Aston Villa
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This is a big one, and couldn’t come at a better time for us. Spurs have just played a hard game in the champions league, it was fast paced and full of action, which means they will probably be tired and haven’t always played great in the league after a CL match, in fact they haven’t done great in the league at all.
Their defence is injury ridden, Gomes is back but didnt look comfortable with his groin, especially since he kept throwing the ball out rather than kicking it, King played in the CL so will be shakey today, if he even starts. BUT they are still potent in attack, we have a great defence but it will be a worry, our only hope is big Emile carry’s on his form and either provides a goal or two or gets one himself. Lets hope he’s been doing his homework….
Annnnnyway, I hope we can get a win, I work with a few Spurs fans and I’m the only Villian, bragging rights for a while would be nice…. If West Ham can do it, why can’t we?
Team News :
Agbonlahor is out, he underwent surgery so will be out for a bit, but Heskey is in form, so perfect reason to give him a go. Albrighton may be rested to give Ireland a go, with Young on the wing again. I think this is a very viable option, all about rotation, we cant play Young in the hole every week, unless Ireland gives him competition for that space, also we need a decent covering winger, against Bale L.Young needs help, and Marc aint up to it yet IMO.
Hopefully a good stream online to watch this, it’s gonna be a cracker!
R x
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A good draw in my opinion, avoided the big boys but also avoided the lower teams we would probably lose to knowing our luck!
Being at home aswell makes it that much easier for our guys.
Northampton have drawn Ipswich away, hope they do well!
R x
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So then, it’s officially over, MON’s reign and the annoyance / confusion / rumours are over, and we start a completely fresh era with Houllier.
Now we can move on and build, Houllier’s contract is for three years, in those three years I’m hoping we can progress as a club, and bring some kind of silverware to Villa Park. Sunday’s game against Wolves is his first premier league game for six years, and I will be looking for three points Gerard.
Long live Houllier’s claret and blue army!
R x
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After a night of crazy Carling Cup upsets, it was nice to see Villa progress. After being dumped out of the Europa League already, being knocked out of the Carling Cup was the last thing we needed. Thankfully we managed to beat Blackburn 3-1, and the fact we came from behind makes it all the better.
It was Houllier’s first game in charge, and some inspired tactics in the second half really paid off, something Kevin couldn’t seem to manage. EVEN THOUGH he brought on Heskey, something that never seemed to work for our last two managers, paid off within 60 seconds, where he actualy managed to score, and without falling over too. That and the fact he provided an excellent cross for Young’s second goal too, wonderful to see. As we all know Heskey and Houllier have a relationship, he brought Heskey to Liverpool, where he did well, so maybe this is a kick start to Heskey’s Aston Villa career! Saying that I’m not holding my breath!
If you dont know, Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, Everton, Fulham have all been knocked out, which gives Villa a good chance to progress and maybe make another Wembley appearance this year, bringing silverware to Villa Park is something we need to do.
So then 1 out of 1 so far, lets carry this on Gerard!
I’ll leave you with a nice picture of Emile!
R x
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I will be heading up to this game. Luckily I managed to get my hands on a couple of the £10 seat deals. Aston Villa are great at doing promotions like this, it’s just a shame it isn’t going 100% to plan, as I believe it was promoted as a deal to get the ground sold out for Houllier. But as he is not taking charge until our next game, I guess it will be giving McDonald a good send off instead.
Mixed start to the season, some VERY good play (mainly opening day) to show what we can do, aswell as exposing some of the youngsters. This coupled with humiliation and bad luck means two wins and two losses. We are still above our main rivals Spurs and City, have learnt a few lessons and if we can win tommorrow then I will put it down as a success. Mainly due to the fact of our home record, something we have been struggling with the last few seasons. If we lose tho, Houllier better have something incredible up his sleeve because he’s going to need it.
The game itself is winnable, I mean we won 5-1 last season. Ashley Young has scored in the last four games against Bolton, something I hope he does again tommorrow.
After Ireland walked off injured I’m still not sure of his condition. He was on the bench last game, but didn’t get played, either because he was still carrying a knock or because he simply isn’t up to the task. But in my opinion it’s only game time that can fix that, and for some reason McDonald has been emulating Martin O’Neill’s strategy regarding substitutes.
So tommorrow I hope for a great send off for a job well done for a caretaker role. He definately wasn’t up to the full time task, and I hope Houllier can take us forward. But three points against Bolton is exactly what we need right now. See you in the Holte End.
UTV.
R x
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So the long saga is finally over, and we can move on. I’m happy to accept Houllier into Aston Villa, and look forward to see what he has in store for us, and what tactics / players he chooses. It has been a while since he was in the Premiership, but at least he HAS been here before, and even done the treble, albeit without the league, but we know how hard that is if your not Manchester United or Chelsea….
Now I’m very much looking forward to the Stoke game, live on Sky Sports in HD, excellent. If we play well I’m definately heading to Villa Park for Bolton.
Just wanna say thanks to Kevin McDonald for showing us we have great talent in our youth, and that the future really is bright. I just hope Houllier has been watching…..
