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Villans Make Improvement At Last

Aston Villa have endured a torrid start to the season, this season with losing to Swansea, Spurs and Man City (this month). They have turned it around this month though other than the defeat to Man City and it is down to the return of Salomon Rondon from injury.

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I don't think people realise just how important Rondon is for Aston Villa, it is like what Steven Garrard was for Liverpool and also the same way as what Sir Alex Furguson was for Manchester United.

This month was all about Rondon, but also the emergence of wide midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, Aston Villa's record signing. De Bruyne has looked assured on and off the ball this month also contributing with two goals and three assists.

We start in the Europa League with the away trip to Anderlecht. Villa were coming into this match with a five match unbeaten run and this was never in doubt of being undone as Villa ran out very comfortable 1-0 victors.

Then back to the Premier League for Villa as they crashed to a 3-1 defeat against Manchester City in which a 606 caller called the Villans crap. It was also the match that influential captain Rondon was out injured for the one match. Jordan Rhodes was the player to get the consolation goal for Aston Villa.

After the extremely poor display, Villa manager Paul McGrath called upon his troops to make amends against the bottom club of the league Queens Park Rangers on the Saturday daytime.

And make amends they did, as Salomon Rondon came back from injury to set two goals up as Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones scored the goals. The revelations though came after the match as Q.P.R manager Gustavo Poyet was fired immediately after the match. The Uruguayan did not even last one year in the role and becomes the forth casualty in just four years at Q.P.R.

Villa then went into the Europa League unbeaten, to play Czech side Jablonec, who are a shock second in the table so Villa were not expecting an easy ride, but with Salomon Rondon in the starting line up, you just know that Villa are going to perform.

It was Rondon who got Villa off to a brilliant start in just the forth minute with a crisp left footed drive into the bottom left hand corner. Jablonec though caused Villa problems in the first half as eighteen year old Aston Villa target Rene Klimek fired a couple of great shots in, in which Bernd Leno, who has looked good since signing for The Villans got down well to save. But De Bruyne got the second in the twentieth minute against the run of play.

The second half though was a breeze for The Villans. Rondon scored.............. again, immediately after the restart. It was great play by the impressive Scotsman Ryan Gauld to send Alex Sandro down the left, who whipped in an amazing cross for Rondon to head home. Jablonec still probed though as Travnik, Hubschman and Novak went close but Villa had the Czech side under control. Villa defended well for the last fifteen minutes to make it three out of three in Europe.

Villa then travelled to Stoke for a tricky away game but with Villa playing very, very well they shot out of the blocks and scored both the goals inside 20 minutes. The first was ofcourse by Salomon Rondon again, but this time was from a free kick from all of 25 yards out and it was an absolute stunner.

Villa's second was from a corner and with Niklas Sule playing very well this season, he got the goal that he deserved to give Villa a 2-0 victory.

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Alex Sandro has played well this month for Villa

Aston Villa then went to The Riverside Stadium to play a Middlesbrough side that started the season in the Championship very, very well. Manager Paul McGrath made two changes naming right back Sam Yates, just sixteen years old and nineteen year old Nadir Flippelli in the starting line up an Middlesbrough gave The Villans a good game. Villa took the lead on the eighth minute through a Jason Steele own goal.

Middlesbrough then equalised through Parsyzek but it only lasted two minutes of being level as Rondon scored a 18 yard strike to make it 2-1. Villa had bossed the game but a rare break away for Boro gave Kyle Lafferty a one on one chance and he dispatched it to make it 2-2.

There was then a lull in proceedings and it looked as though we were heading to extra time. McGrath bought on 19 year old defender Mike Liversedge and Brazilian striker Evandro, 17 years old but it was a new signing who produced a bit of magic to win the match for Aston Villa.

Ryan Gauld picked the ball up on the left wing and took on five Boro players and then hit a screaming left footed low drive into the right corner to destroy Middlesbrough confidence and unlucky day for the team from the north east.

Premier League Table

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Manchester United are top of the tree with Spurs a shock second. Swansea, Everton and Cardiff are doing well but Villa are still under performing in eigth place but they are improving and that will please there fans. Q.P.R, who lost there manager this month are bottom along with Southampton and Brentford, but Brentford have started well in the League.

Europa League Group G

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Aston Villa are almost secure in qualification and Jablonec are having a great European adventure in second place and are easily the second best side in the group as things stand.

Player Of The Month

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This was an easy desicion this month, Kevin De Bruyne has been an imposing player this month and with him scoring and setting up goals, Villa fans are finally starting to see the player they paid so much money for.

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Stones Hits Milestone

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When John Stones signed for Aston Villa three and a half season's ago for £21,000,000 some people said it was slightly too much to pay for the English centre back although as we well know, you have to pay big for English internationals and it is something that Aston Villa manager Paul McGrath has done during his time as Villa manager.

But after three and a half season's the English centre back celebrated his 100th appearance in style, by not just scoring twice but getting the Man Of The Match too. It was a wonderful performance by a wonderful player. The Villa players have kicked into gear in the last six or seven games but it is the defence that has improved the most. After the match the media spoke to Stones and this was his response.

