Merson: Most Promising Villa Have Been Since O'Neill Reign

Merson is impressed with Villa this season

Ex Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson decided to move to BT Sport in the wake of the Sky Sports demise and the Ex Villa man had a lot of good things to say in respect to Aston Villa and Paul McGrath.

They (Aston Villa) have really impressed me this season speaking just after losing to Leicester, I remember when I played there and we were an attacking outfit with players like Dwight (Yorke), Dean (Saunders) and Gareth (Barry) and although sometimes we lost very heavily, we also new how to find the back of the net.

Now I look at players like Gabby and Luc upfront and think next season they COULD become brilliant together because this season they already have 23 goals between them and that is a great platform as since Christian (Benteke) left they are still getting used to life together.

Gabby Agbonlahor is being tipped for a England return by Merson too. He has in my view been one of the stand out players this season as far as England Internationals go. He was last called up to the squad in 2011 but his last appearance was back in 2009 but I am tipping him for a return even if it is six years since his last appearance.


Rotariu is moving to Villa at end of the season

The midfield is the exciting part for me as we got the news that Nabil Benteleb and Tom Cleverley have signed for the club now and with Dorin (Rotariu) also coming in you feel that McGrath is 2 or 3 signings away from a great side. It does not matter that they have had a lot of bad defeats because they have also had some amazing matches against the 'top 5' so it will be interesting to see what develops at the end of the season with the club for sale saga too.

Monthly Report

In yet another topsy-turvy month for the Villans' they won the match they should have lost and lost the two matches they should have won. The first match was against Crystal Palace and in a match that they had 20 shots on goal, Palace had the better chances and even missed a penalty on the 51st minute when Vlaar had handballed. Palace though were already ahead through Bolasie on the 10th minute.

McGrath apparently kept his side in the changing room for 45 minutes and there was a lot of shouting and throwing things and it must have worked because then Villa lined up against Arsenal to devastating effect.


Aly Cissokho scores the penalty

Cissokho scored a panalty after Agbonlahor was fouled in the box and then 3 minutes later the impressing Agbonlahor scored a runaway counter attacking goal. Giroud got one back on the 47th minute but Weimann, who has been asking for a first team run finished the job off for an impressive 3-1 victory.

If the Arsenal result was awesome then the Q.P.R result really wasn't even though it started off so well for the Villans with Benteleb scoring in the 8th minute but that was about it for the Villans as Q.P.R, against the side with the most goals conceded all season smashed 5 past them and only Castaignos could get a consolation goal but Q.P.R had destroyed the Midlanders.

Premier League Table

Chelsea are still top of the league with Man Utd 6 points behind and Man City and Everton fighting it out for 3rd and 4th place. A realistic position for Aston Villa could be 8th but there goal difference sucks, however they are now mathematically save from relegation. Sunderland and Burnley are almost down and it does not look good for Crystal Palace either.

Villa Player Of The Month

Gabby Agbonlahor has had a fantastic month despite the drubbing at the hands of Q.P.R and he works very tirelessly for the club and hit 300 appearances too so deserves his award.

Two More Sign Contract Extensions For Villa

Weimann & N'Zogbia sign contract extensions

At the end of the penultimate month in the Premier League two more Villa stars have put pen to paper in new contracts.

The first is forward Andi Weimann, who this season had threatened to leave but got used to the way that manager Paul McGrath did things to go on and make 20 appearances this season and has scored eight goals this term too, also assisting with 5 goals too. The Austrian forward is very happy at signing the new £25,500 a week 3 year deal. There was some confusing when Paul (McGrath) joined the club but it was all a misunderstanding and I can not wait until next season now so bring it on said Weimann.

The second contract to be signed was Frenchman Charles N'Zogbia. The 28 year old also signed a 3 year £51,000 a week deal, the attacking midfielder did not play once under Paul Lambert last season but has been rejuvenated this season appearing 25 times and aiding his side with 5 goals and three assists and Paul McGrath can not wait to use him more next season.

I can not wait to use him a bit more next season, I have loads of ideas for next season, I will have transfer funds available and I will really try to push this side on next season


Last month's results

The month went better than last month too. Three matches, one win, one draw and one defeat but the main talking point was dropping Brad Guzan for the match against Man city in favour of young keeper Jed Steer.

