retired_jeja111

27th October, 2004

League Cup, 3rd Round
Aston Villa vs. Birmingham

A few changes made for the match...Mellberg, Barry and Angel have been rested to give some lesser first team players their chance.

Despite the fact it was a derby, it was still a League cup match, and with a trip to Bolton coming up in three days time on the Saturday we would not be going at this one full tilt. They on the other hand had named a full strength line up...things started at a slow pace with both sides playing a cautious match. Despite Mellberg being rested, the defence looked good with young Ridgewell stepping in his place...my 4-4-2 strategy involved the fullbacks largely staying back, even at home, and this had contributed I feel to our defense strength...which I felt wasn't too bad. The stats certainly made it look worse because we had conceded 7 goals in 2 matches against Man Utd and Liverpool - but from 11 games we have kept 4 clean sheets so far.

They had the better possession early on but we began to wrestle it off them, and we went ahead on the half hour mark when Jlloyd Samuel booted a long ball infront of Cole who ran onto it and put it through the line into the net. Cole was doing very well for us and his market value had already soared from 5M to 6M after sitting 2nd on the Premier league goal scorers tally. I wasn't feeling confident about keeping him at the end of the year, unless we could make the Champions League and raise the funds to buy him...

We held them off until half time quite well...they looked a bit flat today.

Into the second half and we started to shut the game down quite well. Our defense had built a well which was standing strong, and we held them off quite well not even allowing them a shot on target....a slick goal from Vassell sealing the victory a minute from time to ensure we didn't have to endure a frantic last minute surge forward from the Brum. Another derby victory, same scoreline as before but much more comfortable in defence even with Mellberg out...confidence is getting higher...

Aston Villa 2
Cole 33
Vassell 89
Birmingham 0

One piece of bad news coming from the match is that Lee Hendrie will join Hitzlsperger on the injured list for 2 weeks....this was going to be Lee's chance to establish himself...but now I'll be forced to dive into the depths of the squad and pull out Mathieu Berson, a defensive midfielder signing made this season shortly before I arrived, who doesn't really figure in my plans....his small wages is the only thing keeping him here although I'm sure he wont last until his contract says he will (2008!).

League Cup 4th Round, Draw.....at home to Everton.

Short update...but I want to keep things moving at a decent pace

retired_melanie_dhanpal

Fantastic story so far :thup:

retired_embartl

And the Sc*m lose again :cool:

waves goodbye to Tommy, and Berson - and wonders what the feck is being injected into Carlton Cole's brain

Good stuff - league form back on track and should progress in the League Cup :thup:

retired_jeja111

Thanks. Glad to see you following my progress Brian!

30th October, 2004

I was looking over the fixture list for the 4th Round of the League Cup and I was quite confident of a semi-final run at least. Not only would it be a way to get our first silverware since winning the same competition in 1994 and again in 1996, it would get us into Europe, albiet the UEFA Cup. Out of 16 sides left, only 9 of them including ourselves were Premier League sides, those being ourselves, Boro, Blackburn, Tottenham, Newcastle, Everton, Palace, Liverpool and Arsenal. Chelsea and Man Utd were both knocked out last round, by Wigan and Liverpool respectively, which made things much easier for us.

Going back briefly to the subject of goalkeepers, I was made aware of an interest expressed in our 16 year old youth goalkeeper Lee Boyle, from Newcastle. He will sign his first professional contract hopefully for us, on January 22 of next year and after asking my coaching staff about him they all seem to be of the consensus that this boy is a player to watch for the future.

After looking through the squad and the reserves, I decided to drop Postma back to the reserves and promote 17 year old Austrian goalkeeper Robert Olejnik to the first team. Simply put it looks like Robert Olejnik has a future at the club while Postma does not, really.

EPL, Game 12
Bolton vs. Aston Villa

Bolton had won only 1 of their 5 home games so far but they had also only lost 1...the lineup named was the same as our last Premier League match. Bolton however were slightly underdone with both Jay Jay Okocha and Kevin Davies out of the side, great news for us...

It was a wet and soggy saturday afternoon, and we were playing keepings off trying to slow things down in the early stages. I had opted for Berger on the right instead of Barry once again not due to Barry's poor form (it was infact good) but because Berger's experience would help us on away trips and he was hitting a purple patch. Things only took 3 minutes to pay off, when Berger put Torrado into space who then found Angel, who went through the inexperienced and young Bolton defense to put us ahead early...finally we hit the net first in an away match!

