Champions of Europe - NextGen

To Owe Great Thanks

Villa boys held on for a draw versus West Brom on Saturday.  Several thank you's are in order:

(1)  Shay Given - great save to maintain the clean sheet
(2) Chelsea - for beating QPR  6-1
(3) Tottenham - for beating Blackburn


How it stands at the moment:

Remaining games to play that matter to Villa:

Aston Villa:  Tottenham, Norwich City
Wigan: Blackburn, Wolverhampton
QPR: Stoke, Man City
Bolton: Tottenham, West Brom, Stoke (Bolton's game in hand may become very important)
Blackburn: Wigan, Chelsea

More of the Same

Well, the players had the same names and they were wearing claret and blue, but it sure didn't look like the same team that beat Chelsea just days ago.  The difference?  Bent in, Albrighton out.  Seems that the team plays completely different when Bent is in.  Simon A. also pointed out that Villa is really only playing with 10 players on defense when Bent is in.  I agree.  The offensive play is focused on Bent which is really one-dimensional.  Without Bent, all the other players need to think a little more offensively and keeps the other team guessing more.  Can't figure out why AML didn't go with the same starting 11 that played against Chelsea?  We definitely could have used Albrighton's pace.  Seemed like Villa was always a step or two behind Swansea players.  Oh well...back to normal.  Villa loses 2-nil.

The Game of the Year (so far)

Goal 1 - Stephen Ireland

Goal 2 - Stilyan Petrov

Goal 3 - Darren Bent

Villa's visit to Stamford Bridge today was a demonstration of the skill and determination that we know is within Aston Villa Football Club.  Stephen Ireland, Stilyan Petrov, and Darren Bent scored as Villa rolled over Chelsea 1-3.  What a great way to end 2011.  3 well-earned points against one of the top teams of the Premiership.  Brad Guzan played a great game as did everyone on the team.  What really made a huge difference was that the Villa defense did bend, but did not break.  UTV!

Boxing Day and New Year's Eve

Televised games coming up - let's get all Villa supporters out to the Mad Dog in the Fog (San Francisco), The Olde Ship (Santa Ana), and The Shakespeare (San Diego).

26 December 2011:  Villa vs. Stoke  11:30am kickoff (pacific)  Fox Soccer Channel
31 December 2011: Villa vs Chelsea 7:00am kickoff (pacific) Fox Soccer Channel

Villa Gains Draw in Extra Time

I didn't see the game "live", but from reading the reports - it sounded like chaos.  Claran Clark scored the equalizer in extra time n a high scoring game (6 goals total).  It is great to have stopped the bleeding with one point.  I think every point is gonna mean something from this point forward.  UTV!


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Scoring Summary

Chelsea	Aston Villa
Frank Lampard (pen 23')	Ashley Young (pen 41')
Didier Drogba (84')	Emile Heskey (47')
John Terry (89')	Ciaran Clark (90')

Match Stats

Chelsea

Aston Villa

22(7)	Shots (on Goal)	17(5)
20	Fouls	13
9	Corner Kicks	6
0	Offsides	1
61%	Time of Possession	39%
2	Yellow Cards	7
0	Red Cards	0
2	Saves	4

AVFC California in the Aston Villa News & Record

In the 13 November 2010 match day programme (Villa vs Man Utd), AVFC California member Sergio Santos was featured in the Lions Club pages.  Sergio attended an earlier match vs. Chelsea.

Up the Villa!

(click on image to enlarge)

Villa v. Chelsea - Sergio, AVFC California Member

AVFC California member Sergio S. was in Birmingham for the Villa v. Chelsea match this past weekend and he submitted these photos. Sergio is on the far right proudly hoisting up the California state flag with his friends! UTV!



Villa Battles Chelsea to Nil-Nil Draw

Villa's defense did bend but didn't break.  Both teams had a few chances to score, but the ball didn't get into the back of the net.  Brad Friedel had a couple of great saves and the crossbar/posts did their thing to stop scoring in this match.


Match Summary (Saturday October 16, 2010 17:30)


Home Team Final Score Away Team

Aston Villa 0 - 0 Chelsea FC

Second Half

S.Ireland S.Sidwell - 84' 0:0

0:0 84' - - J.McEachran  (yellow card)

A.Young - - 81' 0:0 (yellow card)

0:0 76' - Ramires J.McEachran'

0:0 76' - P.Ferreira J.Bosingwa'

C.Clark - - 75' 0:0 (yellow card)

J.Carew N.Delfouneso - 74' 0:0

S.Ireland - - 68' 0:0 (yellow card)

S.Warnock - - 65' 0:0 (yellow card)

0:0 60' - - J.Terry (yellow card)

0:0 47' - G.Kakuta Y.Zhirkov'

First Half

R.Dunne C.Clark - 14' 0:0

0:0 13' - - M.Essien (yellow card)

Villa vs Chelsea in October

Just purchased some tickets for the Oct 16th home match vs Chelsea for one of our AVFC California members who will be in England during October. Awesome! If photos are sent in, I'll certainly post them here.

