Comments on: Premiership Preview–5. Aston Villa

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:33:01 +0000

Yes, and Arsenal. Depends largely on Barry, though, and if he stays.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:37:18 +0000

Michael,

Do you think theres any chance villa will be able to creep into the top 4 and if so who would they pass?

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:26:20 +0000

Matt, to clarify:

Go back and watch some of Villa’s games last season. Reo-Coker played on the right, but when he did, he wasn’t the typical right winger, he ended up drifting inside often anyway. His versatility really helps O’Neill, because he can play any of three positions. Sidwell can’t do that, but he’s too good to sit on the bench, as is Reo-Coker, so Reo-Coker is the one who is going to have make the adjustment if Barry stays.

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:17:47 +0000

Matt, trust me, I know exactly how Villa plays, thanks.

If Barry stays, Reo-Coker is going to play on the right because Sidwell is going to start too. Villa doesn’t have a natural right winger right now that is capable enough to start; Maloney and Routledge are fine off the bench, but they need to keep Reo-Coker in the lineup.

Again, this only matters if Barry stays. If he doesn’t, then yes, Reo-Coker will slide back into the middle where, as O’Neill, he was very, very good last year.

Hanoi, did you watch any of Villa’s games? If it wasn’t for Carson, Villa wouldn’t have finished 6th, I guarantee it.

By: eplmatches

eplmatches — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 07:55:01 +0000

Nice post. thanks a lot.

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 07:35:43 +0000

There is no way on planet earth that MON will play Reo Coker remotely on the right of midfield, last season he praised how well he had become a new Makelele in the holding midfield role.

And usually Villa play with Agbonlahor and Young wide of Carew in a three man attack, ala Chelsea.

By: hanoi

hanoi — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 07:17:08 +0000

“Scott Carson, who had a terrific ‘07-’08 season on loan from Liverpool, in goal” Ha HA Ha.

He was a joke boing boing

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 04:31:38 +0000

The way he celebrates goals is kind of a microcosm of everything he does as a manager — enthusiastic and with passion. There’s not enough of that these days in professional sports, so O’Neill is a great guy to have in the game. As you said, too, Weston, he’s also a great manager, charisma aside.

By: Weston

Weston — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 04:17:32 +0000

Even as a spurs fan, I really like Marin O’Neill. Hes a fantastic manager and really invests himself in the game.

By: Grunthos

Grunthos — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 03:11:30 +0000

I highly doubt that Barry will be the captain if he stays. He shouldn’t have much problem keeping a place in the squad, and I don’t think there will be long-term ill will between him and the fans if he plays professionally, but his actions and comments this summer have probably cost him the armband forever at Villa.