Sad times – Last game of the season
I hate the last game, season over, no more visits to Villa Park for weeks, usually we have great weather but not tomorrow !
At least we have something to play for, 6th place and an outside shot at 5th. Some fans have decried 6th place again but we have had an increase in points and can not help if others have improved quicker. However to finish above Liverpool and shut up your glory hunting fake scouse mates must be something with wanting ?
A positive bit of team news is that Andreas Weimann is going to be on the bench some of you say he may not get a chance but I have seen enough reserve team football to know that Weimann is a massive talent for the future. He has for his age great strength a fair turn of pace and a natural goal scoring nstinct and is only 18, he can in my view go all the way.
We know what the team will be tomorrow so lets hope with pressure off against a team with nothing to play for in front of a full ground we loosen the shackles and put on a performance for the fans to remember at home because that is where we have struggled for certain.
Lets not hope it is the usual end of season fare !
Villa Team News – UNCHANGED, Man City – Barry out
Team has now been officially confirmed as unchanged from the Blues starting line up, no surprise there.
Friedel
Cuellar
Dunne
Collins
Warnock
Young
Milner
Petrov
Downing
Carew
Gabby
SUBS: L Young, Delfouneso, Guzan, Beye, Sidwell, Heskey, Reo-Coker
Big game today for Carew in particular maybe one of his last in a Villa shirt and we need a huge performance from him.
Most nervous I have been for a game all season, this means more than any other one
Man City team news for what we care is Garath Barry is out after speculation of an injury, good news for us that Viera is playing I think.
Another City, another win, we dislike teams in blue
Well the season has flown and the second best away team in the country face one more trip, to a tough venue to win what we all know is, yes, those words, ‘a must win game’.
We all know the situation, we all know what is required and what a draw or defeat means. what we know is that Villa should go out there, attack from all angles because nothing less than goals will win this. City obviously have all the talents up front but at the back with Young’s and Gabby’s pace they are very vulnerable to conceding and we know that we will score.
It means in many ways more to City, they spent so much money this season anything less than a win is a failure, the fans, players and management all know this. That pressure at home at this stage of the season can do funny things to teams and can give teams like us with nothing to lose unexpected wins.
That is what I hope of course, we hope that finally a home win against the Blues will show that we have a chance and all the players should be totally committed and desperate to win. Of course on both sides we have players in Dunne and Barry for which this game means even more than the actual result.
But for our magnificent travelling support after having spent thousand’s this week forget Barry, concentrate on the game in front of you everyone of our players needs your 100% support you always give.
As for me, stream finding time !
A Hull of a trip
Not long left in the season is it ?
Gone quick, yep ?
Enjoyable, yep think so
So another game, better to be away from home I suppose but against a team fighting for their lives managed by er…
Iain Dowie
No surprises on the team, we can all guess which one MON will put out and like at Portsmouth we have to go for it from the start, keep the bloody ball and create chances.
However this time we have to TAKE them, be more clinical because if we had been against Pompey then we could have won 5/6 nil. Hull are no great shakes, in fact since Dowie went there they have got worse and the defence has fell away this should be three points.
Then of course if we get them that we means we go into the Blues game on Saturday knowing that Tottenham will have played Man Utd and Man City will have played Arsenal
It is not inconceivable that we win the the next two we could be level on points with spurs and above Man City, with us still to play Man City and Spurs/Man City to come. We should never give up hope and hopefully MON is telling the lads exactly that.
Crystal Palace to face the power of Delf
Well I hope that this is the case and Nathan starts tomorrow. I have seen enough of him this season in cameos and starts to know he is the real deal and whilst I understand why he was left out for the first game, for tomorrow there is no excuse.
Clearly with the Carling Cup final on the horizon we would expect a few changes to the team. For certain Petrov with a virus is out, Gabby after taking a knock against Burnley I expect not to be risked. Also Luke Young will certainly return to probably replace Dunne and of course Delph for Petrov. The big question will be is whether one or all of Downing, Milner and Ash Young will be rested, that is not clear at the moment and MON has been evasive on what he may do.
What we expect from Palace will be a fully committed side we saw at Selhurst, but they are now struggling with fitness, down to the last 19 professionals and maybe the lift that Warnock gave them after administration is wearing out. The rumours still surround Warnock and QPR and many people think this could be his last game in charge at Palace if they lose, obviously lets hope that is the case from a Villa point of view.
So we hope for a comfortable win tomorrow, no injuries or sending offs of course and future development of Delf and Delph. Win tomorrow and February then starts to look a very good month indeed with the Carling Cup of course to cap it off.
