Ellis the club had rarely been at such a low point. However through player investment and steady use of home grown and cheap players MON has fashioned a team on the verge of the most successful season since 1996 and possibly since 1982 if we get ot the FA cup.
When (for there is no doubt of that) we lift the Carling Cup on Sunday Randy will be standing there proudly seeing the start of his desire for success for the club. He will deserve all the credit going (along with MON of course) for the success and he will deserve
There is only ONE Randy Lerner
being sung around Wembley as the Yellow and Green masses troop out to contemplate interest payments.
Petrov to MISS Carling Cup Final
According to Sky Sports News last night Petrov is unlikely to play in the cup final.
Tsvet on H&V who has good links to Petrov though just posted
A friend got a text from him saying he’s coughing a lot and is feeling very weak, but is getting better since yesterday. I reckon he’d be OK for the final.
I hope this is true because no matter how much I rate Delph the game is an occassion for experience and Petrov deserves his final spot.
Excellent news as Manchester United confirm Rio is out
Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Rio Ferdinand has had another back spasm and is out for the Carling Cup final
“He tweaked his back in training and he won’t be ready for Sunday,” said Ferguson.
“It is unfortunate for him that he’s going to miss a couple of game
This is great news for us as Vidic is unlikely to play against us after such a long time out and we have to fancy our chances facing a Man U back 4 featuring Evans and Brown. Also talking of their defence I do not rate Rafael that highly and Neville is on his last legs. With our pace on the wide open grass at Wembley we should be able to run them around.
No clues tonight from Fergie on any other possible team news but after the Man City semi he did say he would play a different (weaker) team in the final.
Wembley hopes increase
Did you watch the Everton/Man U game earlier today ?
Simply they were awful and it was their first team choice and showed totally how over reliant they are on Rooney. Every attack comes through him, they used to have great strength on the wings but no more. In fact without Rooney I would say the present Man U team would struggle to be even top 4, they have been unable to strengthen with top quality and the cracks are showing.
We have shown in the past two games against them just how to shut them down through keeping Rooney under lose control and our strong defence allows that. Everton today also showed just how you can score past them, the problem for us is that it is likely that both Vidic and Ferdinand are going to play.
There is of course another factor in that Ferguson has indicated that he will not play the same type of team that he did against Man City in the Semi’s that is another boost for us.
On the forums there is far too much negativity surrounding the result, people seem to think playing Man U is a bad pick but we have shown all season we are able to raise our game against the better sides and wins at Old Trafford and Anfield simply prove this. As pointed out above there is no reason to be negative, in fact quite the opposite, we should be going down there in a weeks time full of hope, given we do not have some kind of injury disaster.
First trophy win since 1996, you bet !
Weakened Man U team at Wembley
Alex Ferguson has said on Sky that he will play a different team against us at Wembley than we saw today.
Actually I expected that to be honest and with Giggs off for an X-ray and Champs league to come then the likes of Gibson will get a game and maybe even Owen ! For him the only reason he played a full team against Man City was to ensure they never got through.
However with Petrov limping off today it could be that we see a ‘weakened’ team for us also and of course still two more games to come but we are looking stretched as well.
I always thought we had a chance of winning the trophy and if Fergie holds to his word then the chances become greater.
Dwight Yorke – Do YOU forgive him
Today on the Official Site Dwight Yorke has tried to mend bridges between the himself and the Villa fans and basically asks that we forgive him
“It was a great platform to be given the chance to learn my trade and to improve but not only as a footballer but as a person, as an individual, I couldn’t ask for a better club and Aston Villa will always be a very special part in my life and a club that I will continue to support and look out for.
“It was just great to know that I had a great relationship with the supporters and I know some people out there probably not forgave me for leaving. I can understand that but I thought at the time I had given everything to the club that I possibly could.
“Hopefully the Villa fans will forgive me and see the reason why I moved on.”
I was lucky enough to watch Yorke from his first game until his last one, I always rated him and he was the most skilful player I saw play for Villa. Many things stand out about Yorke especially in the championship run in 1994. It is my view that Fat Ron cost us the league that season for dropping an on form Yorke for his favourite Dalian Atkinson.
You felt every time that Yorke got the ball he would do something, he was the most clinical forwards I have seen at the club and his overall stats (73 goals in 263 games) show what a great player he was despite playing the first part of his career on the wing.
However all of this was soured in the summer of 1998, when during off season he was (well for legal reasons) attracted by Alex Ferguson and Man Utd. I can not blame him for wanting to move and what he did subsequently proves he was right to move at that time. However the manner of his leaving left a sour note even now.
I was at Goodison Park at the heart of all the fuss over his mover, he played like he did not care, I have never seen a player play so badly and with no passion and that includes Steve Hodge. It was no surprise that he left shortly afterwards and it was good riddance. To compound this ‘sin’ he then after Beckham’s goal at Old Trafford in the return fixture went deliberately to the corner flag where we were and made sure we saw him kiss the Man U badge, that was too much.
However despite these actions, time does heal and he is right, it is time to forgive. We should remember what a quality player we had (at times world class) and instead of spite and bile move to appreciation, Yorke has been man enough to do this, so should we.
“It’s up to you, Dwight Yorke, Dwight Yorke, dum, dum, dum”
That is much better than John Carew song
14 years of waiting, can we win a game at home
19th August 1995
Remeber that game ?
