It’s the last away game of the season. Here’s the team Gary McAllister is sending out at the Emirates to grab a point or three against an Arsenal side eager to ensure they finish in the top three at least to guarantee themselves a place in the Champions League next season.
Should be interesting tactical battle, it looks like a 4-2-3-1 vs a 4-3-3.
Arsenal
Aston Villa
53
Wojciech Szczęsny
1
Brad Friedel
3
Bacary Sagna
36
Kyle Walker
5
Thomas Vermaelen
29
James Collins
18
Sebastien Squillaci
5
Richard Dunne
28
Kieran Gibbs
2
Luke Young
17
Alex Song
16
Fabian Delph
19
Jack Wilshere
19
Stiliyan Petrov
14
Theo Walcott
20
Nigel Reo-Coker
16
Aaron
Continue Reading
It’s the penultimate home game of the season and the opportunity to make our future in the Premier League a mathematical certainty against a Wigan side that are fighting for their life.
Ciaran Clark is out with hamstring injury picked up in training yesterday, Jean II Makoun is still out with a dead leg and Gabby is unavailable after falling ill overnight.
Charles N’Zogbia passed his late fitness test, but Victor Moses will replace Mohamed Diame in the Wigan side.
Here are the
Continue Reading
It’s been an interesting week with Gerard Houllier being discharged from hospital and Barry Bannan returning from his loan at Leeds. Here’s how caretaker Gary McAllister is going to take on West Brom in the penultimate away game of the season.
The only change to the starting XI is Gabby in for Heskey, but there are three changes to the bench with Bannan, Bradley and Delph coming in. Unsure on the status of Heskey or Albrighton at this stage.
EDIT: Marc Albrighton
Continue Reading
When Gary McAllister was asked whether he would be picking the team or Gerard Houllier, he said that if they lost it would be Gerard’s team and if they won it was his. He was joking of course, but as it’s an unchanged side, it doesn’t really matter:
Aston Villa
Stoke
1
Brad Friedel
1
Asmir Begovic
36
Kyle Walker
28
Andy Wilkinson
29
James Collins
17
Ryan Shawcross
5
Richard Dunne
4
Robert Huth
2
Luke Young
12
Marc Wilson
6
Stewart Downing
24
Rory Delap
19
Stiliyan Petrov
6
Glenn Whelan
20
Nigel Reo-Coker
16
Jermaine Pennant
7
Ashley Young
26
Matthew Etherington
18
Emile Heskey
9
Kenwyne Jones
39
Darren Bent
19
Jonathan Walters
Subs
Subs
33
Andy Marshall
29
Thomas Sorensen
24
Carlos Cuellar
5
Danny Collins
21
Ciaran Clark
14
Danny Pugh
8
Robert Pires
15
Salif Diao
17
Jean II
Continue Reading
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
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
The teams are almost exactly as expected from yesterday’s preview, just Marc Albrighton instead of Gabby – nothing shocking about that – but Chris Herd starts, presumably at left back, rather than Fabian Delph.
Aston Villa
Wolves
1
Brad Friedel
13
Wayne Hennessey
36
Kyle Walker
32
Kevin Foley
24
Carlos Cuellar
5
Richard Stearman
32
Nathan Baker
16
Christophe Berra
31
Chris Herd
3
George Elokobi
6
Stewart Downing
19
Adam Hammill
20
Nigel Reo-Coker
8
Karl Henry
17
Jean II Makoun
20
Nenad Milijas
12
Marc Albrighton
17
Matthew Jarvis
7
Ashley Young
24
Jamie O’Hara
39
Darren Bent
29
Kevin Doyle
Subs
Subs
33
Andy Marshall
1
Marcus Hahnemann
8
Robert Pires
6
Jody Craddock
11
Gabriel Agbonlahor
7
Michael Kightly
13
Michael Bradley
9
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
16
Fabian Delph
10
Steven Fletcher
18
Emile Heskey
11
Stephen Ward
19
Stiliyan Petrov
14
David Jones
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