May 2009
7 posts
9 tags
Aston Villa v Newcastle United (Preview and...
The last thing Newcastle United supporters travelling to Birmingham want to hear on Sunday is a booming chorus of “We’ll Meet again” reverberating around Villa Park. Alan Shearer sends his troops into action against a Villa side that have lost its way in the past few months aware that even a victory might not be enough to keep the side in the Premier League. It’s fair to...
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Petrov signs new Villa contract →
Good news and one less worry for the summer!
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Middlesbrough 1 Aston Villa 1
Middlesbrough all but relegated as Villa snatch point
They may still have the tiniest chance of survival but Middlesbrough are all but relegated to the Championship after failing to beat Aston Villa at the Riverside this afternoon. John Carew’s 56th minute equalizer after a slip from Marlon King cancelled out Tuncay’s spectacular first half strike. Villa started the match with James...
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Martin Laursen - End Of An Era
Aston Villa captain Martin Laursen has retired at the age of 31 following weeks of speculation about his future in the game. Martin Laursen signed for Aston Villa for £3M from Italian giants A.C. Milan in May 2004. His partnership with Olof Mellberg looked to be one of the best in the league under David O’Leary but injury problems have kept him out of action at Aston Villa for long periods....
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Middlesbrough v Aston Villa (Preview and...
Gareth Southgate looked a broken man on Monday evening. The Boro manager had seen his side take an early lead against fellow strugglers Newcastle in a ‘must win’ match, only to concede three goals and lose the game. The former Villa defender now needs a miracle as the scrap for Premier League survival reaches boiling point. Anything less than three points against his former club on...
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Fulham v Aston Villa - Preview and Prediction
Villa manager Martin O’Neill has this week hailed Fulham manager Roy Hodgson for the exquisite progress he is making at Craven Cottage. There’s no doubt that Fulham have come on leaps and bounds since Hodgson took charge in December 2007. With the club struggling despondently to stay in the Premier League last season, Fulham managed to win their last three games against Manchester...
Villa return to winning ways
It wasn’t a vintage Villa performance (or a good game) last night, but at least Villa won a football match at last! The final ten minutes or so were very edgy and a better team than Hull might have taken advantage of our nerves but we hung on and gained a much needed three points. Man of the match for me was Nicky Shorey. I’ve been very impressed with him since he came back into the...
April 2009
39 posts
4 tags
Aston Villa v Hull City (Preview and Prediction)
Just seven points from 15 games since Villa’s undeserved victory at the KC Stadium in December, courtesy of a Kamil Zayatte own goal, has seen Hull hover perilously close to the relegation zone. Only three points separate Hull in 17th from Newcastle in 18th. Defeats against fellow strugglers Middlesbrough and Sunderland in recent weeks makes it vital that Hull come to Villa Park on Saturday...
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Gareth Barry vows not to repeat transfer saga →
I expect Gareth will leave at the end of the season and I hope it’s all done quickly and I think MON would accept a decent bid for him and not stand in his way if he wanted to go.
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O'Neill talks up Old Firm switch →
I’m in agreement with Martin O’Neill - although I would be against them just entering the Premier League. They’d have to start in the Championship or even lower down than that and work their way up. I think it would eventually spice things up nicely.
Martin O'Neill hunting high and low for new Aston... →
“I have been checking out players up and down the country – any country,” - MON
Congratulations Ashley Young
Aston Villa winger Ashley Young has won the PFA Young player of the year award. The 23 year old was signed by Aston Villa in January 2007 for a fee of £8M (Rising to £9.75M with add-ons) from Watford. Young had earlier rejected a £10M move to West Ham. Eyebrows were raised throughout football at the size of the fee for the youngster but Villa boss Martin O’Neill was confident that Young...
“We have not been out of the top six all season. It is hard to break through into...”
– Martin O’Neill speaking after Villa’s 1-1 draw with Bolton at the Reebok
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Bolton Wanderers v Aston Villa (Preview and...
When you’re down on your luck, struggling for form and confidence then one of the last things you need is a trip to the Reebok Stadium. And that’s exactly what faces Aston Villa on Saturday as Martin O’Neill takes his side to Bolton as he looks for a first win in 11 games. Gary Megson and Bolton are a combination that should fit perfectly together. Like former Bolton hero Sam...
O'Neill eyes new Petrov deal →
Possibly Villa’s player of the season? I think he’s been vastly improved this season.
Aston Villa Boss O'Neill Keen To Avoid Another... →
Laursen to decide on future next week →
Aston Villa’s injured defender Martin Laursen has revealed he will announce whether he will continue playing next week.
Carew could keep Villa spot →
Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill has hinted John Carew will remain at the club for next season - after suggesting all three of his main strikers could play in the same team.
“I don’t mind paying over the odds for some player but, if some player was...”
– Martin O’Neill who today stressed that Villa would be run as a business
“Martin Laursen has been a big loss for us. He is one of those players, a little...”
– Luke Young
Villa display poses more questions than answers
As evening fell on Villa Park, there were yet more questions being asked by the Villa fans who once again turned out in large numbers to see inept defending cost Villa three crucial points. The most powerful question is perhaps the most obvious one - how can a defence that cost nearly £30M be performing so badly? How can a side that were relatively clear from Arsenal in fourth position now be...
“The games are running out now so this is clearly a bad blow in our bid to reach...”
– Martin O’Neill speaking after today’s 1-1 draw with West Ham at Villa Park
Villa throw it away
Aston Villa 1 West Ham United 1 Martin O’Neill must be wondering what his side need to do to win a football match after a late Diego Tristan goal denied his side victory in a thrilling open game at Villa Park. Villa began the game making two changes from the side that drew 3-3 against Everton last weekend. Carlos Cuellar returned from injury to partner Curtis Davies with Zat Knight dropping...
O'Neill impressed as Villa's Nicky Shorey follows... →
I’ve been pretty impressed with Shorey since he came back into the side. I hope he can produce the form he showed at Reading a few seasons ago and become a permanent fixture in the side.
Ankle injury ends Bouma's season →
More bad news on the injury front
Aston Villa v West Ham United (Match Preview &...
There is an optimism around West Ham United which has been brought about by the fine work done by the management team of Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke. West Ham travel to Villa Park for Saturday’s Premiership encounter sitting pretty in 7th position in the Premiership table and with just one defeat in their last six games. Zola’s attractive brand of passing football has won over the...
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Laursen comeback delayed further →
It’s looking quite serious for Laursen..I doubt he’ll play again this season and any further knocks next season could finish his career..which is all a huge shame not only for him but for all the Villa fans who love him.
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Wobbles at the back for Villa
Firstly, that was cracking entertaining at Villa Park yesterday - a really good open and attractive game. The big worry for me about Villa at the moment is the defence. Individually and as a unit they look totally devoid of confidence and are making very basic errors. I’ll start with Brad Friedel. I thought he was a terrific signing in the summer from Blackburn. He’s proved for many...
Agbonlahor injury piles on concern for stuttering... →
Looks like Gabby will be out for a number of weeks which is a big blow
Villa 3 Everton 3 - Press Reaction
The Telegraph
Aston Villa rally to keep Everton to a draw
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The Guardian
James Milner inspires Aston Villa revival as top four hopes fade in style
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The Times
Champions League berth slips away from Everton and Aston Villa
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The Independent
Barry grabs share of the spoils
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The Mail
Barry spot on as O’Neill’s men fight back for a point
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Daily Mirror
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“We were terrific going forward, but we’re not too strong defensively at...”
– Martin O’Neill speaking after Villa’s 3-3 draw against Everton today
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Villa fight back to snatch point
Aston Villa 3 Everton 3
Aston Villa came from 3-1 behind to stage a dramatic comeback in a thrilling game against Everton at Villa Park. Both sides went into the game looking for a victory with Villa needing to make some ground up on Arsenal in fourth spot, and Everton looking to leapfrog Villa in fifth position. Villa made one change to the side that lost at Old Trafford last weekend with Zat...
