Aston Villa Season 2009/10

[westozfalcon]

I'm surprised there's yet to be a 2009/10 thread set up for my mighty Villains. So here it is.

Predictably there's a thread for the teams whom it is fashionable to follow i.e. Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea plus a few others but no Villa???

Stange because we're sitting 4th at the halfway point of the season and have scored away wins against Liverpool and Manchester United, plus we've beaten Chelsea at home. Ummm...Not bad form!

We had a thin squad last year and fell away badly in the latter stages of the season due largely to a defence weakened by a career-ending injury to captain Martin Laursen.

This year, manager Martin O'Neill has bolstered our back four with Richard Dunne, James Collins, Stephen Warnock and Habib Beye and we look stronger for it. He has also added midfield zest with the acquisition of Stewart Downing who is just starting to show his skills after an injury layoff.

James Milner, Ashley Young and Downing playing through the midfield have been superb with able support from Steve Sidwell and Stillyan Petrov.

Up front, John Carew has brilliant skills and creates a strong physical presence but he is inconsistent. Also Emile Heskey is a workhorse but not a prolific scorer.

We lack players with the silky passing skills of the Chelsea and Arsenal midfielders but O'Neill is slowly but surely building a solid unit which, barring another collapse like last season will be seeking a Champions League berth.

[johntheclaret]

as you can see wcf, you can always start one for youself
The others are usually in the news a bit more that's all

Btw I have a lot of respect for o'neill as a manager, let's hope they don't crumble in the home stretch again

[devilsadvocate]

Hahaha, that's a hilarious spat to start a thread!

There also wasn't a Birminham thread until last week despite having a Brum fan on here. He didn't complain!

I'm pretty sure there's no Hull thread, and Everton were slow off the mark getting a mention too!

Back on topic, I think the loss of Laursen last season almost single handedly de-railed Villa's top 4 charge. He was a class act and a player I would have loved to see at Spurs.

On your comment about Ashley Young dominating...have you seen him lay this season? He's been ordinary IMO, and that's probably being generous.

As noted in the EPL thread, Milner is class. Dunne has had a brilliant season - Citeh must be kicking themselves!

I actually think Villa are most likely to crack the top 4. They've been most consistent and have a good even spread of very good players. As JTC said, MON is a great manager and generally gets the best out of his players.

Having said that, Villa usually go to shit after having their Christmas pudding, so I wouldn't get too excited just yet.

[Bully]

would be good to see another team up there instead of the usual 4 all the time, would be good for the villians and the league also if they made the top 4. I had a felling that the english premier league may turn out to be like scottish league with only a few teams dominating, but this year looks more closer then previous which ads to the excitement

[Bully]

will be a cracker of a game at villa park against LFC this week. cant wait to see it!

[shoe boy]

Arsenal all over Villa and the score is about the diff between the 2 sides.

[Bully]

Arsenal all over Villa and the score is about the diff between the 2 sides.

maybe in the first half but when cesc fabs came on your team seemed to be spectators.

[fish]

Congratulations to Villa for avoiding relegation this season.

[howgoesit]

i was to afraid to start a villa page haha, but glad we have one now. a little upset we did try sign a striker in jan, as we create more than enough chances but gabby, JC and Emile just dont do enough with the opportunities provided.

[devilsadvocate]

Awesome game this weekend. Spurs v Villa at White Hart Lane.

Villa have a game in hand on Spurs and Liverpool, but are 2 points behind Spurs and 1 behind Liverpool. Throw Citeh in the mix, who have 2 games in hand on Spurs and Liverpool and one on Villa and it's a pretty interesting tussle for 4th.

A lot also hinges on the Mersey-side derby. Everton win - Liverpool lose momentum in their top 4 run.

If Spurs win, it's an uphill battle for Villa. A draw or Villa win and they would be favourites over Spurs in the run for 4th. Last time out, Spurs battered Villa for 80 mins, but only managed a 2-2 draw. Since then the Villans have beaten Man U and put in some great performances against the bigger clubs.

Having siad all that, IMO - Citeh still sit in the box seat for 4th.

[MST]

Awesome game this weekend. Spurs v Villa at White Hart Lane.

Villa have a game in hand on Spurs and Liverpool, but are 2 points behind Spurs and 1 behind Liverpool. Throw Citeh in the mix, who have 2 games in hand on Spurs and Liverpool and one on Villa and it's a pretty interesting tussle for 4th.

A lot also hinges on the Mersey-side derby. Everton win - Liverpool lose momentum in their top 4 run.

If Spurs win, it's an uphill battle for Villa. A draw or Villa win and they would be favourites over Spurs in the run for 4th. Last time out, Spurs battered Villa for 80 mins, but only managed a 2-2 draw. Since then the Villans have beaten Man U and put in some great performances against the bigger clubs.

Having siad all that, IMO - Citeh still sit in the box seat for 4th.

Hey DA, when is the next Nor-th Lond-on derby?

[devilsadvocate]

Hey DA, when is the next Nor-th Lond-on derby?

Sorry precious.

Bit nervous about the trip to the good side of Liverpool?

[JK]

Bit nervous about the trip to the good side of Liverpool?

Im glad you see it that way mate

[MST]

Hey DA, when is the next Nor-th Lond-on derby?

Sorry precious.

Bit nervous about the trip to the good side of Liverpool?

We have already made the trip over the park to the 'good side' earlier in the season and collected a 2-0 win. This derby is being played at Anf-ield, Mersey-side, Eng-land.

Not nervous at all.

[devilsadvocate]

Bit nervous about the trip to the good side of Liverpool?

Im glad you see it that way mate

Hahahahaha, bit of a tough one to argue, given that they are about 800m apart!!!

[Bully]

seems no one can break away with that fourth spot these days all the teams around the mark that play each other seem to draw the games

[Bully]

nice win by the villans this morning over wigan. great goal by Milner for the winner!

[fish]

Wolves have just clawed themselves back from a goal down at Villa Park to go 2-1 up

[fish]

Wolves have just clawed themselves back from a goal down at Villa Park to go 2-1 up

Have just realised: if this score continues it could mean that not only will Wolves lift themselves finally from the relegation zone, but also that Villa can kiss their Champions League aspirations goodbye...

[devilsadvocate]

Finished 2-2 fish. Great result for spurs Liverpool and citeh!!

Bloody Carew though!!!