Author: admin

LAMBERT LOVING VLAAR

The manager of Aston Villa, Paul Lambert, has said that he is quite impressed with Ron Vlaar’s performance in the match against Nottingham Forest. That was the first match of Vlaar for Aston Villa. Nottingham defeated Aston Villa by 3-1 in the match. As per Lambert, though the team was not able to win the match, but, Vlaar’s performance in the match was a big positive for Aston Villa. Vlaar has signed for Aston Villa this summer. He has joined the club on a contract of 3 years.

Before joining Aston Villa, Vlaar used to play for Feyenoord. He had been playing for Feyenoord since the last 6 years. He joined Feyenoord in 2006 and in his very first season for the club, he started getting chances to feature in the first team. But, during his tenure with Feyenoord, Vlaar struggled with injuries a lot. In the 2006-07 season, he had to miss a large number of matches due to foot injury. In the next season, he injured himself again and he had to go through a surgery. Due to that, he wasn’t able to play in the later part of 2007-08 season. In the last two seasons, he played without having an injury and his performance was quite good in the last season. He decided to move to Aston Villa this summer.

Lambert said that Vlaar would become very popular among the crowd in the upcoming season. He is technically very good and he has got a fantastic temperament as well. On being asked about the defeat of Aston Villa against Nottingham, Lambert said that he doesn’t give too much importance to these pre season games. Winning the league matches is more important for the team. As per Lambert, he doesn’t want to think too much about this defeat. He has full confidence in his players and hopefully, they would do well in the upcoming season.

BENT EXCITED AT NEW SEASON

Aston Villa striker Darren Bent has said that he cannot wait for the new season to start. The England striker missed the large portion of last season due to a major injury, which also forced him out of the Euro 2012. Now, he is fit and ready and is taking part in the pre-season with the new manager at the helm. He has said that he is extremely looking forward to the start of the new season since it would give him with a great opportunity to prove that he is the best striker at the club. He has also said that he hopes that he is injury problems have finally disappeared.

The 28-year-old moved to Aston Villa from Sunderland in an £ 18 million deal and has scored almost a goal every other game. He made 41 appearances in his first season with the club and scored 19 goals in the process. However, he was not able to repeat the same feat as he was injured more often than not. Further, the major injury suffered in the second half of last season meant that he made only 22 appearances for the club last season. The former Spurs striker has said that he is hoping that his injury problems are behind him and cannot wait for the new season.

“I probably got the injury because I haven’t really done anything for four months. It’s just been good to be back among it after my time out injured at the end of the season. In the first session in pre-season I was absolutely buzzing. My main problem was the ankle but that’s completely healed now. That feels great and I am raring to go for the season,” said Bent in an interview given to the Sun. Bent has made 403 career appearances to date.

PETROV IS CLUB CAPTAIN

New Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has confirmed that midfielder Stilian Petrov will remain as a club captain for now, although he has confirmed that he will be looking to appoint a new captain to represent the club on the pitch. Stilian Petrov was recently diagnosed with leukaemia, which means that he is set to miss a considerable portion of the next season. Despite this, Paul Lambert has decided to offer the position of being the club captain to the former Celtic midfielder. The 32-year-old Bulgarian international has been a huge influence on Aston Villa in recent seasons, and Paul Lambert hopes that it will continue even after his arrival.

Aston Villa recently managed to bring in former Norwich city manager Paul Lambert amidst a lot of fury from the Cannaries. The former Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish was using striker Gabriel Agbonlahor as the captain on the pitch for the club. However, it is thought that Paul Lambert will be looking to make a defender or the goalkeeper as the captain. Lambert has also revealed that the club will be undergoing a major overhaul when it comes to the scouting system. Aston Villa have been on a constant downhill in the last couple of seasons, which Lambert will be hoping to avoid this season.

“Stiliyan is still club skipper, no doubt. He’s a huge influence on the club. I just need to look for a team captain. He’s such a strong lad and a terrific guy. It makes you sick, actually, when you have played with someone, seen them in their prime and are close to them, then you know he has an illness like that. Hopefully he’ll be OK and be here,” said Lambert when speaking after his official appointment on the official website of Aston Villa.

HODGSON BACKS VILLA

West Brom manager Roy Hodgson has said that he does not believe for one minute that Aston Villa will be relegated to the Championship at the end of this season. Aston Villa have long been recognised as the biggest club in Midlands having won the coveted European trophy, while they have also one of the greatest history amongst most of the English clubs. However, they are in a real danger of being relegated this season, as they are only two points about the relegation zone. Aston Villa are ever closer to the relegation zone after suffering the 2-1 demoralising defeat at the hands of Bolton in the midweek action.

The club will be facing archrivals West Brom during the weekend. West Brom, under the former Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson, have secured safety in the Premier league for next season and will be looking forward to a great afternoon against Villa. Hodgson, though, believes that the Aston Villa players are too good to go down this season. Even though this is a cliche that has been said a lot, Hodgson believes that McLeish has the experience to lead Aston Villa away from the relegation zone in the upcoming matches, in which they will be facing the likes of West Brom and Tottenham.

“I don’t ever accept true responsibility for when managers losing their job has been the direct result of a match with another team that you happen to be coaching at the time. Obviously there is going to come a moment where people’s tenure at a club comes to an end. It’s unfortunate I suppose if you happen to be the last one when the axe does fall,” he said ahead of the derby with Villa. Aston Villa have just one win in their last 13 Premier league matches, which makes for a grim reading.