When Villa and Arsenal last met, the pre-game talk centred around which of the two clubs was more likely to make the Champions League spots come the end of the season.
As it transpired, the two sides were seperated primarily by the supreme skill of Cesc Fabregas, and further by a naive Villa side who chased a game when going a goal down.
Since then, Arsenal have raced clear of the midlands club and after last weeks game against Bolton, they sat at the top of the league.
Villa on the other hand have stagnated. Defeat to Arsenal was confounded by a heart breaking injury time defeat to Fernando Torres (playing for Liverpool at the time) and the home league 0-0 against West Ham which followed suggested the wheels may have come off for Villa.
The defeat to Arsenal and Liverpool cemented the difference between the pretenders from the Midlands and the two established top four clubs. That being simply Fabregas and Torres.
Both are world class players, amongst the top ten players in the world. Villa can match both sides all over the pitch, but as of yet none of the current side have proved themselves capable of controlling a game against the big four clubs.
Villa's three victories over the established order this season have come by virtue of resolute team performances rather than at the hands of a world class player.
Martin O'Neill has developed a flair for hyperbole when it comes to describing his young guns. Ashley Young was labelled 'world-class' and James Milner has been constantly referred to as 'magnificent' this season.
But is either capable of doing what Fabregas or Torres did to Villa?
The concensus suggests not. Milner has failed to impact any game so far this season against the top sides. No goals and no assists. Whilst a recent shift to the centre of midfield has reaped dividends against the lower sides, he is yet to be tested against a Fabregas or Lampard.
Young on the other hand, created the winner against United and showed great poise to slot the winning penalty away at Anfield. But yet, questions remain about whether he is clinical enough to influence the games against the top four.
For me, the difference in this game may lie with Gabriel Agbonlahor. Twice last season against Gallas he caused him problems, scoring a goal by out pacing him, and winning a penalty from the same situation. Ironically, Agbonlahor is often maligned at Villa Park for his lack of work ethic, and yet he has done the most to prove he is capable of providing a touch of quality against the big teams.
Arsenal on the other hand will be hoping the defeat at Stoke does not knock what has been a good recent run. Win tonight, and they will have pulled fifteen points ahead of Villa since they last met and could go back to the top of the league.
Despite that good run, Arsenal have shown a vulnerability in recent weeks. Against Bolton, they found themselves 2-1 down when a controversial equaliser got them back in the game.
Arsene Wenger is as prone to self-preservation as any manager. Much like O'Neill's ego boosting hyperbole, Wenger does his upmost to protect and inspire his players. But he went to far last week.
Gallas' clear foul on Mark Davies, which resulted in the player leaving on crutches, was brushed aside by Wenger. His defiant claims he would 'show you all the fouls we had over the last two games' don't mean that Gallas' foul is acceptable. What Wenger said basically implies that he has no problem with dirty play as long as its in favour of his side.
Clearly Bolton are a physical side, but that does not make Gallas' horror show right. Wenger should know as well as anyone the effects of a mistimed lunge, I'm sure he didn't take the same stance when Martin Taylor's mistimed tackle broke Eduardo's ankle.
That aside, tonight promises to be a good game and a test for Arsenal. Villa have lost twice at home all season and are tough to break down but injuries could conspire against them tonight.
Carew and Warnock are definitely out, with Richard Dunne and Stilian Petrov potentially joining them on the sidelines. Those potential absentees make it even more important for Villa that someone produces a Fabregas-esque moment if they are to get the win.
All the talk has been about James Milner in recent weeks. Lets see if their is a world class player in the Villa ranks.
27 January 2010
6 January 2010
Breathing room for Ferrara... for now.
Parma 1 Juventus 2
On the face of it, watching Parma vs Juventus on a Wednesday afternoon where there are more important things to be doing wouldn't exactly appeal to many fans of English football.
But I'm glad I opted to finally order ESPN just to watch it.
The game had everything. Vociferous home support, an early goal, great saves, a come back, a red card, injuries, tackles and two sides separated heartbreakingly for Parma, by an own goal.
It was also contested by two sides consisting of numerous Italians on both sides, who knew exactly what the game meant to both sets of fans.
After seeing a game contested in the Premiership with no English players or managers on show, it was refreshing to see a game where the desire was clear to see in the Parma side and an equally dogged display by a Juventus side whose manager is under great pressure.
The respect for the club legend Ferrara is something which would be nice to see more often in England, as a pose to the merciless recruitment of foreign managers and players.
Pressure
Juventus went into the game with a robust looking side, which was very much in the ilk of their under pressure manager and club legend Ciro Ferrara. Despite seeing his side sit second in the league, crashing out of the Champions League and a 9 point gap to leaders Internazionale meant the Italian manager was feeling the heat.