We continued to have the upper hand with possession...they were playing Diouf on the right wing in the wet and putting a player with few defensive qualities on the wing in these conditions seemed like a mistake as our attacks seem to come through the left wing early on.

Things started opening up a little as they got more possession and went forward with more numbers to complement their 4-5-1, sole striker Michael Bridges. However without Okocha they were lacking something in spark. Both sides had their opportunities, not taken, and the match was half over but still wide open.

Considering a loss would almost put Bolton into the relegation zone, they came out swinging...determined to get one back. As their send players forward though they were caught short at the back on the counter, giving us two distinct opportunities to take advantage although Cole and Angel couldn't convert chances that they probably would have on a good day. We had more opportunities to gain a buffer, with Juan Angel striking the bar from 30 yards out in what would have been one to remember...

With them unable to break through but still surging forward, I decided to take off Cole and bring on young defender Ridgewell and attempt to hold them off for the rest of the match. This was always a risky strategy...and of course it didn't pay off when Diouf's pace started causing problems for us and he hit us on the counter attack to equal the match up in the last 10 minutes. Suddenly the match opened up but neither team was able to break through, which was fortunate because they were the ones who looked like breaking through and nabbing the victory. After leading all day it was very frustrating to concede a late goal after we had opportunities to extend our lead.

Bolton 1
Diouf 83
Aston Villa 1
Juan Angel 4

We had a week off before the next match with Ecuadorian right back Ulises de la Cruz using it to tell me he was sick of being out of the first team squad and telling me that he would quit the club. I countered by calling his bluff and offering him a mutual termination, which he refused to accept. His contract would expire at seasons end but I really wanted him off and away before that.

I was approached after training about this, facing the media I announced what I believed the truth...

"Mr Smith, what do you think of Charlton Cole's callup?"

"He deserves it. He definitely deserves it. He has been just brilliant this season and I am so happy for him."

"Would you like to acquire his services on a permenant basis?"

"Of course, but I think we may have shot oursleves in the foot. He has been playing that well that if he continues his form for the season then he will probably be priced out of our price range. We would love to have him at the club next season with a permenant contract, and when the time comes closer we will be investigating this, but after performances like this I'm not sure Chelsea will want to sell him to us. We are currently looking at possible targets...because whether it will be Charlton or not, we will need another striker next season to fill the gap that he will leave."

"What are your thoughts on the season so far? And your ambitions and expectations for the rest?

"I am quite happy to be sitting in the top 5 with almost a third of the season played. If we can finish in this position we will be in Europe, a good result, but I think that we have the squad to be able to qualify for the Champions League if we can continue our good form and play well against the top sides. Our form has been decent so far, but against the top teams like Chelsea, Man Utd and Liverpool we have fallen short somewhat. I think we will be better prepared next time around."

"What are your opinions on Gerardo Torrado so far?"

"He has settled in with us very well so far, he has fought his way into the first team and he deserves it. He has adapted to the English game very well and I couldn't be happier with his performance for us so far."

EPL, Game 13
Aston Villa vs. Norwich

This was a home game against a team in the relegation zone that we really should win. And with Solano in his 300th league start and Sorensen in his 50th in the Villa shirt we had the occasion to play for, too.

Things started out quickly for us, we went forward looking to cripple them early and that's exactly what happened after 9 minutes when Juan Angel headed through a cross from Charlton Cole to put us one to the good. We continued to dominate possession after this, although we couldn't break through again as they threw numbers back behind the ball. This meant though, that they had few numbers forward and they weren't really threatening our goal...by the time half time came along they hadn't even had a shot at our goal yet.

Into the 2nd half...we had a penalty only 5 minutes into it but Barry got the nerves and missed his 2nd straight penalty. Previously I had let the players on the field pick out the spot taker but now I'll have to set up an order for them to follow.

They still werent troubling us though, and we extended our lead a little after the hour mark when, Luke Moore, on his first appearance for the year due to the midfield being depleted with Berger out for the week, put his first goal for the club through to give us a two goal lead. Soon after it was two, with Moore latching onto a long ball after beating the offside trap and putting in a 2nd goal on his season debut....a very promising one.

