Busy Month For McGrath!

It has been one hell of a month for Aston Villa & France manager Paul McGrath after Villa losing on Pens to Arsenal in the Capital One Cup final it was imperative that Villa won all there matches in the rest of the month.

It hasn't turned out like that though as Villa had a mixed bag and France suffered a shock defeat, so lets look at the month that concluded after the cup final defeat.



We start in London and the match against Queens Park Rangers which should have been a easy victory for Aston Villa, it was not though as Q.P.R actually played fantastically well and dominated the whole match. Even Zahavi scored the only goal of the game at Crouch Arena to condemn Villa to what must have been a morale destroying defeat.


Even Zahavi scored the only goal of the match as Q.P.R defeated Aston Villa

After Q.P.R had beaten The Villans, Villa had a very important F.A Cup Quarter Final to play against Stoke at Villa Park and it was a former player in Andi Weimann that seemed to have put the nail in the coffin at half time. Stoke were 2-0 up and cruising but McGrath always seems to get the best out of his players eventually and when Jovic hit a stunning 25 yard strike in the comeback looked on.

Raheem Sterling, who had been poor in the last few matches got the equaliser on the 65th minute with a tap in after a lovely Villa move. Villa were all over Stoke after that and when Sterling bagged his second goal, Villa had completed the great escape to book another Wembley Semi Final under Paul Mcgrath.

Villa then travelled to Italy to play Lazio and the fans at home and in the ground were treated to a complete delight of a game as Villa ran out 6-3 victors! Two goals from Rondon and Jovic along with goals from Sterling and Grealish gave Villa SIX away goals to work with in the second leg.


Ryan Gauld scores the equaliser in the Stoke match

They then went back to Villa Park to play Stoke again and yet again fans were treated to a fantastic match were Villa and Stoke drew 3-3. An own goal by Jordan Ayew and also one from Jack Butland helped Villa rescue a draw with Scottish midfielder Ryan Gauld got Villa's third goal but Stoke also got three and deserved there draw.

Villa then hosted Lazio in the second leg of the Europa League with a 6-3 aggregate lead and with Sterling scoring another brace this month making it five in four games gave Villa a 2-1 victory an a 8-4 aggregate victory.

That win gave Villa a Quarter final tie against Spanish giants Real Madrid. We could have had a easier task but we still think we can win this competition and just means we will need our 'A' game said Villa captain Salomon Rondon.


Salomon Rondon speaks out about the Europa League draw

Villa then were up against Wigan and raced into a 3-0 lead through James McCarthy Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish but Wigan pulled it back level. Villa were not to lose ground at the top though as Luka Jovic popped up in the 79th minute to give Villa the victory.

League Table

Man Utd are still top by three points with Man City and Spurs just behind. Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa are still in the hunt along with Stoke, who are surprising everyone so far. Brentford, Fulham and Cardiff are in the bottom three but Burnley, Wigan and Everton are also in danger.

Villa Player Of The Month

Raheem Sterling has had a phenomenal month this month. The attacking midfielder has been all over the park this month and scored six times. He was not even challenged for the award.

France News

Manager Paul McGrath had a mixed international break, Remy Cabella was called up due to injury. Karim Benzema got France going in just the third minute with a great low drive. Antoine Griezmann the got France's second just before half time to make it 2-0.



Georgia got one back early in the second half but Clement Grenier an Paul Greorges-Ntep got one each as France ran out comfortable 4-1 winners but midfield superstar Paul Pogba got injured and this allowed Turkey to grab a 1-0 win.

European Qualifiers Table

Turkey are the early leaders with Slovakia in second. Slovenia and France are the only other two sides that are likely to challenge, it is going to be a tight group.

F.A Cup Semi Final Preview

Aston Villa and Chelsea face off against each other for the 14th time in just four and a half years and we interviewed Jose Mourinho (impersinated by TaT!) prior to the match. Chelsea have the best record of any side against Paul McGrath and Mourinho made sure the reporters new this.


Mourinho is interviewed

Reporter: So Jose your Chelsea side has scored a huge 35 goals in just 14 matches against Paul McGrath and his Villa side which is the most of any side Villa have faced.Why is this and what is your secret?

Mourinho: Secret? It is no secret that Aston Villa cannot handle our style of play - we outshine their defence every time, and 35 goals is a pittance compared to what we could...and should, have scored

Reporter: This is the SIXTH time you will have played Villa in a cup Semi Final but this season Villa defeated you in the Capital One Cup Semi Final. Have they finally worked out how to beat you or was it fluke and will you employ an surprises for this match?

Mourinho: I don't think we need to worry about Surprises...we are fully prepared, and one win out of 5 games already played doesn't make McGrath's team demigods, merely lucky

Reporter: You have gone on record stating that you wished that you had signed Salomon Rondon before Villa did but they got there first. How do you stop a player like him who scores every game and what are your views on Oliver leaving your side as Villa chairman Mario Plattner went to your chairman and did the deal without you knowing?

Mourinho: Rondon is a great player, and indeed he is hard to stop, but i'm confident in my defence and their ability to contain him this time around...Oliver's departure is not something I want to discuss at this time - he has marked his card by agreeing the deal, just as much as the chairman marked his by going behind my back...there's not much a manager can do in that situation, so we just have to continue to move forwards.

It was at that point that Jose Mourinho had obviously had enough and got up and left. It was quite an insight into the thinking behind the great man as Aston Villa got used the the London side's tactic's in the last match they played against each other, the 3-1 victory when Salomon Rondon and Raheem Sterling ripped Chelsea apart.

This match is going to be important for Villa as they come into it on the back of the 2-2 draw against Real Madrid in the Europa League Quarter final and before that, they had demolished Newcastle by five goals to one.

