Losing Gareth Barry is Not A Problem. Is it?
When questioned by Sky Sports this weekend about whether losing Gareth Barry for the next game is a problem, Capello’s response was ‘No’ and that he’d have to find a new solution. I couldn’t help but spot the pertinence of these words to us.
Martin O’Neill and Villa find themselves in this same position; needing to find a solution for the new-found lack of Barry. Where England have Frank Lampard, Steve Gerrard, Michael Carrick and David Beckham in the central midfield position, Villa have Steve Sidwell and Nigel Reo-Coker and others.
Nigel Reo-Coker
Villa signed NRC for £8.5m but last season he spent most his time on the bench and when he did play it was out of position. £8.5m seems a lot to pay for a utility player, so does this mean he will be filling Barry’s role next season? During the pre-Milner games, Reo-Coker played right midfield and showed an aptitude for attacking play, so could he be the yin to Petrov’s yang?
Steve Sidwell
Sidders was brought in for that familiar Villa fee; £undisclosed. The plan was for Sidders to replace Gareth Barry when he left for Liverpool. Neither happened. Barry stayed and Sidwell got injured.
On his recovery, Sidwell forced his way into the side as part of the notorious 4-5-1, that the fans loved but MON wasn’t so keen on and stubbornly refused to go back to it if he could help it. Sidwell had some good moments, scored some great goals, but then again got injured and disappeared from the team on his return.
Others
There is a feeling amongst some fans that James Milner could make the switch from right wing to central mdifield and do a good job there. It would mean a change to the focus of his game, looking to pick out clinical passes and penetrative through balls, as opposed to his runs down the wings and crossing (not his specialty anyway). Could he do it?
Craig Garnder has played in almost every position on the park for the first team, being used as more of a utility player than NRC! Gardner is a player who always gives 100% and certainly has ability, but does he have enough to be the new mainstay in the middle for Villa?
We also have Salifou and Osbourne but I can already imagine what you lot will think of them as solutions to this puzzle.
Newbie
The other option for us is to look elsewhere. There have been no shortage of names linked with us by the papers including Jenas, Huddlestone, Defour & Delph amongst many more.
What’s the answer for Villa then? Do we need to look around or take one of the internal propsects?
Now we have given 5th away as cheaply as we gave away 4th
Gareth Southgate - Was a great player but he's not management material
A draw to Middlesbrough. It’s one step better than the loss to them we suffered earlier in the season but it’s still a humbling experience for a team that was dreaming of being 4th right now and preparing for the Champions League. We have been well and truly brought down to earth us Villans have and allowing Middlesbrough to score more than 10% of their goals for the entire season against us is poor. Especially when you remember that we are a bogey team for them at the Riverside; since 2000 we have recorded two 4-0’s, a 3-0 and a 5-2 win there, amongst others.
We were out of shape from the off, thanks to a recurrence of Luke Young’s toe injury and James Milner was placed at right back, so we never really got the game by the scruff of the neck and actually played very scrappily. Just look at Carew’s goal (highlights video below), it was just a scrap, with us trying anything to get the ball goalwards and Boro defending very poorly, looking very much like a team that are going down.
We now have one game left in which to try and regain 5th and ensure that this season sees us improve our league position for a 3rd year running. But we are now relying on Everton to drop points at Fulham and for us to win against a Newcastle side that will be relegated unless they win, so will be fighting fiercely. We haven’t shown anything recently that makes me think we can withstand Newcastle’s final throw of the dice, so I fear that we are destined for another 6th placed finish.
Yeah, I’m being down on the Villa today, I won’t lie, and I think ‘we’ (you can decide who or what has caused it) have thrown away a golden opportunity of 4th or at least 5th. Now, had you said to me at the start of the season; ‘Would you take a season of staying 6th?’ I might’ve said ok, but after how high we flew and how uncermoniously we have bent over and took a shafting, I feel aggrieved. But then, when has being a Villa fan been anything but this?! (As I said, I’m feeling down on them today)
Anyway, here are the highlights of the game for those masochists who want to relive it:
John Carew wins the ‘Ashley Young Trophy’
[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.
Laursen return off-again, Milner in the Middle, transfer target and Spurs star jibe
First and foremost it’s bad news today, with yesterday’s training setback for Martin Laursen. The captain had been planned to make his comeback for the Man Utd away game and a very welcome addition he would’ve been too, but he has suffered a small reaction in training and will now be looking to the Everton game at Villa Park the following weekend. This is another game that Laursen’s presence will be helpful in but it now means that we have to go to Old Trafford as well as Anfield without him.
In the thick of it
James Milner has spoken of his desire to play a less wide role for Villa, and get involved in the game more by being in the middle of the park. The position switch doesn’t seem too likely when we have so many central midfielders and so few right midfielders, but it would be interesting to see what he’s like there. I love seeing players play in a different position, to see how versatile their game is, trouble is, the majority of the time it turns out to be a mistake, with the player drifting into their usual role subconsciously.
