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Aston Villa got their season off to a great start last weekend with a 1-0 away win at the Britannia Stadium; a notoriously difficult ground to pick up points. Andreas Weimann scored the only goal of the game to gift Aston Villa their second opening away day victory in as many years.

Weimann opened his account after a hard working performance against Stoke according to EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, which saw him complete 9.41km in the game, completing 55 sprints with a top speed of 32.7km/h. The forward who grabbed five goals and five assists in last season’s Premier League campaign, will be looking to better those totals this term by continuing that work ethic. He is 51/20 to score anytime against Newcastle with 888sport.com.

Weimann’s strike partner Gabriel Agbonlahor didn’t get a sniff at goal last week, but was equally industrious, completing 10.22km and hitting a top speed of 323.7km/h in his 51 sprints. His pace will prove a major asset in trying to unlock the Newcastle defence, and that is why he is 14/5 to score anytime against Newcastle with 888sport.com.

Aston Villa’s new look centre back pairing of Philippe Senderos and Ron Vlaar will be happy with a clean sheet on the opening day of the season was something that was really down to them completing eight and seven clearances respectively. EA SPORTS Player Performance Index tells us that Senderos also managed two blocks and an interception, with Vlaar managing one block and one interception. With such solidity in the middle of the back four, both full backs Alan Hutton and Aly Cissokho were able to push on and both managed to deliver five crosses each last weekend.

Newcastle kicked off their season with a brave performance against Man City, but were ultimately left with nothing to show from the game. They will be looking to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa. Newcastle handed a debut to Emmanuel Rivière, who managed three attempts on goal and completed 31 sprints with a top speed of 34.4km/h according to EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. He will look to trouble defences with his pace, hard work and finishing. He is 13/5 to score anytime against Aston Villa with 888sport.com.

Another debut was handed to Rémy Cabella who won five tackles and managed two interceptions, but it was going forward where he looked a real threat. He attempted six dribbles and delivered five crosses, and will look to be a real threat this weekend to the Aston Villa defence. He is 100/30 to score anytime against Aston Villa with 888sport.com.

The third and most impressive debut was handed to Jack Colback in the heart of the Newcastle midfield. EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows us that he worked tirelessly to cover 12.33km in the game with an average speed of 7.8km/h and a top speed of 32.3km/h, reached in one of his 31 sprints. He also won his only two tackles during the game, had five interceptions, delivered three crosses and attempted four dribbles. He will have to deliver another equally rounded performance to help Newcastle overcome Villa.

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Matt Turvey
Matt is the owner of, and chief writer for, Aston Villa Life. He is also a columnist for the Wolverhampton Express & Star, appearing in the Kick Off pullout on Saturdays and the Final Whistle pullout the Monday after Aston Villa play, as well as every Thursday as a blogger on their website. He has previously been featured as a writer on Football365 and Life's A Pitch, and was a regular pundit for Sports Tonight TV on Sky.

Comments 64

  2. Clive Evans

    Gabriel Agbonlahor didn’t get a sniff at goal last week, but was equally industrious, completing 10.22km and hitting a top speed of 323.7km/h – crikey Matt I didn’t know he could move so fast!!

    Seriously – we will need all of our guys on top form; I watched the ‘ Bar Codes’ last week and they are not pushovers. The only consolation is the developing partnership between Vlaar and Senderos – I’m unhappy to see 4/6 quoted for him to join Koeman at S’ton, especially as the said Dutchman scored against England when he should have not been on the pitch.

    I’m loaded up with 365sport waiting for KO. UTV

  8. Steve Parkes

    Can’t believe Weiman is still on the pitch, Grealish or Bacuna would do a much better job.

    Doninated again at home… nothing has changed,

    Lambert still clueless.

  9. Trinity

    Well 3-2 was way off the mark. 0-0. Guess we were lucky for that. We need Benteke, but the worse thing they can do is hurry him up before he’s ready.

    Clive

    Yes, I enjoyed the match. Fair play to Aussie, they never gave up. They were simply outgunned in every department. I think after that the All Blacks will have a psychological edge the Aussies won’t overcome in Brisbane. It’s not often a rugby heavy weight gets 50+ scored against them.

  10. Paul Whiting

    Zero attempts on target…need we say more; looks similar to last season.
    Defence was sloppy at times and a better team than Newc would have won comfortably. Last season’s top 5 are coming soon.
    Weimann, cnz, Richardson, Gabby…all sh!t…every week. Baker was a disaster when he came on.

