The Lions of Aston Villa - Becoming King of the Jungle Once More....

going good mate! Keep up the great work

150th reply

2012-12-18 14:39#72835 LfcLandoUk : Do you fancy posting a screenshot of your your tactics, I'm Villa and can't seem to get the team to work. Thanks

I'll put it up in my next update later tonight mate....

I do a 4-2-4 with defensive midfielders. N'Zogbia plays on the right wing as IF as he cuts on his left well and play Benteke as TM with Bent an AF. Bent gets on all Benteke's flicks.

I trained Ciaran Clark at LB and he's been brilliant.

Sold some players at the start to get funds and got Raul Albiol to partner Vlaar at the back - they're both rock solid and amazing at corners. Vlaar has 6 this season and Albiol has four.

Glenn.... I wouldn't accept that but the board might!!

Atreidas... Thank you sir for your comments and congratulations on the 150th reply!!

I'll have another update later - been flat out working at the minute so haven't got playing as much as I'd like!!

Keep the Irish influence Jason

2012-12-18 17:39#72856 The FM Rookie : Keep the Irish influence Jason

Haha definitely - wish there were more decent players from up here to include in the squad!

THE CUP GAMES KEEP COMING...

Villa lose 3-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates before a run of four straight cup games. Thomas Vermaelen, Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott do the damage.

RUBIN KAZAN 0-1 ASTON VILLA

Villa take the trip to Russia and are bombarded by Rubin before a breakaway move from Neal Eardley - the Welsh international finds Charles N'Zogbia who slots through for Benteke and the big Belgian rattles the ball in to the roof of the net.



ASTON VILLA 1-0 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

In Jason Connolly's 100th game at Villa, a goal from Karim Ait Fana is enough to secure safe passage through to the Quarter Finals of the F.A. Cup.

Villa are drawn away to Liverpool in the last eight.

Rubin Kazan visit Villa Park in the Europa League next, with the Russians hoping to overturn a slender first leg deficit... What followed however, was one of the finest performances in Aston Villa history.



"I'm literally speechless, I know this is a special group of players but they were out of this world tonight. There are plenty of people who maybe didn't take us seriously enough in European football but I think we've made a lot of doubters take notice."
Jason Connolly

EUROPA LEAGUE QUARTER FINAL DRAW



If Villa can knock out Arsenal, there is potential for a Midlands derby in the Semi Final, as they will take on either Wolves or Wolfsburg.

Villa play Liverpool in the F.A. Cup sixth round next.

Congrats on 100 games!

2012-12-18 19:44#72878 The FM Rookie : Congrats on 100 games!

Thanks...

I just noticed that bit says under pressure manager lol

Job Status: Very secure..

Two Capital One Cups, 3rd in the league and in FA Cup and Europa QF's - I should be getting a statue at Villa Park!

THICK AND FAST

The games keep coming and Villa's squad starts to deplete with Victor Wanyama breaking an ankle and Karim Ait Fana struggling with a thigh strain.

LIVERPOOL 1-1 VILLA

The F.A. Cup tie at Anfield ends in a draw to force a replay - something Villa don't need at this point.

Luis Suarez opened the scoring but a Cristian Tello free kick levelled things 10 minutes from time.

MANCHESTER UNITED 3-0 VILLA

The league leaders humble Villa at Old Trafford thanks to a Wayne Rooney hat trick.

VILLA 2-1 EVERTON

Seamus Coleman headed Everton in front as Villa struggled to get forward. It looked like the Villains were heading for a second straight league defeat, but two goals in the final five minutes from Darren Bent and Charles N'Zogbia completed an amazing turn around.

VILLA 4-1 ARSENAL

The Europa League tie was meant to be a close fought affair but a rampant Villa destroyed Arsenal in Birmingham and found revenge for the crushing 3-0 league defeat a few weeks earlier.

A brace from Karim Ait Fana and a strike from Darren Bent left Villa cruising at the break.

Aaron Ramsey pulled one back but a 30 yard wonder strike from Christian Benteke completed the rout.

VILLA 3-1 SOUTHAMPTON

This was a game to remember for young winger, Thomas Ince, as he struck a perfect hat trick - a strike with each foot and an 85th minute header - with all assists coming from Cristian Tello left Saints reeling. Reported Villa target Morgan Schneiderlein got a consolation for the visitors.

