Villa: From The Dumps To The Brink Of Greatness

New Signing In Stands As Bendtner Sinks Swans

Former Evertonian Brendon Galloway Signs For Villa

On the day Niklas Bendtner announced his return to English football on the back of a brace in the F.A Cup third round, Aston Villa had already snapped up there fifth and reportedly final signing Brendon Galloway from Everton.

Galloway, 19, was a product of MK Dons youth system and moved to Everton two season's ago for £1,300,000 after becoming MK Dons youth every player at 16 years old to play in the first team. He then played 10 times for Everton over two season's before Villa signed him for £7,500,000.

There was reported interested from Manchester United and Liverpool but both sides thought that Everton would not want to sell so Villa swooped and got him on a three year, £28,000 per week deal and can not wait to challenge to start for the club.

Obviously I believe that I will get more chances here and also because I can play left back, Centre back and in midfield, I believe that I will just get better and better and maybe even challenge for the England squad.

Aston Villa have certainly raised some eyebrows in aquiring a player of Galloways potential and with the side in the upper reaches of the league so far this season, the question is can they keep it up?


Guzan Departs to Watford for £3,500,000

In other news keeper Brad Guzan completed his £3,500,000 , move to Watford today too. The American stopper found himself third choice behind Warner Hahn and Mark Bunn this season so jumped at the chance to stay in the premier league.

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Villa: From The Dumps To The Brink Of Greatness

Five-Star Villa Triumph Over Poor Red Devils

So allow me if I may to set the scene for you here, Aston Villa, lying 5th taking on Man Utd, lying 4th in a top of the table clash. Villa naming Galloway as a centre back to partner the ever present Dendonker, Carroll replaces Vertout and Bacuna replacing Dembele as Gerrard made changes from the 3-1 drubbing to Chelsea.

Manchester United naming Rooney to play up front on his own and former Villan Ashley Young as a right winger.


Young start against former club

Now you would expect that even though Villa are up in the top reaches of the Premier League that United woud just have too much for the Midlanders and usually you would be right, except for this time.

Manager Steven Gerrard had obviously done his homework and named two upfront in Ayew and the impressive Gayle who were supported by Grealish and Traore superbly too I must say. Not many sides in the world can restrict Man United to zero shots on goal in the first half but Villa not only did this, they scored two of there own too.

The first by Jack Grealish was a stunner that not many keepers would have got close too, Traore gathered a loose ball and played it back to Carroll, who looked very assured as he tries to engineer a move to Villa Park. Well he spotted Gayle in what looked like 45 yards of space and he delivered a pinpoint ball to the in form forward to with one touch squared it to Grealish to hit s superb curling shot into the top right hand corner and send Villa fans doolally.

The second though was a messy goal which was gifted to Villa by shaky defending by United. Schweinsteger gave away a corner after trying a awful pass back, the corner, taken by Traore was only half cleared by Blind but hit Smalling in the back and the ball fell to Gayle who must have thought all his Christmas's and Birthday's had come at once as he tapped in for the most comical goal I think he will ever score.

Villa, though carried on this direct attacking play and Carroll should have had a penalty in the 39th minute when Gayle, who was central to absolutely everything that Villa were doing played a delightful through ball to the marauding midfielder who was cynically bought down by Smalling, only for referee Kevin Friend to say no penalty despite 41,000 fans screaming for penalty too.

If you think Villa would have tired in the second half, you were most definitely wrong, the carried on the great work and Vertout, who was introuced at half time for Carroll, who picked up a knock in the first half. Anyway Vertout went very, very close on the 48th minute when hit skimmed the post with a low drive. United then had there first chance through Rooney but his shot nearly hit the corner flag and it was the cameraman who got hit rather than the net!