The ancient battle of the Claret and Blues resume
Back in 1888 two teams played each other in the first ever football league season. One team was vastly more successful but given the size of Burnley they did not do to bad as well.
So for the first time in my supporting history Burnley play a league game at Villa Park with an abysmal away record. On Sunday this resumption of an ancient rivalry resumes and it is obviously a game we must win to ensure that the race for fourth stays a 4 horse race. In fact with Liverpool and Man City playing after our game it is clear a win will put us right up amongst the positions for 4th.
Therefore I expect nothing less than a full strength team for this game. If everyone is fit the only real debate is exactly who will play at RB, Luke Young or Carlos Cuellar. I like Cuellar, no emphaise that further I really rate him and he has played really well, However at this stage we need a proper right back, we have to win the game and Luke simply HAS to play.
The only other area is who would play alongside Gabby. With Heskey breaking down every game, Carew playing like he has already left then is it time for Nathan Delfouneso ? MON said today
Delph and for that matter, Nathan Delfouneso, have got wonderful ability. I expect those two boys to be really, big big players for us next season.
I totally agree and the only reason I would not play Delph tomorrow is that he is needed for Wednesday. However Delfouneso can start against Burnley’s slow centre backs and I believe he would be excellent against them and provide a real threat and more importantly goals.
whatever team is picked we must win and hopefully get a few goals, the next month is vital for our league ambitions and anything less against a team with only one point away from Turf Moor is just unacceptable.
Storming the Palace into the Quarter Finals
I love the FA Cup and that is despite our recent history in it and tomorrow represents a great chance to progress in the competition and with a decent draw so far the gods are with us it seem.
However Palace is far from an easy task, in fact since the move into administration it seems to have galvanised the whole club to move forward and get some very good results. they are going to be dangerous in front of vociferous fans and at a ground we have very poor form in.
Of course despite the desire to progress further we also have to balance it up with the demands of the season and some injury doubts. Looking forward at tomorrow therefore it is difficult to see what the team could be. We will see Delph, Collins, Youngs, Delf all start but after that who knows. For certain Albrighton after the first 6 minutes against Brighton deserves to start, if fit. I would like also to see Clark start but would imagine Davies alongside Collins, so the team allowing for this should be
Guzan
Beye Collins Davies Young
Albrighton Sidwell Delph Young
Carew Delf
That really should be good enough to win the game and get to the quarter finals because at least in cup competitions we score goals !!
Fingers Crossed
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.
A trip down memory (White Hart) Lane
I have been on many trips down to Whte Hart Lane over the years and rarely do you see boring games. This season however will be watching it on ESPN somewhere and yet against we have another game we need to win to have serious ambitions for top 4, a draw obviously is not the worst result in the world.
Similarities to 21st February 1990 are appropriate now. Back then it was one of my first away trips we were challenging for the title and went to WHL to face a Terry Venables led Spurs with Gazza and Lineker. We were expected to lose but instead turned in a majestic performance to win 2-0 with goals from Ormodroyd and Platt. Now obviously tomorrow is not about the league but top 4 is vital to both team future, the press as usual love Tottenham and barely mention us, can it happen again ?
Tottenham’s form has been rather patchy recently but ours is an unbeaten January, progression to Wembley
and in the FA Cup. Whilst the West Ham result was disappointing the form was good and last week against Fulham we were great with a defence that at the moment looks impregnable. It is disappointing to lose Warnock at the moment but Carew’s return is welcome (his time of the year to score) and Gabby maybe is over his slump earlier than normal ?
This game and Manchester United represent the last two games back to back that anyone would call tough, we get anywhere between 3 & 6 points would leave us in a very good position for 4th place and in turn damage Tottenham’s push for fourth.
We never lack determination and faith as a team but sometimes we lack that quality in the final third against Fulham we showed more signs of this and more of that we will have a very good run in to the season.
What would you give for a goal – Gabby please deliver
Since the Arsenal game on Wednesday the talk of Villa fans is the 4 goals without a goal.
It has been well publicised that we have not gone four games without a win for a few years now a few managers ago ! Yet the shocking thing about this Villa team is that we hardly lack players for creativity in Downing, Young & Milner.
So has we head into the Fulham game on Saturday at a very difficult venue and one we have failed at many times the big question is whether we can actually score ? Because if we do score with a very good defence then the chances are we can certainly win games and therefore progress and keep up the battle for the top 4, which we have slipped behind a bit.
