Barry Bannan stands out.
RJ Sepich is an ardent Aston Villa and USMNT Supporter. Sepich is the Sports Editor at
The Pitt News, the daily student newspaper at the University of Pittsburgh. This is RJ's first
piece for TSG.
Like many Aston Villa fans and players, Villa midfielder Barry Bannan was probably happy to see
the end of a miserable season for the West Midlands side.
Talking Tactics: Are Aston Villa's woes purely down to missing key players? is a post from: Just
Football
by Sam Thompson
It was clear during Aston Villa's heavy defeat to Manchester United last
weekend that the Midlands club are a side missing key players. Looking at Aston Villa's strongest
XI on paper, it is obvious that the three players in the spine of the side who have been
unavailable are sorely missed.
10am ET, live in the US on Fox Soccer Plus
Last four head-to-head:
2-0 Liverpool (a) 12.18.11
0-1 Villa (a) 05.22.11
3-0 Liverpool (h) 12.06.10
1-0 Liverpool (a) 12.29.09
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 0-2 Newcastle (a); 1-2 Wigan (h); 2-3 QPR (a)
Villa: 2-4 Chelsea (h); 0-3 Arsenal (a); 1-0 Fulham (h)
Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Suarez 8; Bellamy 6; Gerrard 5; Carroll 3; Adam, Kuyt, Maxi, Skrtel 2; Coates,
Henderson, Johnson 1
Villa: Bent 9, Agbonlahor 5; Petrov 4; Keane 3; Albrighton, N'Zogbia 2; Bannan, Collins,
Dunne, Heskey, Ireland, Lichaj, Warnock, Weimann 1
Referee: Michael Oliver
Guess at a line-up:
Doni
Flanagan Skrtel Carragher Enrique
Gerrard Spearing
Downing Shelvey Bellamy
Suarez
I don't really want to see Suarez as a lone striker again, but I also don't expect Carroll to start
after Sunday's display.
An emotional prelude to the match as Villa's captain, Stiliyan "Stan" Petrov diagnosed with
acute leukemia was given a show of overwhelming support from fans and players from both sides.
Petrov was in the stands to see his team take on Chelsea and the warm up saw players wearing
"Support Stan" T-shirts.
From 2-0 up and sleepwalking toward three points to 2-2 and then, amazingly, 4-2 this was not
the way any of us expected this match to play out. And if you did, you're a weird soul.
Nevertheless, it's a crucial win as we inch closer to the top four.
Relief.
I'm not sure that we've played a more bizarre game this season.
Mar 26, 2012
Today, Arsenal won 3-0 against Aston Villa at the Emirates. It was our seventh Premier League
win in a row and that gives us a three-point advantage over the Spuds, who could only draw with
Chelsea at Stamford Bridge earlier in the day. It was also the first time since 1997 that the
Gunners had two English goal scorers in the same game.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa 3-0 Highlights 2012 Gibbs Arteta free kick Walcott Goals Video is a post
from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter
Arsenal vs Aston Villa 3-0 Highlights 2012 Gibbs Arteta free kick Walcott Goals Video is a post
from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Arsenal vs Aston Villa 2012 ( Arsenal Villa
2012 VIDEO BELOW) Final score and result:- Arsenal vs Aston Villa 3-0 ( Gibbs, Walcott, Arteta)
Emirates Stadium, London- 24 March, 2012, [.
By Alan Duffy
Aston Villa Fulham Premier League 10th March 2012
After seven home games without a victory, the atmosphere around Villa Park was a mixture of
tension and frustration as the home fans watched their side play out, what looked like, another
disappointing draw.
Aston Villa vs Manchester City 0-1 Highlights 2012 Joleon Lescott Goal Video is a post from
Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter
Aston Villa vs Manchester City 0-1 Highlights 2012 Joleon Lescott Goal Video is a post from Soccer
Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Aston Villa vs Manchester City 2012 ( Villa City Video
Below) Final score and result:- Aston Villa vs Manchester City 0-1 ( Lescott) Villa Park,
Birmingham- 12 February, 2012- Sunday- 16.
Van Persie Cuellar Video- Robin Van Persie elbows Carlos Cuellar FA Cup 2012 Arsenal Villa is a
post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter
Van Persie Cuellar Video- Robin Van Persie elbows Carlos Cuellar FA Cup 2012 Arsenal Villa is a
post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter This Van Persie elbow on Cuellar ( see
video below) drew angry reactions from Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish after his side's 3-2 loss
to Arsenal in the fourth [.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa 3-2 Highlights FA Cup Goals 2012 Video Van Persie Dunne Bent Walcott is a
post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter
Arsenal vs Aston Villa 3-2 Highlights FA Cup Goals 2012 Video Van Persie Dunne Bent Walcott is a
post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Arsenal vs Aston Villa 2012 ( Arsenal
Villa Video below) Final score and result: Arsenal vs Aston Villa 3-2 ( Van Persie*2, Walcott/
Dunne, Bent) Emirates Stadium, London- [.
Ireland striker Robbie Keane has already become Aston Villa's in-game gaffer by shouting out pitch
instructions to his short-term colleagues.
