Thursday Transfer Rumours
All the latest rumours and gossip that have been spreading around that involve Villa. Read more
Black Cats all but end Villa’s Champions League dream.
Walking out of Villa Park last night I felt frustrated and let down. Just like Saturday against Wolves two points were dropped on home soil, and to be honest, if it wasn’t for the FA Cup, I would say our season was over now.
The players didn’t look at their best for the second game running, weather that’s down to tiredness or lack of motivation, for me either way it boils down to Martin O’Neill.
If it was tiredness, then he needs to rotate certain players, and then if he doesn’t feel that players are good enough to come in, then again that’s his own fault as it’s pretty much his own squad so he should have brought better.
Villa dominated play for much of the game without really causing a threat and looking like scoring.
However, Sunderland shocked the home fans when they took the lead after twenty-two minutes. Kieran Richardson created the goal with a perfectly weighted ball which allowed Frazier Campbell to beat the offside trap then go on to beat Brad Friedel in the Villa goal.
It didn’t take long for Villa to bring things back on level terms with possibly the move of the match, and the sort of play we have became used to as Villa fans.
James Milner broke with the ball, and then picked out the run of Ashley Young on the wing, which then in turn sent a beautiful low skidding ball across the box for Norwegian John Carew to pass it past Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon.
After Saturday I didn’t go into this game expecting a lot to be honest, but deep down hoping that the boys would pull together and get something but it was never to be. I lost a lot of respect for Steve Bruce and his players after they time wasted from the half time whistle as if they were winning and needed the win to stay in the league.
Chelsea is up next and Villa will need to book up their ideas if they are to get anything out of that game.
Villa welcome the Mackems!
After the weekend’s result Villa will be hoping to get there Champions League charges back on track tonight when they take on Sunderland.
Villa’s recent form see’s them with only two wins in the last premier league outing but they are still the only unbeaten side in the Premier League in 2010. Sunderland on the other hand has improved their own form of late with only one defeat in six.
Gabriel Agbonlahor is once again set to miss out tonight’s game with a foot injury. While Richard Dunne will have a late fitness test after he limped off against Wolves with a sore Achilles. So Luke Young could be on stand-bye with Carlos Cuellar moving into the centre of the back line.
Sunderland is set to welcome back Lorik Cana (suspension), Kenwyne Jones (hip flexor) and John Mensor (back) for tonight’s game. However, Andy Reid is still on the casualty list.
This will be a difficult game for Villa because of Sunderland’s recent run of form and as we know all Steve Bruce teams put up a good fight.
But Villa is playing at home, and just like Saturday we should be looking at picking up all three points. I personally believe we are out of the Champions League race, but if we don’t pick up maximum points tonight, then I think we defernatly will be.
Tonight’s referee is Mike Dean so this could be interesting.
Avillafan.com Prediction: Home Win.
Dunne a doubt for Wednesday
Richard Dunne is a doubt for Wednesday nights clash with Sunderland.
Dunne limped off in the Wolves game after aggravating his Achilles problem.
The former Manchester City star’s ever-present record in the premiership since signing for Villa is now under threat.
As the big run of games start to take their toll on our squad I’m asking the question, would this be such a bad thing anyway?
Don’t get me wrong, I like Dunne as much as the next fan, but we have been vulnerable at right back for some time now and surely this would be Luke Young’s opportunity to regain his place in the starting line up?
Carlos Cuellar could then move into the centre and play alongside James Collins.
And Martin O’Neill stated that Gabriel Agbonlahor is once again a doubt for Sunderland:
“His groin wasn’t too bad but he stubbed his foot in training and opened up the ligaments in the joint which was a real blow for him and for us,”
And if this is the case Martin, have some balls and play Nathan Delfouneso alongside John Carew, or just play one up front.
Emile Heskey and John Carew can’t play together and Carew’s on a rich vein of goal scoring form so he can’t be dropped.
The story so far.. James Milner
Just under eighteen months ago James Milner had signed for Aston Villa and was making his second debut for the club against Liverpool.
In the 18 months hes gone from warming up the bench to possibly the first name on Martin O’Neill’s teamsheet. The yorkshireman has made such a impact in his short time at Villa park he is now virtually a dead cert to be boarding the plane to this summers World Cup in South Africa.
On his 23rd birthday, Villa played Gillingham in the FA Cup third Round at the Priestfield. The midfielder managed to score both goals that day in a 2-1 victory for the Villans.
He also went on to score his first premier league goal against Sunderland in January 2009, at the Stadium of Light. Milner headed home a Ashley Young cross to equalise for Villa that day in a game they went on to win 2-1.
It was February 7th when supporters from across the country started to sit up and take notice of this young talent. Fabio Capello named Milner in his England squad.
However it wasn’t until August 2009 when he made his first team international debut, when he came of the bench for 23 minutes against Holland. He made such a impact in that time that he set up a goal for Jermaine Defoe which gave England a share of the spoils that day as the game ended 2-2.
Milner, was originally a wide man but in the 2009/10 season he has been moved into the centre of the midfield and now some compare him to Chelsea star Frank Lampard.
His workrate is second to none and one thing you can guarentee about James Milner, is he will always give 100%.
When he signed many questions his big price tag, however if you ask any Villa fans right now im sure they would agree with me that his pricetag was just a snippet of what hes worth now and it would take a lot for any club to prize him away from Aston Villa.
Its amazing what 18 months can do, lets hope we see James Milner playing in a Villa shirt for the next 8-10 years.
So remember, Theres only one Jimmy Milner!
