Author: index

BRUCE – NEW SIGNINGS CAN HANDLE PRESSURE AT VILLA

Steve Bruce has come out to defend his signings as the team’s woeful performance continues.


The Villa boss has supervised five losses in the last nine games despite starting with a stellar record of seven games undefeated. The coach defended his signings, saying any that joined the club and prospective ones were capable of handling the pressure at a club like Aston Villa before they were signed.

Three straight losses without any goal is threatening the fine start of the manager. The FA Cup exit, the 13th spot on the current Championship log and 10 points off the play-off spot is a bad omen for Bruce who might also get evicted from his seat as Villa are desperate for the quickest return to top flight English football.

“If there’s been a falling, we’ve just bought and bought and bought. It’s just piled and piled and piled that has not improved. But we are a big scalp. Everyone wants to beat us in this division. I have to be 100% right that the people who we are bringing to the club can handle playing for Aston Villa, Bruce was quoted to have said. Continue reading BRUCE – NEW SIGNINGS CAN HANDLE PRESSURE AT VILLA

ASTON VILLA LINKED WITH HULL CITY FORWARD

Aston Villa have been linked with Hull City forward Abel Hernandez.


Sources from Italy report that the English side want to make a move for the player in the January transfer window. The reports say Steve Bruce is impressed with the performance of the striker and wants to add him to the team when the opportunity presents itself.

The 26-year old Uruguay international is supposed to lead the front row attack when current strikers who are Africans return to play the African Cup of Nations in the New Year. The player was speculated massively during the summer but the deal did not happen. Villa would likely go the extra mile when the next transfer window opens.

Bruce would be hoping that the core of the team that played during the last international window this year return without injuries. A large chunk of the team travelled for various World Cup qualifying campaigns and/or international friendlies but Bruce would be hoping they all come back unscathed as they continue the season.

Already when Aston Villa visit Amex on Friday, they would be without Mile Jedinak. The midfielder would be on international duty for Australia and Bruce feels he would not have enough time to recover before the trip; hence, there are plans for his replacement.

Jedinak’s likely replacement is any of Ashley Westwood, Leandro Bacuna, Tommy Elphick or Aaron Tshibola. Westwood remains the most likely as a tested player. Where there has been openings say due to injuries, Westwood has always helped.

Bacuna has the edge due to his energy and drive. Injury made his miss the last two games. If he passes a final fitness test ahead of the clash, Bruce might give him the nod. Tshibola and Elphick are options however unlikely.

PETROV BELIEVES HE CAN COACH ASTON VILLA

The former Aston Villa midfielder, Stiliyan Petrov is sure that one day he will manage his former club Aston Villa, but insists he is not ready to succeed Roberto Di Matteo who was recently sacked.


The winner of UCL at Chelsea, Di Matteo was sacked by Villa this week, with the club sitting 19th in the Championship following their relegation from the Premier League last season.

The 37-year old was forced to retire from playing football in 2013 after being diagnosed with acute leukemia while he remains the fans’ favorite at Villa Park.

After failing to return to action with Villa following his illness, Petrov believes he can divert into coaching, nevertheless, he will not be putting himself in the frame for the Villa job this time around.

“I have always been honest with myself and I know that I am not ready for that job,” he told talkSPORT. “I know one day I will become Villa manager, but it is way too early for me. They need a good manager, an experienced manager, who can bring stability to the club. It is about results. If you don’t get results, you obviously don’t stay in your job.”
Continue reading PETROV BELIEVES HE CAN COACH ASTON VILLA

Lescott to leave for Rangers

Aston Villa defender JoleonLescott is currently in talks with Scottish side Rangers for a possible move before the end of the transfer window.


The player who has signed a new two-year deal with Aston Villa last season has yet to make an appearance for them this season and might be interested in moving to Rangers.

JoleonLescott has some good experience of the Premier League and European football after having played for both Everton and Manchester City. Rangers will benefit from having a player of this quality in their team. JoleonLescott has also played for the England team where he has made 26 appearances.

It is believed that Ranger’s manager Mark Warburton has traveled personally to meet the player and has presented him with the current vision of the club. Warburton believes that Lescott will add some experience at the back and may help Rangers compete in the Scottish league. He stated that he has always been an admirer of the player and that he believes that the player can play for a few more years at the highest level.
Continue reading Lescott to leave for Rangers

Grealish wants to help Aston Villa

Aston Villa forward Jack Grealish said that he wants to do everything he can to help the team get back to the Premier League.


He said that he is ready to fight for the team, and he wants to become an inspiration to others. He believes that if each player put their strength together and show determination on the pitch, they will be able to make it back to the Premier League.

Jack Grealish was only a peripheral figure last season where he only managed to make 9 appearances for the team. However, he is desperate for change this season and wants to form part of the core players that will bring the team back to the Premier League.

He acknowledges that he is not a great leader off the pitch. He is not someone that will raise his voice on the pitch or in the changing room, but he wants to show the way by improving his performance on the pitch. He said that he is an attacking player and that the only way for him to contribute and inspire others is by scoring goals and creating assists.
Continue reading Grealish wants to help Aston Villa

ASTON VILLA SET TO BREAK THE BANK IN BIGGEST SUMMER TRANSFER SPENDING

Recently relegated English Premier League club, Aston Villa are gearing up for the biggest summer of spending in the club’s history, according to owner Tony Xia.


