Villa face Chelsea on New Years Eve with Alex McLeish’s team welcoming Darren Bent to the team. Emile Heskey is out of action. Please try not to cry, I mean celebrate too loudly, those at the back.
Anyway, for Villa, a trip to Chelsea is regularly a tough game. Villa finished the game 3-3 last season as we are all aware, with Ciaran Clark providing the last minute fireworks that left us with a point. For Villa to take anything from the game, the least they will need is 90 minutes of commitment.
Villa vs Villas-Boas
Chelsea have stuttered this campaign with record managerial signing André Villas-Boas getting off to a (comparatively) less than spectacular start. However, even with such a chequered performance by Chelsea standards, they will provide a stern challenge to our boys in claret & blue.
The return to the lineup of Darren Bent will arguably strengthen a Villa team that has struggled for goals this season. Whilst Bent is far from a panacea for Villa, his role as striker leaves Gabby free to move around the pitch more, and with Agbonlahor’s work rate, I envisage this will mean an increase in chance creation. We saw how isolated Gabby has been in recent games when playing up front, so hopefully Bent can free up Gabby indirectly to allow him to have more movement.
The Year In Review
Getting on to the roundup of 2011, Villa have had a very difficult season, between the tenure of Gerard Houllier and the current unrest surrounding Alex McLeish. Add into this the fact that prized assets Stewart Downing and Ashley Young were sold in the summer, as well as having a number of first team players released, Villa have been persisting with a squad that could be described as threadbare.
However, 2011 wasn’t just doom and gloom. The year saw solid performances from Marc Albrighton under Gerard Houllier, with the Birmingham lad putting himself in contention for first team action on regular occasion. 2011 also saw the development of other younger players – Ciaran Clark, Eric Lichaj, Chris Herd, and Barry Bannan being the main candidates.
Where Villa have struggled though is in the middle. “The Middle” sadly sounds a little ambiguous, but it is about right. Middle of midfield, middle of defence. Both areas have suffered.
For Villa, the middle has been almost ripped out. First Barry, then Milner, then Young. Taking bits out of a working machine and expecting it to continue to work is haphazard sadly. The reality though, is that Villa have had to make sales to fund an expensive wage bill.
The wage bill was, inadvertedly, the focus of much attention for Aston Villa during 2011. Whether it was the club trying to lower it, or for the fans being angry at the frustration that this caused, wages were rarely far from the talking points. Some suggested players were on more than they should have been, a point I would find hard to disagree with, whilst others said that Randy Lerner should balance the books out of his own pocket.
For fans, many of us hope 2011 is soon forgotten. Between disruption in the dressing room, patience challenging managerial choices, and a let down in comparison to the era of Martin O’Neill, few will look back at 2011 with fond memories, with only the purchase of Darren Bent and, to a lesser extent, Charles N’Zogbia, getting the pulses of the Villa faithful racing.
2011 For Aston Villa Life
As you’re all aware, we launched in late March of 2011. Some of those who were there from day one are still here, and many more have read and commented in the interim.
Obviously, Aston Villa Life has become the success that it is because of those people who have, on a daily basis, come to read the stories that we’ve published. So for that, I’d like to thank the readers and commenters for their contribution to the site. Whilst we often have differing opinions, the fact that I’d still have a pint with you all at present shows that I respect you all for your views. Even if some of them end in “McKnob”. Thank God I don’t have a McSurname or I’d get a complex 🙂
On that side of things, I wanted to take this opportunity to say a special thank you to John Clark, who has quickly become an integral part of the site. Not only have I managed to unearth a great writer who shares our passion about our beloved club, it also turns out he’s a good bloke too. Just don’t give him too many beers or he’ll threaten to send half of the team to League 2 on loan. Which, arguably, might actually be a good idea after all.
On top of John, so to speak, I’d also like to say thank you to those who have written for us – Jason Chalifour, Martin Laurence, Eamon McElwee, Laura Hickey, Tim “The Droyd” Whitehouse, Tom “Gabbygabby” Heslop, Graham “Superbox” Hunt, Andi “Chiefy” Williams, Ian “ICuts” Cutler, and Mike Sabo. If I’ve missed anyone out, my sincerest of apologies. I’m sure Gabbygabby can write an essay to provide at least one name I have forgotten 😉
As always, the door remains open to anyone who reads our site to have their voice heard. Aston Villa Life has become what it is because we’re a community, and we continue to be what were are because of that community. So, to that end, I readily ask for your opinions, whatever they may be. Just stay away from libel. I don’t want Martin at my door. O’Neill that is. You’re still ok to turn up Mr Laurence.
Final Thoughts
As a final thought, I just wanted to take a moment to remember those that we lost in 2011.
Sadly, 2011 took 11 year old Harry Moseley from us after he lost his valiant battle with brain cancer. Harry was certainly a young man who I am proud to have known. He taught me many things about life, and how to live it going forwards. His campaign still lives on though, and if you are interested, you can visit his website here.
It also took from us a man who had a bright future ahead of him – Gary Speed. Hearing of his death was a shock as I had spoken to him the week before, and was a sad loss to football, both in Leeds, Newcastle, Wales, and in the wider arena. I’ve still not been able to delete his number from my phone as it somehow seems wrong to just press “delete”.
We also lost Dean Richards on a date I’ll struggle to forget, my birthday, 26th February 2011. As we all know, Dean played at local rivals Wolves. At 36, a mere four (nearly three) years more than I am at present, it was another big shock. Our thoughts go out to Dean’s family, as well as Gary’s, and Harry’s at this difficult time.
Here’s to 2012, and to ensuring that we do our best to make the most of our time, and to remembering those who haven’t been fortunate to make it to 2012. All the best for you all in the months and years going forwards.
UTV!
The Author
