Heskey answers his critics, as our defence continues to disappoint
Emile Heskey scored the goal that almost won the game for us, but our inability to find the net again and the continuing defensive disappointments meant we allowed West Ham in for an equaliser. So still victory eludes us, now having taken just 3 points from the last 24.
The goal came from a lovely passing movement between Petrov, Milner and Heskey, with the big man giving us exactly what we want from him but have received so little of; goalscoring instinct. When we signed Heskey there was some diappointment amongst fans as scoring isn’t a huge part of his game and it was plain to everyone that that was what we needed. The creating of chances we already had in abundance. Is this a sign of things to come from Heskey? More killer instinct? Not judging on the way he hashed a chance early in the second half that Carew had done superbly to set up for him.
Much like in a lot of this season; we dominated this game, creating dozens of chances, but failing to score as many as would expected and then, much like the last 2 months; our defence had some poor moments and we let in a silly goal. This last month I have sometimes wondered if we’d be better off playing 3-5-2. Just have one central defender because we know full well they will concede anyway and then we get to have another midfielder to help us attack and score more and maybe win some games.
Obviously it’s a pipe-dream and not a sensible one at that, but it’s a testament to the lack of confidence in our centre backs, when I’m thinking “Screw it, let’s just admit that we’ll concede and try to score more than we let in”. If Brad Friedel can play that well every week it may even work. The old guy was superb against West Ham, especially towards the end when the Hammers came alive and almost stole the points.
Friedel to find out today if his record-breaking run has come to an end
Brad Friedel is currently the record holder for the most consecutive appearances in the Premier League and increases it every game, but now his record looks set to finish at 182 games after his red card for toppling Fernando Torres on Sunday.
It was a harsh red card; yeah, Friedel brought down the last man, but he turned his shoulder to try and get outta the way. I guess I’ve seen reds given for less but with the guy on such a great record its a real shame for him.
Villa have lodged an appeal with the FA and will find out today if the card will be rescinded or not. I doubt it will though, he doesn’t have the connections that John Terry has!
Blackburn v Aston Villa – Pressure is on to make Villa history
Brad Friedel returns to his old place of work today but there will be no room for sentimentality in a game that Villa will be gunning to clinch a club record string of away wins. Friedel will be mostly welcomed back with a cheer to Ewood Park, though a small contingent still feel animosity for him leaving not too long after professing his future to the club, but Friedel gave 8 years of loyal service to the Lancashire side and proved to be a sensational signing for them.
Making history
If Villa win it will be 7 away wins on the trot, which has never been achieved in the clubs proud 134 year history. We have won the last 6 away games Read more
The mark of Champions
Emile Heskey isn’t reknowned for his goal scoring, so no-one was overly expectant that he’d get his Villa tally going in the first game for us. But he did. And he did it with style.
Villa, yet again, didn’t play like a team who are on a 10 game unbeaten run, but again we got the win. It’s said that to play averagely and keep winning is the mark of champions and it looks like the bookies are taking the idea a little more seriously as they switch us to the same odds to win the league as Arsenal (40-1).
Performance
Last night’s Read more
This football lark is a funny old game
The FA Cup is a very strange beast. It really is a true reflection of what a funny old game football is. Mathematical equations have no place in football, it doesn’t work that way. I remember as a kid asking my dad how it was possible that we beat Everton, Everton beat Man Utd but Man Utd beat us. It didn’t make sense. Where’s the logic in that?
My dad explained it all with the wise words of a great man:
“It’s a funny old game” Jimmy Greaves
Hull 0-1 Villa – Hull contest the major decisions (including highlights video)
Phil Brown was left fuming with referee Steve Bennett last night after two game changing decisions went against the Tigers and allowed Villa to walk out of the KC Stadium with all the points. On another night they could’ve both gone their way and Hull could’ve won the game 2-1, but thats football, and unless they bring in the hotly debated, controversial video replays its not going to change.
The two decisions in question are the goal in the opening minutes, when Brad Friedel spilled the ball under pressure from Nick Barmby (what a clash of old gits!) and NRC turned it into our net and the penalty that Bennett awarded Hull in the dying seconds but then overturned his own decision.
Big decisions
Brad Friedel – if you wanna be a record breaker, dedications what you need
With today’s game against Fulham, Brad Friedel overtook David James’s record of consecutive appearances in top-flight (that’s the First Division to the oldies and Premiership to the young guns) games. At present the record is 166 games without missing one, which Friedel equalled with the Man Utd game last week at Villa Park. Now with the Fulham appearance he has surpassed James and become the record holder, a testament to his consistent quality over the last four years, obviously helped by being free from injury.
Brad Friedel, this is your life
With a different challenge compared to the last two games, what team will O’Neill go for against Fulham?
The last two games have been against top four sides and O’Neill has chosen the same formation and almost the same team (Cuéllar’s thigh niggle being the cause) for both. It’s a formation that is attacking but at the same time loads the midfield, so at the same time errs on the side of caution. When we are on the back foot, we have Milner and Young to drop back and help to defend the danger and when we attack they are both bombing down the wings to try and break through defences. This is only possible with players such as Milner and Young as a huge amount of pace and stamina is required to play it effectively.
Prior to that Read more
Villa 0-0 Man Utd: In a day where none of the Big Four win, Villa do enough to steal one of their places
It’s been a long time since we beat Man Utd, in fact the last time we did it in the league was thirteen looooong years ago, opening day of the 1995 season to be exact. We beat them 3-0 in the league cup in 1999 too, but we have yet to record one single win this millennium against our bogey team. After giving Arsenal a damn good seeing to (yeah, I know 2-0 is no thrashing but we played awesome) at their place, the omens were decent for us to finally break the dismal run of form against the champions.
The starting line-up was largely unchanged from the team that started at the Emirates, just Carlos Cuellar being replaced by Nigel Reo-Coker. The Spanish defender was ruled out by a thigh injury, but with Luke Young still being preferred to Nicky Shorey at left-back, NRC stepped in at right-back, a position he isn’t really at his strongest in, but does with decent competence. Read more
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