Monday, 01 February 2010 10:18
The transfer window closes today and I am fairly confident we will see something happen. I'm not saying if it coming in or leaving or if it is a permanent deal or loan, I just think something will happen.
But this post isn't about today, ti is about Saturday and how we went to Fulham, played a little bit of football and took, as it turns out, a very good three points.
I say very good, because everyone else around us, apart from Spurs, picked up three points too and we are still seventh. If we win our game in hand we will however go fourth, but if Manchester City also win their two games in hand we they will go fourth, we will be fifth. See, it was an important three points.
What the Papers Say
Conrad Leach, Independent
For a team that has won at Old Trafford and Anfield this season, Aston Villa should have strolled to victory at Craven Cottage. Two goals from Gabriel Agbonlahor, in the space of four minutes just before half-time, settled matters but the visitors were unconvincing at the start and although Brad Friedel did not have to make many saves, there was some desperation in defence at the end.
David Lacey, Guardian
Previously only Chelsea and Arsenal had won at Craven Cottage this season and Manchester United had lost 3‑0 there a week before Christmas, yet Villa came off the back of four Premier League games without a goal to beat Roy Hodgson's team in some style.
The Manager
Martin O'Neill I know that strikers obviously need to score goals to keep themselves alive and keep themselves full of confidence. I learnt from a previous manager that sometimes you don't always get your deserts on the day. Gabby's performance on Wednesday night against Arsenal was fantastic and the goals came to him today.
He took them today I think it was as much to do with his performance on Wednesday night. He got his deserts today and I thought he played excellently today as well.
The Players and Some Stats
Brad Friedel, Luke Young, Ricardo Dunne, King Carlos Cuellar, James Collins, Stewart Downing, Webcam Young, James Milner, Stiliyan Petrov, Gabby Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey.
Last season we lost 3-1 at Fulham, this year we pick up three points. That is an important point to factor in when looking at the League table as it has been said on several occasions that while we might not have as many points as last season and our position might also be a little worse - on a game for game basis, I think we are five points better off than last season.
So, we used eleven players and didn't make a substitution. I'm sure O'Neill knows what he is doing and as if to prove that, the team passed it about a little bit more in this game. We tried 320 passes, of which 247 were successful. Those passes created 13 shooting opportunities, which as you know, resulted in two goals.
Man of the Match
No surprises here, it went to Gabby with 56.2% of the vote. Actually that is a little surprising, I fancied he'd get more of the vote. Never mind. Ricardo Dunne came in second with 18.2% of the vote followed by Stand and Carlos. Even James Milner got one vote.
Final Analysis
It was an important result and we needed the three points. I think that victory will ultimately mean more to the team this season than any of us will accept as possible and with Spurs coming up next weekend, it it could be the catalyst for us getting absolutely what is needed next Saturday too.
Fulham is a harder place to go to than any other place in the League and knowing that it is possible to go to Fulham, pretty much dominate and leave with three points will hopefully give them the confidence to go to Spurs and do the same. If we do that next weekend, we will go ahead of Spurs and that would be really important, not only for our League form, but our confidence in the month where we play a League Cup final.
I'm not going to spend too much time on the match though. We were quite clinical on Saturday and it was an enjoyable match. I will switch attention now to the final day of the transfer window. Like I said, I can see something happening.
Transfer Window Watch
There is talk that we are after Michael Owen. I'd love this, really love it. I'd always be worried that he is going to break a leg but Michael Owen can score and the manager has spoken recently about a 20 goal a season striker and well, I fancy some of the chances we have created, would have been taken by him.
There is also talk that Nick Shorey is attracting interest from Roy Hodgson on a loan deal. Not sure if O'Neill will allow this to happen when we have a left back on the treatment table, but he did prefer to play a right back at left back instead of a natural left back at the weekend, so I think it is fair to say that Shorey is not in his plans.
Anyway, we are watching the transfer window and this is a fantastic excuse for me to sit at my desk all day and drink coffee.
