Dunne leaves City and Joins Villa
September 2, 2009
Aston Villa took their summer spending to £40million after finally confirming the signing of Manchester City skipper Richard Dunne.
Republic of Ireland captain Dunne has ended his nine-year spell with City by making a £6million switch from Eastlands.
The Premier League asked for more time to ratify the deal despite Villa starting to submit the relevant documents before 4pm on deadline day – an hour before the transfer window formally closed.
But Villa were always confident Dunne would become their player after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.
The Football Association were also satisfied with the paperwork presented by Villa but needed the approval of the Premier League.
Dunne was Villa’s second defensive capture after Wales international James Collins signed from West Ham on deadline day for £5million.
Manager Martin O’Neill has been desperate to bolster his back four after skipper Martin Laursen retired and Zat Knight was sold to Bolton.
He said:
“Richard Dunne is the kind of person we are looking for.”
Aston Villa Facts
September 2, 2009
Emblem
NICKNAME: Villans
FOUNDED: 1874
MANAGER: Martin O’Neill (Irish)
GROUND: Villa Park
LAST SEASON:
League Sixth FA Cup Fifth Round Carling Cup Third Round UEFA Cup Last 32
HONOURS:
European Cup Winners (1) 1981-82
European Super Cup Winners (1) 1982
Division One Champions (7) 1893-94, 1895-96, 1896-97, 1898-99, 1899-1900, 1909-10, 1980-81
Division Two Champions (2) 1937-38, 1959-60
Division Three Champions (1) 1971-72
FA Cup Winners (7) 1887, 1895, 1897, 1905, 1913, 1920, 1957
Double Winners (1) 1896-97
League Cup Winners (5) 1961, 1975, 1977, 1994, 1996
RECORD VICTORY: League 12-2 v Accrington S, Division One, 12-03-1892 Cup 13-0 v Wednesbury, FA Cup First Round, 30-10-1886
RECORD DEFEAT: 1-8 v Blackburn, FA Cup Third Round, 16-02-1889
RECORD ATTENDANCE: 76,588 v Derby, FA Cup Sixth Round, 02-03-1946
TOP LEAGUE GOALSCORER: Season Pongo Waring, 49, 1930-31 All-time Harry Hampton, 215, 1904-15
MOST LEAGUE APPEARANCES: Charlie Aitken, 561, 1961-76
Liverpool/Villa – Picture of the Game
August 24, 2009
Gerrard shows his frustration after giving away a penalty to Villa after fouling Reo-Coker
No Paella for you guys tonight!
Aston Villa clinched a battling win over a below-par Liverpool side, who slumped to their second defeat in their first three Premier League games.
Liverpool dominated early on and went close when Yossi Benayoun headed wide.
But Villa took the lead when Lucas nodded Ashley Young’s free-kick into his own net and Curtis Davies made it 2-0 when he met Nicky Shorey’s corner.
Fernando Torres replied from close range but Young sealed it from the spot after Nigel Reo-Coker was fouled.
So much for fortress Anfield. This isn’t top 4 form and having dropped 6 points already Benitez will be wondering what to do next. (Liverpool only lost 2 games all last season – Alan Hansen’s prediction of a Liverpool 1st place finish looks a tad wide of the mark)
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Sidwell not in panic mode over Villa’s form….yet
August 24, 2009
Steve Sidwell is refusing to press the panic button after Aston Villa’s dismal form of the past few months, but he concedes no club is too big to avoid relegation.
Villa were chasing a Champions League spot after two thirds of last season, but won only two of their final 18 games and have started the new campaign in unconvincing style.
They suffered a shock 2-0 home defeat to Wigan in their opening Barclays Premier League fixture and then were beaten away to Rapid Vienna in the Europa League.
Sidwell knows Villa have the quality to bounce back ahead of Monday night’s clash with Liverpool at Anfield, but the former Reading and Chelsea player also knows it is easy for a “losing mentality” to set in.
He said: “We do seem to have started where we left off last year and it is down to us and the manager to get us back on track.