The problem is at Villa MO has a past record for this, every season has seen a slump at this time even when we are actually playing quite well as I believe we are. The slump usually coincides with Gabby’s winter slump and we are well and truly within that. Gabby is vital to how we play we need his pace but if he can not score it appears it affects the whole team. We need somehow to get him to play in the winter but no one can deny the effort so what is it ?
Anyway for tomorrow, guess same starting team as against Arsenal, where we did actually play well and really a draw is a decent result but Fulham are missing players through injuries and games like this are a watershed for us.
Another day, another visit to Villa Park
Yes it is a Wednesday so must mean for the 4th time in 11 days a trip down Villa Park for a game.
This time it is the Premier League and a really tough game for us against Championship chasing Arsenal who after the game in December will be confident of a win. At Villa Park our record against Arsenal is very poor with no win in the last 10 home games. The cup games have disrupted the season a lot and it has to be remembered we have only took one point in the last three league games with no goals scored.
That is simply not good enough at this stage of the season and for tomorrow we simply have to put all thoughts aside of the the cups and concentrate fully on the league. Unfortunately we have quite a few small niggling injures with Carew, NRC, Warnock, Albrighton all missing and Petrov is having a scan on a possible achilles injury. So there may be some interesting choices tomorrow and especially if Petrov is ruled out though after Saturday maybe playing Delph against Arsenal is not the worst possible outcome.
After tonight’s results with Liverpool drawing and Spurs winning, then simply we have to go for it, not give Arsenal any respect and get into them, stand back as we found out at the Emirates and their world class player can tear you apart.
We need goals, we need to win, sitting back against Arsenal is not the way to do it.
Bright(on) chance for young ‘uns
Another match day, another home game and hopefully it will not be ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ for Villa after a fantastic Wednesday night. However it is clear that the team Saturday will not reflect much of the team we saw against Blackburn.
Especially as Carew and NRC who you would have expected to play are both out and niggles for Heskey and Carew we will see a chance for some of the youngsters (at last). With MON saying
“We have one or two younger players around who did wonderfully well for us in pre-season against real top-quality opposition in the Peace Cup. They are desperate for a chance.
“There are other players who have been unlucky not to be in the team and I am quite sure are looking forward to the game.
So what can expect tomorrow for the team, my guess is this team.
Guzan
Young(L) Collins Clark Lowry
Albrighton Sidwell Delph Young (A)
Delfeunso Gabby
It has to be that finally Albrighton gets a well deserved chance, he should have played more anyway and it will be a good test for him. Clark and Lowry should start for experience and Warnock needs a rest but the real unfortunate bit is that Gabby will have to play when he really needs a rest.
Will be an interesting test with 6000 Brighton fans and 33,000 tickets already sold. However we should get into the 5th round draw and another cup run is going to be most welcome.
IT IS OUR YEAR
Finish the road from Villa Park to Wembley
90 minutes stands between us and a Wembley visit since the none event of 2000 and after the 1st leg last week we should be very confident of finishing the job.
We played so well last Thursday that the tie should have been over and done with and tomorrow a mere formality. However due to the lack of a class goal poacher we go into the 2nd leg with a lead but one that can be wiped away by one single silly mistake. The key tomorrow is to ensure we get the early goal, we get the chance to put it away early and make it a fairly easy tie.
Not sure what attitude that Blackburn will bring to us, if they come on the attack will suit us down to the ground but we are more than capable of dealing with their rather limited attacking play but we simply have to put away chances which we have missed the last few games we can not afford to miss such easy chances.
I am confident we will be Wembley bound tomorrow evening but not cocky about it and understand that all ties are hard but we have the quality and desire to succeed. The only thing that will hold us back is our lack of creativity and being too relaxed about it.
Biggest game for a few years and a sell out night crowd should provide a raucous atmosphere.
enjoy, if you can !!
Hammer them
The games are coming thick and fast now and West Ham on Sunday (KO 13:30) gives us a great chance to extract revenge on the shirt stealers after they stole the game from us last November. This game comes on the back of two defeats over Xmas of which damaged our league chances but clearly not our morale as witnessed on Thursday.
Even though we have three games in 6 days, the players have had a 2/3 week break and a few will miss the FA Cup game against Brighton so I fully expect a full strength side against West Ham. The only debate is whether Luke Young will return in the place of Cuellar who will replace Collins. There may also be a change up front with Carew possibly replacing Heskey but I would not put much money on that !
As we showed against Blackburn with some very good fluent passing football in the first half we are creating chances and just need to take them and get more convincing wins. West Ham are clearly going to be struggling against relegation all season and with injury problems all over the field (Franco the latest now) then a convincing win is required to set us up for the game against Blackburn.