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Alex Glynn
said:
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... It would be really great if we signed someone today. I would love Owen - he's also a crowd pleaser. |
NickC
said:
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... Michael Owen coming, come on!!! We didn't move for him when he was available and why would Man U let him go. If someone can explain why Man U will let him go, then I might just think something can happen. What kind of contract is he on with Man U? Pay as you play type or a 1-2 year deal. Would we have to pay for him, cant see MON doing that but hey, who knows. I actually wouldn't mind him and perhaps he could show Gabby how to do it, not forgetting the fact he actually grabbed a brace on Saturday but that doesn't make him a world beater all of a sudden. |
scott harwood
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... just an interesting stat in the sun.both us and chelsea have 16 goals from set pieces with both having 10 from headers.are chelsea a long ball team wenger?  |
crazyhobo
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... Damian, out of interest, how many points will we finish with if we get the same results as last season from our remaining games? |
Damian
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... crazyhobo hopefully somebody else will answer that for you .. it would take me too much time today and i've got things to do .. like hit refresh |
jimbo
said:
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... I heard Sunderland were after Beye, maybe use him as part of a trade off for Jones? By the way, who saw Bannan's goal at the weekend? He looks like he could live up to the hype. |
BobbyPark
said:
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... Interesting on match of the day that Shearer and Hansen were talking about the way that we pepper the box with crosses, dissapointing therefore that we score so few from those situations. I think Gabby is fairly decent in the air especially at the near post where most of his headed goals have come from. The big problem is that our current centre forward who is supposed to be a good header of the ball has only scored from one header in the last 12 months (Burnley away). I'd always start with Carew if fit who is more prolific and gets on the end of far more crosses, if Big John is out for a few weeks with his injury how about a bid for Kevin Davis, probably the best far post header of the ball in the Premiership. |
Gavin Merriman
said:
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... Great result, very glad to see my bet on villa to win and gabby to score come in. If we can take at point from both the spurs and utd games we'll put ourselves in a really good position to push on for 4th. The bookies might have citeh as big favourites to take 4th place but their run of easy games comes to an end in late feb, and when the opposition improve i fancy them to slip up. We on the other hand have already played the bulk of our difficult fixtures and are still very much in the mix. |
Gavin Merriman
said:
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... Nevermind Carew, let the fonz have a run in the team. He's a natural goal scorer, good header of the ball and is only 3 cm smaller than the hesk. He just needs to bulk up a bit and get more match time. Gabby & Fonz, the brummie soul brothers |
Damian
said:
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... Aston Villa's Steve Sidwell reportedly going to Stoke City - from BBC live blog window - pure speculation, but they are mentioning it |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
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...By the way, who saw Bannan's goal at the weekend? He looks like he could live up to the hype His contract is up in the summer. I just hope MON can see past size issue and just realise that he has a special little player on his hands with Bannan. Can't for the life of me understand why he ahsn't already been offered another contract. Every club he has gone on laon to have been really impressed by his work rate and especially his skill and vision and that goal on saterday showed he is a special little player. Sign him up ASAP Martin please. He can be our Messi. |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
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...The bookies might have citeh as big favourites to take 4th place but their run of easy games comes to an end in late feb, and when the opposition improve i fancy them to slip up. They looked very suspect at the back yesterday. 2 nil flattered them. |
Car Frost
said:
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... Beye could be of to Sunderland http://www.skysports.com/story...39,00.html I still fancy Liverpool to finish 4th If they do I think it will be the very last year we see the same top 4.. it's inevitable that Man City will eventually push one out once they sort that defence. |
rackface
said:
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... I would like Owen. He links up well with Heskey who now seems to be 1st choice target man for our 'long balls'. If we could rip off Stoke for Sidwell then let's do it. Anything in excess of £7 million. But not on the cheap like we did with Gardner and that shower of shit down the road. OK he's not that good but a goal scoring England under 21 going for £3 mill + add ons is a joke. Unfortunately, with Reo-Coker out for such a long time I can't see Sidwell going anywhere. |
Tim Hillman
said:
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... Can't see us signing anyone today.  I hate the transfer deadline day you get all excitied like at Christmas only to find that the Sony PS3 you were expecting turns into a woolly Hat and Scarf combo from you nan!! |
John Samuels
said:
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... CSM, getting excited about a january transfer window with Mon in charge is a waste of time. Nothing is going to happen today..nothing. No outs, no ins. |
A5TON_V1LLA
said:
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... this Christmas my ps3 was a slim line so if transfer deadline is anything like Christmas we will sign somebody epic |
Darragh McGeown
said:
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...f they do I think it will be the very last year we see the same top 4.. it's inevitable that Man City will eventually push one out once they sort that defence.Imagine where they would be if they didn't push Dunne out the door - not that I'm complaining  |
robb david
said:
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... I think we might see something today, I think hijacking the wigan victor moses deal would be a decent shout. Can anyone explain why we havent been linked with him, to me we seem the obvious club to link him with, have i missed something? Also Robbie Keane seems to be getting linked pretty strongley with us again, this time a loan deal, think that would be decent for us loaning him in till the end of the season. |
robb david
said:
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... Damian said: ... I still fancy Liverpool to finish 4th .. 100% agree. Say what you want about us, man city and spuds but at the end of the day liverpool have probably the best striker in the world and one of the best cm's in the world. You could put Torres and Gerrard in the Hull side and you wouldnt be able to write them off for forth. |
Clove
said:
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... got a slight rumour scott mcdonald from celtic is cuming in on loan, will keep u posted |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
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...Also Robbie Keane seems to be getting linked pretty strongley with us again, this time a loan deal, think that would be decent for us loaning him in till the end of the season While i would love to see this happen i just can't see Spurs loaning a club in direct competition a player like Keane. Just wouldn't make sense on their part to do so. |
oldnick
said:
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... i have a very strong feeling robbie keane will be wearing the claret and blue from today |
robb david
said:
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... RockSteady said: ... Wigan sign Moses - surely 2.5m was well within our budget? we havent been even mentioned in the same breath as moses and i cant see why not, i thought he would be a great shout, and if we had to sell to buy, well gardner went for 3 mil+, moses is up for 2.5. I just cant see why there has been no link |
Gavin Merriman
said:
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...I still fancy Liverpool to finish 4th Yeah, so do i! However, much will depend on our next 2 games and if we can take points from them. If we can then we really are in a excellent position. I really wouldn't be surprised if we took 27 points from the last 36 avaliable. Have a look at our fixtures, its entirely possible. If we managed this and don't take 4th then we just need to accept that a better team beat us. However I'm not convinced either spurs, citeh, or liverpool will put that kind of run together. |
robb david
said:
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... ak_27 said: ... Also Robbie Keane seems to be getting linked pretty strongley with us again, this time a loan deal, think that would be decent for us loaning him in till the end of the season While i would love to see this happen i just can't see Spurs loaning a club in direct competition a player like Keane. Just wouldn't make sense on their part to do so. Unless harry sends him as an undercover agent to sabotage our push for the top 4. I wouldnt put it past the dirty scheming bastard |
crazyhobo
said:
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... can you tell me which relegated teams you swaped for which promoted ones please damian i might have a stab myself later |
Damian
said:
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... crazyhobo For the record; the matches against Blues was replaced with West Brom, the match against Burnley was replaced with Middlesbrough and the match against Wolves was replaced with Newcastle.taken from http://www.thevillablog.co.uk/...fact-jack/ |
Damian
said:
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... keithj if i were to put a bet on today as to who i think will finish in the top four i would put it on manchester united, chelsea, liverpool and arsenal as an outside bet, i might put in manchester city for liverpool but if i only had 1 bet it would be the top four as usual |
Mike Carter
said:
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... Really don't think we'll see anyone coming in today. Not being negative or anything, it's just that the writing has been on the wall all month long and nothing has happened to change that. Not disappointed this season though. I doubt we'll see many big signings so most teams in the league will remain pretty much the same. None of our rivals will have a major advantage over us so we're still in the race, with a much better squad than this time last year. |
Tim Hillman
said:
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...Nothing is going to happen today..nothing. No outs, no ins. Typical Monday Night for me then!!!   |
Andi
said:
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... Sidwell of to Stoke ???? Thats a shame that is by ginger boy your not very good fancy taking the mule with ya ? |
Damian
said:
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... vivavilla the writing, as you say, is a little blurred though. first we had 'not looking' then it was maybe one or two, then it was we need to sell first - well, we have sold now, we have money. okay, not much money .. and well, actually, only one person knows and i'm not convinced he knows for sure if anything will happen today - but i suspect nothing coming in if i am honest with myself |
THOMAS PRYCE
said:
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... why do we always leave things till the last minute ? there sould have been players out the door the first week in jan but no and now were stuck with them, the harwood and salawho spring to mind, much needed revenue as been lost again for the players we really need, the owen thing if beleived would be ideal we sould of bust a gut to get him in the summer the things he could of passed on to our young players would of be immense, they say if you want the best education you have to go to the best schools, sidwell off to stoke sound good but why now that weve took injurers and a sold midfielder, ho well next week we will be hearing who we tried to sign this jan window sould be good for a laugh, |
Tim Hillman
said:
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...BBCSport...Transfers....Steve Sidwell off to Stoke City Please, Please, Please!!!!!!! He will be good at stoke!! They probably buying him as the new ball boy for Rory Delap! |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
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... How could we get rid of Sidwell? As much as i don't rate the guy after losing Gardner and NRC he could not be left leave unless another CM is coming in to replace him. |
Andi
said:
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...How could we get rid of Sidwell? he is crap quite possibly the worst player i have seen this season even the MULE is streets in front. |
Andi
said:
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... MON: Yes, I'm so glad you finally netted in the league, I was considering offering you in a swap deal for Jason Scotland. *The dressing room erupts with laughter, MON is laughing an obviously fake, hearty laugh that goes on a little too long* MON: Yes, what a funny joke. *MON peers at the screen on his mobile phone, it reads 'Roberto Martinez Call?', he presses cancel* Heskey: Ha ha ha Jason Scotland, he never scores does he? *The lads all look at Heskey, he lowers his head* |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
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...he is crap quite possibly the worst player i have seen this season even the MULE is streets in front. Not disagreeing with that but if he goes this window we have only Delph as cover for CM. I would love to see the back of the ginger ghost but only if we have a replacement coming in which i just can't see happening at this stage. |
Tim Hillman
said:
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... Tony Pubeless: "Hi Martin, who's that Ginger ball boy you have with you. I liked the look oh him, we could do with a towel boy for Delaps long throws" MON: " Oh you mean Sidwell, Thats not fair Tony he's not just a ball boy he makes a cracking Cuppa! We keep him here to take some of the heat off Heskey" Tony: "Sorry about guzumping you on Tuncay in the Summer, was a bit of a shock when he arrived I thought we were signing that good looking Tudgay!" Knock Knock...... MON: "Sorry Tony got to go someones at the door." Martin hangs up! MON: "Come In" He here's a thud follwed by another thud then another!! Mon " Gabby is that you? I told you before Push not Pull!!" |
Chris Harper
said:
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... Loving the jokes, keep 'em up! Owen- Yes please if available Keane- Yes please if available Pavlyuchenko- Yes please if available Bothered if don't sign anyone- No not really. Bring on Spurs!! |
Ricardo
said:
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... crazyhobo and Damian Regarding our comparative points total, if we are 5 points ahead now and match the points for the rest of the season, then surely we will simply finish the season 5 points higher than we did last time around? |
rackface
said:
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... Are there any prizes for winning the Fantasy Football League? Was top last week but down to 5th now. |
Damian
said:
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... rackface there is. we are lining something special up for the winner and maybe 2nd and 3rd |
rackface
said:
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... Excellent. I will be making some serious efforts to stay up there. Rooney, Lampard and Fabregas are musts. Much to my shame I have been using the odd Blues player. It has made me feel so dirty that I have now shipped them out. |
StickyAV
said:
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... Found it very interesting what MON says on gabby on avfc. Mentions that sometimes on reflection he might think he is a bit static in the box and a chance has gone begging. By getting in front of the defender he may be able to hold them off with his strength. I hope Gabby is hearing this. That for me is his biggest issue (aside from having too much time to think). His movement, although on the odd occasion is very good, is usually pretty static. |
doubledown9
said:
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... The Bannan goal is a bit special. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8483728.stm Check out the earlier hit that comes back off the crossbar, he has a shot on him. |
Tim Hillman
said:
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... Having got tired of pressing refresh every 30 seconds just in case we have signed anyone I decided to come up with my all time starting 11 Ginger Premiership players. GK - David James (struggled with this one, I'm sure he had wes Brown thing going on at some stage!) RB: Wes Brown CB: James Collins CB: Steve Staunton LB: John Arne Riise RM: Gordan Strachan CM: Steve Lomas CM: Steve Sidwell LM: Paul Scholes (Struggled for Left Winger) ST: John Hartson ST: Tommy Johnson Subs: Wes Brown, Dave Kitson, Nevland I am so bored!!!! |
A5TON_V1LLA
said:
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... ah ha love it. refreshing and nothing is happening anywhere. wes brown at right back and on the bench. a world with only one wes brown is clearly not enough lol. |
Villa 37
said:
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... Would love M.Owen,his going to get less chances with Utd because of the formation they are using at the moment,and it is working well for them which is worrying for us. Need a big week in fantasy this week,think Drogba is back. |
A5TON_V1LLA
said:
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... http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/398801585?-1841 apparently us and everton are after alex witsel from standard liege. |
davidc
said:
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... Be realistic people - Why on earth would Man U let Owen go anywhere? What benefit is in it for them at all? For the sake of shaving a few thousand ££££s of the weekly wage bill, would Fergie risk weakening his squad when they are still in the CL, in the final of the LC, and in 2nd place in the league? |
crazyhobo
said:
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... for anyone who was also interested we took 27 out of 45 points for the remaining 15 games which would leave us finishing on 67 points if history repeated itself |
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