Keane has ingratiated himself to team-mates and fans alike with his brilliant double in the 3-2
victory at Wolves last Weekend and it capped an amazing full Villa start for the 31-year-old Irish
captain who is currently on loan from LA Galaxy.
By Darshan Joshi
One week, two alleged stamps. Both assailants bad-boys of their clubs' cities, further apart in
distance than footballing heritage and seemingly now closer yet in terms of notoriety. One incident
exponentially more temerarious than the other, and thus rightly so – relatively speaking –, one
man went unpunished, and the other supplied with a four-match decapitation.
By Alan Duffy
Chelsea 1-3 Aston Villa Premier League 31st December 2011
Coming only days after he was chastised by manager Alex McLeish for being photographed with a
hookah pipe and drink in hand, Stephen Ireland rediscovered his best midfield form to inspire the
Villans to a superb and surpirsing victory at Stamford Bridge.
By Chris Wright
Time to lighten the mood. Given that Marc Albrighton notched the Premier League's 20,000th goal
last night, it seemed only right to put together a little video compendium of ten of the best most
hideously ugly goals ever to have been scored over the course of these 19-and-a-half glorious
seasons.
1. It was a great night for goals. There were some stunning efforts from Wayne Rooney, Adam
Johnson, Demba Ba and Paul Scharner can all take a bow for starters. 2. Adam Johnson must have
thought twice before firing in his long-range effort against Stoke though. He usually gets a
rollicking from Manchester City boss [.
A shaky performance, but we won. So, Yay?
An early pelanty goal from Robin van Persie, taking his tally to 34 goals in the calendar year,
and a late goal from Yossi Benayoun (from a header, no less) secured a nervous, underperforming,
but ultimately crucial midweek win at Villa Park today.
Marc Albrighton scores 20,000th Premier League goal
Aston Villa winger Marc Albrighton pounced to score the 20,000th goal in Premier League history
on Wednesday night. Albrighton scored the landmark goal against Arsenal at Villa Park.
View the full story here: The Mail
A news article on 2011-12-22 01:54:33 from: The Mail
This news item has been reproduced from today's media.
In Thursday's Premier League game, Brad Friedel was in goal for Spurs in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
Tottenham went up eight minutes in when Emmanuel Adebayor scored. Chelsea equalized in the 23rd. A
tough night on Wednesday for Clint Dempsey and Fulham with Manchester United beating them 5-0 at
Craven Cottage.
Premier League round-up: Man City are Christmas chart toppers
Aguero and Johnson fire Mancni's men to win, five star Man United smash Fulham and Albrighton
nets 20,000th goal
View the full story here: Talksport
A news article on 2011-12-21 22:06:42 from: Talksport
This news item has been reproduced from today's media.
By Alan Duffy
Aston Villa 1-2 Arsenal - Premier League 21st December 2011
Wiry wingman Marc Albrighton netted the 20,000 goal in Premier League history but it was an
under-par visiting Arsenal side that took home all three points in a tough, tense pre-Christmas
encounter.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa 1-2 Highlights 2011 Video Marc Albrighton 20,000th Premier League Goal
Van Persie Benayoun is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter
Arsenal vs Aston Villa 1-2 Highlights 2011 Video Marc Albrighton 20,000th Premier League Goal Van
Persie Benayoun is a post from Soccer Blogger.
Aston Villa v Liverpool – as it happened
Liverpool scored from two early corners and strolled to victory against a poor, pretty much
attack-free Aston Villa side Preamble: Aston Villa must carry particularly good memories for
Liverpool fans. I'm not even a Liverpool fan, but I can remember half a dozen stonking moments
between these two clubs.
9:05am ET, live in the US on Fox Soccer Plus
Last four head-to-head:
0-1 Villa (a) 05.22.11
3-0 Liverpool (h) 12.06.10
1-0 Liverpool (a) 12.29.09
1-3 Villa (h) 08.24.09
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 1-0 QPR (h); 0-1 Fulham (a); 2-0 Chelsea (a)
Villa: 2-1 Bolton (a); 0-1 United (h); 0-0 Swansea (a)
Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Suarez 5; Own Goal 3; Adam, Carroll 2; Bellamy, Gerrard, Henderson, Johnson,
Maxi, Skrtel 1
Villa: Agbonlahor, Bent 5; Petrov 3; Albrighton, Bannan, Dunne, Heskey, Warnock 1
Referee: Peter Walton
Guess at a line-up:
Reina
Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique
Downing Henderson Adam Maxi
Suarez Bellamy
It'll seem as if Liverpool are playing nearly every day over the next few weeks, with eight matches
in a month, but there's probably little point in wholesale changes just yet.
England Watch: Fabio's Fab Five, starring Rooney, Downing, Crouch, Albrighton and
Moses
Who were the Three Lions' top performers in the Premier League this weekend?
View the full story here: Talksport
A news article on 2011-12-12 11:55:38 from: Talksport
This news item has been reproduced from today's media.
By Alan Duffy
Aston Villa 1-2 Bolton Wanderers Premier League 10th December 2011
It's been a difficult season to date for both Owen Coyle and Alex McLeish, with both Bolton and
Villa struggling to find their best form.
