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

Anyone following / enjoying?

You are doing well out there, and yeah im following/enjoying the story

2012-11-28 21:18#69726 Donatt : You are doing well out there, and yeah im following/enjoying the story

Cheers my good man!

BRAVE ASTON VILLA FINALLY LOSE

Villa took a trip to league champions, Manchester City.

Falling behind to a Sergio Aguero strike, Villa hit back with Gabby Agbonlahor's first goal of the season. Tevez made it 2-1 and a second half brace from Yaya Toure completed the rout.

"They were far superior, we will have to re-group and turn it round in the next match."
Jason Connolly, Villa manager.

"Fair play to them, they came and had a go. They play some good football and the manager is getting the best out of some of the youngsters."
David Platt, Man City Assistant and Villa legend.

FINAL SCORE: MANCHESTER CITY 4-1 VILLA

The home game against Swansea was perfect foil to banish the demons of the heavy defeat to City. Christian Bentenke finished from inside the box following good work from Bent before the Belgian added his second with a tap in. Vlaar hit his third of the season with a low drive from 20 yards.

FINAL SCORE: VILLA 3-0 SWANSEA

Next up was a trip to Upton Park to face winless West Ham.

Andy Carroll headed the Hammers in front but a Darren Bent penalty levelled up. West Ham regained the lead when Mark Noble volleyed home but parity was again restored when centre half Raul Albiol nodded home from N'Zogbia's free kick. Matt Jarvis was sent off late on after a reckless challenge on Benteke.

FINAL SCORE: WEST HAM 2-2 VILLA

CURRENT LEAGUE TABLE

Villa sit pretty in 6th after only 1 defeat in 11 games, City top the pile, West Ham have no wins on the board and Newcastle are surprisingly bottom. Mike Ashley has given manager Alan Pardew the dreaded vote of confidence but speculation is linking Paul Lambert to St James'.

Aston Villa Summer signings Jeremy Berthod and John Mensah have been transfer listed at their own request due to lack of playing time.

Brett Holman will join Championship side, Leicester, for £1m in January while Richard Dunne has agreed terms on a £500,000 New Year switch to Sunderland where he will link up with former boss Martin O'Neill.

The Dunne deal was in jeopardy when O'Neill and Villa counterpart Connolly agreed to meet in Newcastle to finalise the finer details of the transfer.

After a few Guinness, the two countrymen ventured in to the city to experience the famous hospitality and legendary Geordie women.

Connolly awoke in a trashed Premier Inn room beside a large Lithuanian woman and a very confused Paul Gascoigne.

Martin O'Neill is still missing.

MANAGERIAL SACK RACE

The first managerial casualties of the season have happened and shocked more than a few people.

Martin O'Neill and Brendan Rodgers are sacked by Sunderland and Liverpool respectively.

Paul Lambert has been installed as favourite at Sunderland while Pep Guardiola is in the running to take the reigns at Anfield.

In other news, Villa's Christian Benteke wins Young Player of the Month for the second successive month and third month out of four since arriving in England.

Great story so far mate. Really enjoying it! Keep up the good work!

2012-11-29 10:01#69824 JamoL : Great story so far mate. Really enjoying it! Keep up the good work!

cheers mate, will have another update later on

MORE DRAWS...

The draw with West Ham set precedent for the next couple of games.

Villa were up agains a struggling Sunderland at the Stadium of Light and fell behind to a goal from Steven Fletcher. Villa levelled through Christian Benteke late on. Bent then had the chance to win it from the spot but Kieran Westwood got down to keep it out.

FINAL SCORE: SUNDERLAND 1-1 VILLA

A third draw in a row occurred at Villa Park, Bent heading Villa in to an early lead. Chances came and went for the home side, but no one could put it in the net. Wes Hoolahan levelled with a good strike from 15 yards.

FINAL SCORE: VILLA 1-1 NORWICH



"We're drawing more than Rolf Harris hyped up on Red Bull at the moment, it has to change" quoted Connolly after the game.

"We've got a tough run coming up, where we play Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd in the next five games, with a Midlands Derby at West Brom in there too. Not to mention a cup quarter final with Everton, we need to start killing opponents off and keep momentum" he added.

"I thought the players were fantastic, we played the majority of the game with 10 men and took the lead against a strong side. We're looking forward to the Quarter Final now and hope to be in the draw for the semi's."
Jason Connolly

In other news, the F.A. Cup 3rd round has been made and the stand out tie is Arsenal v Aston Villa at the Emirates.

COMEBACK KINGS!!

After going behind twice and having Alan Hutton sent off, Aston Villa performed a magical comeback in their Capital One Cup Quarter Final with Everton.

They had Christian Benteke to thank, the Belgian stole the show with a sublime hat trick - the second bringing the tie to 2-2 deep in to injury time. The youngster then produced the winner 5 minutes in to extra time to send Villa Park in to raptures.

"It was a brilliant performance, Gabby and Christian's pace troubled Everton's tiring legs and we're ecstatic to be in the semi's."
Club Captain, Ron Vlaar



In the other Quarter Final ties, there certainly were some shocks....



CAPITAL ONE CUP - SEMI FINAL DRAW

ASTON VILLA v Huddersfield
Arsenal v QPR

Next up for Villa it's back to league action with a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool.

THE START OF 2013

Villa come away from a run of 6 tough fixtures with 3 wins and 3 defeats. Losing to Liverpool, Manchester United and a strong Stoke City at the Brittania is complemented with an impressive 3-1 derby win at the Hawthornes and 3-2 victories over Chelsea and Southampton respectively.



"We've had our ups and downs but we've pulled off some good results and made it to the New Year. I'm just glad the world didn't end in December like that film, 2012, predicted. It would've been an awful shame to never see Dzagoev in a Villa shirt."
Jason Connolly

Villa sit 8th in the league with only 4 defeats in 20 games.

The Transfer Window has finally opened and while Dunne and Holman leave the club for pastures new, a new hero arrives on the Holte End.



Connolly is busy as soon as the window opens, concluding a deal to bring Colombian international 'keeper David Ospina in from Nice on a pre-contract agreement. The deal is almost done, the club are waiting on a work permit. He will arrive in June should it all go through.

Connolly also offers a deal to contract rebel Lorenzo Insigne of Napoli but Inter Milan are sniffing round the player as well.

A loan deal for Manchester City player Jack Rodwell is agreed but the player turns down the move to Villa Park.

Finally, a £950,000 bid is made for Blackpool's Welsh right back, Neal Eardley. The player is out of contract in June and Villa hope to snap him up on the cheap.

OUTGOING

Jeremy Berthod leaves the club for Blackburn Rovers in a deal worth £250,000.

In Europe, Lucas Moura joins PSG for £37.5m and Jelle Vossen switches Genk for Montpellier in a £9m deal in the major deals so far.

Villa travel to the Emirates next for the F.A. Cup 3rd Round tie with Arsenal.

Guardiola to take over at Liverpool? I wish

You beat Man United 4-3. I am so following this story