Author: AnneMc

Garde fielded a strong starting XI at Adams Park but his players missed the opportunity to kick-start the manager’s miserable managerial mission and had to settle for a draw against their League Two hosts in the third round of the FA Cup. It ought to have been an easier ride than it was, even for the Premier League’s bottom team. The opening stages of the match were played entirely in the Wycombe half and the visitors won a corner after two minutes, which Gil delivered well. However, it was clear that the hosts were prepared to run through brick walls…

Those hoping to see a new and improved Aston Villa for 2016 were left disappointed as, once again, the Villans were the draughtsmen of their own demise. To add insult to injury, the latest defeat came against the Black Cats, who are themselves running out of Premier League lives. Garde’s team selection, while a little unbalanced, at least showed signs of attacking intent. The hosts made the brighter start and Watmore lashed the ball over the bar after three minutes. The visitors slowly took control of the game, with Bacuna firing wide not once but twice. With the Villans passing…

Having made three changes to his starting XI, if Garde was hoping to build on the point secured against Manchester City before the international break, he was to be bitterly disappointed. The line-up may have suggested a four-man defence but, at times, it seemed like the defence was comprised of the new manager’s invisible friends rather than well-paid professional footballers, whose absence forced the wingers to drop back and allowed the home side to ease to victory. The hosts were in full control of the game’s early stages and it was painfully obvious that it would only be a matter…

England’s most played fixture will be played for the two-hundred-and-nineteenth time this afternoon, as the Villans travel to Goodison Park to take on the Toffees. Historically, these two clubs have been viewed as ones of similar stature but their fortunes have differed in recent seasons. With the Villans stranded at the foot of the table, five points from safety, Martinez’s men sit in a much more respectable ninth place. Having seen his new side keep a rare clean sheet and pick up a point, the team’s first since August, against Manchester City in his first game in charge, Garde will…

Lest we forget, today is Remembrance Sunday. With Fabian Delph set to return to Villa Park this afternoon, it is understandable that fans are focused on the former Aston Villa captain’s treachery. However, I would suggest that today should be about other men from the club’s history. This afternoon, fans should remember the Villans who served in World Wars One and Two rather than a mercenary modern footballer. Franklin (Frank) Buckley was born in Urmston, Lancashire, on October 3rd 1882. His father, John, was a sergeant in the British Army. After leaving St. Francis Xavier’s College in 1898, where many…

Having seen for himself the enormity of the task he is charged with, Garde will manage his first game tomorrow as his new club, rock bottom of the Premier League, take on league leaders Manchester City at Villa Park. The Villans are on their worst run of form since 1963 while the visitors sit top of the table so, to many, the result seems like a foregone conclusion. The Citizens looked impressive and disciplined in their mid-week win over Sevilla after struggling to a 2-1 win against Norwich City in their last league outing. A performance similar to the one…

Having admitted that he’s fighting for his future and insisting that he will guide the club to safety, Sherwood made yet more changes to his side as the Villans prepared to take on the careworn champions at Stamford Bridge. Loftus-Cheek did well in the opening minutes, stopping several Villa players getting forward, but Gil had the first chance for the visitors after seven minutes, hitting high and wide following a free-kick from Westwood that Terry could only head to the edge of the box. The Villans’ attempts to counter were stopped all too easily by the home side, although the…

The Blues have slumped from the high of winning the Premier League in May to sixteenth in the table after eight games in 2015-16. It is no surprise that this game is being billed as the turning point for Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho. Misfiring personnel and odd tactics have dominated the headlines about the London club and the visit of the Villans, always generous to others in times of need, will be a welcome one. Both sides have endured disappointing starts to the season and both managers will be looking for an uplift in fortunes this afternoon as the Villans…

Chelsea Football Club and Stamford Bridge: Gus Mears, a football fan and businessman, purchased the Stamford Bridge Athletics Ground in 1896, along with his brother Joseph. Having failed to persuade Fulham Football Club to adopt the ground as its home, Mears took a friend’s advice and founded his own club, Chelsea Football Club, to play at Stamford Bridge. He founded the club in 1905, adopting blue as the shirt colour to pay homage to Lord Chelsea’s racing colours. Today, Stamford Bridge is an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 41,623. Chelsea Football Club failed to secure the site of Battersea…

Having named a rather bizarre starting XI and opting for a 5-3-2 formation, all eyes were on Tim Sherwood as the match got under way. Both sides struggled to create goal-scoring opportunities in the opening minutes, even with some dubious defending on display at Villa Park. The visitors should have scored after four minutes, when Krkic and Walters combined to release Diouf. It took a superb tackle from Aston Villa captain Richards to ensure his side did not concede another early goal. Adam almost opened the scoring in spectacular fashion after eighteen minutes with a lobbed effort from inside his…