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Author Topic: Football365 preview the Villa's season  (Read 2479 times)

Online Deano's Mullet

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Football365 preview the Villa's season
« on: August 06, 2010, 07:29:46 PM »
Manager: Martin O'Neill (since August 2006). Odds on being first out of a job: 16-1 10th favourite.
Last season
Premier League: Sixth, 64 points. Europa League: Play-off. FA Cup: Semi-finalists. Carling Cup: Finalists.
Transfers in: Er...
Transfers out: David Bevan (Walsall, free), Jack Dyer (Burton Albion, free), Stephen O'Halloran (Coventry City, free), Marlon Harewood, Wilfred Bouma, Andy Marshall (All released)

Thanks to their fourth consecutive win, a 1-0 success against Stoke on 19 December, Martin O'Neill would have sat down to Christmas lunch last season with his team fourth in the Premier League.

In 2008, thanks to the third win in an unbeaten sequence of nine victories in 13 matches, O'Neill would have sat down to Christmas lunch that season with his team fourth in the Premier League.

Does O'Neill have a squad capable of getting to fourth again this December? And does he have what it would take - the funds, the inspiration, the lucky rabbit's foot - that would enable Aston Villa to hold on to fourth if they did get there at Christmas?

This summer has not so far led to the strengthening of the squad that would suggest those extra steps are about to be taken, but O'Neill has brushed off criticism, pointing out that last year's key signings - Stephen Warnock, Richard Dunne and James Collins - came right at the end of the window. "What I will say is that the business we did in the last few days of August last year really made our season."

If O'Neill is right, then previewing Villa as they are is of limited purpose. The fear will be that with Manchester City spending so much, the best chance of breaking into the top four has gone.

Yet last season, as well as coming only six points off fourth place, Villa sustained two serious cup challenges. In the FA Cup they suffered what shows in the record books as a heavy defeat against Chelsea but the match was in the balance till the last couple of minutes, while in the Carling Cup final Howard Webb disappointed with his decision-making, not awarding an early penalty and red card that would have tipped the match in Villa's favour.

In the league, Villa did beat Manchester United at Old Trafford and they won at Liverpool, too. Chelsea lost at Villa Park, and Villa took a point off Manchester City and Arsenal and drew both times against Spurs. Even as things stand, there is no individual match that should hold any fears for O'Neill's squad. Some of the summer has been spent trying to hold on to James Milner and a replacement may well be needed, but 70 points could well be within Villa's compass.

They kick off at home to West Ham and will be anxious to fare better than last year, when an opening-day defeat to Wigan left the Villa Park natives restless. An awkward trip to Newcastle is followed by the first meeting with one of the leading eight when Everton visit.

Matches at Stoke and Wolves, either side of the home game with Bolton, follow the international break, before an important game away to Spurs.

This is a generous start to the season and Villa fans armed with pens and backs of envelopes will be calculating that they may take around 14 points to White Hart Lane. That would constitute another bright start - but O'Neill and Villa have been there before.

Offline eamonn

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Football365 preview the Villa's season
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2010, 03:29:50 AM »
Not much to argue with the above.

Pre-season previews are a bit pointless these days with the transfer window not shutting til the end of the month.

Offline VillaZogmariner

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Re: Football365 preview the Villa's season
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2010, 03:36:24 AM »
Quote from: "Some lazy journalist"
while in the Carling Cup final Howard Webb disappointed with his decision-making, not awarding an early penalty and red card that would have tipped the match in Villa's favour.


Getting a few things confused there aren't we?

Online Monty

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Football365 preview the Villa's season
« Reply #3 on: August 07, 2010, 03:38:35 AM »
Quote from: "VillaSubmariner"
Quote from: "Some lazy journalist"
while in the Carling Cup final Howard Webb disappointed with his decision-making, not awarding an early penalty and red card that would have tipped the match in Villa's favour.


Getting a few things confused there aren't we?

Well a penalty should have been awarded against Chelsea. And Terry sent off. And others I can't remember.

Blimey, we really got buggered at Wembley last year didn't we? I mean, everyone thinks their team gets persecuted, but we were really unlucky.

Offline KevinGage

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Football365 preview the Villa's season
« Reply #4 on: August 07, 2010, 03:46:56 AM »
To an extent Monts, yeah.

But after the Pen and Milners effort soon after I don't think we troubled the United keeper.

And I don't think we troubled the Chelsea keeper all game.

Offline VillaZogmariner

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Football365 preview the Villa's season
« Reply #5 on: August 07, 2010, 03:47:10 AM »
Quote from: "Monty"
Quote from: "VillaSubmariner"
Quote from: "Some lazy journalist"
while in the Carling Cup final Howard Webb disappointed with his decision-making, not awarding an early penalty and red card that would have tipped the match in Villa's favour.


Getting a few things confused there aren't we?

Well a penalty should have been awarded against Chelsea. And Terry sent off. And others I can't remember.

Blimey, we really got buggered at Wembley last year didn't we? I mean, everyone thinks their team gets persecuted, but we were really unlucky.


;)

 


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