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The Season Ahead Part Two : Aston Villa
Published by Ian John on August 21, 2009
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Aston Villa
Prospects for 2009 :
The opening day home reverse to an unfancied Wigan Athletic must have started the alarm bells ringing at Villa Park. While manager Martin O’Neill will not be panicking just yet, it is worth remembering that of the Villa side that did so well last season, he has lost his captain, Gareth Barry and a defensive lynchpin in Martin Laursen. Not the best start but they’ll bounce back long term.
2009 is a big season for :
Curtis Davies : With Rio Ferdinand’s performance against Holland best described as “laughable” and long term fitness doubts about him, the door could be ajar for Davies to make a real run at a place in the England squad. His first goal will be to play well for Villa over a sustained period but if he can do this, and show Capello his undoubted talent, he could be a surprise inclusion in forthcoming squads.
Guaranteed to irritate in 2009 :
Martin O’Neill’s goal celebrations really do get on most people’s nerves. When Villa manage to put the ball in the net you can bet you will see Martin gambolling down the touchline to leap two hands aloft, into the air. He seems to resemble at best a startled fawn, at worst a confused sheep. John Carew is another who annoys people. Considering he is 6ft 4 and built like the proverbial brick out-house, he seems to be troubled by the same balance problems that afflict many in the premier league in that a passing stoat coughing too loudly can bring him crashing to the turf in a tangle of legs and indignity. On a more personal level, how do you spell and pronounce the name of Aston Villa’s young striker Nathan Delfouenseonoeou? If it is pronounced “Del-Fonso” why not spell it that way?
Things they’ll moan about in 2009 :
Gabriel Agbonlahor will be one. The Villa speed merchant seems to polarise opinion on the Holte End more than any other player. He has in the past made some questionable choices in his career and alienated a lot of the Villa faithful but he remains one of their better players and yet one of their most inconsistent too. I can also foresee a few Villa fans questioning the signing of Stewart Downing. Not that he isn’t a good player, he is, but he is also probably first choice for England down the left hand side of midfield (if Fabio Capello decides to play Steven Gerrard centrally) with his nearest competition being… Aston Villa’s Ashley Young. Who just coincidentally was being strongly linked with a move to Chelsea all summer long. Coincidence? Whether Young moves or not I can see the situation arising that if Villa don’t get off to a good start, the investment of a large sum of money in a player who plays in a position where the club is already strong (let’s not forget, Agbonlahor can also play the left sided role) and who will be injured for a large section of the early season, while the midfield and defence misses Barry and Laursen, will be viewed as a rather monumental error.
Song that sums up their chances in 2009 : “Slip Slidin Away” by Simon & Garfunkel
It’s hard to see Villa making much progress this season from their showing last. If anything the club has taken a couple of steps backward with the transfer deals made during pre season. Manager Martin O’Neill however is a shrewd manager and he will have the nous to keep Villa there or thereabouts in the top half, but it is going to be tough for them to make a real impression on the top five.
Image Courtesy of ***Eamoncurry123*** on Flickr.com
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Diego Zidane on Fri, 21st Aug 2009 1:24 pm
Without Barry and Laursen, Aston Villa won’t be in the top 6 this year.
Nabyl Charania on Fri, 21st Aug 2009 5:24 pm
Another great article! “John Carew is another who annoys people. Considering he is 6ft 4 and built like the proverbial brick out-house, he seems to be troubled by the same balance problems that afflict many in the premier league in that a passing stoat coughing too loudly can bring him crashing to the turf in a tangle of legs and indignity”
footybanter on Fri, 21st Aug 2009 5:25 pm
As a Villa fan I have to agree with Diego Zidane’s comment. Not only won’t we make the top 6 this season, I think we’ll struggle making the top 10. May even be relegation strugglers come the end of the season.
Naheem Charania on Tue, 1st Sep 2009 1:24 pm
A healthy Reo-Coker will be most important for Villa’s chances of another top 10 finish. Sidwell was also an astute signing for O’Neil and will provide great coverage if he can capture his pre-Chelsea form. Shorey and Sidwell will be Aston Villa’s dark-horse signings for this season. Nothing like a bit of Aston Villa to help shake up the Top 4 (and the Middle Eastlands)!