Aston Villa End Of Season Awards

It has been a roller-coaster season for The Villans but since the season has ended there was the usual end of season dinner and the in club awards.

First though we look at the final table and Aston Villa had a dreadful last month but in a season where they finished in 12th place, it was fans of Manchester United who were celebrating after being able to overhaul Chelsea to take the title on goal difference and Jose Mourinho was not very gracious in defeat.



In a rough Portugese voiceIt is fair to say that the wrong team won the title! I think we were the best team in the division this season and I will personally make sure that we win the title next season!

In third place was Everton, who cap off a great season by finishing third ahead of Tottenham in forth place meaning that both Arsenal and Manchester City lose out on the Champions League.

Aston villa end up 12th and that caps off a great season for The Villans. Manager Paul McGrath has done so well for the side from Birmingham and they will look to improve on it next season with McGrath being given money to spend.

Palace, Sunderland and Burnley have gone down and all three were garbage to be fair. They had no defence all season and only Villa let more goals in than them and we doubt they will come straight back up.

The Award Dinner

It was a packed Aston Villa Conference centre for the awards ceremony. There were 9 awards to be handed out, The Fair Play Award, The Managers Player Of The Season Award, The Players Player Of The Season, The Young Player Of The Season Award, The Top Goalscorer Award, The Best Coach Award, The Best New Signing, The Most Man Of The Match Award and finally The Special Recognition Award.

Before the awards were handed out there was a speech first by manager Paul McGrath and then by captain Ron Vlaar.

It has been an amazing season for us this season hasn't it guys! I think we are going places and we will forget what happened at the end of the season because we have a great young squad and I can not wait to lead this team in future. It is going to be exciting times for us, so over to Ron who really isn't one for words so this is going to be HILARIOUS for his 20 second chat.

Thanks....................BOSS! I am so happy to be captain of this club.........(long pause, McGrath starts laughing. No all seriousness I can not wait to lead this side next season, the boss has some awesome plans and although it will be sad to lose a few players we are going to get some amazing talent in so I think we should get on with the awards.

The Fair Play Award

We start with the fair play award and this was such a simple decision because we have a midfielder at this club that is going to be a team player for many years to come and that is Fabian Delph. He will get this award for the match at Anfield when Gerrard went down with a potentially life threatening injury and rushed to help him and there was no one else even close to getting this award.

I am honoured to get this award and I would do the same for anyone that I did for Steven Gerrard. Massive applauds

The Young Player Of The Season Award

This award was so difficult to give out because there was so many players that were in the frame for it. Jordan (Graham), Fabian (Delph), Khalid (Abdo) were all in the frame but the award goes to a guy from Ireland, who has scored 6 goals and 5 assists this season and has really became one of the stars of the season and that means the award goes to Jack Grealish!

Top Goalscorer Award

In a season where for the first time in 7 years three players got double figure goals for the season this is one of the awards we love to give out because for any striker they are judged on goals. Andi Weimann scored ten goals this season for us and usually that would be enough but in Gabby and Luc we have two amazing strikers that have forged an amazing relationship but this season Luc with 15 goals edged out the impressive Gabby to nail the Top Goalscorer award.

Best New Signing

As Luc is on the stage he can stay up for a second as we come to the Best New Signing award as voted by the Villa season ticket holders and that also goes to Luc Castaignos. When he was signed he was behind Christian Benteke but he surprised his critics but not the Villa management and he finishes with 15 goals and we hope that you build in on next season!

Managers Player Of The Season Award

This for me was a very difficult decision because so many players could have got it. I thought about Jack, Gabby, Aly and Gino but for me the player of the season was Charles N'Zobgia! When I signed for Aston Villa Charles wasted out but I saw something in him and convinced him to stay and he finished with 8 goals for the season which is his best for 3 or 4 years.

Players Player Of The Season

There was a very tight vote for this award between two players. Jack Grealish and Gabby Agbonlahor were the only two players where votes were cast so with 51% of the votes Jack Grealish picks up his second award of night and we think he is going to be one of the best players to ever play for this club.