The talk before the game was that should the Old Lady lose today’s game, Ferrara's brief tenure as manager of the famous Turin club would be bought to an abrupt end.
Parma on the other hand were riding the crest of a wave, sitting in sixth place and having a genuine opportunity to knock off one of the leagues big boys.
But much like in recent English Premier League fixture, the pretender's Champions League aspirations tend to get stubbed out by their more illustrious opposition.
And it didn’t take long today.
In the third minute, a scrappy corner routine left Hasan Salihamidzic unmarked inside the six yard box to give Juventus a 1-0 lead.
From then on, the game was all Parma. They had opted to leave Valeri Bojinov on the bench to partner former Juventus man Nicola Amoruso with Jonathan Biabiany up front, and it was the on loan 24 year old who bought the first save off the match out of Alex Manninger, who was filling in for the injured Gianluigi Buffon.
As well as missing Buffon, Juve were also without the suspended Fabio Cannavaro and there were no starting places for the creative trio of Alessandro Del Piero, Amauri or Sebastien Giovinco.
Amauri appeared earlier than expected, at the expense of top scorer David Trezeguet who left the game with an injury, but his introduction didn't increase the goal threat posed by Juventus. So it was no surprise when hard working Parma's industry produced an equaliser.
The pressure told after 24 minutes, when an accurate cross by Damiano Zenoni found Amoruso, and the 35 year old directed a clinical header past Manninger.
It was no more then Parma deserved, and when Amoruse stung Manninger's hands with a dipping 25 yard half volley, it looked like there would only be one side leaving with three points.
But as is often the way, the big clubs find a way to gain wins there performance hardly merits.
When a corner came in which posed little threat, the unfortunate Paolo Castellini contrived to head into his own goal and break Parma hearts going into half time.
The second half became a battle which only added to the excitement. In a throwback to the early 90s in England, the game was highly contested with challenges flying in on an extremely difficult looking pitch.
Make shift Juventus right back Martin Caceres had looked uncomfortable all game, and after being booked in the first half dived in again with 20 minutes to go and was sent to the stand.
This responded an understandable response from Ferrara, who bought on two defenders with goal scorer Salihamidzic and playmaker Diego the ones to make way.
Parma piled on the pressure from then on, but Juventus showed all the savvy you would expect from one of the world's most illustrious clubs. Not even six minutes of injury time and the Parma keeper coming up for a corner was enough for Parma to produce an equaliser their efforts deserved.
The game was a breath of fresh air, the under dogs pushing the big boys all the way to the 96th minute despite a difference in quality.
On the face of it, watching Parma vs Juventus on a Wednesday afternoon where there are more important things to be doing wouldn't exactly appeal to many fans of English football.
But I'm glad I opted to finally order ESPN just to watch it.
The game had everything. Vociferous home support, an early goal, great saves, a come back, a red card, injuries, tackles and two sides separated heartbreakingly for Parma, by an own goal.
It was also contested by two sides consisting of numerous Italians on both sides, who knew exactly what the game meant to both sets of fans.
After seeing a game contested in the Premiership with no English players or managers on show, it was refreshing to see a game where the desire was clear to see in the Parma side and an equally dogged display by a Juventus side whose manager is under great pressure.
The respect for the club legend Ferrara is something which would be nice to see more often in England, as a pose to the merciless recruitment of foreign managers and players.
Pressure
Juventus went into the game with a robust looking side, which was very much in the ilk of their under pressure manager and club legend Ciro Ferrara. Despite seeing his side sit second in the league, crashing out of the Champions League and a 9 point gap to leaders Internazionale meant the Italian manager was feeling the heat.
The talk before the game was that should the Old Lady lose today’s game, Ferrara's brief tenure as manager of the famous Turin club would be bought to an abrupt end.
Parma on the other hand were riding the crest of a wave, sitting in sixth place and having a genuine opportunity to knock off one of the leagues big boys.
But much like in recent English Premier League fixture, the pretender's Champions League aspirations tend to get stubbed out by their more illustrious opposition.
And it didn’t take long today.
In the third minute, a scrappy corner routine left Hasan Salihamidzic unmarked inside the six yard box to give Juventus a 1-0 lead.
From then on, the game was all Parma. They had opted to leave Valeri Bojinov on the bench to partner former Juventus man Nicola Amoruso with Jonathan Biabiany up front, and it was the on loan 24 year old who bought the first save off the match out of Alex Manninger, who was filling in for the injured Gianluigi Buffon.
As well as missing Buffon, Juve were also without the suspended Fabio Cannavaro and there were no starting places for the creative trio of Alessandro Del Piero, Amauri or Sebastien Giovinco.
