Aston Villa

The content below is all about Aston Villa. Villa ticket information is available here. Villa's next three games are: 17 Chelsea (H) 24 Wolverhampton (A) 31 Everton (A)

Chelsea and Liverpool forced to name small squads

by David Wilson on September 1, 2010

For the first time Premier League teams had to name a 25-man squad for the first half of the EPL season and there was a couple of surprises.

All 20 clubs had to submit a squad of up to 25 players containing no more than 17 players who do not qualify as homegrown. Homegrown players are classed as players who “irrespective of his nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to the Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or 36 months prior to his 21st birthday”.

Transfer deadline day part one

by Damian Cooper on August 31, 2010

Robbie Keane Today is transfer deadline day in the EPL meaning that Premier League clubs have until 6pm London time to sign players before the window closes. The day is always rife with Speculation and the advent of 24 hour rolling sports news has fuelled that speculation further in recent years.

Avram Grant is on his phone down at the Boleyn Ground with rumours abound of Jamie O’Hara and Robbie Keane coming in. Scott Parker is sought after once again, and Hammers fans will be hoping that the Board do what they say and keep hold of Parker. Chairman David Sullivan issued a hands off warning a few weeks ago and said Parker was categorically going nowhere. That hasn’t stopped the rumours though.

What a difference a day makes

by Damian Cooper on August 29, 2010

Proud history, bright future Aston Villa fans will be heading to Villa park today in trepidation rather than the optimism of an exciting new season ahead. The Villains have well and truly had their balloon burst already as they prepare for what is only their third EPL game and second home league game of the season. The blow from O’Neills decision to walk away from the club was softened by an opening day victory against West Ham, but things have gone from bad to worse since then. Randy Lerner is taking a patient approach to bringing in a new manager, but defeat today will see the fans’ patience start to fall away as they clammer for a new man at the helm.

O’Neil Resigns As Villa Boss

by David Wilson on August 9, 2010

The Trinity Road crestIn a massive shock, especially this close to the start of the season, Martin O’Neill has resigned as Aston Villa manager with immediate effect. No reason has been given for O’Neill’s decision to so suddenly but my only conclusion is that O’Neill had a major disagreement with Villa owner Randy Lerner

In a statement O’Neill said:

“I have enjoyed my time at Aston Villa immensely. It’s obviously a wrench to be leaving such a magnificent club. I would like to pay tribute to the Villa players, my coaching staff and the Villa supporters for all the support and encouragement they have given both the club and me personally during my time as manager. I wish them all the best for the future. I will obviously be assisting the club in the immediate short-term with regard to the handover of my duties.”

Who’s Coming In Fourth?

by Patton Hunnicutt on April 28, 2010

COME ON YOU SPURS!

Tottenham, Man City, Aston Villa, and Liverpool are all in a 2-point race for 4th place and Champion’s League qualifying in the EPL.  The season will be over next weekend and who will be left standing in 4th place and who will have to make a Europa League appearance next year?

If you look at just momentum and the facts of the season then you can assume that Tottenham or Aston Villa can easily take this.  Tottenham has Bolton and Burnley to close the season.  Aston Villa has Man City and Blackburn.  However, the Spurs also have to play Man City.  So, Manchester City actually holds everyone’s fate in their hands.

Aston Villa finally win in March

by David on March 16, 2010

James Milner delivered an inspirational performance as Aston Villa closed in behind the Champions League chasing pack with a 2-1 win at Wigan.

The midfielder further enhanced his claims for an England World Cup place by scoring a second-half winner as Villa edged an absorbing Barclays Premier League encounter against the Latics.

Both sides created numerous chances as they chased points for contrasting reasons but the quality of 24-year-old Milner, who claimed his 10th goal of the season, proved the difference.

Liverpool beat Villa and move into 7th place

by David on December 29, 2009

Wow, someone at the north pole must really like Rafa Benitez as he got everything he wished for this Christmas.

An injury time winner from Fernando Torres gave Liverpool a huge 1-0 win at Aston Villa. Combined with Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Wolves on Boxing Day, Rafa’s reds find themselves only four points out from the last Champions League place as we end the year.

Consider all that has been written about Liverpool and what a disaster this season has been, Liverpool are still in 7th place, only four points behind Spurs. Does anyone think that Spurs will end the season above Liverpool?

Arsenal Blasts Aston Villa

by Patton Hunnicutt on December 27, 2009

The last ever game at Highbury
Creative Commons License photo credit: bobbymond

Aston Villa was trucking along (and I even complimented their aggressive style of play) and then they get drilled by Arsenal 3-0 setting them back in their chase to jump up into the 3rd position on the Premier League Table.  This indicates a few things about how Arsenal and AstonVilla are approaching their matches.

Arsenal scored 3 goals in the final 25 minutes of the game and took on the aggressive style of Aston Villa to beat them at their own game.  If Arsenal continues down this path they may well be able to catch up to ManU and Chelsea in the League Championship race that has yet to feature anyone besides the teams from last year’s final match.

What’s With Losing to Inferior Teams?

by Patton Hunnicutt on December 20, 2009

Arsenal vs Aston Villa
Creative Commons License photo credit: wonker

With Chelsea “accepting” a draw with Fulham and ManU getting blasted by West Ham I have 3 questions to ask (and yes, this goes back to the “picking the wrong team to crumble thing”.)

1.  What does it say about the 2 best teams in the Premier League that they took a draw to a team that is pretty close to being relegated and losing (badly) to a team that will most likely be relegated?

Fulham Smacks Around ManU

by Patton Hunnicutt on December 19, 2009

Arsenal vs Manchester United
Creative Commons License photo credit: wonker

There’s something about a 3-0 win for Fulham over Manchester United that just rubs me the wrong way.  Long ago I predicted that Real Madrid would be the “Super Club” to fall apart at the seams (and though I’m still waiting for that prediction to come true) I’m starting to wonder if I chose the wrong club.  ManU is right there with Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table and they just gave away points to a team that really shouldn’t even be on the same field as them.  Fulham is only 10 points away from being relegated and now they beat the defending Champions 3-0?