Aston Villa

[chicken_pie]

As we all know Aston Villa are a very funny (and brilliant) team. At times they can play the worst football ever and at others the best football in the world (sounds like england a bit). They are always up and down the table more times than an elevator in a very tall building like the empire states building or the eifell tower. Recently they have started playing good football again, being marked by many as this seasons 'return to form', what i am asking is do you think that Villa will be able to keep this up for the rest of the season?, they managed to stay on form for the 2nd half of last season, and finished 6th from 16th, if they keep it up this time what position do you think they could finish? Do you think it is possible for them to do so with the current side and injury list (however gareth barry may be back for the spurs game), or will they need a few new key players in the january transfer window?

I personally (in my bias opinion) believe that Villa can keep this form up with the current side and could finish 5th maybe even fourth. However we wont know for a while yet, but mondays game against spurs could be a good indicator, and then liverpool on the 4th of december, and then man utd soon after that, after we stuff these teams :p i believe that will show everyone else that Villa are a side in contention for the 4th/5th place :cool:

[Disgruntledgoat]

Bearing in mind that Villa have one of the smallest squads in the premiership, plus their luck with injuries (Laursen and Vassell to name two) I think they will begin to feel the pinch going into the winter months.

They were unlucky not getting into europe last season, and are one of a few "nearly" clubs, including Boro, Bolton and perhaps even Charlton, although that might be pushing it....

They've got a great manager in O'Leary, and a relatively young side (Whittingham, Barry, etc.) but they could still struggle.

In the long term, they can be a "great" among the "goods", kind of in the position that Newcastle occupy now.

Give it 3 seasons, be patient....

[chicken_pie]

Villa's real strength is in their up and coming youth squad, several first team england under-21's, this will make us even more of a force in a few years, true, but Villa usually have a small squad, and laursen has resumed light training, and vassell has been playing poop so wont be missed, and this will help cole and angel build their partnership, Barry will certainly be back for liverpool game.

As for newcastle, i have only one thing to say to them and thats... 4-2!!! woooo!!!

But i still believe that if the players set their minds to it we can grab 4th or 5th, these next few games will be a testament to that, and if not i will be eating my words, but in the january transfer window o' leary is after more talent and has been given (and i qoute) "a sudstantial sum of money to expand the club from doug ellis", so could be interesting who we get.

And dont forget Villa - Chelsea, we gave them a run for their money, and at the time were only one of a few teams that scored past arsenal

[Disgruntledgoat]

Shush about Villa - Chelsea matches, we have problems with all teams that begin with A.

All we need is to face Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup and we're done for...

And when Abramovich owns all of England, he will ban the letter A and become Romn Bramovich...king of ll, muhahahaha....

[Sugar Ray]

I like Villa, and hope they do well. Unfortunately, I do feel they have to make some quality signings in the winter if they are to do so. At least two, hopefully three. But if Chelsea recall Cole after losing Mutu, then you might be in trouble.

[chicken_pie]

I think thats unlikly that they'll recall him, i think he'll stay at villa for the rest of the season, their is no way chelsea would give him first team action, they dont need him, they may be lacking a few strikers, but Robben is playing amazing and can make up for any goal-scroing problmes the few chelseas strikers might have

[dogincognito]

Drogba should be fit by then anyway, and Chelsea could just go out and buy anyone if they wanted to in January.

Anyway i think Villa are in the mix with a host of clubs for European spots, either Liverpool or Newcastle will take 4th if they adress their respective problem areas in January, but if they don't it could be anyone, Villa, Bolton, Charlton, Middlesborough, even Everton (and maybe Spurs, I think they will thrive under Jol) .

[chicken_pie]

woooooooooooooo 1-0, just thought id share my thoughts on a pretty good match agaist spurs, who didnt play too bad especially robinson, unfortunatly we denfended well so they didnt get too many good scoring opportunities, first halp was fair and the sencond was in Villa's favour, the goal was amazing though, a contender for goal of the month me thinks, anyway shows that Villa are still in form, next week is man city, then the rest of out games are quite hard ones (dont worry i wont post here after the matchs from now on, i just know there are spurs fans about and wanted to gloat)

[dogincognito]

The goal was a top draw bit of skill, but where was the marking!? :eek:

Great goal none the less.

[chicken_pie]

53 miles down the M4, their defense really started to fall apart just before and after the goal, and salono should have scored again, i was already cheering when it fell to him and he mis-hit it :nana: