Category: Aston Villa

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Southampton vs Aston Villa – Premier League preview and team news

Stephen Donovan

Southampton will be hoping to avoid a fourth successive loss in all competitions when they come up against an Aston Villa team which is already seven points adrift of safety and has not won since opening day. In their last home league match at home to Stoke City, Ronald Koeman’s men lacked the necessary invention to penetrate an organised backline and created few chances as a result, but it was their play at the other end of the pitch which let them down at Manchester City a week ago. The Saints are…

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Aston Villa vs Watford – Premier League preview and team news

Stephen Donovan

Aston Villa will be desperate to close the gap between themselves and safety by claiming a first home win of the season over Watford, who are hoping to avoid a third successive loss. After a massively encouraging display which brought a battling goalless draw with title hopefuls Manchester City, and newfound optimism at Aston Villa was almost totally eroded by a shambolic effort at Everton last weekend. Let down by some shocking defending, they created few chances and were soundly beaten, with their many limitations ruthlessly exposed in a punishing…

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Everton vs Aston Villa – Premier League preview and team news

Stephen Donovan

After ending their demoralising run of defeats in Remi Garde’s first game in charge, Aston Villa now head to Everton searching their first Premier League success since the opening day of the season. The home side come into this handily positioned in ninth place, especially when it is considered that Crystal Palace are the only team currently in the top half that they are yet to face. Last time out the Toffees recovered from a slow start at West Ham United to pick up a useful point – with Romelu Lukaku…

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Aston Villa vs Man City – Premier League preview and team news

Stephen Donovan

New Aston Villa manager Remi Garde could hardly have been given a tougher first game at the helm, with Premier League leaders Manchester City providing the opposition in front of a capacity crowd on Sunday afternoon. Appointing somebody with no experience of having managed in England does appear to be a major risk by the West Midlands side, especially given the predicament they are in, but Garde does have some pedigree in his native France, winning two domestic honours while in charge of Lyon. This represents an altogether different test,…

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Tottenham vs Aston Villa – Premier League preview and team news

Stephen Donovan

Managerless Aston Villa will be hoping to start turning things around after losing eight of their last nine Premier League games, but face a tough ask on Monday evening as they visit a Tottenham side which has not lost over the same period. Were it not for the fact they have drawn five of their matches, Tottenham would be much closer to the top of the Premier League, but recent form does suggest that they are serious top four contenders. Last time out the Londoners hit back brilliantly from the early…

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Aston Villa vs Swansea – Premier League preview and team news

Stephen Donovan

Aston Villa continue their search for a first Premier League win since the opening day of the season when they take on another out-of-form side, Garry Monk’s Swansea City. There was not a great deal between Villa and defending champions Chelsea last weekend, but they slipped to another defeat which already leaves them four points adrift of the safety line. It was largely self-inflicted, with goalkeeper Brad Guzan and defender Joleon Lescott combining to gift the Blues their opener, and such is the extent of Villa’s struggles at present, they…

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Arsenal face competition from Aston Villa for star Real Madrid winger

Steve Green

Premier League strugglers Aston Villa have emerged as shock contenders to sign Real Madrid winger Jese Rodriguez is the January transfer window, according to the Daily Express. Reports in Spain claim the Villans attempted to prize the 22-year-old away from the Santiago Bernabeu over the summer, but following Villa’s slide into the bottom three manager Tim Sherwood is keen to make a second play for his signature in the new year. Jese is also thought to be on Arsenal’s radar (via Express), as well as being watched by Italian giants…

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Chelsea vs Aston Villa – Premier League preview and team news

Stephen Donovan

Chelsea will be desperate to begin turning around their floundering defence of the Premier League title when they entertain an Aston Villa side that is gearing up for another battle to avoid the drop. Jose Mourinho came out fighting after the last miserable Blues performance against Southampton, with his words leading to the vote of confidence that he wanted from the club’s board. He has plenty to think about as his side have rarely threatened to score goals in recent weeks, and have been run ragged in defence. Even the…

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Aston Villa vs Stoke – Premier League preview and team news

Stephen Donovan

Aston Villa will be determined to escape the bottom three and pick up their first Premier League win since opening weekend when they take on a Stoke City side that is keen to kick on after opening their account for victories last time out. Tim Sherwood seemed resigned to another battle against relegation after Villa came up short at Liverpool in what was their fifth defeat in six league outings. His new-look, youthful squad have shown themselves capable of playing some very attractive football this term, but more often than…

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Liverpool vs Aston Villa – Premier League preview and team news

Stephen Donovan

Liverpool will be looking to win for the first time in five Premier League outings as they take on an Aston Villa side that should come into the game with renewed confidence following their victory in the Second City derby. Wins are as hard to come by as goals for the Reds at present, with their far from convincing penalty shootout victory over League Two outfit Carlisle United in the Capital One Cup representing the eighth failed attempt to score more than once in a match this term. Such struggles…

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Aston Villa vs West Brom – Premier League preview and team news

Stephen Donovan

Aston Villa will be desperate to bounce back from the dejection of their miraculous defeat at Leicester City as they play host to West Bromwich Albion in the second of three consecutive Midlands derbies for Tim Sherwood’s side. The former Tottenham boss could not contain his disappointment and disbelief as his side contrived to throw away a two-goal lead to come away from the King Power Stadium with nothing on Sunday. It had been going so well, with the dynamism of attacking midfield trio Carles Gil, Jack Grealish and Scott Sinclair…

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West Ham target Emmanuel Adebayor now a free agent after being RELEASED by Tottenham

Jordan Harris

Emmanuel Adebayor’s torrid time at Tottenham is finally over, after the club issued a statement on their official website confirming that they had released the striker. “We can confirm that we have reached a mutual agreement with Emmanuel Adebayor which will see him released from his contract with the Club,” the statement read. Despite the closure of the transfer window, the 31-year-old is now free to find a new club (via Daily Mirror), and could well join one of Spurs’ Premier League rivals if summer speculation is anything to go by.…

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Leicester vs Aston Villa – Premier League preview and team news

Stephen Donovan

Leicester City will be hoping to continue their unbeaten run when they come up against Midlands rivals Aston Villa at the King Power Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The attack-minded approach adopted by the Foxes has reaped its rewards and is certainly playing to the strengths of a squad that boasts a wealth of attacking options. The system that they play relies heavily on the two wing-backs, and fortunately former Villa man Marc Albrighton and the long-serving Jeffrey Schlupp are excellent in their roles, making a valuable contribution going forward as…

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Man City midfielder Fabian Delph set for six week layoff with hamstring injury

Steve Green

Manchester City midfielder Fabian Delph looks set for another stint on the sidelines after the BBC reported that he will be out for six weeks thanks to the hamstring injury he sustained during England’s 2-0 win over Switzerland earlier this week. The 25-year-old was forced off during the first minute of the Euro 2016 qualifier at Wembley, and City boss Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that he will likely be out of action for the next six weeks. “I don’t know how long it will be, we’ll see,” he said. “I…

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Raheem Sterling and Fabian Delph bant off former fans with hilarious Snakes on a Plane gag

Steve Green

It’s been a rocky summer for both Fabian Delph and Raheem Sterling. Both have completed controversial moves to Manchester City from Liverpool and Aston Villa respectively. They have come under scrutiny for being part of the problem with young footballers being greedy rather than playing regular football, and have been the subjects of some rather heavy criticism. However, after some time together in the City dressing room, it won’t surprise anyone to know that they’re getting on like a house on fire. And showing that they’ve shed that snake skin,…

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How the England team would look based on current form: Man United striker and Chelsea defender nowhere near

Steve Green

With England set to qualify for Euro 2016 this weekend, many wondered why Roy Hodgson didn’t decide to experiment a little for the clash with San Marino. Instead, the Three Lions boss opted to spring for a full strength squad, though the announcement may have been lost amid all of the transfer deadline hubbub. But thanks to WhoScored (via The Guardian) we’re now able to see what the best England XI would look like if Roy picked solely on form alone. It’s quite an eye opener. GK: Jack Butland Stoke…

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Worst Premier League signings XI: Cursed defender lines up alongside £36m Man United striker

Jordan Harris

The closure of the transfer window means that every manager in the Premier League has now got to press on with the squad at his disposal knowing that until January, he can make no changes and no additions. Perhaps it is the pressure of whether to stick or twist with the squad that has forced some managers to make some pretty dreadful and uninspiring signings in the hope that they can help their new club achieve their aspirations. Here is the XI we believe will not be able to deliver…

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Best Premier League summer signing XI: Man United and Arsenal new boys almost the most exciting

Steve Green

This summer saw Premier League clubs spend more money than ever before, and for all that cash spent, it brought in some serious quality. Below, we’ve charted the best business of another crazy summer of spending to compile the best XI to join Premier League clubs. See what you think… GK: Petr Cech Chelsea to Arsenal, £11m Though the veteran stopper may have got off to a shaky start at The Emirates, there’s no doubt that he’ll prove an unmitigated success. In him, Arsenal finally have the world class ‘keeper…

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10 players Premier League clubs could still sign after transfer deadline day: Arsenal could make a signing after all

Steve Green

The transfer window may be closed now, but that doesn’t mean the transfer activity will end there. A number of top players are currently without clubs, and as such can move on free transfers outside of the window. And for clubs in need, there are still some very viable options out there, and below we’re bringing you the ten best players that could still stun the Premier League with a late move. 10. Ron Vlaar Having left Aston Villa at the end of last season, the Dutch international then confirmed…

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Emmanuel Adebayor rejected Aston Villa and West Ham moves because he was waiting for a ‘sign from God’

Steve Green

Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor reportedly rejected the chance to leave the club this summer because he was holding out for the club to pay up his contract in full, according to the Daily Express. However, money may not be the only motive he had for remaining in North London, as the Daily Telegraph claims that the Togolese international sought council with his pastor when a potential move to Aston Villa was on the cards back in July. The 31-year-old travelled to Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training complex to undergo a medical,…

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Dimitar Berbatov reportedly signs for Greek giants PAOK on free transfer

Steve Green

There was much speculation surrounding former Manchester United and Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov on transfer deadline day, but it now appears as though he has joined PAOK on a free transfer, according to Greek publication SDNA. The Daily Express reports that the Bulgarian international had been on the verge of returning to the Premier League with Aston Villa, who even claim he flew into Birmingham for talks with Tim Sherwood. However, Sky Sports state that talks hit the rocks at Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training ground, and personal terms were never even…

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Aston Villa wrap up season-long loan deal for Liverpool defender

Steve Green

Aston Villa wrapped up their summer transfer business by announcing the signing of young Liverpool centre-back Tiago Ilori, the Daily Express reports. The Portuguese under-21 international joined The Reds back in 2013, but has so far yet to make a first team appearance for the club, spending the past two seasons out on loan with Spanish side Granada and Ligue 1 giants Bordeaux instead. Liverpool will receive a £1m loan fee for the London-born defender, and should he play regularly he will spark a clause allowing Villa to sign him…

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Man United star’s departure set to spark transfer domino effect

Steve Green

Manchester United have reportedly agreed a fee with West Bromwich Albion over the sale of centre-back Jonny Evans in a deal that could spark moves elsewhere. A report in talkSPORT has claimed that the two clubs have settled on a £12m fee for the Northern Irish international after Albion were unsuccessful in prizing Federico Fazio away from Tottenham last week. What’s more, is that the deal is now likely to pave the way for Joleon Lescott to join Midlands rivals Aston Villa in a £1m deal. Villa boss Tim Sherwood…

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Aston Villa vs Sunderland – Premier League preview and team news

Stephen Donovan

Sunderland will be looking to build on their first point of the new season by collecting victory when they travel to Aston Villa for a fixture which has hardly been full of goals in recent times. Claiming a win at Bournemouth on opening day was the ideal start for Villa, but they have been edged out twice since then in two displays which suggested that the team is very much a work in progress. They lacked creativity and had few chances in the home loss to Manchester United, while it…

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Aston Villa agree fee for Roma playmaker Adem Ljajic

Steve Green

Aston Villa are set to continue their drastic summer overhaul with a deal for Roma playmaker Adem Ljajic after the two clubs reportedly agreed a fee, according to the Metro. The Metro claims that the Serbian international is now being deemed surplus to requirements in the Italian capital after head coach Rudi Garcia brought in Mohamed Salah from Chelsea. And a quick getaway now looks to be on the cards for the 23-year-old with Italian publication Il Tempo reporting that an agreement between Villa and Roma has been reached after…

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