Swansea Match Critical

After reaching a confidence "high" following the win at Anfield, the Villa has reached a new low.  I wouldn't call the Swansea game a must win, but a result would certainly help the lads regain some traction.  Confidence is subtle, but very powerful.  I get this funny feeling that we may have been a little too confident following Liverpool (incl. all of the supporters).  When the going gets tough - players begin to press, which can easily turn into an accelerated fall.  The free-flowing confident play has turned tentative, but I know that this can be turned around.  The lads need the supporters more than ever - lets stay behind them no matter what.  We need the 12th man effect like they have in Seattle for the Seahawks.

Villa 1-3 Win at Anfield

OMG! That was the best Villa performance in the League this year.  A complete team effort.  The defense remained solid despite being pummeled with shot after shot from Liverpool.  Brad Guzan made some great saves.  Christian Beneteke...what can you say?  HE IS MASSIVE!  The entire midfield played amazingly.

listen to ‘Villa goals in Liverpool win’ on Audioboo

First Benteke goal from range

Goal #2 Andreas Weimann

 (above) Weimann on the break

 (above) Weimann finds Benteke on the wing

 (above) Benteke back heels it ... return to Weimann

(above) Weimann SCORES

Goal #3 Benteke

(above) Benteke battles thru 2 Liverpool players to score an unassisted goal

Fuel TV

Our informed California Lion's membership told me today that tomorrow's match vs. Liverpool will be broadcast "live" in the U.S. on the Fuel Channel.  I had never heard of this channel before (it is available through Direct TV and ATTUverse).  It is an affiliate of Fox and focuses on what they call "adrenaline" sports, but I guess drops in a Premier League match into their schedule too.  You learn new things everyday.

Liverpool and Arsenal

These 2 games were complete opposites.  Against Liverpool, the Villa lads looked totally disinterested almost to the point of seemingly giving up on the season.

Amazingly, the loss versus Arsenal yesterday was a game much better played by the Villa.  I like seeing the youngsters in the game....Albrighton, Clark, Bannan.   Albrighton is a spark plug and should have been in the starting 11 long ago.  Gabby, on the other hand, seems to be very sluggish.  Some of it may have to do with the absence of Darren Bent due to injury, but we need Gabby in the form he was earlier in the season.

Congratulations Villa!

Stuart Downing scored and goal in the 33' and that was enough for Villa to capture the win over Liverpool 1-nil.  Villa finishes 9th in the table - a fantastic finish considering we were close to the relegation zone more than once this season.

Man Utd claims another Premiership crown (19th).  West Ham, Birmingham, and Blackpool are relegated to the Championship and coming up to the Premiership next season are Queens Park Rangers (QPR) and Norwich City (former team of Darren Huckerby, who played very briefly for MLS San Jose Earthquakes here in the SF bay Area.  The final team to be promoted will be determined in a playoff between Swansea City and Cardiff City (at Wembley).

Liverpool 3-nil over Villa

This season is on a downward spiral.  C'mon Villa - we need so results and FAST!

LIVERPOOL

3 - 0

FT

ASTON VILLA

Monday, December 06 20:00

Premier League

Anfield

Ngog (14)   Babel (16) Maxi Rodríguez (55)

(HT 2-0) ATT: 39,079

Great Season Villa! Possibilities for next week

Scenario #1
Tottenham beats Man City
Villa beats Blackburn
Liverpool beats Hull

4. Tottenham 70
5. Aston Villa 67
6. Man City 66
7. Liverpool 65

Scenario #2
Man City beats Tottenhan
Villa beats Blackburn
Liverpool beats Hull

4. Man City 69
5. Tottenham 67
6. Aston Villa 67
7. Liverpool 65

Scenario #3
Man City/Tottenham draw
Villa beats Blackburn
Liverpool beats Hull

4. Tottenham 67
5. Man City 67
6. Villa 67
7. Liverpool 65

(These are the 3 most likely scenarios since Villa WILL win the final game of the season!)

What is coming up for Man City? Tottenham? Liverpool? Villa?

Manchester City The next game for City is Birmingham City and then games against Man Utd and Arsenal. If we can keep winning and City can drop 2 out of 3....anything can happen!

Let's see, Tottenham has Portsmouth in the other FA Cup semifinal and then the following 3 premiership games: Arsenal, Chelsea, and Man Utd. looks good!

Liverpool: First has Benfica in a Europa League match, and then the following 3 Premiership games: Fulham, West Ham, and Burnley.

VILLA: We first have Chelsea in our re-match (FA Cup semifinal), and then these 3 league matches: Everton, Portsmouth, and Hull City. Not horrible.

My (TOTALLY BIAS) Predictions

Today
4. Manchester City (59)
5. Tottenham (58)
6. Liverpool (54)
7. ASTON VILLA (54)

Man City over Birmingham City, but losses to both Chelsea and Man Utd (+3)
Spurs lose to all 3 (Arsenal, Chelsea, and Man Utd.) (0)
Liverpool loses to Fulham, draws with West Ham, and beats Burnley (+4)
Villa, of course beats Everton, Portsmouth, and Hull City (+9)

After the next 3 Premiership matches:
4. Manchester City (64)
5. ASTON VILLA (63)
6. Tottenham (58)
7. Liverpool (58)

UTV!

Villa falls to Liverpool 1-nil

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

	0 - 1
Date: 29/12/2009		Venue: Villa Park
Attendance: 42,788		Referee: Lee Probert

Goals :	0	1
Possession :	49%	51%
Shots On Target :	7	9
Shots Off Target :	4	3
Corners :	8	10
Fouls :	13	11
Most Fouls :	Carew (3)	Lucas (4)
Yellow Cards :	1	1
Red Cards :	0	0
Scorers :		Torres 90 + 3

Matches vs. Arsenal, Liverpool on Setanta Sports USA

Dec 27, 2009

5:30 am (PT)

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

Setanta Sports Canada, Setanta Sports USA, Sky Sports HD 1

Live

England Premier League

Dec 29, 2009

11:45 am (PT)

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

Setanta Sports Canada, Setanta Sports USA, Sky Sports HD 1

Live

England Premier League