Best Coach Award

Going off the players for a minute there is a vote for the best coach of the season as voted by the players. The players voted for Alan Curbishly, they would like to thank him for the attacking flair he has installed into the side and he thoroughly deserves it.

Most Man Of The Match Award & Special Recognition Award

Gabby Agbonlahor is actually going to win the last two awards because he got 3 player of the match awards last season but Gabby stay there because you are going to have the Special Recognition award. You have been an amazing servant to the club and we really can not have you ever leave. The fans want you to stay for life and we sincerely hope that you do. You are a star and we hope to give you a trophy at some point in your career here.

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McGrath Makes First Signing Of The transfer Window

Young Slovak goalkeeper Marak Rodek

After the signings of Gregory Van Der Wiel, Nebil Benteleb, Tom Cleverley and Dorin Rotariu were already confirmed by Aston Villa way before the transfer window opened, manager Paul McGrath made his first proper signing of the Summer window yesterday in landing Fulham's Slovakian under 21 international goalkeeper Marak Rodek.

The Slovak, who has yet to play competitive football signs for £1,600,000 and must signal the end of Brad Guzan's Villa career. I am surprised that Aston Villa did not ask for unlimited access. The scouts were here watching, what seems like every week said reserve team manager Kit Symons.

It is thought as soon as they got relegated Aston Villa went in for the kill and with Fulham strapped for cash they were powerless to resist and would not begrudge the youngster a move to a premiership club.

I am absolutely thrilled to have him here said a beaming McGrath. He has a bright future and together with the other keeper we want him, Jed (Steer) and the other keeper will be very competitive for a starting slot.

Interestingly he did not mention Guzan once in the interview so the American is going to be sold after 8 years at the club. It is understood that Arsenal and Bayern could be interested in the stopper but only time will tell.

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Romanian Full Back Joins the Villans

Vasile has signed for The Villans

Aston villa have signed Rapic Bucharest's Romanian left-back Nicolae Vasile for £1,800,000 meaning that it is likely Aly Cissokho will move to Stoke later this week.

Vasile, capped once by Romania started his career at Valentin Stanescu, making 37 appearances over three years before moving to Villa Park.

Aston Villa supporter spokesperson Julian Clarke feels the fans are keen to see how Vasile fares after making the leap to a much bigger club but are prepared to let him play a few games first.

I have been after this guy for so, so long so to finally land the left back I am over the moon said a delighted Paul McGrath.


Villa wasted no time in signing Micah Richards

Also joining on a free transfer is former Man City defender Micah Richards. Richards was released and McGrath took no time in snapping up the 27 year old on a three year contract worth £32,500 a week.

Out the door has gone Ciaran Clark, Enda Stevens, Matt Lowton, Phillipe Senderos and Brad Guzan.


Guzan Sold

Guzan is the biggest name out and has left for Italy and Roma for £4,400,000. The keeper, 30 had to move because manager McGrath made it clear he was not in his plans.

Carlos Sanchez move to Sassuolo in Italy and will no doubt have a great career ahead of him.

Matt Lowton moves to West Ham, Senderos moves to Leicester, Clark moves to Forest and Stevens moves to Brighton as Paul McGrath delivers his promised shake up of the Premier League side.

Four More In As Two More Leave

Yobo Leaves Villa

Many pundits say that managers are judged on there transfer activity and for the first time since Paul McGrath took over at Aston Villa, he can finally show what the fans who love him anyway what he is made of.

First of all there has been two departures, Joseph Yobo signed on a free transfer last season to give the defence a bit of stability but he was actually very poor and moves to Wolves in the championship for £41,000. I enjoyed my time at Villa but at my age i need to be playing otherwise it is pointless me continuing in football said Yobo.

Yobo only made 3 appearances all season for Villa and with Micah Richards signing on a free transfer h ewas moved down the pecking order even more.