Grealish hits two against Man Utd

Villa got there third goal in the 54th minute though when Grealish beat the offside trap and rounded De Gea to make it 3-0 and the chant of Rooney is a fat **** was being sung by United fans as they turned on there own team, Villa were not finished yet as sub Scott Sinclair came off the bench to smash home a left footed volley after great work by another sub Rudy Gestede to hold the ball up and tee up the Englishman.

Finally in the 85th minute Winger Adama Traore scored a solo goal after taking on three defenders and chipping the keeper to give Villa a resounding 5-0 victory.


Fans have taken there frustration out on Rooney this season

The result moves Villa up to third in the table and although United are fifth, Louis Van Gaal would not comment on his future Will you still have a job tomorrow asked a reported, there was no reply he just stood up and left.

Villa play Charlton in the F.A Cup next at Villa Park and United host bitter rivals Leeds at Old Trafford.

Villa: From The Dumps To The Brink Of Greatness

Villa Sign Hull Utility Man As Four Leave On Loan

Aston Villa today announced there last signing of the January transfer window as Hull utility man Ahmed Elmohamedy signed for £2,700,000. It is obvious to see that manager Steven Gerrard was looking for specific players this window as Elmohamedy joins Douglas (£1.8m from Barcelona), Bendtner (£625k from Wolfsburg), Vlaar (free transfer), Dembele (£4.9m from Tottenham) and Galloway (£7.5m from Everton).

Elmohamedy is being seen as a shock signing by Villa manager Steven Gerrard but when you look at his stats in the Championship this season you can see why he thought that the Egyptian would be a good fit Villa Park. He has had a good season with Hull and was a lot cheaper than some of the other options. He can play anywhere on the right and is a good crosser of the ball which as we have found out, is Villa's strong area this season.

Ahmed Elmohamedy is a club icon at ENPPI and he is a well-known name for football fans across Africa and Europe. Having made his Egypt debut against Ivory Coast in August 2007, he has gone onto make 75 appearances for Egypt and he has scored 3 goals so far for his country.

He started his career at Ghazi El-Mahalia in 2004/05, making just 17 appearances, scoring 4 goals for the club. In July 2006 he joined ENPPI Club for £500,000 and made 72 league appearances, scoring 13 goals. During this time he also spent tie on loan at Sunderland, making 36 league appearances.

He then made the move to Sunderland permanent, signing a deal worth £2,000,000, where he made 56 league appearances and scored one goal. During this time he also spent time on loan at Hull City, making 41 league appearances, scoring 3 goals. In May 2013, he made the moveto Hull City permanent for £2,000,000 and went on to make 135 league appearances and scored 7 goals

Elmohamedy has won the African Cup Of Nations twice in 2008 and 2010.

Villa also got four players out on loan, Alan Hutton moves to Middlesboro for the rest of the season. Hutton had fell behind Bacuna, Richards and Elmohamedy so has moved to get more first team football.


Hutton leaves on loan

Kevin Nolan also moves to get more first team action, he has rejoined Bolton for the rest of the season and there fans are going to be ecstatic to get him back even if it is for the season.

Idrissa Gueye has moved to Manchester City on loan for the rest of the season in what seems to be a more baffling move but when you look at it, you can see why. Man City, who are in desperate injury crisis new that they had to act when Gueye become available.

Lastly attacking midfielder Carles Gil joins Borussia Mönchengladbach for the rest of the season, they have an option on a £4m move at the end of the season also.

Villa: From The Dumps To The Brink Of Greatness

Great Month For The Villans

Aston Villa had quite a up and down month in January, losing twice but winning three times in the month. Villa with new signings a plenty were always going to have to gel quickly but at times it didn't happen until suddenly it clicked in the matches against Manchester United and Charlton in the F.A Cup Forth Round.



So the first match in January was against a Watford side who were playing well but then so were Villa, hitting 15 goals in there last four matches, but the tide was turned this time as Watford ran out comfortable winners.

Troy Deeney got things under way in the 11th minute after great work on the left by Jose Holebas, who whipped in a cross of the highest quality for Deeney to beat Clark in the air and head a bullet header to make it 1-0 that Hahn had no chance with.