In an eventful day of Premier League action, Arsenal, Liverpool, and reigning champions
Manchester United all bounced back from their respective setbacks to win big while Newcastle United
suffered a shocking loss away to lowly Norwich.
The Gunners, who returned home from Greece after a 3-1 thumping at the hands of Olympiakos in
Tuesday night's meaningless Champions League encounter, overcame Everton 1-0 at the Emirates.
Marc Albrighton and Stiliyan Petrov produced the vital goals to deliver Villa's first away win
of the season, but Ivan Klasnic was able to prevent Brad Guzan earning a clean sheet on his first
Premiership start.
It was a much improved performance during the first half, and fans crying out for a 4-4-2 system
will be quick to point out that was the case today with Marc Albrighton on the right and Charles
N'Zogbia on the left.
With Shay Given out for a month, Brad Guzan gets his first Premier League start, and it's also
emerged this week that the American is in contract discussions with his current deal set to expire
at the end of the season. Jermaine Jenas is out for the season, and with the club apparently on the
hook for his wages the less said about that the better.
One of the bigger talking points has been the return of Ashley Young. James Milner showed class
by not celebrating at Eastlands recently, expect Ashley Young to do exactly the same today, but
preferably because he hasn't scored.
Either way, it's a tough game ahead and I suspect there will be a bigger interest in the manner
we McLeish approaches the game than any real expectation in getting much from it.
THFC1882 present another guest blog. It's Rob again with his preview of Monday
nights return to action
Monday 21st November 2011, White Hart Lane. 8pm Kick off Live on Sky Sports 1HD &
1
Another International break is over and we can get back to the important domestic business once
again.
The Euro 2012 play-offs are over and we now know all 16 teams who will be competing in Poland
and Ukraine next summer. Barring any injury issues, there will definitely be some Villa interest as
the Irish saw out their considerable advantage from the first leg against Estonia to book their
place in the finals with a 1-1 draw in Dublin.
You may well have already seen this, but on the off chance you've been off the grid, as I have,
in the last 24 hours or so, here's the extended highlights of England's 5-0 win over Iceland in the
2013 European U21 Championships qualifier in Colchester.
Nathan Delfouneso was in the starting eleven, but left the pitch with the game barely 10 minutes
old after pulling up chasing a ball into the box.
You have to go all the way back to 2004/05 to find the last time this fixture was played; a 3-0
win under David O'Leary. Alex McLeish could really do with something similar today.
Darren Bent has said that one goal could open the floodgates, and McLeish has "rubbished" silly
rumours of a January sale.
Darren Bent's first return to Wearside since his switch to Aston Villa has dominated the
headlines, but Steve Bruce will more concerned with trying to find what would only be his third
home win of 2011.
Alex McLeish is coming off the back of two losses; one far from unexpected, the other extremely
disappointing.
I was just catching up on the news from the last few days and I came across Tottenham's Benoît
Assou-Ekotto issuing a plea for his club to do whatever it takes to hang on to their top stars and
bringing in new ones... or risk becoming another Aston Villa.
Ouch!
The way things stand at the moment, it's not hard to at least partially agree with him and his
message will definitely resonate with a fair number of Villa fans disgruntled by the recent
austerity measures.
You might not have been alive that last time West Brom left Villa Park with three points: it was
May 11th 1979. In fairness, we've only played in the same league 12 seasons since then, which
reduces the chances of losing somewhat, but then we also didn't have to endure Phil Dowd
refereeing.
It's just under five months since Wigan were last at Villa Park and they've proven to be
something of a bogey team for us in our limited history of playing them. This will only be the 7th
time this league fixture has been played, but we're yet to win one. The pattern so far is LDLDLD;
clearly we need to break that pattern one way or another today.
By Chris Wright
QPR manager Neil Warnock has vowed to fine Armand Traore 'the most money that he possibly can'
after the left-back was sent-off in the final minute of the Hoops' 1-1 draw with Aston Villa for a
headlong, reckless lunge on Marc Albrighton.
The dismissal came minutes before Richard Dunne's unfortunate own-goal equaliser, with QPR 1-0
down and chasing the game as the clock ticked over into stoppage time and Warnock (who was seen to
grab Traore's arm and administer a few choice words as he made his way from the pitch) was not best
pleased with his players' conduct, telling the BBC after the game:
"I just thought he was a disgrace, I will fine him as much as I possibly can.
By Chris Wright
QPR manager Neil Warnock has vowed to fine Armand Traore 'the most money that he possibly can'
after the left-back was sent-off in the final minute of the Hoops' 1-1 draw with Aston Villa for a
headlong, reckless lunge on Marc Albrighton.
The dismissal came minutes before Richard Dunne's unfortunate own-goal equaliser, with QPR 1-0
down and chasing the game as the clock ticked over into stoppage time and Warnock (who was seen to
grab Traore's arm and administer a few choice words as he made his way from the pitch) was not best
pleased with his players' conduct, telling the BBC after the game:
"I just thought he was a disgrace, I will fine him as much as I possibly can.
