http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/ en Copyright 2012 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:34:59 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Alex McLeish wasn't bluffing after all. 'Nothing," the Villa manager had said, a week or so ago, when quizzed on what transfer window activity he expected to be involved in. Few doubted the sincerity of his brusque and honest response, though there was perhaps still a fleeting suspicion that McLeish was putting on an absolutely brilliant poker face. Did the coy old boy have a sneaky deal or two under his sleeve? http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2012/02/defensive_distress_at_villa.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2012/02/defensive_distress_at_villa.php Premier League Alex McLeish Aston Villa QPR Stephen Warnock Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:34:59 +0000 Can a season turn on a single result? Villa fans have to believe it can, and after the false start of beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, only to be shown up at home to Swansea two days later, fresh optimism can be felt since last weekend’s pulsating win against Wolves. http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2012/01/can_a_season_turn_on.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2012/01/can_a_season_turn_on.php Premier League Alex McLeish Aston Villa Robbie Keane Wolves Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:37:28 +0000 Wry smiles among the Villa Park faithful last week with the confirmation of Robbie Keane's loan move from LA Galaxy. Why the wry? Because 'Keane to Villa' has been arguably one of the longest-running transfer sagas in recent club history. Villa have finally got their man - for a few weeks, at least - some 12 or 13 years since first being linked with the striker. http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2012/01/the_13year_transfer_keane_join.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2012/01/the_13year_transfer_keane_join.php Premier League Aston Villa LA Galaxy Robbie Keane Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:33:51 +0000 What a contrast that was. From the champagne corks literally popping on New Year's Eve, the day Villa won at Stamford Bridge, to two days later. The Christmas decorations were taken down at my house on the second day of 2012, and Villa fell to defeat to Swansea City - a fourth consecutive home loss at Villa Park (the previous three coming against Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal), and a first away league win of the season for the newly-promoted Welsh club. http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2012/01/what_will_2012_bring_for_villa.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2012/01/what_will_2012_bring_for_villa.php Premier League Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:00:37 +0000 I have absolutely no doubt that it was an innocent slip from Marc Albrighton, but even so, the Villa winger was probably more accurate with his first tweet following the drab home defeat to Liverpool. 'Tough game!' he messaged. 'At least we only have 3 days to wait until we can't put right!' Quite, Marc. Although he quickly realised his spelling error and tweeted, 'I did mean 'can' put it right!', Albrighton's unintentionally echoed what many Villa fans are feeling heading into Christmas. http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/12/villas_bleak_winter.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/12/villas_bleak_winter.php Premier League Alex McLeish Aston Villa Liverpool Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:01:06 +0000 And so, with immaculate timing, Martin O'Neill is back in football, emerging from the shadows and pitchside Champions League chit-chat with Roy Keane and Gareth Southgate - two men who know plenty about managing north east clubs - to take over at Sunderland. His decision to succeed Steve Bruce at the Stadium of Light could not have been more poignantly made in the hearts and minds of Villa fans. We are approaching Christmas, after all, the traditional time of year to reminisce and indulge in nostalgia, and considering that discussion over O'Neill - his time as Villa manager, the manner of his abrupt departure and the legacy he left behind - has barely been far from the agenda since he walked away from Villa Park in August 2010, it has yet again sparked debate and counter-debate. http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/12/oneills_inevitable_return.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/12/oneills_inevitable_return.php Premier League Aston Villa Martin O'Neill Sunderland Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:13:23 +0000 'Given...' Of course; great goalkeeper, great signing; in good form, which is probably just as well, as he'll have a busy night. 'Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Warnock...' Carlos! Back at right-back, just like the Martin O'Neill days again. Still, Hutton's had an indifferent start and I like Cuellar, even though I prefer him at centre-back. Bit disappointed that James Collins has kept his place again - when is McLeish going to give Ciaran Clark a go? http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/11/mcleish_what_were_you_thinking.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/11/mcleish_what_were_you_thinking.php Premier League Alex McLeish Aston Villa Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:40:56 +0000 It was the interview Villa fans had been waiting impatiently for; the first public utterances from owner Randy Lerner since the wind of charge swept through Villa Park around 18 months ago. Perhaps it hasn't been quite that long since Lerner last gave anything approaching an interview, but it certainly feels that way. http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/11/lerner_speaks_at_last.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/11/lerner_speaks_at_last.php Premier League Aston Villa Randy Lerner Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:49:08 +0000 It's been a typically uneventful week at Villa. Barry Bannan was charged with driving offences following a motorway crash last month, wild rumours of a club takeover, with owner Randy Lerner selling up, popped up on internet forums, Gary Gardener scored a couple of absolute beauties for England's under-21s, and Emile Heskey's partner burnt a roast pork dinner, prompting a visit from the local fire brigade. http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/11/spurs_test_for_villa.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/11/spurs_test_for_villa.php Premier League Aston Villa Tottenham Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:06:35 +0000 I've been forced to ditch the theme of this post, and start all over again. An idea conceived in the days leading up to the Norwich game, an article already half-written. Now it's useless, unfit to publish. And I'm delighted at that. I had planned to write about how Villa are a side shorn of inspiration, following the summer sale of Ashley Young, a player who - though bafflingly criticised as 'lazy' by some fans - could almost always be relied upon to do something positive with the ball. http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/11/agbonlahor_inspires_villa.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/11/agbonlahor_inspires_villa.php Premier League Aston Villa Darren Bent England Gabby Agbonlahor Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:56:00 +0000 With his previous employment history, Steve Bruce is never going to earn a warm place in the hearts of Aston Villa fans. This was the man, remember (actually, who could ever and will ever, forget?) who scored an infamous 97th-minute winner for Manchester United at Sheffield Wednesday, a goal which more or less ended the title hopes of Ron Atkinson's Villa the best part of two decades ago. And a man who, during his time as boss of Birmingham City, presided over a sequence of six unbeaten derby matches, winning four and drawing two: unbeaten in games against Villa for three seasons running. http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/10/sunderland_and_all_eyes_on_ben.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/10/sunderland_and_all_eyes_on_ben.php Premier League Aston Villa Darren Bent Steve Bruce Sunderland Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:37:27 +0000 We are in those twilight days between autumn and winter, and a murky gloom threatens to descend upon all things Villa. Saturday's home defeat to West Brom - Villa's first reversal against their nearish neighbours since 1979 - simply reinforced the shortcomings of the current squad and manager, and emphasized Villa's fall in stature and standing. http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/10/dont_panic_yet.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/10/dont_panic_yet.php Premier League Alan Hutton Aston Villa Chris Herd West Brom Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:16:09 +0000 I can’t contain myself a moment longer. I accept I’ll almost certainly be opening a huge can of worms with this one, but having read and digested Alex McLeish’s recent comments about Emile Heskey, and pondered them for the best part of a week, I’ve got to let it all it out. I need to talk about Emile. Perhaps we all do. I think we’d all feel better afterwards. So, Emile Heskey. Where to start? How about those thoughts from McLeish? http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/10/we_need_to_talk_about_emile.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/10/we_need_to_talk_about_emile.php Premier League Alex McLeish Aston Villa Emile Heskey Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:30:39 +0000 Fear. That's the overriding emotion I have when I contemplate Villa's game on Saturday. Why? It's away at Manchester City. Perhaps fear is too strong. Certainly anxiety. Yes, I'm definitely anxious. Apprehensive. And with good reason: I picture Villa, caught like a startled, stranded rabbit in the headlights of an ongoing light blue-coloured juggernaut, as it smashes headlong into our unbeaten league record. Smashes it, and smashes it into smithereens. http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/10/can_villa_man_up_at_city.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/10/can_villa_man_up_at_city.php Premier League Aston Villa Man City Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:31:10 +0000 Fabio Capello took five strikers to Montenegro for England's 2012 European Championship qualifier, and while Gabriel Agbonlahor was not one of them, the fact that his omission from Capello's squad even merits a discussion at all is testament to the resurgence in form that the Villa man has shown during the first seven weeks of the Premier League season. Wayne Rooney aside, it would be a reasonably straightforward exercise to demonstrate that Agbonlahor is the in-form English striker in the league at present. http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/10/agbonlahors_resurgence.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/astonvilla/archives/2011/10/agbonlahors_resurgence.php Premier League Aston Villa England Fabio Capello Gabriel Agbonlahor Sat, 08 Oct 2011 17:59:04 +0000