Here’s what he had to say to the Birmingham Mail on the issue:
“I’ve played there before. I played there a few times for England Under-21s, Newcastle and Leeds,”
“When we might have had injuries I’ve filled in there. I don’t see that as too much of a problem. I grew up playing there quite a lot, so I enjoy the centre midfield role. You seem to be able to get involved in games more sometimes, whereas playing wide you might not be able to get yourself into the game.”
“It’s very tough [playing wide], you have to keep your discipline and stay wide, keep your shape and give the team an outlet when you might not be getting the ball, and you’ve got to wait for people to bring you in, in the middle you can get it yourself and really take the game by the scruff of the neck.”
Good to see your desire to get involved James.
Southampton’s saviour
Down on the south coast, there is a very familiar name, that to us means little, but in the summer it may well become more well known. Andrew Surman is almost single handedly attempting to keep the Saints out of the drop zone of the Championship. The las is a midfielder who was born in South Africa but has played for the England U21s and has scored for them too.
Everton are reported to be in the battle for his signature too, so come the summer it is looking very likely he will become a Premiership player.
“Villa are not a top four side”
Jamie O’Hara’s words, not mine!
The Spurs star has spoken to the Tottenham Journal, saying:
“They’ve had a great season so they’ve done well, but I wouldn’t class them as a top four side just yet because obviously they’ve got to do that on a consistent basis.
“You’ve got to do that for two or three seasons on the spin to be classed as a top four side. Being consistent in the Premiership is the main thing”
It’s not unknown for players to stir things up a little prior to games, and hopefully the players will read O’Hara’s words and be deternined to prove him
Injuries mount up ahead of the visit of the Ruskies
With the UEFA Cup knockout round against CSKA Moscow now upon us, Villa are feeling the pinch of our small squad as the number of injuries stack up in our physio room. In the Premier League, Villa have so far only fielded 19 different players, 10 less than the league leaders, a sign of the slimness of our numbers.
The injury concerns on MON’s plate for tonight are as follows Read more
How did the Villans get on in Spain?
Filed under: Aston Villa, International Football, Match Reports
Down in Seville on Wesnesday night, England lost 2-0 to the European Champions; Spain. The scoreline tells a story, but it was the game that really spoke loudest. Spain proved themselves to be leagues ahead of England, with slick passing and the ability to sit back and let England play and then carve them open when they saw a chance.
England started strongly and dominated the first half hour of the game, but for all their possession they showed little danger. They had 2 chances on the Spain goal, both by Villans, but Gabby didn’t connect too well with his volley, putting it narrowly wide and Barry’s header was also off target.
Soon they will have to change the name to England Villa!
What can I say? Villa kick a$s!
Fabio Capello has named his squad this weekend for the upcoming international game on Wednesday. England will be facing European champions, Spain, in a friendly (or as some prefer to call them; pointless game) in Sevilla.
Capello has spent a number of weekends sat in our stands watching some exciting football from our whippersnappers and he obviously likes what he sees because his 23 man squad contains no less than 6 Villans.
James Milner has received his first ever senior call up, alongside Gareth Barry, Emile Heskey, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young and Luke Young.
Take a look, rub your eyes, blink a few times and look again. It hasn’t changed. We’re above Chelsea!
Don't try this at home
It’s pretty hard to believe but it’s true. Aston Villa are above Chelsea in the league, by 2 points, two thirds of the way through the Premier League season.
Before the season began I had hopes of us giving Everton a good run for their money and us finishing 5th. Being 3rd in February, above Chelsea and 3 points off top (shhh! don’t mention Man U and their games in hand, it spoils the fun), never really registered as a realisable dream.
It’s happening though. We can’t seem to stop winning. Read more
Villa vs Portsmouth starting line-up
Quick post with the team for tonight’s game against Pompey. As expected, new boy Emile Heskey is in the starting line-up and we have reverted to the 4-4-2 formation that we were using often before Carew’s injury.
Three changes have been made for this game:
- Luke Young comes back from suspension in a straight swap with Nicky Shorey for the left back spot.
- Emile Heskey replaces Steve Sidwell in the formation change from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2.
- Nigel Reo Coker doesn’t make the team and Craig Gardner fills James Milner’s role and Milner fills Ashley Young’s role on the left side of midfield.
So Barry Read more
Watch out Doncs, Barry and Milner are on the warpath! – Doncaster match preview
The 29th November 2005 was a cold, cold night for Villa fans. Cold in temperature and cold emotionally too, as we watched our team crash out of the League Cup to lower league opposition in an embarrassingly weak performance from the Villans. At the time, our league campaign was far from joyous, having lost half of the 14 Premier League outings and manager David O’Leary was not inspiring much confidence in the boys.
We lost the game 3-0 and at no point in the game did we look like a team 2 divisions above Doncaster. The line-up that marched onto the pitch with it’s heads up and then off the pitch with them well and truly down was Read more
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