UTV!

FA Cup Semifinal Viewing - 4/10/10

Finally getting this group photo posted from our Kezar Pub gathering to view the FA Cup semifinal vs. Chel$ea.

Disappointment at Wembley

Our Villa lads gave it a go in the first half and had a few chances to score, but couldn't take advantage of them.  Chel$ea's roster was just too strong and they prevailed 3-nil (with all three goals coming in mid 2nd half).  Holding the Blues to a nil-nil draw at halftime was a hopeful sign, but our guys appeared to become a step slow after Chel$ea's first goal (Drogba) and the rest was down hill for the Claret and Blue.

We had a great turn out at Kezar Pub this morning (photo to come).  I hope that they had the same in Santa Ana.

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

	0 - 3
Date:  10/04/2010		Venue:  Wembley
Attendance:  85,472		Referee:  Howard Webb

	Aston Villa	Chelsea
Goals :	0	3
Possession :	52%	48%
Shots On Target :	3	11
Shots Off Target :	4	6
Corners :	6	7
Fouls :	11	20
Most Fouls :	Carew (3)	Deco (6)
Yellow Cards :	0	3
Red Cards :	0	0
Scorers :		Drogba 68 Malouda 89 Lampard 90 + 5

April 10th FA Cup Semi Final - TV

I'm still trying to confirm the television information for the 10 April 2010 match between Villa and Chelsea (FA Cup semi final @ Wembley).  The "Live Soccer TV" website didn't provide much detail.  I did check Fox Soccer Channel's website and it did show that FSC would be broadcasting the match "live".  I will keep an eye on this over the coming days to provide as accurate information as I can for our members.  Our plans are still to have gatherings at both The Olde Ship in Santa Ana and Kezar Pub in San Francisco to view the game together.

The oldest knockout club tournament in the world, the FA Cup began in 1872 & is open to professional & semi-professional teams from all English divisions. Part-time footballers are matched up against Premier League clubs in true David vs. Goliath battles. APRIL Date Event Time   Saturday, Apr 10 SEMIFINAL - Aston Villa v Chelsea   12:00 PM Saturday, Apr 10 SEMIFINAL - Aston Villa v Chelsea   8:30 PM   Tuesday, Apr 13 FA Cup   8:00 PM   Thursday, Apr 15 FA Cup   5:00 PM

All times are Eastern Time

Noooooooooooooooooooo! 1-7 defeat to Chelsea

Lampard with 4 goals (two were PKs) led Chelsea in their dominance over Villa this afternoon at Stamford Bridge.  Praying that this is not a preview of the FA Cup semifinal.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

	7 - 1
Date:  27/03/2010		Venue:  Stamford Bridge
Attendance:  41,825		Referee:  Peter Walton

	Chelsea	Aston Villa
Goals :	7	1
Possession :	50%	50%
Shots On Target :	11	5
Shots Off Target :	2	2
Corners :	8	6
Fouls :	12	5
Most Fouls :	Ferreira (4)	Collins (2)
Yellow Cards :	3	2
Red Cards :	0	0
Scorers :	Lampard 15 Lampard 44 (pen) Malouda 57 Lampard 62 (pen) Malouda 68 Kalou 83 Lampard 90 + 1

FA announces date, time for Villa/Chelsea FA Cup seminfinal Sat. 4/10

(from Sky Sports)

"The Football Association has confirmed the kick-off times and dates for next month's FA Cup semifinals at Wembley. The games had already been set for the weekend of 10/11th April, but the FA have now revealed when the ties will be played.

Chelsea's clash with Aston Villa is the first semifinal to take place on Saturday, 10th April at 5pm. The weekend's other tie sees Portsmouth face Tottenham or Fulham - who will replay their quarterfinal on 24th March following their scoreless draw at Craven Cottage - with that game taking place at 4pm on Sunday, 11th April.

The showpiece final will take place on 15th May to give England more time to prepare for this summer's World Cup finals."

FA Cup Semi-Final Matchup ---- Chelsea FC

FA Cup semifinal: Villa v. Chelsea. Weekend of April 10-11.

Start gearing up AVFC California!!!!!

NY Times article