Big game, big opportunity today. Here are today’s Premier League matches followed by the confirmed line-ups for Aston Villa and West Ham:
Birmingham City (16th/35pts) vs Sunderland (13th/38pts)
Everton (7th/44pts) vs Blackburn (15th/35pts)
West Brom (10th/39pts) vs Chelsea (3rd/58pts)
Blackpool (17th/33pts) vs Wigan (20th/31pts)
West Ham (18th/32pts) vs Aston Villa (14th/37pts)
West Ham
Aston Villa
1
Robert Green
1
Brad Friedel
37
Lars Jacobsen
36
Kyle Walker
22
Manuel Da Costa
29
James Collins
15
Matthew Upson
5
Richard Dunne
36
Wayne Bridge
2
Luke Young
16
Mark Noble
6
Stewart Downing
11
Thomas Hitzlsperger
19
Stiliyan Petrov
32
Gary O’Neil
20
Nigel Reo-Coker
33
Victor Obinna
7
Ashley Young
35
Robbie Keane
18
Emile Heskey
9
Carlton Cole
39
Darren Bent
Subs
Subs
31
Ruud Boffin
33
Andy Marshall
4
Daniel Gabbidon
24
Carlos Cuellar
18
Jonathan Spector
21
Ciaran Clark
13
Luis Boa Morte
8
Robert Pires
26
Zavon
Continue Reading
It seems like a lifetime ago that our 2010/11 season kicked off amidst a mood of confusion and uncertainty with a surprisingly emphatic victory over West Ham at Villa Park. For the Hammers, it was a glimpse of the months that lay ahead for them. For us, it was very much a false dawn.
Of course, it was actually only eight months ago, but here we now are in the middle of April, West Ham occupy the relegation zone where they
Continue Reading
With the exception of West Brom grabbing three points in Sunderland, all of yesterday’s fixtures went exactly as we needed them to. With Arsenal hopefully about to do the business in Blackpool (although they’re not making it easy), Newcastle’s visit to Villa Park provides the perfect opportunity to move away from the danger zone and relieve a little pressure.
Here’s how Gerard Houllier plans on getting the job done (not listed: The 12th Man):
Aston Villa
Newcastle
1
Brad Friedel
1
Steve Harper
36
Kyle Walker
12
Danny Simpson
29
James Collins
2
Fabricio
Continue Reading
With West Ham still leading West Ham, lifting the Hammers up the table as things stand, here’s how we’re going to have a crack at the injury ravaged Everton today:
Everton
Aston Villa
24
Tim Howard
1
Brad Friedel
2
Tony Hibbert
36
Kyle Walker
6
Phil Jagielka
5
Richard Dunne
15
Sylvain Distin
29
James Collins
3
Leighton Baines
2
Luke Young
18
Phil Neville
20
Nigel Reo-Coker
5
John Heitinga
17
Jean II Makoun
7
Diniyar Bilyaletdinov
6
Stewart Downing
23
Seamus Coleman
7
Ashley Young
21
Leon Osman
11
Gabriel Agbonlahor
16
Jermaine Beckford
39
Darren Bent
Subs
Subs
1
Jan Mucha
33
Andy Marshall
Aristote Nsiala
24
Carlos Cuellar
19
Magaye Gueye
16
Fabian Delph
30
Shkodran Mustafi
8
Robert Pires
Adam Forshaw
19
Stiliyan Petrov
Conor McAleny
12
Marc Albrighton
Apostolos Vellios
18
Emile Heskey
I don’t really know what happened at Champneys spa resort, I’ll leave the speculation to others. Sufficed to say that the incident was dealt with swiftly, both James Collins and Richard Dunne have been punished and it turns out neither player is fit for this game in any case.
We’ve got more important things to worry about right now, like winning some football games. Starting with Wolves at what could well be a sold out Villa Park tomorrow.
At first glance, Wolves
Continue Reading
After Manchester, Gerard Houllier names a full strength team today. Luke Young rejoins the team, filling in at left centre back, Fabian Delph retains his place and will partner Reo-Coker in the middle.
Bolton
Aston Villa
22
Jussi Jaaskelainen
1
Brad Friedel
2
Gretar Rafn Steinsson
36
Kyle Walker
31
David Wheater
32
Nathan Baker
5
Gary Cahill
21
Ciaran Clark
4
Paul Robinson
2
Luke Young
14
Kevin Davies
6
Stewart Downing
8
Stuart Holden
20
Nigel Reo-Coker
6
Fabrice Muamba
16
Fabian Delph
10
Martin Petrov
12
Marc Albrighton
15
Daniel Sturridge
7
Ashley Young
9
Johan Elmander
39
Darren Bent
Subs
Subs
1
Adam Bogdan
33
Andy Marshall
17
Ivan Klasnic
8
Robert Pires
7
Matthew Taylor
19
Stiliyan Petrov
27
Lee Chung-Yong
31
Chris Herd
16
Mark Davies
13
Michael Bradley
19
Rodrigo
18
Emile Heskey
25
Marcos Alonso
11
Gabriel Agbonlahor
No, I don’t know what Charlie Sheen has to do with Aston Villa taking on Bolton either, but at least he’s providing some much needed light relief at the moment and having some fun. You remember fun, right? He’s also doing a decent job of making Stephen Ireland look sane. Some achievement, and for that I thank you Charlie Sheen.
He’s also seems to be doing a splendid job of claiming victory from what appears to be a stinging defeat, perhaps
Continue Reading
Gerard Houllier says he’s determined to erase memories of the “lowest moment of his career”; the 4-0 loss at Eastlands to close out 2010. How’s he going to do it? Here are the starting lineups:
Man City
Aston Villa
25
Joe Hart
1
Brad Friedel
2
Micah Richards
31
Chris Herd
17
Jerome Boateng
5
Richard Dunne
19
Joleon Lescott
21
Ciaran Clark
5
Pablo Zabaleta
16
Fabian Delph
24
Patrick Vieira
25
Barry Bannan
18
Gareth Barry
19
Stiliyan Petrov
21
David Silva
13
Michael Bradley
42
Yaya Touré
11
Gabriel Agbonlahor
13
Aleksandar Kolarov
14
Nathan Delfouneso
45
Mario Balotelli
18
Emile Heskey
Subs
Subs
12
Stuart Taylor
33
Andy Marshall
32
Carlos Tevez
36
Kyle Walker
11
Adam Johnson
8
Robert Pires
10
Edin Dzeko
20
Nigel Reo-Coker
27
Jo
12
Marc Albrighton
38
Dedryck Boyata
7
Ashley Young
57
Reece Wabara
6
Stewart Downing
The unofficial Aston Villa winter break finally comes to an end today against an all too familiar opponent. If there is a single team out there that don’t require a preview post right now, it’s Blackburn, so I won’t waste your time or mine, but let’s just take a quick refresher of who’s in and out and a few of the news stories that haven’t made the blog here recently.
Blackburn will be without Canadian David Hoillet. Carlos Cuellar is out
Continue Reading