ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Aston Villa- Villa measure up

Posted by Jerrad Peters on 10/06/2009

Gareth Barry returned to Villa Park on Monday, but the match between Aston Villa and Manchester City was much more than merely a chance for the locals to spew their vitriol at their former skipper. And not just because he was anonymous for the larger part of 90 minutes.

True, Barry's performance deserves barely a mention. Although he has formed an effective midfield partnership with Nigel de Jong since making his £12 million move to Eastlands in June, he was all but invisible in his former haunts - a fact that will have surely pleased most of the 37,924 in attendance.

Beyond the Barry factor - much beyond - is the reality that for Villa, City represent their most significant measuring stick. City are the club that sprayed money every which way in the summer transfer market, bringing in the likes of Barry, Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Joleon Lescott and prompting Villa boss Martin O'Neill to label them legitimate title favorites at the outset of the season.

Still, it's not as if O'Neill spent the summer sitting on his hands. Far from it. He may have failed to bring in a man-for-man replacement for Barry, but he addressed his most pressing need by retooling his defensive corps and reaped the rewards against City.

One of those defenders - Richard Dunne - was salvaged off the City scrap heap. And it was Dunne, in a moment of poetic justice, who denied his former club the full three points on Monday. Not only did he put one over his previous employer, he out-jumped Barry to Stephen Warnock's cross and headed past Shay Given for the opener.

On the other side of the ball, Dunne was similarly influential. In a new defensive partnership with James Collins, he made a handful of vital interceptions in the second half to keep the City attack at bay. Although the visitors made their case for a go-ahead goal after the restart, Dunne and Collins had an answer for every question, and never really looked like cracking under the pressure.

Their performance will have been particularly encouraging for O'Neill, but no more so than the fact that there was so little to separate the two sides. City, after all, are supposed to challenge Chelsea and Manchester United for the major honours. They are the 'it' team of the moment - the side that broke away from the middle of the pack (at least financially) and dared to challenge the established powers.

If nothing else, Monday's match showed that while City look a decent bet to break into the top four, Villa stand just as good a chance of keeping pace with them. And given all that's transpired over the past few months, that means something.

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Comments

Posted by Daniel on 10/07/2009

While Villa is a good side able to give a match even to the likes of Liv and Arsenal and at times outmatch them; given their high work rate and good players to work on that,

One thing I must point out is that, in order to move a step forward, a leap forward if I would say, Villa needs something extra than this crop of players. I don't mean quantity. O'Neil again and again has proved that he doesn't trust his bench, because he doesn't have those quality on the bench except for a DM whom he would even opt to throw on the right wing in this occasion.

I hope for the good, and for Villa to one day land a "big" player, not necessarily pricy, but high on value. Perhaps on a free transfer or on a bargain since the big player is benching for a "big" club.

They need just one Big player in the "CREATIVE" midfield, because that's what they lack to challenge and sustain a big 4. If they have sucha big player + the hardwork of the entire team, they can push further down the road.

Posted by Daniel on 10/07/2009

I think Villa this season compared to last season has really improved in the depth of players. But there's one department that has always been left out, is the big 4 quality department. Someone attacking who loves to play fluent football beautifully, who likes it all technical and has an eye to create something and link play, that sort of player would be one that make the difference.

You don't need a squad of stars to make into big 4, even MU this season has no real big star, it's the right mixture. Villa has all the hardworking, physical, determined, quick pacy players, but lacked just in that department where the big 4 has in their squad.

Although Downing is a new signing that's yet to play, he's not entirely in that role. I hope by any luck, Villa would get a chance to land a "hleb" type of player. A fluent playmaker is needed.

Apart from that, i wish them all the best with what they have.

from an Arsenal fan

Posted by mike ochem on 10/07/2009

Villa for me are a fairly decent side but the manager need to get his priorities right in order to make an impression in the upper part of the league.
Last season,his over dramatization on whether Villa should consider the UEFA cup worth their while caused unneccessary distractions that made them lose on all ends.
Again,their pattern of play is often predictable:either a pull-out from Ashley Young or a long ball to Agbonlahor.Surely, MARTIN ONEILL can do better than that.

Posted by jesus on 10/09/2009

villa will finish 7th this year. but hey, thats nearly top four, right?

man city - 4th or 5th. tottenham 6th.

Posted by Murf on 10/10/2009

I think one way Martin O'Neil keeps his talented first 11 from moving on to bigger clubs is they are guaranteed first team football. If he starts buying too many players, I think there will be some unhappy players unless they are paid huge salaries like the big four (or man city) do. The recent bust-ups between O'Neil with Reo-Corker and Shorey is evidence of that.

Posted by Wale Smatt on 10/10/2009

Well, Villa might still be a threat but I see City upstaging either Liverpool, Villa or Arsenal to claim the 3rd spot.

First spot? Chelsea and Man-U gets the second position.

Posted by arsonwenger on 10/12/2009

In truth, City don't stand any more or less of a chance in breaking into the top 4 then say Villa or Spurs. Everton are a good side but they are far too thin...

...but let's not forget that all traditional Top 4 names are still highly competitive and up there in the mix. In effect, none of them have fallen off the pace at all this season.

So all this talk about 'breaking into the top 4' is absolute rubbish anyway. In my opinion, you don't break into the top four unless you have been in the top four four consistently for at least two seasons.

Until then, City are merely the latest Leeds or Newcastle.

Posted by Anonymous on 10/12/2009

I think Villa on the long run will run out of steam when injuries start hitting them, so its still early to predict that Villa can keep up with Man City.

I rate Man City & Spurs with a higher team rating based on quality players as well as depth compared to Villa. On the other hand Villa getting knocked out from the Europa Cup would help it domestically, so they might have a chance to do better.

Realistically Villa is about the same level as Everton which always manages to finish above them. They have consistency.

If you are talking about potential, then Man City & Spurs have the upper hand :)

Posted by sebastian on 10/13/2009

AS a villa fan i strongly believe villa will end 5th.I care less about city and spurs cos we play as a team much more than spurs or city.
Am realy hapy our defensive issues have been attended to.
cheers to all villans

Posted by ken on 10/13/2009

martin o'neil should be praised.with what i saw em play against man city....they will give the big 4 or 5 a run for their money if only they can keep their nerve.they need more depth and a creative attacking play maker like modric,hleb,nani when in the best frame of mund...or a pacy forward like j park...they need more depth and confidence.

Posted by LA Villan on 10/14/2009

I love these suggestions about Hleb and Modric and such, but business is decided in the real world. Getting a player of that caliber in January is unlikely.

The central midfield seems the piece to the puzzle. So how well Downing is playing after the injury hiatus is CRITICAL. At his best, he can make Villa a force. At his worst, he'll just be another Sidwell out there...productive at times, but not overwhelming.

Very, very anxious to see how Downing can contribute.

Posted by Luyimbaazi Dennice Vadim on 10/14/2009

All eyes are on Man City and Spurs at the moment.In fact,we Aston Villa were written off by many even before kicking a ball.But all that is good for us coz it takes the pressure off us and gives us the chance to play our beautiful game as always.
Man City may have all those players but there is something they lack and that will be their undoing.
But all I can say is that time will surely tell.But never say I didn't warn you when at the end of the season Man City are languishing in their usual 9th,money or no money.

Posted by SK1 on 10/15/2009

COME END OF SEASON WE WILL KNOW WHAT ALL THIS PARMUTATIONS COME TO.IMO,MAN CITY & TOTS ARE THE ONLY TEAMS LOOKING LIKE BREAKING INTO THE TOP FOUR(ON CURRENT FORM)....AND WE CAN ONLY TRULY AND REALISTICALLY TALK ABOUT ALL THIS ON CURRENT FORM, COS NOTHING ABSOLUTELY IS CAST IN STONE.GOOD LUCK THESE ASPIRATIONS & DREAMS!

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