Amauri appeared earlier than expected, at the expense of top scorer David Trezeguet who left the game with an injury, but his introduction didn't increase the goal threat posed by Juventus. So it was no surprise when hard working Parma's industry produced an equaliser.
The pressure told after 24 minutes, when an accurate cross by Damiano Zenoni found Amoruso, and the 35 year old directed a clinical header past Manninger.
It was no more then Parma deserved, and when Amoruse stung Manninger's hands with a dipping 25 yard half volley, it looked like there would only be one side leaving with three points.
But as is often the way, the big clubs find a way to gain wins there performance hardly merits.
When a corner came in which posed little threat, the unfortunate Paolo Castellini contrived to head into his own goal and break Parma hearts going into half time.
The second half became a battle which only added to the excitement. In a throwback to the early 90s in England, the game was highly contested with challenges flying in on an extremely difficult looking pitch.
Make shift Juventus right back Martin Caceres had looked uncomfortable all game, and after being booked in the first half dived in again with 20 minutes to go and was sent to the stand.
This responded an understandable response from Ferrara, who bought on two defenders with goal scorer Salihamidzic and playmaker Diego the ones to make way.
Parma piled on the pressure from then on, but Juventus showed all the savvy you would expect from one of the world's most illustrious clubs. Not even six minutes of injury time and the Parma keeper coming up for a corner was enough for Parma to produce an equaliser their efforts deserved.
The game was a breath of fresh air, the under dogs pushing the big boys all the way to the 96th minute despite a difference in quality.
1 January 2010
Its that time of the year again...
This week see's the annual return of the FA Cup 3rd round and fans up and down the country will be waiting to see where the shock of the round will come in this years version of the most famous Cup competition in the world.
Some Premiership managers will put the Cup bottom on their list of priorities, which could have a part to play. Others will see there full strength sides fall at the hands of lower league minnows.
That is the magic of the cup, with this year being no different and the potential for Premier League giants to succumb is going to happen somewhere, but where?
Here's a few of the contenders.
Bolton Wanderers vs Lincoln City
Now managerless Bolton are in turmoil. Gary Megson's spikey relationship with the clubs fans came to an end and the club face a battle to keep their place in the Premiership this season.
League 2 side Lincoln City, managed by the up and coming Chris Sutton, will go to the Reebok with no fear and with a team fresh after recent postponements. Bolton played midweek and that could play a part.
Chris Sutton has seen it all before and will have his young side fired up to make the most of their afternoon in the limelight.
Chance of an upset here.
MK Dons vs Burnley
Burnley's bright start to the season has faltered dramatically in recent weeks. They are without a win in 9 games and are yet to win away from home all season. That being said, a trip to League 1 MK Dons could be problematic.
Once again under the stewardship of former Blackburn Manager Paul Ince, MK Dons sit in 8th position on the edge of the play-off positions.
With lofty aspirations to one day Premiership football themselves, this is a chance for the Buckinghamshire side to put down a marker for the future.
Owen Coyle will be more concerned with keeping his side in the Premiership, so expect a weakened side to be pushed all the way in this one.
Nottingham Forest vs Birmingham City
These two local rivals met twice in the Championship last season but both sides are in very different places now.
Birmingham have been on an impressive run of form, unbeaten in 11 games and sitting just outside the European spots in the Premiership.
Billy Davies' Forest are on an equally impressive run, and see themselves sitting third in the Championship.
Both sides will go into the game full of confidence and under no pressure at all, so it promises to be an entertaining affair.
A gung ho battle could favour Forest but it would be a surprise if they knocked off Birmingham here.
Portsmouth vs Coventry City
Portsmouth are a mess. Bottom of the Premiership, there players not being paid again, having to sell their players and being faced with a winding up order from the HM Revenues and Customs.
A cup run while being beneficial to the club for short term finances, is ultimately not a priority for them. They need to survive in the Premiership if they are to carry on existing in their current form.
They also have a lot of players away at the African Cup of Nations which will add to the weaken the side even further then Avram Grant may have in mind anyway.
Look for Coventry to go to Fratton Park with no pressure on them and turn Portsmouth over in the same way Swansea did last season.
Stoke City vs York City
One of the lowest ranked teams left in the competition, York City go to the Britannia with absolutely no pressure on them at all. In pursuit of promotion back to the football league, they look set to provide an interesting challenge to robust Stoke City.
While Stoke's effective style of play may eventually overcome the Blue Square Premier side, it could also play into their hands by reflecting that of York's more familiar non-league opponents.
Stoke have only managed 15 goals all season, so despite the vast gulf between the sides in terms of league position, this could prove to be an interesting encounter.
Sunderland vs Barrow
Barrow are no stranger to a trip to face more illustrious rivals in the north-east, having faced Middlesborough in the 3rd round in 2009.