The Chinese tycoon revealed his plans for Villa on Wednesday in a live Q and A session with CNN on their Facebook page in which he detailed the large financial commitment the new investors are prepared to make.

Dr Xia, whose deal to buy the club for a reported £70million is waiting to be ratified by the Premier League and the Football League, made it clear that Villa will spend big on transfers this summer to be reinstalled among England’s elite. Dr Xia told CNN:

“We have a deposit, more than £100m cash in an account in England.

“We aim to be promoted in one season. That’s the major task for next season. We hope we can do it.”

Just last summer Aston Villa spent £55m in one of the clubs most expensive-ever transfer windows, even though they were later sent to the championships with their relegation which is the first since 1987. Still that amount is just over half of what could be the investment in 2016, if the plans go through. Continue reading ASTON VILLA SET TO BREAK THE BANK IN BIGGEST SUMMER TRANSFER SPENDING

Aston Villa fans furious after defeat against Southampton

Aston Villa fans were angry after yet another poor performance from their team.

Indeed, Aston Villa who has already been relegated from the Premier League produce an unconvincing performance in a match where they lost 4-2.

The interim coach, Eric Black stated that he understands the Villa fans reaction as they have witnessed a miserable season for their club. He added that they have every reason to behave like this and that he does not want to tell them what to do.


Even the Southampton manager, Ronald Koeman felt sorry for the Aston Villa players and said that he has never witnessed such an atmosphere when playing away. Indeed, the fans did not come at the stadium to support their team but rather to vent their anger.

Each time a Villa player had the ball they were booed by their own supporters. It was tough for the players to perform in these conditions but this is what happened when you play poorly for a whole season. Only Ashley Westwood, Jordan Ayew, and Alan Hutton was cheered by the fans as they recognized these players were giving everything they have for the club. Continue reading Aston Villa fans furious after defeat against Southampton

Remi Garde witness Team Suffer another Loss

Aston Villa boss Remi Garde witnessed his team suffer a sixth consecutive loss in the league during the weekend.

The 1-0 defeat against Swansea City may have just confirmed their relegation to the Championship. It has been on the cards for quite a while now, as there has been no signs of a fightback from Villa even after the appointment of the Frenchman. The last victory that the club had in the league was back at the start of February. The loss against Swansea was a result of yet another poor piece of defending by the club.

Goalkeeper Brad Guzan was largely at fault for conceding the solitary goal scored by the home team. Fernandez came up with the only goal of the game just minutes after the players stepped out from the half-time break. The manager refused to criticise his goalkeeper amidst reports that he will be sacked as the manager in the next few days. There have even been astonishing reports of the club going back to Tim Sherwood, who was sacked in the first place to bring in Garde. There are just seven games left in the league campaign and Villa are a whopping 12 points away from safety. Continue reading Remi Garde witness Team Suffer another Loss

Mark Hughes reckons if the finishing had been slightly better for Stoke City

Mark Hughes reckons if the finishing had been slightly better, Stoke City would have been able to beat the Premier League toppers Manchester City by a much bigger margin than it actually did.

Stoke City secured a 2-0 victory in that home game which not only helped them move slightly up and make their way towards the top half of the points table, but, also made sure that City lost the top position and came down to third.

The defeat of Manchester City benefitted Leicester City which is now at no. 1 in the League standings, a couple of points clear.

Speaking in the press conference after the game was over, Hughes said, “The game plan was there, but, it had to be executed and I must say, the execution was pretty good today. It was overall an exceptional show.”

“It would have been a bigger win if we had been able to convert all the opportunities that we created, it would perhaps have turned embarrassing for City.”

“But, two-nil is not a bad margin to win by when you are up against a top team. At the start of the day, we would definitely have taken that. So, we should be happy.” Continue reading Mark Hughes reckons if the finishing had been slightly better for Stoke City

Tim Sherwood has started to rebuild his Aston Villa team by signing Micah Richards

Tim Sherwood was able to keep Aston Villa safe in the Premier League for at least another season as the club was 3 points away from being relegated. Surviving in the top flight English league was the main objective of Sherwood and his team, even though this task was fully accomplished; the 46 year old English manager said that there is no reason to celebrate as there are many things that need to be done in order to avoid going through a season similar to this one.

Staying in the bottom spots of a league and hanging by a thread is not something that any manager wants to face with his team and Sherwood is hoping that a scenario similar to this does not repeat again.

Aston Villa’s Tim Sherwood said: “We’ve got to look higher than just staying in the Premier League.We’ll take that on and it’s my job to make sure we build the club and, hopefully, make sure we don’t find ourselves in a relegation battle again.Obviously we’re not going to go from that into a Europa League team next season but I think we need a consolidating season and to build the club and take it in the right direction.” Continue reading Tim Sherwood has started to rebuild his Aston Villa team by signing Micah Richards