  13. Trinity

    Perhaps the BT team would do better to interview RK, might be worth a laugh or two. I don’t think RK would be happy with the attack.
    I thought Hutton played pretty well today.

    Guess now the two main strikers are close enough to getting back, Villa won’t get another striker in.

  14. rogermuffin

    positives
    4 points out of 6.
    2 clean sheets.
    sanchex looked good when he cam on we where rocking and he helped steady things

    negatives
    not enough guile in the final 3rd.
    gabbys not very good at fouling and getting away with it.
    not much of kean on the touchline today, he was there almost the whole of the 2nd half at stork

  15. rogermuffin

    the stream i watched the match on has chris waddle going on and on how crap we were and it was really annoying.
    the unbiased so an so.

    he did have a point though, i realy didn’t what hear it

    also what is it with refs?

    last week we a good one and things were 50/50 decision wise , he kept giving newcastle la the 50/50 ‘s

    but at least this year will are a but more solid

  16. John Lerwill

    rogermuffin,

    That “lack of guile” will cost Villa if they don’t find a solution.

    Villa’s first two matches have been against teams that are trying to find themselves. The upcoming match after Hull (vs Pool) will indicate more about Villa’s status.

  17. rogermuffin

    kr and sissoko were pretty decent as well.

    hutton had a really good game

    wieman , gabby, nzog were lost ,

    on tuesday against orient we should see cole, bent and if we were lucky grealish

  18. Mark King

    well where to start 🙂 plusses Hutton and cissy look good so did sanchez in his brief role the lad can pass and won every header thrown his way. gabby looked fitter but still woeful, delph/westwood ok. guzan was awake

    negatives : weimann again completely wasted out wide might as well not play him. no real centre forward/no goal threat we have to play bent!!!!!!!! no real creative threat everything came from the fullbacks with no target in the middle. buy a fecking attacking mid or play cole grealish or nzogbia in that role. senderos did ok but will get done for pace soon. newcastle were nothing special but if we continually set up as though teams are real madrid and we are not worthy its gonna be a feckin long season, how deep can a team play at home?? get Okore in and push up. ninety minutes of damage limitation is not good enough especially when its not warranted

  19. B6toBrasil

    Bag on the money Mark…talking of money,where`s my …………….no,I give up.
    Resilient, organised,and industrious.Far,far too cautious at home.2nd half Newc moved their

  20. Mark King

    roger

    thought Nzogbia was our most creative player just wasted at right wing its out left or centre for him also no striker making runs to supply. they took him off as he stopped tracking back probably knackered. personally would of put bent and grealish on shifted richardson out right . I would of taken 4 four points pre-season but it should and could of been 6. lets hope lessons are learned (doubt it )

  22. B6toBrasil

    Sorry, continued

    B4 15/20 yards up the pitch,I thought,and squeezed the play.
    Weimann,unaware of his team mates postitioning,runs aimlessly,a willing worker,but must be dropped IMO.Still, 4 uninspiring points,something to build on,but we must stop treating teams with so much respect.Let`s try to win by being a bit more positive.
    Zog,lucky to stay on,can`t believe Richardson went off and not AW-see above.
    COYVB

  23. Mark King

    managers make you laugh, Lambert in complete denial and Pardew claiming they should of won? I thought you had to score goals to do that? being good at missing or the keeper saving doesn’t cut it.

    the ref made some dodgy calls and some good ones but at least 3 yellows unwarranted

  24. rogermuffin

    Mark, yes nzog creative in the 1st half, but he got knocked off the ball too much, i think he may not quite be over his Achilles injury just yet, didn;t sem to a fast as b4 it, and he is better left and centre.

    in fact we were quite good in the 1st half, ( aprt from the 1st 10 mins) but i the 2nd half we should have steeped up and all the team were looking panicky, snachez came at a good time, floated a peach of a ball to hutton.

    i thought at 60 mins snachez and cole or grelish shouild have come on. but we held on in the end,

  25. rogermuffin

    did any one else see the north stand ( i think) keep the ball in 93 min when newc were taking a corner, then just as a new ball come over from the dugout they sen it back to the pitch.

    loved it

  26. Frem

    We parked a lot of buses today. Thought I’d see a new exciting Villa who wouldn’t get passed of the park. Well, I didn’t. Same old. Everyone behind the ball and fuck up the counter attack every time. No quality in out final 3rd what so ever. Gabby, retire from football. Lambert , stop playing Wiemann on the wing

    Positives- Cissoko. Looks a proper LB. Hope he isn’t injured to bad. Hutton and Vlaar did well also. Delph went on a few of his runs. That’s about that’s all worth mentioning

    Grealish left on the bench for 90 mins. Desperate for creativity, and he leaves Grealish on the bench. I hate Lambert. He better buy a bloody winger this week

    We need to beat Hull. Get 7 points on the board before our run in in septmember.