And finally, welcome Gerard Houllier.
R x
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Apologies for not posting after the Newcastle game, I was a bit disheartened. Not only because we lost 6-0 but because the tactics were WAY off and memories of MON at his worst coming through.
Yes we were unlucky to miss the penalty and then give away two silly goals through bad defending (I dont count Barton’s goal as it was a stunner) before half time, but I was expecting some kind of fight back. Carew was too slow, he was being beat to the ball time and time again, solution? Bring on the fonz, Kev’s answer? Bring on Heskey and play him on the wing….. Their full backs had Albrighton and Downing in their pockets, solution? Play Ireland where Young was, stick Young on the wings, bring on NRC and take off Albrighton. Kev’s solution? Bring on Heskey…. we need to sell Heskey and fast.
Anywho, what’s done is done, hopefully we will learn and come back. Some injury lifts for Villa with Agbonlahor, Cuellar and the ginger one in defence should all be fit for selection or at least bench for the Vienna game. Ireland NEEDS to be played in a more attacking role, where Young has been playing the last few games, he does’nt work well with Petrov at the moment and something needs to give. I know he isn’t match fit and it’s only been one game but I think that’s where his best position is.
I’m off to portigal tomoz and will miss the Vienna and Everton games, so no updates from me until September 1st. I’m driving a banger car worth £200 there from England, UK for Charity. If you would like to donate to my cause, please visit www.justgiving.com/runforestersrun it would be must appreciated!
This is the car I am using!
Thanks again, UTV!
R x
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After what can only be described as a B-team was announced it was a nervy start for all, all except the players that is. The first half hour was fantastic, Albrighton shining again, and after twisting and turning and putting the left back on his behind crossed the ball perfectly for Bannan to slot home. Easy.
Then it started to get a bit….. frustrating. A soft goal from IMO a goalkeeping error, put them level, and also the ref deciding to give Vienna a free kick for nothing every 2mins, and the Vienna players not helping by throwing themselves to the ground everytime they lost the ball, I think they’ve been watching that new Drogba DVD that just came out. Also I have to say how shocking and disgraceful the Vienna fans are, you should be ashamed of yourself, first for throwing objects and water at Guzan, and then to throw water all over a fellow Austrian, while he’s being stretched off?? Terrible. Which brings me to Weimann, who was subbed late in the second half, only to twist his ankle 5 mins later, and it looked a nasty one. Get well soon lad.
All in all a good result, everything was going against them and they still took away a draw and a solid display (the defence did look shaky at times, but it was makeshift). We have the away goal this time, we should beat them at Villa Park and stroll into the next round. UTV.
Ry
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Confirmed on the Villa website, I wanted to wait till then because these things fall through so many times. After watching him play on Saturday, I’m sad to see him go but wish him all the best, I dont think he’ll get too many games at City and I hope his England career doesn’t suffer for it. No point going on about it, he’s history, so let’s talk about something more relevant to AVFC.
Stephen Ireland. Ireland is a class act on his day, when he’s happy he plays a stormer, there’s no secret for his love for City, and who know’s what effect this transfer has had on him, almost as if he was forced to sign for Villa there’s no guarentee he’s happy with this at all. But I have faith in the Villa to be a top club, yes we have no manager but Ireland has a point to proove and stands to gain a lot, or lose a lot depending on his attitude. I hope the fans welcome him with open arms and he has a great debut, it has to work like that or we’ll be in trouble. Personally I think he’ll do well at the Villa, and prove to be a great replacement for Milner.
No manager and 18m to spend. We have been linked with some players, which is strange as we have no manager? Either something has happened and we dont know, or the media is being clowns as usual. Either way we need an official manager, Big Kev is fine by me, as far as signing players is concerned, isnt that what scouts are for? 
Anyway, let’s get something solid sorted and sign a striker. If that happened, I’d be a very happy bunny.
Good bye Milner!
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I’m just getting ready to head off to Villa Park, I am genuinely excited about today, even with all the negatives this summer I still have the same ambition and determination to know that we can slam West Ham into next week. I just hope the Villa players share that with me, Young discussing a new contract is a very good start.
Bottom line? We need a win, if we don’t prepare for all the boo boys and media to have an absolute field day, which is no good to anyone. If we win however there will be light at the end of the tunnel, if we win emphatically (yes I know) then we will have some great press to bounce back on.
So to the game, West Ham have troubles of their own and this was an easy win when the fixtures came out, now suddenly it’s going to be tough? Why cus MON isn’t jumping up and down on the sidelines? AVFC is not one man, we can beat them comfortably, and I for one will be cheering them on from the Holte End. Milner is in the squad, I predict a bench warmer even though I want to play the moron to show him who’s still paying his wages. I’m hoping Albrighton gets a game, it would be a great confidence boost for him and against easy opponents why not? If he has a great game it set’s himself up for the rest of the season. With the other injury’s Carew up front with Young just behind, Downing and Albrighton on the wings, you can fill in the gaps.
Have faith people, not in Lerner or the manager, but in the players, the players availiable today can beat West Ham easily, so let’s do this. UTV.
R x
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