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Stones hits 100 appearances for The Villans

It has been a roller-coaster of a ride in this Villa side but we are a together, good bunch of lads who work very, very hard. I am pleased to have put in a great performance for my 100th match for Aston Villa and I look forward to 100 more. I think Kev (Kevin De Bruyne) deserved the Man Of The Match award more than me but oh well.

In John Stones 100 matches for Villa he has scored 23 goals, which included 18 penalties, he has only missed two penalties out of the 20 he has taken for the club.

McGrath: I Could Not Turn The Offer Down

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McGrath has been offered two National jobs

Both France and Holland have approached Aston Villa manager Paul McGrath to become their next head coach.

Both countries have had a torrid time in the European Nations League and both finished last in there respective table's. Lets look at both nations, there best players and there recent history.

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It is France vs Holland for the signature of McGrath

France

France have severely under achieved in the last six years (the entire Didier Deschamps era). There only success was a third placed finish in the last world cup in Russia but with the players that France have they should be doing so much better. There are players like Paul Pogba, Hugo Lloris and Karim Benzema they should be helping the national side play way more better than what they are. France are also rated as the 6th best nation in the world just two places above Rep Ireland in 8th place.

For McGrath, if he decided to take on the France job he would have to install the side to work together rather than just individuals. McGrath does have a good record with strikers though and this would be great with the French fans if they could start scoring freely again though.

Holland

Holland would be a completely different kettle of fish though. If there is anything that Holland lack now it is a world class striker. At the moment in there squad they have Richairo Zivkovic and Ricardo Kishna, who are mediocre to say the least. Holland are well known for world class strikers, Ruud Van Nistleroy, Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robin to name three so the fact they do not have a striker like that makes you think that McGrath would not go for them.

They do have world class midfielders though but with France having Paul Pogba you would think that he will sway more towards the French IF he went for anyone.

McGrath Decides

Aston Villa manager Paul McGrath will combine his time managing Aston Villa by also managing the French international side too. I am so looking forward to working with the French national side, they have so many good players and good up and coming youngsters too. I am aiming to win the European Championships in 2020 and the World Cup in 2022 with this French side aswell as winning trophies with Aston Villa.

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Villa AND France March On

November was a great month for Villa manager Paul McGrath. Not only did his Aston Villa side pick up form but he also landed the French national job and inspired them to a great 4-1 thumping of Portugal in his first game in charge.

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Lets start with Aston Villa though, who played three premier league matches and won two of them but had one disappointing defeat to West Ham. Let's start with the first match of the month against Wigan.

This was the match that Kevin De Bruyne showed just why Aston Villa spent so much money on him. He scored one and set two up as Villa ran out 5-2 victors. John Stones, who had hit a milestone of appearances for The Villans got two goals, Alex Sandro hit one for Villa in the first half too with De Bruyne and Werner also grabbing goals too.

Timo Werner's goal will have been a massive relief to the German, who came into Villa with a big pricetag and it is hoped now that he will be able to kick on from here so the burden is not all on Salomon Rondon to fire the goals in.

Villa then went to Czech Republic to play Jablonec, who had given a good account of themselves at Villa Park. Aston Villa were in no mood to mess around though as Sterling and Rondon got a brace each with John Stones grabbing another goal courtesy of a penalty. The goal of the game though was through Salomon Rondon, he picked up the ball on the half way line and played it to Sterling, who fed it straight to Gauld and instinctively played it over the top for Rondon to have carried on his run and hit a scorching volley into the top right hand corner.

Villa then defeated Cardiff by two goals to nil and yes you guessed it, it was that man Salomon Rondon with two headed goals, one from a corner and one from a Stones free kick.

After the match, the match winner Rondon spoke with Channel 5. It was a great performance by the guys and we are just happy to have got the victory. It does not matter who scores aslong as we win.

Villa then lost a disappointing match against West Ham in what was there only slip up this month as the match against Dinamo Moscow, McGrath played several youngsters who gave a spirited performance but Villa went down by a goal to nil.

Premier League Table

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Tottenham are now ahead of everyone in the Premier League with Man Utd, Chelsea and Man City close behind. Aston Villa move up to 6th this month and Arsenal are the biggest disappointment so far, languishing down in 11th place. Brentford are just above the relegation zone so far this season with Burnley, Fulham and Q.P.R bottom as we start the hectic month of December.

Villa Player Of The Month

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Kevin De Bruyne is the guy that gets the award this month. The Belgian a mega bucks signing from Barcelona has been instrumental on the wing this month to get Villa back on track. I think the decision to give the award to him comes from the Cardiff match when he had 100% crossing and 97% passing completion and he also made on goal line clearance to make sure that Villa kept a clean sheet.

December Look

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Aston Villa have a very busy December but it is this cluster of matches that will make or break there season. Everton at home in the Premier League is a match that Villa must win if they are going to try to win the Premier League.

Then Anderlecht in the Europa League will be a pivotal match as Villa will look to keep the momentum going so they can be prepared for the trip to Old Trafford and the chance to play against Jack Grealish, who moved to Manchester United last season and again it is a match that Villa will have to win if they are to have a chance at the title this season.

Villa then will play Everton again for the second time in a month in the Capital One Cup Quarter Final and this is a cup the has been targeted by Villa manager Paul McGrath and finally the match against Arsenal, who are underperforming could put Villa right up there come the end of the month.