    Did we have a shot on target ? We need Benteke back

  27. Frem

    Oh and Sanchez played a world class pass with his first touch pretty much.

    If Grealish wants a future in football, then leave Paul Lambert. Won’t even put you on in a 0-0 at home to try and create something but he will start Gabby and Wiemann ahead of you

    Disappointed Keane would allow a football team to set up like we did.

    Wait till Lambert says” I thought we were excellent, I really did ”

    Nice to get another clean sheet but when you put 11 men behind the ball you will get a few

  30. Frem

    Only 30 thousand there today and 2 thousand of them were Newcastle

    No surprise though with how Lambert sets us up at home. He has no standard as a manager, he has no shame, no ambition, no intent to win. Park those buses

    Deeny would be good. Anyone but Gabby

  31. Heroes-and-Villans

    Very happy/relieved with our start. 4 points out of 6 no goals conceded. Did not expect that and lots to build on now that we seemed to of sorted out the defence.

    Nzog and cole need to get fit and Tekkers and kozak back. If we add an winger and cam goals should come. Keep that defence tight though!!

  32. Mark King

    frem

    when cissy went off we could of gone for a cheeky three at the back and put grealish on instead of baker. especially with sanchez sat central wiemann or gabby off richardson on the right. it would of been squeaky bum time but worth a go 🙂

  33. steamer

    Grealish was a target for top English clubs long before he featured as Villa’s first substitute in last Saturday’s Premier League win at Stoke City but his precarious contract situation has intensified Lambert’s eagerness to secure him on a long-term deal. – See more at: http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/other-soccer/lambert-seeks-commitment-from-indemand-jack-grealish-30529951.html#sthash.RXWJvogI.dpuf

    If he was that eager he’d encourage him by playing him over the current dummies. The lie count is increasing daily.

  36. Mark King

    was nice to see Sanchez trying to gee them up he looks a good player, poor sod must wonder why we stay in our own half though. he got a yellow when it was westwood who tripped the player nice one ref

  37. Frem

    Why would Grealish sign a new contract when the manager won’t even play him ?

    Twitter going as mad as I am for wingers 🙂 we are desperate for creativity

  38. Heroes-and-Villans

    Frem

    You have been right all these years….wingers!!

    We are desperate for someone who can turn, beat a man and get in behind a team. Gabby cant. Grealish maybe and nzog can but is desperate for games and fitness. Just pray the rumours of a winger and cam is true.

  40. B6toBrasil

    I thought Sissy and Hutton did well today.I am pleased that the aimless hoofball has been reduced.Stoke and NUFC both beat us easily last year,there is some small progress.We are trying to play on the deck.
    Baker`s introduction made me very anxious,as his inclusion always does.
    I will be shot down in flames for this,but the situation isn`t as bad as it`s painted on AVL,we are not in a good place,but 4 points is solid,if uspectacular and dull at times.
    That said,something must be done about Weimann and Gabby,it simply doesn`t work and hasn`t for many, many months.

  41. John Lerwill

    B6 I will be shot down in flames for this,but the situation isn`t as bad as it`s painted on AVL,we are not in a good place,but 4 points is solid,if uspectacular and dull at times.

    Mmmmm…

    1. 4 points against two sides that are trying to find themselves
    2. One point gained at home today, instead of 3.
    3. No shots on goal today: that’s total of 1 shot on goal in 2 matches.

    As has been aid, it will take 6 to 10 games to see how we’re going toe evolve – and evolve we must, otherwise it will be more like last season again in terms of points dropped, despite the promise of our new defence.

  42. Ian

    The team is a lot more solid than last year and Villa have several players to come from injury that will change the game for them. I still think points are more important right now and you won’t see football that excites. Frem and others are right about a winger and some nouse in the middle. It will come. Patience is definitely a virtue right now. I see positives in the back and think it will be worth points in the future probably 3 this year. Last year Villa would have given up the winning goal in the last 5 minutes. I remember a lot of that last year. Offense is always slower to develop than defense give them some time. Keane is willing to see Villa play this way right now as he (and everyone else) knows a player or two are needed to change the style on the pitch.