Troy Deeney was the match winner for Watford

If you think Watford's first was gret, there second was spectacular and Holebas was key to the move again as he played a wonderful 40 yard cross field ball to Deeney, who then with two touches laid the ball off to Cathcart, who smacked it first time into the net for a Real Madridesque move to make it 2-0 to Watford. They found it very comfortable for the whole match and Villa had a poor day at the office.

Aston Villa then needed to bounce back straight away in the F.A Cup 3rd Round against Swansea, a match that Niklas Bendtner started his first match for his new side and was actually the match winner, bagging a brace to defeat the Swans 3-1. It was Swansea who took the lead in the 33rd minute after Jack Cork ran onto a lovely weighted ball from Sigurossen and rounded Hahn to slot home and make it 1-0. Swansea should have made it two just minutes later after a sloppy back-pass by Ron Vlaar but Ayew couldn't capitalise.


Bendtner scored two goals in the 3-1 win and worked hard!

Just before half time however, Villa got an equaliser through Bendtner, on his debut and this goal was all about Veretout, who took on two players before he nutmeg Fernandez for the run of Bendtner (yes I said run!) and he slid it under the body of the on rushing Hahn to make it 1-1 just before half time.

Villa started the second half a lot more brighter than Swansea with Dembele going close after some good play by Bendtner again, and he got his reward in the 64th minute with a crisp headed goal to make it 2-1 and put Villa in control and they also controlled the match after that with shot after shot and were actually very wasteful so when Deeney broke the offside trap int he 80th minute it looked like Watford would salvage a point but his shot was very tame.

Then 8 minutes later it was game over as Sinclair drifted a cross over from the right and Gestede headed the third goal to give Villa a 4th round tie against Charlton.

On the back of there F.A Cup win, Villa traveled to Chelsea full of confidence but manager Steven Gerrard made a fatal mistake of trying to be too conservative and Chelsea took full advantage and within 8 minutes they were 2-0 up as Oscar and Pedro hit free kicks to give Chelsea an early 2-0 lead.

Villa did not learn though and Chelsea carried on threatening with Hazard and Costa going close as Villa continued to just efend too much. Diego Costa actually got his reward in the 31st minute when he broke the offside trap and chipped Hahn in the Villa goal to make it 3-0 and Villa were lucky to hold on until half time.

Dwight Gayle did get a consolation goal in the second but it was not enough and Villa will have to go and have a think about what they did wrong.

Aston Villa then smashed Manchester United, which was reported on before, then Villa played Charlton, which was a bit of a non game as Villa smashed four past The Addicks with Sinclair, Traore(x2) and Gayle hitting the goals to hand Villa a fifth round tie.

Gerrard's Thoughts

Wow, the result against Man Utd was absolutely amazing. We had a bad result against Chelsea and bounced back with the 5-0 victory against United. We hit a couple of road bumps but it all came right and we are still up there with a shot at the title. We have hit the 40 point barrier and that was the main aim first, now we can look up rather than worry about the relegation zone.

Premier League Table

Man City are still top by three points, with Chelsea trying to hunt them down in second and Spurs and Villa just behind.

Watford and Bournemouth are still having solid seasons along with Norwich with all three in mid table.

Stoke, Leicester and Everton are still in the relegation zone but Stoke look like there on there way down to the Championship.

Villa Player Of The Month

Jordan Amavi was the man this month! The left back bombed up and down the wing, making key interceptions and awesome crosses to assist with four goals this month but it is his work rate that stands out for us and we are sure it is going to continue.

Villa: From The Dumps To The Brink Of Greatness

Up & Down Month For The Villans

Well it was ill discipline that was Aston Villas downfall this month with two sending's off, one in the first game and one in the last game of the month. Villa had five matches this month against in order Liverpool, Spurs, Sunderland, Sheffield United (F.A. Cup) and West Ham United.