The vats majority hate early Sunday kick offs nad the crowd could be low (sub 35,000) so lets get behind the lads and roar the Villa onto a much needed victory in the league.
Two steps to Wembley
The third match in the saga that is Villa/Blackburn games is less than 24 hours away and it is almost certain to be played. So for the first time in nearly two weeks we actually get to play a game and this one is real important.
There is no doubt about the Villa fan’s passion and desire for a visit to the ‘New Wembley’ and you have to say that the draw was very kind to us. At Ewood Park tomorrow we start out on 180 minutes against a team in poor form, hit by injures and from reports dressing room unrest. There is simply no better time to play them and we simply have to come away from Ewood with a goal (away goals count) and a great chance at Wembley in front of a packed Villa Park next Wednesday.
We have a full squad to pick from with no injury concerns but there is a concern that 12 days without football and indoor training may not leave us as sharp as we could be but on the other hand a break at this time may have done us wonders. We will see for certain tomorrow but anything other than a 100%performance full of effort and vigour is not acceptable for the 5000 Villa fans braving the agony of the M6.
Do not let us down Villa.
Wigan game on, cold opp north
Excellent news from Wigan today and confirmed by Villa that because of strenuous efforts around the ground to clear the ice the game is on, unless there is further worsening of the weather, which is not predicted to happen at the moment. Good luck to the 3000 who are going and make sure you wrap up warm.
So what can we expect ?
Wigan as they showed against us, Spurs and Chelsea are a right mixed bag of a side and you can not be sure of the type of performance they may put out. For Villa after two disappointing defeats and in one case very undeserved it is a great chance to bounce back at a ground we have a decent record at, better than at Villa Park !!).
With the run of games to come, baring any postponements it is not likely we see some changes from the team that started against Liverpool. Maybe one change may be that Carew starts instead of Heskey who may start against Blackburn three days later.
This is a game I expect us to win, it is the type of game we have slipped up on in this season so we have to go there with confidence we can win and not let the past two games affect the high confidence levels we have built up.
Make it Villa a red hot game for the fans who will make a dificult trip up there.
Be brave Martin
I like the FA cup, in fact I love it.
However on Saturday we will face I believe a reserve Blackburn side who of course like us wait for the Carling Cup semi but they obviously have far fewer resources.
So now is the time for MON to be brave and play the kids and younger players. Give them exposure to a 28,000 or so Villa Park in a competition we should be targeting. I have backed MON all the way but for Saturday he has to play the following team because we have to see if the kids have got what it takes to progress. Besides we also face an awful amount of games and some of the senior players need a few days off.
Therefore please Martin play the following team (because you have said you would make changes)
Guzan
Beye Collins CLARK LOWRY
ALBRIGHTON Reo-Coker Sidwell DELPH
Carew DELFOUNESO
The players in capitals are the ones we should be excited by for the future and the senior players left are those whose match time recently has been restricted.
We have nothing to fear by playing this team, nothing.
Snow will not stop a win against Liverpool
If the weather is not too bad tomorrow then we will have a very interesting game. Against Arsenal, there was a problem with our creativity and a couple of players looked like needing a rest, Downing in particular but with Young out they may prove to be difficult.
Martin O’Neil has to prove he can rotate the team and still get results because a defeat tomorrow will prove to be the catalyst for a lot of fans to fear a repeat of last season’s fade out. With Young definitely out then we presume Milner will revert to the right but neither NRC or Sidwell can provide the creativity we will miss from him, so is it an impossibility that Albrighton could start ?
Liverpool will come to Villa Park, knowing a win is vital for them to retain serious hopes of a top 4 position but it is unlikely that both Torres and Aquilani will both play and their reserves are clearly not good enough for a ‘proper’ Liverpool team. Therefore a win is more than possible, a win in fact is what we should expect but our record is so poor at home to them, there is understandable anxiety over the game.
A win tomorrow will ease the fears and once again raise the hopes of what is at times a fickle ad negative crowd if one game goes badly.
As a Villa fan I am well used to that !
Xmas treat for all Villans
Good results for us today at Craven Cottage and the Sty.
Leaves us with a great chance tomorrow at a ground we have done well at the Emirates and we have one over the ‘sky 4′ this season.
So for all those going down, make a hell of a noise, for the team do not be overawed by the opponents, they are beatable if you get ‘physical’ with them and attack with pace, exactly our forte !
