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Posted Mar 30th 2007, 11:55am
Cricket
Been away in St Lucia for the last few weeks watching the England boys in the cricket. The games were not great, but the best result was being in the same hotel as the players of England and Canada, with the Kenya and NZ team only one hotel away either end.
Really got to see how a tour really works, which players hang out with who, which ones train the hardest and which ones really do drink more than they should!
Great experience, they are all great guys, and I wish I was still out there!
Posted Mar 2nd 2007, 3:07pm
FInally we play!
Can't wait for tomorrow. Fulham away, and with only Delaney and Sutton injured, we have a full squad to pick from. It's great. I cannot imagine who will play and what formation will be used. I just hope we get a result as it's been soooo long waiting! Be good to see Maloney get a run out again, and to see Moore back from injury. But some one will have to be left out. I only assume this will be Angel, but he started so well and has trained well over the last 3 weeks so its anyones guess.
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Posted Feb 27th 2007, 6:03pm
Formations
Not sure how closly everyone else watches other team formations, but I reackon I could name the formation and most regular starting 11 for every premiership team! Anyway, we started this season (very sucessfully you may remember) with an attacking 4-3-3 formation with Gabby and Moore on the wings. Now Moore is fit and we have Young and Maloney as well, I think its time we went back to that after 10 or so games with a rather un-inspiring 4-4-2.
Any other Villa fans out there who agree?
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Seems to have gone a bit stale.
Maybe MO'N knows you are safe and is seeing what works and what doesn't for the closing weeks of the season so he really knows which way to go next year?
It's not so much the formation, but the ability to switch it ... maybe?
Maybe MO'N knows you are safe and is seeing what works and what doesn't for the closing weeks of the season so he really knows which way to go next year?
It's not so much the formation, but the ability to switch it ... maybe?
Posted by Tom Fordham, Feb 27th 2007, 6:20pm
Posted Feb 27th 2007, 6:01pm
Fulham away
Ok, you can tell it's been a quiet month for Villa, I am as excited for this fixture as I was for the opening day match, it's been that long since our last outing!
Villa speant so much in the January sales, more than anyone else I think, but we have only had a couple of games to try our new squad. But since then we have had 3 weeks with the entire squad fit (bar Delaney) to gell, sort out fitness and formations and come back raring.
I will safely predict you will see a performance from Villa this weekend.
I am not saying we will win, maybe not even draw (althogh if we don;t I will be gutted and £20 down!) but you will see a team coming out bursting with enthusiasm and energy that only a 3 week break due to being knocked out all the cups can do to a team!
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Well, Fulham are the proper Jeckyl & Hyde.
Just as well Montella is suspended, mind you I think McBride is VERY underrated.
Just as well Montella is suspended, mind you I think McBride is VERY underrated.
Posted by Tom Fordham, Feb 27th 2007, 6:22pm
Posted Feb 27th 2007, 5:58pm
Ashley Young
I kind work this one out. He is young, pacy, skillful and just been bought for £9.75 million (depending upon appearences etc) but I am unconvinced he should be starting for Villa. The fact that we have an established player on the bench such as Angel, who incedently cost £9.5 when he was bought, makes me wonder as to how valid Young inclusion in the starting 11 is.
However, what I do agree with, is that with Young, Luke Moore and Gabrial Agbonlahor, Villa have 3 young pacy forwards who can all play left wing, right wing or as a central striker who pretty much every premiership team would liek to have as a squad member, and even first teamer is most clubs cases.
How could say that about 3 of their front players other than maybe Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea?
Ok, maybe Liverpool and Tottenham as well, but they would not all be young and pacey and as adaptable to differnet positions!
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Posted Feb 23rd 2007, 9:15am
Fixture pile up?
So with the Carling cup final looming, Villa's mediocrity is once again brought into light.
We have played 2 games this month and have 3 in March. We are out of all the cups, never were in Europe and our best chance in the league is to move into a mid table spot.
Now, I know things are moving behind the scenes, we have signed some quality talent, have pace where its needed, experience all over the park and youth in buckets but all this means nothing with no results, a nice little cup run and an improvement on league position each year.
I know every team cannot get better each year, but improvement can be shown by each team. I guess the argument is there for back ground improvement for Villa, we have the basis and spring board of a great campaign next year. I just hope this time next year we are moaning like the Tottenham's and Arsenals of this world of fixture pile ups. 5 games in 2 months! I would love a fixture pile up!
All I got to look forward this weekend is Rugby!
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yeah i think it is a shame the way that some clubs have so many fixtures and others have none surely something will have to be done about it soon
Posted by Reiss Malone, Feb 23rd 2007, 5:15pm
I think you could be dangerous next year, especially if you can get the best out of Ashley Young.
Certainly will be more expectation on O'Neill don't you think?
Certainly will be more expectation on O'Neill don't you think?
Posted by Fitz Auden, Feb 26th 2007, 6:15pm
Posted Feb 20th 2007, 2:51pm
The Bees
As a villa fan who has followed Brentford for 27 years, it was good to see the mighty bees on Sky Sports last night. I have not been to Griffin park for 4 years now, after going regularly for 8 seasons. It still surprises me the difference between top flight and lower league football. The direct approach, heavy tackles, lenient refs and fans who go "Ooooooh!" to some pretty poor efforts on goal. Although ex bees man Crowe did score a beauty to win it 1-0 for Grays men, the game brought back found memories of enjoying football for more simple reasons.
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Brentford's a great ground like that isn't it Jim.
Particularly with that peculiar stand behind the home goal with terracing at the bottom but seating up top.
Looks very top heavy.
I thought it was a decent game and a shame that your lot didn't get anything out of it to carry on their recent run.
Standard was always going to be quite poor I suppose between two sides who are struggling for form and points.
Up until a couple of weeks ago my Bees-supporting mate was telling me how he thought Brentford were not only the worst team in League One, but in the whole of the Football League!
Particularly with that peculiar stand behind the home goal with terracing at the bottom but seating up top.
Looks very top heavy.
I thought it was a decent game and a shame that your lot didn't get anything out of it to carry on their recent run.
Standard was always going to be quite poor I suppose between two sides who are struggling for form and points.
Up until a couple of weeks ago my Bees-supporting mate was telling me how he thought Brentford were not only the worst team in League One, but in the whole of the Football League!
Posted by Frank Grice, Feb 20th 2007, 11:09pm
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