“We have had a poor run of form and you can easily find yourself at the bottom of the table but it is just two defeats so far this season.
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“You can never write (relegation) off. I mean you look at Spurs last year. Who would have thought they, until Harry Redknapp came in and worked his magic, would have been on the verge of it? It can happen to any club.
“If that losing mentality sets in, and keeps going week-in week-out, you can go 10 or 12 games without picking up wins. Once you get that you are in trouble.
“To say this club is too big to get relegated would be disrespectful to the likes of Newcastle, but we shouldn’t be looking at that.
“If you are halfway through the season and in this form it is difficult. But we are only two games in.”
Sidwell admitted: “It is not a good time to be going to Liverpool but we are a young and hungry side and we have no fear.
“We are going there looking to win and looking to bounce back off two better defeats. What better place to get your season back on track.
“We have match-winning players here – players like Ashley Young, Gabby Agbonlahor and James Milner.
“We have set standards and need to get back to those standards. But we need to get back to them quickly if we are to be pushing for a European spot.”
Villa central defender Curtis Davies is doubtful for the trip to Anfield after a recurrence of his shoulder problem.
Davies suffered the setback during the latter stages of the Vienna clash and his replacement, rookie Shane Lowry, is amongst the candidates to replace him although Habib Beye could switch from right-back.
Martin O’Neill, who is continuing his pursuit of Sylvain Distin and Stephen Warnock to bolster his back four, will also be hoping striker John Carew is fit to make his first appearance of the season.
Carew, the club’s top scorer for the past two seasons, missed the Wigan reverse with a foot injury and then pulled out of the Vienna game with a virus.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa – Preview
August 24, 2009
Prediction - Home win.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez does not expect the Barclays Premier League’s big four to have things all their own way this season.
Benitez, who could give a debut to new Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos against Aston Villa on Monday at Anfield, anticipates plenty of teams taking points off the Reds, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.
He said: “This will be a different sort of title race. Already we have lost, and so have Manchester United.
“There are other teams who can make an impact – Spurs, Manchester City, Villa – and I believe it will be a lot harder this season for the top four teams to win every game.
“Villa will be difficult for us. They have pace, experience and ability. They do very well in away games because of that and are an extremely dangerous side.”
Liverpool suffered a bad defeat at Tottenham on the opening weekend, but bounced back with a resounding 4-0 victory over Stoke on Wednesday.
And Reds skipper Steven Gerrard said: “The opening games have shown this season it will be very difficult to win. We are going to have to be even better than last season.
“It looks like it is going to be a very competitive league.
“You can tell that after the opening round of games. The points total we amassed last season would have been good enough to win the title in the last three or four seasons, but it was only good enough to be second.
“Every season it gets tougher to win the title, but that is still our ambition.
“A setback on the opening day was not fatal. But it has been a long time since Liverpool won the title, and it does not get any easier.”
Benitez will make a late decision on whether defender Martin Skrtel can be risked with a broken jaw against Villa.
If he does not make the Villa game, Benitez hinted that he may well stick with teenager Daniel Ayala, with his new £2million Greek defender short of match practice.
Benitez, though, is confident that would not be a risk. He said: “Dani did very well against Stoke after a nervous start and it may be difficult to bring Kyrgiakos straight in.
“Against Stoke the players wanted to prove they are good enough to win the title after that opening defeat at Spurs.
“It was very important for them to win at home in midweek in front of their own fans, and they will feel the same on Monday against a very good Villa side.
“We scored four against Stoke, did not concede, and won well. But they know that there is still plenty of room for improvement.
“When you lose a game you are so determined to prove something in the next game. We have done that and aim to do the same again on Monday.
“Villa have ability and pace, it will be a tough game. They have lost Gareth Barry but they are still a very good team.”
Benitez believes Kyrgiakos will eventually bring steel to a defence that has already been boosted by the attacking flair of new full-back Glen Johnson, who scored on his home debut on Wednesday.
Benitez has Johnson flying down the right, while another youngster, Emiliano Insua, is having an impact on the left flank.