Aston Villa 3
Juan Angel 9
Moore 69, 79
Norwich 0

Another solid home victory....we are looking quite good at the moment and that victory has put us into 4th, qualification for the Champions League!

retired_jeja111

10th November, 2004

League Cup, Round 5
Aston Villa vs. Everton

Being a league cup match, of course the theory was to win the match with as little strain as possible. We are at the opposite end of the table to Everton, we are in quite good form whereas they are are struggling.

Once again our wingers were playing well, Barry and Solano, and it only took 12 minutes for Barry to put across to Angel who gave us our first. From there we aimed to slow the match down a bit and deny them easy access to their forward third, and although we sacrificed some attacking prowess we managed to hold them off until the break.

Into the 2nd half, we started attacking them again, creating chances through the midfield but their defence was tackling quite well. We kept at them though and hence they had few opportunities to go forward...and we managed to get a 2nd, 5 minutes from time when Cole, subbing on the right wing, crossed to Barry who put it through for his first of the season. After things things slowed down and we had another comfortable win. So on we go to the quarter-finals...

Aston Villa 2
Juan Angel 13
Barry 85
Everton 0

Honestly the player was never going to get anywhere here and I was quite happy to get his 12,000 p/w week wages off of the books.

On saturday morning the draw for the League Cup came through and we will have another home game, this time hosting Wigan who are 1st placed in the Championship currently. We should go through to the semi finals where we will face, if I am reading the tree correctly, the winner from Middlesbrough and Liverpool. On the other side of the draw, Blackburn & Arsenal, and Newcastle & Oxford will battle it out.

EPL, Game 14
Portsmouth vs. Aston Villa

After the international break where Charlton Cole didn't even get the cap he deserved, we head off to Portsmouth for a tricky away game. They use a tricky 3-5-2 strategy with an attacking midfielder behind the strikers and I was quite wary of problems that they may cause in the wet.

Early on our passing was quite spot on in the wet, but our shooting was off. Both sides really had an attacking game going on and they were really determined to come out and win it early on. I was keeping the full backs in defense and not letting them run forward as I do throughout our away games it was proving good for us - in stopping their counter attacking particularly. Both teams were defending frantically - and quite well. But both teams were also wasting chances, Charlton Cole particularly, firing wide from a one on one situation later on the half. Half time came and the game was very even and still scoreless.

As the 2nd half started we went in trying to counter attack their 3 man defense and catch them out on the blink and it works well almost right away when Delany hits a long ball infront of Cole who doesnt make the mistake this time, in a one-on-one situation. We've been getting lots of goals from long balls lately....

Now with the delicate strategy of what to do when away from home and 1 goal up. We stopped the counter attacking...they came at us fairly hard and we tried to hold on...the fact that they wasted some decent chances particularly from midfielder Diomansay Kamara who had replaced Patrik Berger after we bought him earlier on in the season. Things were really heating up and they were really coming at us after we held them off, towards the end of the game, when again a long ball from the midfield was put infront of Cole, this time by Torrado, and Cole put it through with a fine finish once again to give us his 2nd.

After that we held them off quite easily as the game petered out allowing us to record a great, gritty, hard fought away win that I am quite proud of. I was quite pleased with our away form, our only away losses coming from Man Utd and Liverpool.

Portsmouth 0

Aston Villa 2
Cole 47, 85

Now we had a week off until we hosted Arsenal at Villa Park in a match really to look forward to...

Our form is looking quite good so far and with Newcastle and Liverpool not hitting their strides yet we are firming our position in the top 4....

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Chelsea | | 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 32 | 10 | +22 | 36 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Arsenal | | 13 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 31 | 6 | +25 | 34 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Man Utd | | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 26 | 13 | +13 | 29 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Aston Villa | | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 25 | 15 | +10 | 25 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Middlesbrough | | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 28 | 22 | +6 | 22 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Blackburn | | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 22 | 17 | +5 | 21 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Southampton | | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 14 | +2 | 21 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Newcastle | | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 15 | +3 | 19 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Charlton | | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 23 | 21 | +2 | 19 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Liverpool | | 14 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 18 | 19 | -1 | 19 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Tottenham | | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 22 | 19 | +3 | 18 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Birmingham | | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 17 | -3 | 16 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Portsmouth | | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 18 | 24 | -6 | 16 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Fulham | | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 23 | -12 | 14 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | West Brom | | 13 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 17 | -5 | 13 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Bolton | | 13 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 18 | -7 | 11 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Everton | | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 14 | 25 | -11 | 9 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Man City | | 14 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 28 | -13 | 9 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Norwich | | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 24 | -14 | 9 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Crystal Palace | | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 31 | -19 | 9 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_jeja111

27th November, 2004

Signs, i mean as in, reactions of our form were starting to come through...confidence was high and opening the paper I saw this:

EPL, Game 15
Aston Villa vs. Arsenal

This would be a huge match and it was just great timing that Thomas Hitzlsperger returns from his month long layoff to come into the first team, replacing the well performing youngster Peter Whittingham.