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Hillsborough: 20 years on
A lot of educated reading on Hillsborough exists online. http://www.contrast.org/hillsborough/ The Hillsborough Justice Campaign site at contrast.org is the definitive history of what happened that day and the aftermath. Paddy Shennan looks at http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2009/04/10/hillsborough-the-key-players-100252-23359710/2/ The Key Players of Hillsborough....
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Aston Villa v Everton (Match-Preview)
Everton arrive at Villa Park for a crucial Premier League fixture this weekend confident that they can overtake Villa in fifth spot and push Arsenal for a Champions League spot. Whilst most commentators have been discussing the intriguing Villa v Arsenal surge for fourth spot, Everton have crept up to just one point behind Villa going into the final seven games of the season. The last meeting...
Martin O'Neill has hit out over Aston Villa's... →
MARTIN O’Neill says he will “review” his management of Villa if he feels the club are not making progress but the Irishman has staunchly defended his record at Villa Park.
Villa boss O'Neill charged by FA →
“What was it? Five minutes added time? I’m sure we wouldn’t have got it at Villa Park,” he said and I agreed with him..although United’s winner came after 2 minutes of that time.
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Little: Not all about fourth for Villa →
Interview with Brian Little from Setanta
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Villa boss O'Neill reveals Ellis team interference →
from Tribal Football
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Manchester United 3 Aston Villa 2 - Press Reaction
From The Guardian Villa, for their part, came burdened by a recent decline that included a 5-0 rout at Liverpool, and their fight now seems to be for no more than a Uefa Cup place. Circumstances here seemed to be imploring them to revive. There was no hiding the vulnerability of United from Martin O’Neill’s squad, who were not disconcerted by the loss of a needless goal. O’Neill...
“I thought we were brilliant today. We’ve been terrific and I don’t...”
– Martin O’Neill speaking after Villa’s 3-2 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford yesterday.
What's left for Aston Villa
Sunday 12 April - Everton (H) Saturday 18 April - West Ham (H) Saturday 25 April - Bolton (A) Saturday 02 May - Hull City (H) Saturday 09 May - Fulham (A) Saturday 16 May - Middlesbrough (A) Sunday 24 May - Newcastle United (H) It’s a tough ending to the season for Villa. The Everton tie is key to how things may develop. All does look lost right now in the chase for 4th place after the...
Champions League dream fades as Villa crash to...
Manchester United 3 Aston Villa 2
Manchester United came through a big scare at Old Trafford this afternoon to come from 2-1 behind to beat Aston Villa 3-2 in a dramatic match and return to the top of the Premier League. When Gabriel Agbonlahor headed into the net on 57 minutes, it looked as if Villa were on course to record their first victory at Old Trafford since 1983 but intense pressure from...
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Manchester United v Aston Villa (Match Preview)
1983: Bjorn Borg retires from tennis, red rain falls in the UK, Margaret Thatcher wins a landslide election victory over Michael Foot and Aston Villa defeat Manchester United at old Trafford. Since November 5th 1983 when Peter Withe’s brace won the day in Manchester, Villa have failed to win a single game at Old Trafford. There have been a few near misses along the way..Graham Taylor’s...
March 2009
49 posts
Graham Taylor: If people spit at you, the turnip...
The referee in a Grimsby Town reserve match once called over a protesting young Graham Taylor and reprimanded him with: “If you could play as well as you talk, you’d be an effing international.” The waitress serving at Watford’s Hilton Hotel last week would understand that, hovering three hours after she first brought the coffee and wondering what on earth anyone could find...
Villa win Friedel red card appeal →
I’m glad justice was done!
Villa give Anfield's central force a free rein →
David Pleat gives his view on Villa’s tactics at Anfield yesterday.
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Liverpool 5 Aston Villa 0 - Press Reaction
Gerrard inspires Reds rout
Sky Sports
Steven Gerrard grabs hat-trick as Liverpool rout Villa to close gap on leaders
Times
Gerrard’s hat-trick has Liverpool hot on United’s heels
Guardian
Steven Gerrard hat-trick fires Liverpool title charge
Telegraph
Gerrard hits hat trick as Rafa’s rampant Reds put pressure on United
Daily Mail
Benitez wants more after five against...