Benitez says: “Glen can score goals for us. We knew he was very good going forward but he accepts that he must work on his defensive side.
“When I first spoke to him he was aware of that, and he wants to learn.
“He has already shown what he can do. I believe he can score between five and 10 goals for the team.
“That will be a major boost for us because we have not had a defender, certainly one playing wide, who can give that to the team.
“At the moment we have Glen down the right and Insua on the left. Both are adventurous players and we hope they can give us something extra offensively on the lines.
“Glen can make mistakes just like anyone, but at the end of the season I believe we will be looking at a very good defender who has been keen to learn, and also an attacking player who will have contributed a lot to the team.”
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Liverpool vs Aston Villa Preview
August 23, 2009
Prediction - Home win.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez does not expect the Barclays Premier League’s big four to have things all their own way this season.
Benitez, who could give a debut to new Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos against Aston Villa on Monday at Anfield, anticipates plenty of teams taking points off the Reds, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.
He said: “This will be a different sort of title race. Already we have lost, and so have Manchester United.
“There are other teams who can make an impact – Spurs, Manchester City, Villa – and I believe it will be a lot harder this season for the top four teams to win every game.
“Villa will be difficult for us. They have pace, experience and ability. They do very well in away games because of that and are an extremely dangerous side.”
Liverpool suffered a bad defeat at Tottenham on the opening weekend, but bounced back with a resounding 4-0 victory over Stoke on Wednesday.
And Reds skipper Steven Gerrard said: “The opening games have shown this season it will be very difficult to win. We are going to have to be even better than last season.
“It looks like it is going to be a very competitive league.
“You can tell that after the opening round of games. The points total we amassed last season would have been good enough to win the title in the last three or four seasons, but it was only good enough to be second.
“Every season it gets tougher to win the title, but that is still our ambition.
“A setback on the opening day was not fatal. But it has been a long time since Liverpool won the title, and it does not get any easier.”
Benitez will make a late decision on whether defender Martin Skrtel can be risked with a broken jaw against Villa.
If he does not make the Villa game, Benitez hinted that he may well stick with teenager Daniel Ayala, with his new £2million Greek defender short of match practice.
Benitez, though, is confident that would not be a risk. He said: “Dani did very well against Stoke after a nervous start and it may be difficult to bring Kyrgiakos straight in.
“Against Stoke the players wanted to prove they are good enough to win the title after that opening defeat at Spurs.
“It was very important for them to win at home in midweek in front of their own fans, and they will feel the same on Monday against a very good Villa side.
“We scored four against Stoke, did not concede, and won well. But they know that there is still plenty of room for improvement.
“When you lose a game you are so determined to prove something in the next game. We have done that and aim to do the same again on Monday.
“Villa have ability and pace, it will be a tough game. They have lost Gareth Barry but they are still a very good team.”
Benitez believes Kyrgiakos will eventually bring steel to a defence that has already been boosted by the attacking flair of new full-back Glen Johnson, who scored on his home debut on Wednesday.
Benitez has Johnson flying down the right, while another youngster, Emiliano Insua, is having an impact on the left flank.
Benitez says: “Glen can score goals for us. We knew he was very good going forward but he accepts that he must work on his defensive side.
“When I first spoke to him he was aware of that, and he wants to learn.
“He has already shown what he can do. I believe he can score between five and 10 goals for the team.
“That will be a major boost for us because we have not had a defender, certainly one playing wide, who can give that to the team.
“At the moment we have Glen down the right and Insua on the left. Both are adventurous players and we hope they can give us something extra offensively on the lines.
“Glen can make mistakes just like anyone, but at the end of the season I believe we will be looking at a very good defender who has been keen to learn, and also an attacking player who will have contributed a lot to the team.”
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Lucy Pinder in your Premier League Colours
August 21, 2009
Look at the directory above and click on your team to get the download of Lucy.
Click on the team you support and download the image.
Lucy pinder – Courtesy of Nuts Magazine.
EPL Journal 