  43. Mark King

    two things must happen, grealish has to play, no good waiting until we are up against the top 6 give him free range, he works back, always wants the ball, can beat players cross, score, win free kicks, what more does Lambert want? Bent has to start, we are toothless until benteke is back. those two actually showed some understanding in pre-season.

    gabby and weiman are too similar as in they put themselves about but lack finesse and technical ability we can afford only one if you want to create chances and take them. we will lose nothing by losing one. with sanchez sat in front of an improved defence it should stop teams running straight through us so we can begin to play ourselves.
    sissy making runs outside of Grealish will become a potent weapon if Lambert allows it, and bent would surely have got on to one of those crosses that whistled through the penalty area in the first half. come on Lambert its been an OK start but for Christ’s sake grow some

  44. Ian

    Well John, I would rather see a good shot that misses that a dribbler up to the goalkeeper for a shot on goal. That’s another useless stat as far as I’m concerned along with possession to an extent. And as far as finding themselves, all the teams are trying to find themselves at the beginning of the season. And a point is a point.

  46. John Lerwill

    Ian,

    I can see you’re an 100% opti who’ll walk over a cliff to prove his point! 😉 Don’t worry I’ll be at the bottom to catch you!

    I prefer the middle road thanks … one point at home with no shots on goal first match of the season is NOT the way to encourage the fans to return. Only 30k there today.

  47. Ian

    Grealish will come on give it time. Gabby or Weimann will chase a ball or opponent where Bent can’t. Bent is perfect for a late entry as everyone is tired and he looks like he is part of the action.
    Watch all the players that haven’t been significant the last two games get a run out at Leyton Orient on Wednesday. Don’t any of you complain if things don’t go right. 🙂

  50. Mark King

    one other thought, Sanchez immediately set himself up in that central position, westwood and delph will have to learn to play and feed off him instead of running around as they have for two years like headless chickens. sanchez knows how to play DM, Delph and Westwood have a steep learning curve to develop their own game to suite. his understanding of that position only highlights the other twos lack of positional sense IMO but they should improve.

  51. Ian

    They haven’t had to play with a decent DM for two years. I’m excited about the back and middle. They are going to win a few and pull a few rabbits as well. It’s team work and all of a sudden it looks like Villa have a team at the back and a potential team in the middle.

  52. Mark King

    JL
    if Lambert doesn’t play them and make use of the greater stability we will never know, I think he will stick with the same team even with Sanchez making us hard to beat but impotent up front.

  53. John Lerwill

    The potential is there in the squad, no doubt, but will the management team do the right thing (selection-wise) when needed? For example I expected to see Cole and/or Grealish come on at about the three-quarters mark today. But no sign.

  55. Mark King

    one case in point, weimann had the ball inside the area on the byline, Gabby who should of made space for himself or timed a run into the middle or even back post ran towards him!!!! leaving nobody in the six yard box and weimann hoofs it it into the empty space? if that had been sniffer bent he may not have scored but you can bet he would of found a position to at least have a chance, oooo i could crush a grape!!!! 🙂

  60. Mark King

    matt

    it stands out like a sore thumb, we can’t keep pushing work rate over talent up top. I would go Grealish bent and probably weiman as he did ok with bent. then you have gabby and nzogbia to shake it up. would probably play robinson and burke before them too 🙂

  62. Mark King

    matt

    its my one bug bear with cole, he’s no good for 90 so for me throwing him on late is asking for him to get injured leaving you with 10 men potentially

  63. Frem

    Taking of our most creative player, at home, in a game we could for an ultra defensive mid sums our manager up. He’s the most anti football manager I’ve ever seen and I never thought Eck could be beat to that, but he has. We spent all the game with a double decker bus parked in our half and some twat in red boots wearing the a number 11 shirt trying to join in

    When Siisy came of, could have left Delph and LB and bought Grealish on, but nope, bring on a 6ft4 lump instead

    So baker and Sanchez were Lamberts inspired substations today to try and get this club 3 points. Feck off out of here

    Hull game is actually very important now. We need 7 points with Pool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manu all in September

  64. Mark King

    ASTON VILLA

    Dutch club Feyenoord are expecting to sign Aston Villa playmaker Karim El Ahmadi to a long-term contract this week.

    Championship side Brighton have completed the capture of Villa midfielder Gary Gardner on loan until January.

    has to be players due in this leaves us with delph westwood and sanchez

    senderos and hutton have made several teams of the week including the bbc

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