Win tomorrow and we are set up brilliantly for the visit of the Scouser who are not playing well and we could be well on the way to a precious top 4 finish if not for the title itself.
We should not be afraid of the challenge tomorrow.
A festive cheer at the Emirates
Thanks to the wonderful people at Sky, with the fixture change we have been given a very tough Xmas period. MON has admitted as much by hinting players will be rested, for example you can not imagine Downing starting against both Arsenal and Liverpool.
So given Heskey’s injury is not as bad as feared but Carew scored against Stoke then trying to pick the team that starts against Liverpool does require some guesswork and therefore I am guessing the same team that started against Stoke.
We go to the Emirates on Sunday in very good form, very high in confidence and the knowledge we remain unbeaten in the three previous visits. Also we have the knowledge to come away unbeaten is a very good result and only further strengthens our claims to a top 4 finish. A win of course will mean we have beaten the ‘sky 4’ teams before the season reaches the New Year, that is a serious intent of a title challenge.
Arsenal at the moment are a bit of a curates egg of a team, when they are good they are easily the best in the league but like against Hull and despite the win they showed all their weakness’s which we can exploit and benefit from. Gabby in particular will be looking forward to facing Gallas again !
These two games may well shape the season as to how serious we are in a sustained challenge for the top 4 and beyond, with a stronger squad and the likes of Dunne on board I expect us to show the resolve we need.
Hopefully a Merry Xmas to us all
Revenge will be served cold on Saturday
Revenge is a dish served cold says many wise people and 10 months on from the disastrous game which turned our season we now have our chance to serve that dish.
Stoke will provide no surprises at all, we know what they bring to the game and their style of play will always cause teams many problems. However this is a different Villa side with much more resilience than back in February. The defence in particular is a totally different beast led by the buy of the season, Dunne, who is in superb form and the leader we lacked then with the absence of Martin Laursen. Dunne is not the type of player who lets 2 goals leads slip easy and I am very confident tomorrow we will see the continuation of the past few games.
It is no shock to me that Downing’s return to the team and fitness has seen an uplift in the team’s performances and style of play. This had led to short sharp passing, which when played to feet has suited Heskey and led to a more fluid style of play. Of course the star has been Milner and that is no surprise to me (future of the club) and his style of play as shown by the goal against Sunderland shows the guy is everything I thought he would be.
Villa Park will be an hostile place for the Stokies and on the back of the result at Old Trafford and Stadium of Light the team will be all out for the revenge and hopefully show the rest of the Premier League that unlike last season we are serious for the vital top 4 spot.
This is more important than Saturday
After such a magnificent win then it would be very disappointing to slip up against a good but very inconsistent Black Cats side. Clearly from their home record you can see at home Sunderland are a threat but also there is a certain amount of apprehension by their fans at this game and to show we are serious about top4 these are games were certainly should not lose and if possible we have to win.
It is likely that Warnock may be out but that should prove no real obstacle to what I believe is the best defence in the league. However I think Downing should be rested soon but Milner can not be moved from the middle which leaves us with a little problem but we finally have the choices of a strong squad.
To prove to all the Villa fans that this is not a simple repeat of last season every player has to take responsibility for what happens especially after beating Man Utd. They have set the benchmark for the rest of the season and can not let themselves down.
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.
Milner destroys Hull and get well Bullard
Any regular readers of this blog will know the high esteem I have over James Milner. I wrote this entry back in June and every word is coming true and yesterday just proved once again to me that Milner will go all the way.
Every Villa fan knows how hardworking the guy is, knows how honest he is and knows he would always give 100% in a claret and blue shirt. Yesterday was no exception, in fact the positional change (yes he can play everywhere, Milner can do what he likes) seems to suit us and Villa down to the ground !
For anyone who watched the first 20 minutes before the injuries and I will come to Bullard later, they would have seen 20 minutes of pure football (no hoofing), controlled aggression and some fantastic one touch passing and movement. We could and should have been at least 3-0 u and in the end we settled for that as a final score
Clearly it is obvious just how we want to play with Downing and this allows Milner to be the pivotal player between midfield and attack and someone we have missed since the days of Merson. Some of the passing he did was sublime and the contribution for the 2nd one (Thanks Sidwell) was almost the perfect box to box player, I am sure within a year he will be scoring at least 10 goals a season and be an England regular and he will be winning trophies for us.
A word to all Villa fans on how proud I was to the reception we gave to Jimmy Bullard. Jimmy is the player we all want to be, no bling, no celeb girlfriends, but an honest funny working class lad. I wish Jimmy all the best and hope it is not as serious as it looked and he felt.
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