John Carew wins the ‘Ashley Young Trophy’

May 6, 2009 by Martin Banks
Filed under: Aston Villa, Match Reports 

[This was written yesterday, but I've been ill so didn't end up finishing it. That's why it says 'last night' for something that was the night before. I'm much better now, thanks for asking but my head is throbbing now, so I guess I'll go pop a few pills... feel sorry for me ;) ]

As you should all be aware, Villa finally won a game last night. It’s been a long time coming and it feels weird, like a long lost emotion, but we have 3 points, we’re back 5th and we have secured a Europa League spot for next season.

Villa took the game to Hull, with Milner looking especially keen to get on the scoresheet, but the only goal of the game came from an Ashley Young cross and a John Carew touch that made sure it eluded Myhill. Carew ran straight to Young and celebrated by picking him up and holding him aloft, as if he was the FA Cup! It was hilarious to see the big man lift Young with such ease. Celebration of the season, I reckon.

The game

It was the battle of the out of form teams, who’d both been punching above their weight at earlier times in the season. Villa had been 4th until this bad run began and even flirted with 3rd and Hull had been 3rd near the start of the season and remained in the top half for a good while before their plummet. But Villa won the game and regained 5th off Everton, who’d jumped in while we waited for our game to roll around, and Hull’s freefall continues as they stay just 3 points off the drop zone and still have Man Utd to play in their last 3 games.

Villa put a lot of pressure on, but Hull also had a decent go at us, particularly in the last quarter of the game. The one goal cushion looked very shaky for the last 10 minutes as Villa’s goalmouth was pummelled by a desperate Hull. Were it not for some great saves by Friedel, they could’ve got a point, but the old guy had a great game and kept a well deserved clean sheet.

Villa’s problematic position of centre-backs saw Knight and Davies play, but neither of them seem able to play well unless they have Laursen alongside them. Last night they were average. Not great but not as poor as they have been in some previous games.

Young and Milner prowled on the wings and both looked eager, Milner especially was trying a lot of belters. None went in, but I do like to see players having a pop, so he’s in my good books today.

It wasn’t Villa’s most convincing performance of the season but the important thing was that we got back to winning ways. Now we need to carry it on for the remainder of the season. Three more wins will secure us 5th place and that is an improvement on last season. If we slip up and finish 6th, it will be debatable amongst Villa fans whether to be proud of the team. We won’t have upped a position and we also threw 4th away so shockingly. I know what tough expectations many Villa fans set the team against.

What we’ve learnt is that we don’t have the squad to finish top four and that we don’t have the squad for a good Europa League attempt, so unless some spending takes place over the summer we will not be able to see an improvement next season.


Comments

3 Comments on John Carew wins the ‘Ashley Young Trophy’

  1. andy villa on Wed, 6th May 2009 11:13

    2. we started well, dominated the game despite never really getting out of first gear, but then tried our hardest to let them back in it by sitting deep and inviting them on to us, for the last 15 mins or so…

    fair play to mon, he was telling them to push up, but the players are obviously nervous near the end games, as were we, in the upper holte…

    deserved win, consolidated another top 6 spot, european football again next term, so has to be considered a good season…

    not bad considering we didnt turn up for almost a third of it…

  2. mr blud on Thu, 7th May 2009 6:18

    3. Yes, we may have hung on a bit in the last few minutes,but we won! Weve played much better than that and lost or drawn. Up the villa

  3. Tony on Thu, 7th May 2009 8:21

    4. Its not nerves its the fact that Petrov is nackered in the last 20-30 minutes. He hasn’t got the energy to play 90 minutes and its ridiculous that MON can’t see this and doesn’t get NRC (or even Gardener) on to replace him for the last 20.

    This has happened in nearly all of the games in the poor run and its MON’s fault.

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