Libor Kozak also departs

The other player to depart was striker Libor Kozak. Kozak had an encouraging start to his Villa career until he broke his leg and when he returned he was not the same player. He moves to Belgian outfit Club Brugges for £1,800,000. The Czech international, who has 8 caps to his name is still young enough to be a hit and manager McGrath thinks he has a big future, He is a class act, but unfortunately it won't be for us because he wants to play first team football so who am I not to allow that.

The players in are considered shocks in our view.


Gael Kakuta moves to Villa Park on a free

Gael Kakuta is a name that will probably be more familiar to fans in France than in England but the attacking midfielder, who started his career in France for Lens where he did not make one appearance managed to catch the eye of Chelsea but was loaned out to no less than seven teams including Fulham, Bolton, Lazio and Vitesse.

It is understood he will challenge fellow Frenchman Charles N'Zogbia for a starting spot which after the great season he has just had, it will be a tough thing to do.

Next in for Villa is the £8,500,000 signing Allessio Ramagnoli. The central defender comes in from Roma as a complete unknown in England but is rated one of the best prospect for Italian football. Paul McGrath has done some research into him though and made a grand total of 13 appearances for Roma in his career but spent time on loan at Sampdoria too making 26 appearances and he is very happy to be at Aston Villa.

It is every players dream to play in the Premier League and I am pleased to be given the opportunity by Aston Villa Football Club and would like to thank them for signing me. I promise the fans you will get 100% commitment every match.


Younis Malli is a shock signing for Villa

Also in on a free transfer is 23 year old Younis Malli. The ex Mainz player is hoping to learn a lot while at Aston Villa in what wil be a massive step up in class for the midfielder. This might come as a shock to a lot of people but I rate Younis very highly and we need to be able to rotate now with this side and Malli will be a huge part of that said McGrath. I can not wait for this side to gel because we are on the verge of something special.

The last signing is the other keeper that McGrath was after. Pedrag Rajkovic moves to Villa Park from Red Star Belgrade. Although he is not familiar to fans in England, Aston Villa fans know all about him because Paul McGrath has been talking about this 19 year old for quite some time now. He has one Serbian cap coming in 2013 against Columbia.


Young Keeper Rajkovic signs for Villa

Rajkovic started his career at FK Hujduk Veljko Negotin in 2009/10. Rajkovic's spell at Valjko did not last long and in 2010/11 he joined FK Jagodina, making 3 league appearances in 3 years.

He then moved to Red Star Belgrade in August 2012 but managed just 1 appearance for the club. Rajkovic then joined Villa for £4,300,000 and he is looking forward to challenge, this is a great club and I love the training complex that Villa have and I want to become a fans favourite and I have not came here to be a bench warmer so I will show the fans just how good I am.

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Cissokho Out & Green In

Everton youngster Green moves to Villa

Greorge Green has joined Villa from Everton in a deal worth upto £6,000,000. It will cost Villa an initial £245,000 with incentives for appearances, International caps and £1,400,000 in monthly installments.

George Green joined Everton's Academy at the age of 15 in October 2011 from Bradford City.
He can play in attacking midfield positions or as a striker, possessing a deadly left foot.
In February 2012, Green marked his debut for England Under-16s with a last-minute winner against Spain in Madrid and has since represented his country at Under-17 level and last season played on loan at Birmingham City but being so young the Villa fans will not hold that against him as Birmingham got relegated from the Championship.

I am excited to be coming here, i have been told by the gaffer that he wants me in and around the first team and that there will be opportunities for me this season. Villa Park is a wonderful stadium and the training ground and youth academy are second to none. I can not wait said a happy Green.


Cissokho shown the door by McGrath

This takes Villa's signings up to 11 but they have also shipped out 13 players and that now include Aly Cissokho would has left for Stoke City in a £6,250,000 deal. The left back was told his days were number so he found himself a move to the side that nearly made europa last season.