LEAGUE TABLE

After Villa's 30th League game - the league table looks like this...

The line up for the second leg of the Europa League quarter final versus Arsenal... (For the benefit of LFC Lando UK)



Villa played a very defensive game and lost 1-0 on the night thanks to a strike from Santi Cazorla but the Villains advance 4-2 on aggregate.

EUROPA LEAGUE SEMI FINAL DRAW



"It's a fantastic achievement and I'm very confident we can go all the way and bring the trophy to Villa Park for the first time."
Randy Lerner

Thanks alot for that But how do you play as in counter, standard, attcking?

2012-12-18 22:16#72897 LfcLandoUk : Thanks alot for that

No probs dude, hope it helps.

I have a lot of quick players so I use a quick tempo way of playing, I also play quite wide.

Counter Attacking is good with Villa too.

Good luck!

2012-12-18 22:16#72897 LfcLandoUk : Thanks alot for that But how do you play as in counter, standard, attcking?

Mate I just realised that I never answered you properly!

I would play control mostly, this would be home games or away games to teams like Spurs, Liverpool, Everton, etc as I like to keep possession and break quickly.

I very rarely play attacking unless I need a goal late in a game or I'm playing two legged fixtures such as Capital One Cup SF's or European knockout games.

Away to the likes of the Manchester clubs and Chelsea, I normally play contain with short passing to frustrate them. If you keep the tempo quick and use counter attack, they can be caught out if their play is broken down.

It's worked O.K. for me, but the squad is still thin and I've had a massive amount of games this season - 30 in the league, 6 in the Capital One Cup, 16 in the Europa League and 7 in the F.A. Cup (cheers replays!), which is 59. I stil have 8 league games, and possibly 3 in each the Europa League & F.A. Cup, which would be 73!!

Sometimes when players get tired, injured or suspended and tactics won't work!

Play about with the players you have in pre-season and see how it goes and what suits you best!

From: Randy Lerner <[email protected]>
To: Jason Connolly <[email protected]>
CC: Eric Cantona <[email protected]>

Subject: Job Offer

Hi Jason,

We have received an offer for your services from Celtic in the SPL.

Can you pop up to my office when you get a moment?

You too, Eric.

Kindest Regards

Randy

THE BOARDROOM



LERNER: "Welcome gentlemen, how are you both?"

CONNOLLY: "Not too bad, thanks."

CANTONA: "A leetle tipsy."

LERNER: "Professional as always Eric."

"Anyway, as you can see from my e-mail, Celtic have made an approach for you, Jason. Their chairman, Desmond White is holding a press conference later today after he relieves Neil Lennon from his duties. Second place and seven points off the pace in a league minus Rangers is unacceptable in his eyes."

"He's offered us £2.5m in compensation for you."

CANTONA: "£2.5m??? That ees an eensult, get him on ze phone now!!!"

LERNER: "Eric, calm down... Jason, your thoughts?"

CONNOLLY: "Randy, I love this club, I've been a supporter since I was a boy. So was my dad. We are going places and I have no intention of leaving, I signed a three year deal and that will be honoured.

LERNER: "Exactly what I wanted to hear.... Eric, are you crying?"

CANTONA: "Non, I just have some something in my eye!"

CONNOLLY: You look like you're crying.

LERNER: Yeah, you do.

CANTONA: "Ooooh, so ze enigmatic Frenchman has to be devoid of feelings?"

"If you must know, that is ze most beautiful thing I have heard uttered in this boardroom, Jason!"

"Your loyalty is second to none, just vonderful. You are a marvellous human being and I respect you for staying true to your club."

Cantona storms out, unable to hold back any more tears.

LERNER: "What a fruitcake."

CONNOLLY: "I know. But he means well."

"Anyway boss, I need to kick on and get the lads ready for Burnley, see you soon."

LERNER: "See you later."

Connolly exits.

A pleased Lerner flicks the projector screen on and Gangnam Style comes pounding through the speakers.

LERNER: (To self) No one is around and I've just kept hold of the brightest young manager in the world....

"OPPA GANGNAM STYLE!!!!"

The American business tycoon, in a moment of pure joy, kicks out of his chair and dances to the music...



Connolly re-enters the room.

CONNOLLY: "Just left my phone on the desk boss!"



LERNER: "Jason... I was just.... Ehhh...."

Connolly shuts door and leaves.