TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Christmas crucial for Villa aspirations Martin O'Neill's team have beaten Liverpool, Chelsea and United. A trip to Arsenal will test their credentialsIt was near the end of July and Martin O'Neill was sat in a hotel in Marbella, talking with a small group of journalists about the season ahead, when news filtered through that Manchester City had just made Kolo Touré their sixth signing of the summer. "You think you got quite close last season and suddenly another club has just stepped over you immediately before you can go on," said the Aston Villa manager as he sank back into his seat. "It kind of punctures you."O'Neill looked forlorn. Villa's only new recruit at that point was Stewart Downing, who had arrived at the club on crutches, their most influential player, Gareth Barry, had joined the Eastlands revolution and there was no sign of a replacement for the retired Martin Laursen. Tottenham Hotspur, meanwhile, had just signed Peter Crouch and City's summer spending was nudging ever closer to the £100m mark. Villa, it seemed, would be struggling to make the top six, never mind the top four.At least that was the theory. Five months later and Villa sit proudly in fourth position in the table, only two points behind second-placed Manchester United and six ahead of Manchester City, the club that O'Neill said "we can't compete with" in the summer. A trip to the Emirates Stadium is next on the fixture list and if Villa can defeat Arsène Wenger's side on Sunday they will become the first team to beat every member of the so-called Big Four in a season since Leeds United did likewise in 1994-95.The big question, though, is whether Villa can succeed where they failed last season and sustain a challenge for fourth spot when the pressure is being cranked up during the final few months of the campaign. "There's no reason to think they can't," said Brian Little, who was the last Villa manager to lead the Midlands club to a top-four finish, in 1995-96, when they also won the League Cup. "I just think that somehow this season they do look that little bit better."I think the result at Manchester United a couple of weeks back [when Villa won 1-0 to record their first league victory at Old Trafford in 26 years] was one of those results that gives everyone a lift and people think, 'Hang on, it can be done'," continued Little. "And I also think they will have learned a little bit from last season, not only the players; I am sure Martin would have looked at it and thought, 'I know where I need to be different'."O'Neill certainly needed no telling that he had defensive shortcomings to address and that Laursen's absence had been a crucial factor in Villa's decline during the final three months of last season. James Collins and Richard Dunne were brought in for a combined £10m and have been a key part of the most parsimonious defence in the league. City, meanwhile, spent four times as much on Joleon Lescott and Touré and have conceded more goals than bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth.With Stephen Warnock also proving a shrewd acquisition and Carlos Cuéllar much improved from last season, Villa's backline is unrecognisable from the one that conceded 17 goals in six matches when Arsenal overhauled them. Competition for places in defence is so fierce that Collins has been unable to get back into the side since recovering from a groin strain while Curtis Davies will have to settle for being the fourth choice centre-half when he returns from injury next month.It is a similar story in midfield, with Nigel Reo-Coker, Steve Sidwell and Fabian Delph all currently sat on the bench, and up front, where O'Neill has been able to pick from Emile Heskey and John Carew to partner Gabriel Agbonlahor. The contrast with last season is stark. "The wheels came off last year and it was never the same after that Stoke match [when Villa allowed a two-goal lead to slip at home] but I think they're much better equipped this year," said Ron Atkinson, who led Villa to second place in 1993."Villa seem to have a little bit more strength in the squad. They've lost Barry, who was probably their outstanding player last year but, fortunately, James Milner has slotted straight into that spot and he's having a cracking season. I also think Villa are playing in a league where, secretly, they might feel they've got a chance to finish higher than fourth. A couple of other teams in the so-called Big Four are playing with nothing like the same assurance and confidence of recent years."One of those, Liverpool, visit Villa Park on Tuesday in the second of two pivotal matches for O'Neill's side. It is a demanding schedule but, with confidence coursing through the Villa players after a month that has brought a place in the Carling Cup semi-finals and four successive league victories, now is not a time to be complaining. "If they can come out of both games with wins you never know where they might be," added Atkinson.Aston VillaPremier LeagueMartin O'NeillStuart Jamesguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Jose Mourinho: I will return to Premier League Former Chelsea manager reiterates desire to return to work in Premier League at some point in the future. telegraph.co.uk |
Birmingham 1 Manchester United 1: match report Sir Alex Ferguson's champions could not halt the unbeaten run of Alex McLeish's Birmingham side after Darren Fletcher's red card. telegraph.co.uk |
Galatasaray claim to have signed Everton full-back Lucas Neill • One-and-a-half-year deal signed, Turkish club says• Everton understood to have been considering £750,000 bidGalatasaray this morning claim to have signed the full-back Lucas Neill from Everton. The Merseyside club were understood to be considering a £750,000 bid from the Turkish club for the Australia international."Galatasaray have signed Australia international Lucas Neill on a one-and-a-half-year deal from English Premier League side Everton," a statement on Galatasaray's official website said.The claim may be a little premature but Neill told Sky Sport he is likely to be a Galatasaray player before next week: "I think I'll be joining up and I'm looking forward to joining my new team-mates on Sunday."I'm now delighted I'll be joining a massive European club with great ambitions for the season. It'll be a wonderful new challenge for me. I'm absolutely delighted a club like Galatasaray will be my next team."Neill, admits the move has come as a surprise: "I was very shocked," he said. "I didn't instigate any kind of move from Everton but once I found out the two clubs were in negotiations it became clear I had to look after myself and my family."Keen to stress he was leaving Everton on good terms, the player added: "I've loved it from the moment I got there. The club have been so welcoming and the guys in the changing room have been amazing."To everybody at Everton, I'll thank every single one of them. My time there has been magnificent and I'll wish them the very best for the season. There is no ill feeling whatsoever and let's hope Everton have a fantastic second half of the season."Neill will team up with fellow Australian Harry Kewell, formerly of Liverpool, when he arrives in Istanbul.The 31-year-old agreed a one-year deal with the Toffees in September after becoming a free agent following the end of his contract with West Ham.Neill has made 12 league and two cup appearances for David Moyes's side but has not played in Europe, meaning he would be free to play for Galatasaray in the Europa League.EvertonGalatasarayTransfer windowguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Fowler ultimatum: Me or the coach Robbie Fowler has declared he will stay with North Queensland Fury next season only if coach Ian Ferguson is replaced. foxsports.com.au |