We played three new signings, Savo, Draper & Southgate at the start of Brian little’s first year in charge. They cost £9m and were young, hungry and rated. After a stunning 3-1 win against Man Utd. it looked like the future would be claret & blue and yet not beaten them at home since in the Premier league and domination by the team in red.
3 months ago we finally broke the stranglehold at Old Trafford and I can see no reason why we can not do it tomorrow. Man U are storming it at the moment let by Rooney in the form of his career but this time he is up against the might of Dunne who snuffed him out at Old Trafford. Villa fans because we have failed to score seem to be a little negative about the game but we have plenty of reasons to be positive. Not least the best defence in the league which will have to be on form and if we can get some attacking zest I can see a win.
It is confusing why we have failed to score or even create chances in a number of games, have we been too negative, maybe but we have more than the quality to win. I always say we have to believe on games and none more so tomorrow. Heskey being out, unlike what some fans think is a blow, he is the link man between the forwards and midfield a role Carew or Gabby simply can not do.
However Man U’s defence is nothing special, it is beatable and if only Carew can motivate himself then maybe a win, the first for 14 years, is not an impossibility.
Away shirts for The Carling Cup final
Just on Sky Sports News that we will be wearing the away shirt at Wembley
Carling Cup final ref – Phil Dowd
The Carling Cup final referree has been announced
The officials have been announced for the Carling Cup Final between Aston Villa and Manchester United later this month.
Phil Dowd will be in charge of proceedings at Wembley and his Assistants will be Shaun Procter-Green and David Richardson, while Lee Mason has been named the Fourth Official.
It will be the first time the Stoke-born official has taken charge of a final, although he was previously the Fourth Official in the FA Cup Final.
Dowd for me is a good ref who lets the play go. The bonus is that he is not Fergie’s favourite ref after sending Rooney and Scholes at Fulham last season.
Very good choice as the PL stats show
20 PL games
60 Yellows
4 Reds
Man Utd our bogey team at Wembley, nothing to fear
So we now know who we play at Wembley on Feb 28th (I have my ticket woo hoo !!).
It is of course the mighty (sic) Manchester United who tonight beat Man City 3-1 at the theatre of dreams (urgghhh).
Let me remind you of the past two occasions we played them at Wembley
Saturday 4th May 1957 – FA Cup Final
Aston Villa 2 (Peter McParland, 2) Manchester United 1 (Taylor)
Sunday 27th March 1994 – League Cup Final
Aston Villa 3 (Atkinson, Saunders 2) Manchester United 1 (Hughes)
Not a bad record eh ?
We are the clear underdogs, everyone will write us of like in the previous two and we have nothing to fear from losing as we are expected to.
BRING IT ON
ps. as an after thought but after seeing Bellamy pelted by at least 4 missiles, should their fans be banned at Wembley ?
24 hours later and events at Old Trafford still a dream
24 hours later, watched the game twice all the way through and I am still in a state of disbelief at actually breaking a 26 year old hoodoo at Old Trafford and for our only 3rd win in Premier league history.
I had the pleasure of watching the game live in a pub with a mate and it seemed from all the fans gathered round there was a strange sense of confidence that this would be our time at last 8 months after being cheated at Old Trafford. As the game wore on and apart from a few scares it became clear that the defence were playing brilliantly, Friedel had little do apart from one awesome save and when Collins came on this feeling was only strengthened.
Why did we win there and it was actually comfortable for an away team. In fact why has our form picked up, there is a few factors of course but the introduction of Downing if not only for the last two games has given us a new dimension we did have before. Of course the obvious point is that it allowed us to move Milner
inside and means that Young in theory can not be double marked.
Along with the fact Downing keeps and retains the ball very well it has allowed Petrov to play the more natural role of distributor knowing that he is in a midfielder full of very good ball playing forwards. This in turn has led to us ‘lumping’ the ball far less and playing to Gabby’s and Heskey’s strengths of being fed balls to feet and taking the pressure off from then.
This game was the start of a very tough run and by the end of the Liverpool game at the end of December if we are still in 4th place then it is on. The key is whether we do not have the usual slump in the early part of the year, the season is shaping up very well.
We beat Man Utd, can you believe it
Well I can’t and too ‘euphoric’ to do a piece at the moment.
However the defence were the true heroes
Downing has changed everything for us
and Gabby is the big game player every team wants.
The theatre of nightmares for Man Utd ?
Villa’s annual trip to the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ and usually this is a given three points for Man Ure, it was last season but of course Man Utd were very very lucky to get that win. This season we have seen a different Villa against the top clubs, one that has shown resilience and the ability to beat them home and away.
So with Man Utd’s injury issues (refuse to call it a crisis when 8 internationals played on Wednesday) it is clear we have a good chance of a decent result for the first time in years. I expect the team that started against Hull to start on Saturday night and I expect us to make chances especially on their right which looks vulnerable against pace.
We know what happens when we play against Man Utd. Rooney and in the past Ronaldo usually destroy us but with Ronaldo obviously gone I also expect our solid defence to play much better especially in the full back positions with no Ronaldo out there, Nani and Valencia are not of the same quality.
The referee will also play a vital part in this game, we know what happens up there with clear onside positions being given and very dodgy penalties galore. So if all things are even, if we get some luck you always need then we can win. The question is whether after years of failure in Trafford can we overcome the psychological barrier which is always with us it could be an historic away trip.
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