We would still be under the pump though as we were up against a side who have lost only 1 of their 13 matches, won 11 of them and scored 31 goals in the process. Their confidence was sky high, too.

We came out with guns blazing, and with a national television audience expecting Arsenal to teach us a lesson we were determined to show that we could do something against the top sides....

Our start was confident, unlike previous starts against teams above us. We couldn't have hoped for a better start and we capitalized quickly, when Solano booted a ball up field and the magnificently performing Charlton Cole found the end of it, yet again, and went through their defenders and put it in the net...and we were one up, already. Things stayed intense, and with Mellberg given the job to shut down Henry I knew we were in the best possible hands.

They were doing their job so far...Henry hadn't broken free yet and we held strong for the moment.

We didn't go into our shells because I knew that would be the worst mistake we could make...but inside 20 minutes, after we Barry knocked in a Solano corner, we were 2-0 up against the reigning champions, with Solano setting up both goals and really starting to establish himself as a big time player for me.

Things started slowing down a little, and our defense was holding strong until a momentary lapse of reason, right before half time with goalkeeper Sorensen being caught offguard allowing Bergkamp, who had come on for the injured Reyes, to get a scrappy goal and pull one back for them just before half time.

Into the 2nd half and they came streaming at us, and it wasnt long before Bergkamp slotted in his 2nd rather easily and we were back level, all of our good work undone. Suddenly things were much more intense again but both defenses were holding strong.

We ourselves had our chances to go ahead, but didn't take advantage. Neither side was unable to grab a winner in the late stages and we were left with a 2-2 draw, which could have been so much more.

Aston Villa 2
Cole 5
Barry 18
Arsenal 2
Bergkamp 42, 49

League Cup, Qtr Final
Aston Villa vs. Wigan

Only a three day break until the next match...at home for the quarter final.

With Vassell in the team for a resting Cole, he took full advantage after only 3 minutes when he got around a couple of defenders and put us ahead early. Only a minute later we had another with Gareth Barry delivering a dynamite cross to Juan Angel and we had a healthy buffer, suddenly.

Suddenly we started relaxing, but they caught us offguard when Jason Roberts booted home a long range shot past our sleeping rearguard. But we were kicked right back into action when Vassell got his 2nd from close range soon after in a relatively eventful game. Things continued at their frantic pace when they pulled another back only 2 minutes later through Nathan Ellington. Not to be outdone, Thomas Hitzlsperger showed me some of his promise when he fired home a long range free kick to regain our 2 goal lead and boot home the 3rd goal in as many minutes in the match. Finally, we started to gain ascendency when Juan Angel was set free by none othan Solano, and incredibly we had our 5th goal within half time.

The 2nd half was decidedly less exciting, luckily, and we had the game won once and for all when Vassell compelted his hatrick with an easy tap in after the hour mark. This was the way the game ended....I am quite happy with the confidence of the squad right now to be able to go out and attack like that.

Aston Villa through to the semis!

Semi-final draw, against Liverpool or Boro, as expected. Go Boro!

Aston Villa 6
Vassell 4, 30, 68
Juan Angel 5, 43
Hitzlsperger 33
Wigan 2
Roberts 21
Ellington 32

retired_jeja111

4th December, 2005

EPL, Game 16
Man City vs. Aston Villa

In the leadup to the transfer window re-opening the circus hadn't really kicked off yet and there wasn't really much to say except to get on with things. Next up we travelled to Man City to face the struggling side who are currently in the relegation zone in 18th, without a win in 9 matches.

With their confidence floundering and ours almost sky high we had an opportunity for another away win. Our attacks would be based through the right with Barry staying back on the left to help out with defense duties...and with McCann back in the side for Torrado in the centre. We almost went ahead right away when Solano whipped in a lovely corner for Barry who's header hit the post. Anelka was trying to cause us some grief but Mellberg was on the job...

After 15 minutes we went ahead with a goal stemming from McCann putting Juan Angel into space who put it past the English goalkeeper David James.