Aston Villa and Chelsea are in good form and there is little to choose between the sides, I think this will go all the way to penalties..........again.

Plattner: Beat Real Madrid Or Lose Your Job

The build up for the Aston Villa vs Real Madrid match was cranked up this week as Villa billionaire chairman Mario Plattner told McGrath win or lose your job!


Timo Werner could be chucked out of Villa Park in the summer

It is understood that during a crisis meeting with the two, McGrath said that he wants to clear the squad of deadwood such as Gino Peruzzi, Timo Werner, Fabian Delph and Niklas Sule to allow an influx of hungry players like Oliver, who is already signed and the likes of Remy Cabella and possibly Samuel Umtiti.


Could McGrath being French Head Coach be enough to entice Umtiti to Villa Park in the summer?

It is understood that Plattner will fund McGrath for one more attempt next season aslong as he clears Real Madrid to reach the Semi Final of the Europa League.

That will be no easy task against the side that has just won La Liga but captain Salomon Rondon claims the squad needs to repay the faith that McGrath has shown them, we have a great squad that are not performing and although it is the manager that ends up getting fired, we do not want him to be so it is up to us to show the Chairman that we want him here.

The match is on Wednesday at 19:45 and is live on BBC1 and Eurosport.

Aston Villa vs Real Madrid

Hughes took off in the 80th minute

80th Minute All Real Madrid have to do now is see out the remaining ten minutes. They are 3-1 up on the night and 5-3 up on aggregate as it looks like Paul McGrath will be fired after this match. He now throws on Timo Werner for Will Hughes as he looks for some way back into the match.

82nd Minute Here is Ronaldo on the ball as Madrid attack again, he see's Rodriguez to his left..... But has took on Stones instead, now squares it across................... Rodriguez has scored.........No he hasn't it is offside and Villa live to fight another day.


How did Rondon miss

84th Minute Rondon, to Werner, back to Rondon, that was excellent play as Rondon plays in Wilshere, who knocks it past Umtiti........... Rondonnnnnnnnnnnn........... HOW DID HE MISS and that looks it for Villa!

88th Minute Chambers with the throw to Rondon, who chests it back to Chambers, great cross field ball to the running Sandro, who first time plays it to De Bruyne........ WOOOOOOOW What a strike by the Belgian, into the top right corner and now the stadium feels all tense as Villa throw the kitchen sink at Madrid and now only need one goal to go through!

90th Minute Villa are pressing ahead again here and it is Chambers again..... Hes got past both Umtiti and Ronaldo, crosses the ball in........... Wilshere with a poor header but it goes to Werner, who chests it down......................GOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. That was incredible by De Bruyne again! he hit a first time volley into the top right corner again and Villa have snatched the win from under the noses of Madrid in Spain........... UNREAL!


Could De Bruyne have kept McGrath in a Job?

92nd Minute That is it, thats the full time whistle and Villa and McGrath move into the Europa League Semi Final and could this finally be Villa's year!

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Villa In Trouble?

Aston Villa's form (except the Madrid and Newcastle results) has took an alarming drop this month and actually put Manager Paul McGrath's job on the line but when it mattered, Villan's players stood up and was counted, but Villa did lose in the F.A Cup Semi Final.



The month started with a very poor goalless draw against Cardiff City. The players looked completely and utterly useless causing Paul McGrath to let rip at his players and promising Villa's loyal fans changes in the Summer.


Noble nets both for West Ham in victory against Villa

They then entertained West Ham at home but two goals from Mark Noble in the first half gave West Ham an unlikeliest of victory. Ryan Gauld got a consolation goal but that was all it was and the fans, for the first time in a long time were BOO'ED off. Well we deserved to be booed off and it is now down to us to hit back and find our form, we are a good side but we need to start proving this now said manager Paul McGrath


Rondon scores a quick Hattrick against Magpies

They did respond however with a performance that the fans had become accustomed to, when they travelled to Newcastle to teach them a footballing lesson. It took until the second half for the goals to come for Villa though after the Magpies led through a Theo Walcott goal at half time, but this time Villa were the dominant force. Salomon Rondon, who amazingly was starting to be questioned smashed a hattrick in 14 minutes, all headers from corners. Ryan Gauld and Raheem Sterling also scored as Villa bounced back to record a much needed win.

The Real Madrid matches have been spoke about a little bit but there really was nothing to chose between them other than Kevin De Bruyne. The midfielder got two goals in the last two minutes to give Villa another Cup Semi Final against German side Stuttgart.

Aston Villa lost yet another Semi Final to Chelsea but this was a much tighter affair with Diego Costa scoring the winner late on after a Callum Chambers error gifted Chelsea a win and it was just about deserved for the London side at Wembley. I will be honest and say that we was quite lucky to get the victory today and although I tell everyone that I hate Paul (McGrath) but he is actually a nice guy and I really hope that Villa go on to lift the Europa League said Jose Mourinho.


Diego Costa sent Chelsea into the F.A Cup final

Villa then finished the month with a 2-1 defeat against Everton. Villa started well with a Coleman o.g. looking like Villa would win but they let it slip again and Villa were left to wonder what if.

League Table

Tottenham are closing in on Man Utd although United have a game in hand. Aston Villa, with a game in hand must win if they are to have any chance of getting into forth place.

Fulham, Burnley and Cardiff are in the relegation zone and still Brentford are defying the odds and currently staying up and Wigan are also trying there best to stay up too.

Villa Player Of The Month

This is a difficult one as we have been shit! I will go for De Bruyne for the special effort of keeping Aston Villa in the Europa League.