Traditionally, we do well against Fulham at home and this season proved no different, with the London team looking tired from their European exploits and lacking the invention the injured Danny Murphy brings to their side.
Martin O'Neill surprisingly retained the successful 4-5-1 formation from Anfield, with Agbonlahor working alone up front. And he was exceptional, nabbing the second goal with a piercing run and a powered finish from the edge of the box. Villa's first goal had come early - an own goal following a wickedly delivered corner from Young.
We were in control for most of the game and rarely looked under threat, with debutant Ciaran Clark partnering Cuellar well in defence and Shorey keeping his slot at left back despite new signing Warnock arriving earlier in the week.
A solid performance and 3 points at home. Just what we need before the visit to St Andrews.
Monday, 31 August 2009
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Aston Villa 2 Rapid Vienna 1
And so we go crashing out of the Europa League at the first hurdle. I suspect that this may be a blessing in disguise as not being in the competition will mean our squad is not stretched and we're not jaded by travel. Of course, it also means a lot of the fringe players won't play as many games, so it could mean more unhappy campers come mid-season. Still, they've only themselves to blame.
It was all looking so good as well. Young was a constant menace in the first half and it was his run that led to the first of two penalties. Sadly, he decided to take it himself and his poorly hit shot to the keeper's right was easily saved. This seemed to galvanise Vienna and they continued to look a threat on the break, even after Milner converted the second penalty of the night.
A very quiet Carew gave Villa a 2-0 lead in the second half with a nice cut inside and finish at the near post, but from that point on, Vienna always looked the more likely to score and missed two clear cut chances before finally slotting the away goal that saw them through.
Dropped from the side that beat Liverpool were Sidwell, Reo Coker, and Agbonlahor, replaced with Delph, Heskey and Carew. The two big men up front were largely ineffective and offered little movement and didn't convince as a pair. Delph worked hard in midfield and showed moments of promise, but we sorely lacked the energy of Reo Coker. Though whether he would have been able to produce it so soon after the game at Anfield is open to debate.
Sadly, this game showed yet again that Petrov is too slow and cumbersome to compete at this level. He was repeatedly caught in no man's land and it was his mistake in midfield that led to Vienna's goal. He works hard but is clearly too pedestrian - he just hasn't got the pace and energy needed to compete in the role he has in the side.
Another sour note was Curtis Davis walking off in the second half with what looked like a dislocated shoulder - a problem that has been dogging him for some time.
On a positive note, Warnock has signed from Blackburn so should come in for Shorey and improve the left back slot and provide cover for left midfield and we have had bids agreed for Dunne from Man City and Distin from Portsmouth (though it looks like he is off to Everton). With Davies out injured, I expect Dunne to come straight in at Centre Back alongside Cuellar, who was suprisingly excellent again tonight.
It was all looking so good as well. Young was a constant menace in the first half and it was his run that led to the first of two penalties. Sadly, he decided to take it himself and his poorly hit shot to the keeper's right was easily saved. This seemed to galvanise Vienna and they continued to look a threat on the break, even after Milner converted the second penalty of the night.
A very quiet Carew gave Villa a 2-0 lead in the second half with a nice cut inside and finish at the near post, but from that point on, Vienna always looked the more likely to score and missed two clear cut chances before finally slotting the away goal that saw them through.
Dropped from the side that beat Liverpool were Sidwell, Reo Coker, and Agbonlahor, replaced with Delph, Heskey and Carew. The two big men up front were largely ineffective and offered little movement and didn't convince as a pair. Delph worked hard in midfield and showed moments of promise, but we sorely lacked the energy of Reo Coker. Though whether he would have been able to produce it so soon after the game at Anfield is open to debate.
Sadly, this game showed yet again that Petrov is too slow and cumbersome to compete at this level. He was repeatedly caught in no man's land and it was his mistake in midfield that led to Vienna's goal. He works hard but is clearly too pedestrian - he just hasn't got the pace and energy needed to compete in the role he has in the side.
Another sour note was Curtis Davis walking off in the second half with what looked like a dislocated shoulder - a problem that has been dogging him for some time.
On a positive note, Warnock has signed from Blackburn so should come in for Shorey and improve the left back slot and provide cover for left midfield and we have had bids agreed for Dunne from Man City and Distin from Portsmouth (though it looks like he is off to Everton). With Davies out injured, I expect Dunne to come straight in at Centre Back alongside Cuellar, who was suprisingly excellent again tonight.