They took a massive following that day and were by no means disgraced, falling 2-1 to their then Premiership opposition.
Sunderland's squad is ravaged with injuries at the moment and Steve Bruce is down to the bare bones, so this is by no means a certain win for the home side.
A battered and depleted Sunderland side wont relish facing the combative Barrow players and this could be the shock of the round.
Tranmere vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Mick McCarthy showed exactly where his priorities lie recently by changing his entire outfield team for the game at Old Trafford.
He clearly is only interested in survival this season, so expect more of the same here away to League 1 strugglers Tranmere.
Despite now being under the stewardship of Ronnie Moore, Tranmere are still languishing in the relegation zone so this game could be a welcome break from their league turmoil.
It's the last game of the weekend, kicking off at 18:15 on Sunday night, and it has the potential to be a big upset.
Some Premiership managers will put the Cup bottom on their list of priorities, which could have a part to play. Others will see there full strength sides fall at the hands of lower league minnows.
That is the magic of the cup, with this year being no different and the potential for Premier League giants to succumb is going to happen somewhere, but where?
Here's a few of the contenders.
Bolton Wanderers vs Lincoln City
Now managerless Bolton are in turmoil. Gary Megson's spikey relationship with the clubs fans came to an end and the club face a battle to keep their place in the Premiership this season.
League 2 side Lincoln City, managed by the up and coming Chris Sutton, will go to the Reebok with no fear and with a team fresh after recent postponements. Bolton played midweek and that could play a part.
Chris Sutton has seen it all before and will have his young side fired up to make the most of their afternoon in the limelight.
Chance of an upset here.
MK Dons vs Burnley
Burnley's bright start to the season has faltered dramatically in recent weeks. They are without a win in 9 games and are yet to win away from home all season. That being said, a trip to League 1 MK Dons could be problematic.
Once again under the stewardship of former Blackburn Manager Paul Ince, MK Dons sit in 8th position on the edge of the play-off positions.
With lofty aspirations to one day Premiership football themselves, this is a chance for the Buckinghamshire side to put down a marker for the future.
Owen Coyle will be more concerned with keeping his side in the Premiership, so expect a weakened side to be pushed all the way in this one.
Nottingham Forest vs Birmingham City
These two local rivals met twice in the Championship last season but both sides are in very different places now.
Birmingham have been on an impressive run of form, unbeaten in 11 games and sitting just outside the European spots in the Premiership.
Billy Davies' Forest are on an equally impressive run, and see themselves sitting third in the Championship.
Both sides will go into the game full of confidence and under no pressure at all, so it promises to be an entertaining affair.
A gung ho battle could favour Forest but it would be a surprise if they knocked off Birmingham here.
Portsmouth vs Coventry City
Portsmouth are a mess. Bottom of the Premiership, there players not being paid again, having to sell their players and being faced with a winding up order from the HM Revenues and Customs.
A cup run while being beneficial to the club for short term finances, is ultimately not a priority for them. They need to survive in the Premiership if they are to carry on existing in their current form.
They also have a lot of players away at the African Cup of Nations which will add to the weaken the side even further then Avram Grant may have in mind anyway.
Look for Coventry to go to Fratton Park with no pressure on them and turn Portsmouth over in the same way Swansea did last season.
Stoke City vs York City
One of the lowest ranked teams left in the competition, York City go to the Britannia with absolutely no pressure on them at all. In pursuit of promotion back to the football league, they look set to provide an interesting challenge to robust Stoke City.
While Stoke's effective style of play may eventually overcome the Blue Square Premier side, it could also play into their hands by reflecting that of York's more familiar non-league opponents.
Stoke have only managed 15 goals all season, so despite the vast gulf between the sides in terms of league position, this could prove to be an interesting encounter.
Sunderland vs Barrow
Barrow are no stranger to a trip to face more illustrious rivals in the north-east, having faced Middlesborough in the 3rd round in 2009.
They took a massive following that day and were by no means disgraced, falling 2-1 to their then Premiership opposition.
Sunderland's squad is ravaged with injuries at the moment and Steve Bruce is down to the bare bones, so this is by no means a certain win for the home side.
A battered and depleted Sunderland side wont relish facing the combative Barrow players and this could be the shock of the round.
Tranmere vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Mick McCarthy showed exactly where his priorities lie recently by changing his entire outfield team for the game at Old Trafford.
He clearly is only interested in survival this season, so expect more of the same here away to League 1 strugglers Tranmere.
Despite now being under the stewardship of Ronnie Moore, Tranmere are still languishing in the relegation zone so this game could be a welcome break from their league turmoil.
It's the last game of the weekend, kicking off at 18:15 on Sunday night, and it has the potential to be a big upset.
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