I was convinced that only a few minutes later we had given up our lead when Mellberg knocked down Anelka in the box, but Anelka missed the penalty...we did our best to give them a goal when we knocked Anelka down again in the box right after...but Anelka hit the shot straight at our goalkeeper again! This was our lucky day so far...

We were playing a good brand of football at the moment, full of confidence and drive...and it payed off again only a few minutes later when, after some scuffling in the box, Barry found Cole who jinxed past Dunne and put it past James to give us a 2nd.

After holding them off until half time we went into the 2nd half quite confident. Our defense was holding up nicely and our attack was piercing their defense....and we did so again right on the hour mark when Solano (again) hit a long ball (again) infront of Cole who put it past the goalkeeper (again). They got one back a couple of minutes later when Anelka found some space, beating the offside trap in a goal similar to the one Cole just scored...

...for whatever reason lately our games have been quite high scoring, this has been going against what I intended, but as long as we were winning I wouldn't complain. We hit a 4th goal soon after when Solano broke free from Thatcher and put another one passed James. I can't explain this high scoring, but Anelka got one back for them after 70 mins when he outpaced our defenders and put one in from a tight angle. They were getting some momentum and they got a 3rd one back only a couple of minutes later when Wright-Phillips set up McManaman and suddenly the score was back to 3-4...

We endured a spirited fightback from City, they came at us but our defense had toughened up and we withstood them. The win was sealed in this high scoring game a minute from time when Thatcher knocked down Barry in the box and McCann put in the penalty. This was the last goal in this high scoring game and we recorded another well fought away win much to my satisfaction.

Man City 3
Anelka 64, 72
McManaman 75
Anelka missed penalty 18, 19

Aston Villa 5
Juan Angel 15
Cole 23, 60
Solano 67
McCann pen 90

The draw for the FA Cup round 3 came out and we will be facing Nottingham Forest away...

Coming to training the next day, unawarenes, I was swamped by the media asking me about our form so far and what our ambitions are for the year..."avoid relegation" I told them with a grin. When I got back to the office I was handed the paper...

WOAH! Some are getting ahead of ourselves here. If I saw this before I fronted the press I would have told them that I believe....no, I am sure, that we have no chance of winning the title. Chelsea, Man Utd and Arsenal are all a distinct class above us and we only have a 1 point buffer on Middlesbrough below us, in 5th position.

EPL, Game 17
Aston Villa vs. Fulham

This would be Thomas Sorenen's last game for the club, after which would have to deal with someone else in goals for 4 matches, including a derby (at home luckily), until our new signing arrives. Thomas has been a good servant for the club and we would love to send him away with a win. We also want to establish ourselves in 4th spot because 1 point ahead of 5th is too close for me.

Things started out at a decent pace but we looked a little flat. We were certainly given an advantage after 20 minutes when their captain, Steed Malbranque was sent off for a 2nd bookable offence. The match was very flat and incident free though and half time came without either side even having a shot on target so far.

Just as I was beginning to wonder how we would score we got somewhat lucky, with Hitzlsperger's long range shot deflecting off one of their defenders and skidding through the wet weather into the back of the net.

As I subbed Mellberg off for young Ridgewell I decided to give Sorensen the captain's band in his last outing and he responded well to keep the clean sheet for the match - although they came at us late we held on quite well to escape with the (somewhat) lucky win. But out defence hadn't given them a sniff and if it wasn't for a tad of luck it would have been 1-0, this was a very dull match.

Aston Villa 1
Hitzlsperger 53

Fulham 0

After seeing the table after the match I see that we have gone up to 3rd! Although we are only ahead on goal difference above Man Utd and they have a game inhand - this is a significant psycological moment.

More good news after we found out we would be playing Middlesbrough - and not Liverpool, in the League Cup Semi Finals.

And then finally on the 15th of December we waved goodbye to Thomas Sorensen, who headed off to Spain to join Zaragoza who were 12th in the Spanish league. We'll be forced to stick Postma in goals for two weeks until we get our new goalkeeper, Dennis Gentenaar in from NEC in Holland.

EPL, Game 18
Everton vs. Aston Villa

We've beaten Everton before in the League Cup but I doubt this match will be as easy. Particularly with Postma in goals, with Sorensen leaving early due to the Spanish transfer window opening.