Monday, 24 August 2009
Liverpool 1 Aston Villa 3
Villa came into this game on the back of a diabolical display against Wigan and a somewhat lacklustre match in Europe, so I wasn't expecting anything other than the customary defeat at Anfield. And after 5 minutes, that seemed to be the inevitable consequence of our trip to Liverpool. Because from the off, Liverpool were straight at us, getting the ball in and around the box and causing mayhem. But Friedel was in inspired form and we held out.
As the first half developed, so did our confidence and with Davies and Cuellar uncharacteristically outstanding in defence, helped by sterling performances from Beye at full back and a tireless Reo Coker in midfield. Suddenly, Liverpool looked to have run out of ideas, and despite dominating possession, rarely threatened. And then, against the run of play, we took the lead. Petrov was fouled about 25 yards from their goal. Young whipped in the free-kick into a dangerous area and the hapless Lucas headed into his own net. The wind had been knocked out of Liverpool's sails and we looked comfortable. As half time approached, a corner from the right exposed Liverpool's zonal marking system and Davies was able to head in from close range at the near post. 0-2 and the natives were not happy.
As expected, the second half continued in the vein of the first, with Liverpool dominating possession but failing to create chances against a solid Villa defence. The few chances that did come their way were from long distance or tight angles, making Friedel's numerous saves a lot easier to pull off.
When the Liverpool breakthrough did come, in the 71st minute, it was Torres who side footed into the roof of the net from 6 yards. Despite a petulant performance, he had looked the most likely person to break the Villa rearguard.
I feared a capitulation, but within a few minutes we were 1-3 up. Reo Coker broke through from midfield and missed a ball into the box by inches, then seconds later burst onto a through ball only to be taken down by Gerrard's sliding lunge. Penalty. Young stepped up and slotted it to Reina's left with admirable calm and ease.
Lacking any invention and clearly frustrated, the Liverpool players continued to dominate possession without looking threatening and, strangely for a Liverpool side, seemed resigned to the defeat long before the whistle for full time.
After recent games, this was an encouraging performance from Villa. It was Reo-Coker's best game for us in my opinion, and he certainly did enough to warrant his place in the starting eleven. Full of energy, running, and tackling, he was everything Petrov isn't. And alongside him, Sidwell worked hard, getting forward when possible. But the real Villa stars were the back four and Friedel, all of which were outstanding, particularly Cuellar and Davies in defence. Perhaps they are finally starting to gel and can form a convincing partnership afterall?
2nd leg against Rapid Vienna next, then Fulham.
As the first half developed, so did our confidence and with Davies and Cuellar uncharacteristically outstanding in defence, helped by sterling performances from Beye at full back and a tireless Reo Coker in midfield. Suddenly, Liverpool looked to have run out of ideas, and despite dominating possession, rarely threatened. And then, against the run of play, we took the lead. Petrov was fouled about 25 yards from their goal. Young whipped in the free-kick into a dangerous area and the hapless Lucas headed into his own net. The wind had been knocked out of Liverpool's sails and we looked comfortable. As half time approached, a corner from the right exposed Liverpool's zonal marking system and Davies was able to head in from close range at the near post. 0-2 and the natives were not happy.
As expected, the second half continued in the vein of the first, with Liverpool dominating possession but failing to create chances against a solid Villa defence. The few chances that did come their way were from long distance or tight angles, making Friedel's numerous saves a lot easier to pull off.
When the Liverpool breakthrough did come, in the 71st minute, it was Torres who side footed into the roof of the net from 6 yards. Despite a petulant performance, he had looked the most likely person to break the Villa rearguard.
I feared a capitulation, but within a few minutes we were 1-3 up. Reo Coker broke through from midfield and missed a ball into the box by inches, then seconds later burst onto a through ball only to be taken down by Gerrard's sliding lunge. Penalty. Young stepped up and slotted it to Reina's left with admirable calm and ease.
Lacking any invention and clearly frustrated, the Liverpool players continued to dominate possession without looking threatening and, strangely for a Liverpool side, seemed resigned to the defeat long before the whistle for full time.
After recent games, this was an encouraging performance from Villa. It was Reo-Coker's best game for us in my opinion, and he certainly did enough to warrant his place in the starting eleven. Full of energy, running, and tackling, he was everything Petrov isn't. And alongside him, Sidwell worked hard, getting forward when possible. But the real Villa stars were the back four and Friedel, all of which were outstanding, particularly Cuellar and Davies in defence. Perhaps they are finally starting to gel and can form a convincing partnership afterall?