Steer who was signed two seasons ago from Norwich for £450,000 finally got a chance to show his worth and performed amazingly well in the 1-1 draw with Man city were Gabby Agbonlahor carried on his great season by hitting a equaliser with the last kick of the game.

Only match villa won was against Southampton 3-1, where Weimann, Agbonlahor and Delph scored to dispose of Southampton.

Premier League Table

Amazingly Chelsea have thrown away a 6 point lead and Man Utd are now in the driving seat for the title, Spurs and Everton look to have the top 4 spots.

Villa should be on course to finish in or around the top 10 and Burnley, Palace and Sunderland are the teams that are about to be relegated.

Player Of The Month

Gabby Agbonlahor scored two again this month and wins the award again for second month running and I can not wait to see if he can reach 20 goals for the season.

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Lerner: Paul WILL be backed!

Lerner still wants to sell up but has promised McGrath will get funds

With every good manager, there should be a good chairman behind him and that is what all Aston Villa fans are wondering with Villa Chairman Randy Lerner. He has the club up for sale, gave McGrath no money to spend and only gave him £5,000,000 of the £25,000,000 the club recieved for the sale of Christian Benteke but today he issued an apoligy and explained his reasoning behind the decision.


Paul McGrath has impressed this season as manager of Villa

When I hired Paul McGrath, I new he was known as 'GOD' to the Villa fans. I had personally looked him up myself because I wanted someone with the Aston Villa background to come in and try to change the fortunes of this club. He has now proven himself and although he has had some shocking defeats I think it is time I gave him some money to spend this summer to try and move us up the table even further.

This is a great club and I will be proud to say I owned it but I won't get it sold if we can not show we are moving forward so McGrathh can expect a substantial transfer budget but only if he is willing to keep the buying youth policy which he has done so well. We can properly confirm that Van Der Wiel will be joining us for £2,500,000, Benteleb will be joining for £10,000,000 with the possibility it will go upto £12,000,000 and Tom Cleverley will also be staying as we have exercised our £4,500,000 option. Mike Van Der Hoorn, however is proving a bit more difficult because Paul wants him to stay but Ajax want £19,000,000 for him and that is ridiculously overpriced so we will most probably return.


Cleverley, joins Van Der Wiel & Benteleb at Villa Park permanently

I am still looking to sell the club but will only sell if the new owners promise to keep McGrath at the club.

After the press conference in South Carolina there was mixed opinions with Aston Villa fans who are genuinely hoping that McGrath will get his funds that he has been promised. The players that Paul McGrath may well be going for are the likes of Nathanial Chalobah at Chelsea.


Richardson is on his way out of Villa Park

The twenty year old has been watched by Paul McGrath atleast half a dozen times this season and is said to be very impressed with the youngster who could well replace Kieren Richardson who is on his way to either Burnley or Queens Park Rangers. It is thought Chelsea will want around £7,500,000 but that has not put off McGrath. He is a very talented individual and I will make it happen if Chelsea want it to happen.

It is reported that McGrath wants a keeper, left back and centre back too in the summer.

It was thought that McGrath was happy with Brad Guzan but Villa, this season have let in the most of any side so it is thought he will look to either Red Star Belgrade stopper Pedrag Rajkovic or Athletic Bilboa Spanish keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.


Belgrade stopper Pedrag Rajkovic could make a move to England

Both keepers are fantastic young prospects, with McGrath definately going to sign one of these amazing talents.

At centre back it is realised that Joseph Yobo and Phillipe Senderos are leaving so it is looking like McGrath will look toward Lloyd Jones from Liverpool and is understood to be ready to test the resolve with a £3,000,000 bid. McGrath has also sent scouts to look at Boca central defender Juan Cruz Komar and also Roma's Italian defender Alessio Romagnoli.

The Italian defender could be on course for a £5,500,000 move and with the work permit situation seems like the better option that Komar.


Romanian under 21 international Nicolae Vasile could also join Aston Villa along with Dorin Rotariu in the near future

In the left back department it is understood that Paul McGrath wants competition for Aly Cissokho so he has been watching Rapid Bucharest's Romanian under 21 international Nicolae Vasile. He has had a awesome season this season and with the scouts going He could well join fellow Romanian Dorin Rotariu in the near future.