[avstu™]

20. Nigel Reo-Coker

Name: Nigel Reo-Coker
Shirt No: 20
Age: 24
Natl.: England
Position: Midfielder
Height: 1.75m/5.9ft
Birthplace: Croydon, London, England
Former Clubs: Wimbledon, West Ham


Bio:

Nigel Reo-Coker signed in July 2007 for a fee of £8.5million, on a four year deal.

He had a rough deal at West Ham being made scapegoat for there dissapointing season which sore them escape relegation on the last day of the season. In his press-conferance he said that West Ham had 'Hung him out to dry'.

Nigel scored his first goal for the club in a cup fixture against Wrexham in which Villa went on to win 5-0. He also captained the first team on the 21st January 2008 against Liverpool when then captain Gareth Barry was injured.



Discuss Nigel Reo-Coker's Aston Villa career here.

[avstu™]

Where was he yesterday? Was he on the bench?

[The Aston Villan]

he has the flu

[avstu™]

What kind of flu? Homesick?

[The Aston Villan]

didnt know there was a homesick type of flu, only know of one and that is Flu as in cold and temperture headache and runny nose and possibly sore throat... I know one thong though we miss he combativeness and leadership in midfield

[avstu™]

Saturday we didnt.

[The Aston Villan]

we did Stu... NRC is a leader Laursen aint ...maybe his competitiveness we didnt buty we do lack a leader on the pitch

[BenAvfc]

Amazed at how he isn't in the midfield almost every week. The others have been playing well but for me he gives us that extra edge, and would help us against the lesser teams at home. He may not be the most creative but I feel we would have more chance of breaking them down.

[SouthWalesVillain]

He's been suprisingly good at RB IMO!

[BenAvfc]

I know, just feel we miss him in centre midfield.

[Holte Ender]

I hate him, sooner he goes back to Mummy in London the better..

[alanavfc]

HATE?? thats a bit strong enit... what has he done wrong to merit that kind of reaction?

[Cards]

I think he has more than proved himself this season and credit to him, he has got a hell of a lot better than last season and gets stuck in and hassles players. He gives the team something else

[avstu™]

Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker insists that he is happy to fill in at right-back for the good of the team.

Reo-Coker has found himself in unfamiliar territory for much of the season with normal right-back Luke Young covering for the out-of-form Nicky Shorey at left-back.

With so much competition in the former West Ham man's natural position of central midfield, Reo-Coker has gone about his new role with the minimum of fuss.

This may surprise supporters of his former club, where the 24-year-old spent three seasons prior to joining Villa for £8.5million in 2007, where he forged a reputation as a bad-boy.

"People portrayed this bad-boy picture of me and if people want to believe that it's down to them," said Reo-Coker in The Sun.

Team player
"There are certain things you can't control. I have always said I'm a team player and that's from my time at West Ham.

"I'm playing my part for Villa by playing out of position and doing the best I can do. I can't complain we are still winning. But it's a whole new learning curve for me."

Reo-Coker's attitude highlights the team spirit that manager Martin O'Neill has built at Villa Park in what is a predominantly English side with just three foreigners starting in the club's 2-1 win over West Brom on Saturday.

"It's not just my attitude. It's everyone's attitude. It's a fantastic atmosphere," the midfielder added.

"We have a great English spirit and we get on well with the few foreigners we have in the team.

"It's the winning mentality and that's what Martin O'Neill has done well to embed in us. It's the fear of losing.

"A lot of teams are showing us respect now, even the top four. It's important we stay grounded, especially as we're in a Champions League spot at present."

That doesnt sound like someone who wants to leave Villa Park does it? He sounds happy and he looks to be really making a effort in the team at the moment. It showed that he was picked to stay on the pitch Saturday when they took Sidwell off instead.

[The Aston Villan]

different story in the Daily Mail were it says that Reo-Coker shold be happy at Villa doing him the favour by letting him play right back...Imo he looks happy and thats good news dont really wanna see him leave i do think we have not seen tyhe best of him in a midfield roll yet