2nd leg against Rapid Vienna next, then Fulham.
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Rapid Vienna 1 Aston Villa 0
By all accounts, another uninspiring performance. We dominated possession but went behind to an early goal and rarely threatened or created any real chances. Started with a 4-5-1 with Heskey up top alone, switched to a 4-4-2 in the second half with Agbonlahor coming on.
A poor performance and result against Liverpool and you suspect the Villa Park faithful will be baying for blood, especially if O'Neill doesn't get quality players in before transfer deadline day.
A poor performance and result against Liverpool and you suspect the Villa Park faithful will be baying for blood, especially if O'Neill doesn't get quality players in before transfer deadline day.
Rapid Vienna vs Aston Villa - Carew's Back
I've just read that John 'bigger than me and you' Carew is back in contention for tonight's Europa League game in Austria. If he is fully fit, that's good news because desperately need his threat up front. I like Heskey, but we don't have the midfield players to make the most of his unselfish play and he's just not got enough in his own game to be a prolific scorer.
It also seems that Martin O'Neill is going to opt for Reo-Coker and Sidwell in midfield against Rapid Vienna. I'm no fan of Reo-Coker, simply because he gives away possession too often and too easily, but at least he has energy and drive. We've not seen much of Sidwell yet, but he's another player who is mobile and gets on the end of things. At least he will support Carew and get beyond our strikers now and again, unlike Petrov who seems to meander around the midfield third.
No news about the defence yet, but my money is on the same back 4 as saturday, despite its obvious shortcomings. It's not as if we have much choice.
Latest transfer rumours:
Distin is almost certainly coming to Villa by the end of the week. Martin O'Neill's monitoring the situation with Matthew Upson but is reluctant to splash 10m+ for a 30 year old defender.
Interest in Jenas is still there, but M'ON's cooled on Bentley since his drink-driving ban.
It also seems that Martin O'Neill is going to opt for Reo-Coker and Sidwell in midfield against Rapid Vienna. I'm no fan of Reo-Coker, simply because he gives away possession too often and too easily, but at least he has energy and drive. We've not seen much of Sidwell yet, but he's another player who is mobile and gets on the end of things. At least he will support Carew and get beyond our strikers now and again, unlike Petrov who seems to meander around the midfield third.
No news about the defence yet, but my money is on the same back 4 as saturday, despite its obvious shortcomings. It's not as if we have much choice.
Latest transfer rumours:
Distin is almost certainly coming to Villa by the end of the week. Martin O'Neill's monitoring the situation with Matthew Upson but is reluctant to splash 10m+ for a 30 year old defender.
Interest in Jenas is still there, but M'ON's cooled on Bentley since his drink-driving ban.
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
Aston Villa 0 Wigan Athletic 2
A disastrous start to the season for the Villa. After a relatively positive opening 15 minutes, we caved in to Wigan pressure. Milner had to clear off the line, Nzogbia hit the post, and then Wigan finally broke the deadlock with an immense volley from Rodallega. Devoid of spirit, energy and aggression, we didn't show any resolve and the game was long over before Koumas added Wigan's second and final goal in the second half.
New signing, Fabian Delph made his debut and was quiet and substituted in the second half. But it was his central midfield partner and captain, Petrov who looked most off the pace. His lethargic display was a throw back to his dreadful debut season.
Martin O'Neill spoke of his disappointment after the match and the urgent need to strengthen the spine of the side. Too right Martin - we are spineless.
We are desperately in need of a dominant centre back or possibly two because Cuellar and Davies is never going to work. If Hangeland is unavailable and Upson is set for a move to Man City, I'd like us to go in for Ryan Shawcross who continues to look impressive at Stoke and maybe Wheater or Huth as well.
In midfield the problem is worse, because we need someone with real quality on the ball, leadership qualities, aggression and energy - where do you find someone like that on our budget? We've been linked to Rafael Van Der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder, both of which would be fantastic 'creative' signings, but I really can't see either of them choosing to sign for Villa. We've also been linked to Jenas, who I like and would welcome to the squad, but he doesn't have the battling qualities we might need - perhaps we just need to hope Delph gets to grips with the Premiership quickly and can do that type of job for us alongside a more cultured midfielder.
One thing's for sure, without Carew up front we look toothless and our central defence and central midfield has been a shambles for a while now. Come on, Martin, sort it out. Petrov's not the answer - how many top 10 clubs would want him?
Straygoat
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