Villa were riding high at the start of the month and with all the optimism they went to Anfield full of confidence, unfortunately though the game started very poorly because Micah Richards stupidly got himself sent off for a silly challenge on Roberto Firminio which could have ended the attacking midfielder's career and quite rightly referee Neil Swarbrick immediately sent off the defender.



That put Villa on the back foot and gave Daniel Sturridge the chance to be the best player on the pitch by scoring four goals an the second goal was just sublime as Vangioli skinned two players and then played the most tastiest, teasing cross you will see for Sturridge to bicycle kick home for 2-0 after Sturridge had headed Livpool infront.


Richards was sent off in the match vs Liverpool

You would have hoped for some improvement by Aston Villa after half time, Gerrard had bought on Bendtner and Sinclair but to no avail as Sturridge made sure he was going home with the match ball be smashing home his hattrick on 57 minutes, this was followed by a Adam Lallana goal five minutes later and Sturridge then grabbed his forth and Liverpool's fifth to finish Villa off and give them a 5-0 rout.

For the match against Spurs Vila boss Stevie G made three changes, Clark in for the suspended Richards, Elmohamedy in for Traore and Gestede to partner Gayle up front. It proved a inspired choice by Gerrard as it was indeed a Gestede brace that gave Villa the victory and it was new signing Elmohamedy supplied both crosses for the goals, both from headers ofcourse. Whenever there was a dangerous cross Gestede was there to produce wonderful efforts.


Gestede hit two in the 2-1 victory against Sunderland

Next up was a trip up north to The Stadium Of Light as Aston Villa entertained Sunderland and Gerrard preferred Niklas Bendtner to Dwight Gayle but there was one goal this match and it was against the run of play as Villan winger Ahmed Elmohamedy, a £2,700,000 signing from Hull drifted inside and the gap opened up for him around 20 yards out and he struck a sweet left footed shot into the bottom right hand corner off the post. Sunderland tried to find a equaliser but this time they couldn't find the way through and Villa earn't a hard fought 1-0 win.

Villa then hosted Sheffield United at Villa Park and this time they wasted no time taking the lead as Gayle steamed through onto a ball played by Traore to round the keeper and slot home for a early lead. The Blades were not going to be overawed though and just three minutes later centre forward Conner Sammon hit the post with Hahn beaten.

Villa then took control and in the 32nd minute, got goal number two as Traore picked the ball u on the half way line, played a neat one two with Tom Carroll and the nut megged a defender to drive home from 18 yards out and make it 2-0.

The second half was end to end and Villa were made to wait all the way to the 74th minute for Sinclair to score a header from a Carroll corner and it was indeed Carroll who supplied Sinclair with his second of the game and gave Villa a sixth round tie against either Huddersfield or Bolton. It was the debut however of the midfielder Callum O'Hare that caught the eye, claiming the man of the match award.

Villa then kept the youngster in the starting line up for the match against West Ham, but this was an ugly match with Villa and West Ham having numerous bookings and West Ham held a 2-0 lead at half time with Antonio and Valencia scoring for the visitors.

When Gayle got one back for Villa, the fans believed they were back in the game but that changed when O'Hare, who was amazing in the F.A. Cup got sent off and Villa ended up defending but ultimately lost 2-1.

Premier League Table

Man City and Chelsea are now joint top but City lead by just four goals, Arsenal and Spurs occupy the final two Champions League spots at the moment with Man Utd, Liverpool and Villa literally right behind.

Stoke are fifteen points off safety at the moment and looked doomed, just like Leicester who are nine points off Sunderland and Everton who both look in trouble, Watford, Bournemouth and Norwich are still doing well.

VillaPlayer Of The Month

Ahmed Elmohamedy has had a great start to his Villa career. Not only has he settled in quickly, he is pushing Traore for his place and had set 3 up and scored one this month.