The match starts off evenly paced but we broke it open early...Once again, it was Nolberto Solano setting up the goal as he put Juan Angel into space who put home the goal after only 5 minutes to continue what was turning into some stellar form. We took over possesion and went forward with caution, but confidence. We were passing the ball freely through their midfield, and with them in the relegation zone and lacking confidence we were able to assert our authority once more, grabbing our 2nd goal relatively early in the match after Juan Angel gave it to Cole who yet again put it through to give us a 2 goal lead after only 3 minutes.

Our confidence was rising, and our defence was up to the task of holding them off. But lately this side really hasnt known when to stop, and after 33 minutes Cole had a 2nd and we had our third after Hitzlsperger whipped in a great cross for Cole to tap in....we were really in some great form.

We held the off until half time...but after the half they came out with new attitude and determination, and they got one back pretty quickly through some slick passing in the box. With a 2 goal lead but still more than a half hour to go, it was a tricky decision weather to stay back or go for more goals...

...We looked a bit uneasy and they took full advantage as super sub McFadden pulled another goal back after 68 minutes when he beat out inexperienced defender Ridgewell in a one-on-one....and after Vassell missed an open goal face with his header, we had 10 minutes to survive the best they've got...

To the defenders credit though they managed to hold them off quite well...and we managed to record another away win.

Everton 2
Chadwick 53
McFadden 69
Aston Villa 3
Angel 5
Cole 13, 34

Our form has been good!

retired_jeja111

22nd December, 2005

EPL, Game 19
Aston Villa vs. Charlton

Another match against a team in the lower half, and another chance to capitalise.

With confidence sky high, we came at them with all guns blazing and it didn't take long, once again, for a bullet to connect with its target. Only 6 minutes, in fact, until Barry put through a cross which passed about 4 of their defenders before it got to Juan Angel who duly headed the ball in....and then after 25 minutes almost a carbon coby of the same play, Barry to Angel, gave us the 2nd goal of the match. Only 5 minutes later Cole was set free by who else than Solano, and suddenly we were 3 goals up still pretty early on in the game.

I was confident we had a winning lead, although we did concede one back before half time but with the "swiss cheese" goalkeeper Postma our only real option at the moment, for the meantime, it was not entirely unexpected.

They proved no further attacking threat to us though as the 2nd half petered out to our liking. We were able to get score more goals late, when Cole continued his scoring-for-fun run when he latched onto another long ball and put it passed the goalkeeper, and in stoppage time when Thomas Hitzlsperger hit a curving long shot from 30 years and put it passed the keeper in a tremendous display of talent. We had not only beaten Charlton - we had flogged them. Confidence was sky high.

Aston Villa 5
Juan Angel 6, 25
Cole 30, 85
Hitzlsperger 90
Charlton 1
Lisbie 31

And there was yet even more great news, when we were told that Newcastle had held Man Utd at Old Trafford to a 0-0 draw, and we had leaped them in the table into 3rd place! I was handed a sheet of paper...this is what the table looks like with half the season gone...

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Chelsea | | 19 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 45 | 13 | +32 | 48 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Arsenal | | 19 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 47 | 13 | +34 | 46 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Aston Villa | | 19 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 41 | 23 | +18 | 38 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Man Utd | | 19 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 30 | 15 | +15 | 37 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Southampton | | 19 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 23 | 18 | +5 | 30 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Middlesbrough | | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 33 | 27 | +6 | 29 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Newcastle | | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 25 | 20 | +5 | 29 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Liverpool | | 19 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 23 | 21 | +2 | 28 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Tottenham | | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 26 | 25 | +1 | 25 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Blackburn | | 19 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 25 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Birmingham | | 19 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 22 | 23 | -1 | 25 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Portsmouth | | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 28 | 30 | -2 | 24 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Fulham | | 19 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 18 | 26 | -8 | 22 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Charlton | | 19 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 25 | 36 | -11 | 19 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | West Brom | | 19 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 17 | 28 | -11 | 17 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Norwich | | 19 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 34 | -18 | 15 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Man City | | 19 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 24 | 40 | -16 | 14 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Crystal Palace | | 19 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 18 | 40 | -22 | 14 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Everton | | 19 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 22 | 34 | -12 | 13 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Bolton | | 19 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 15 | 32 | -17 | 13 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

We had established ourselves firmly in the Champions League positions so far, and if you had showed me this at the beginning of the season then I would have jumped all over it. I really felt vindicated and over the initial media sprayings that I copped early on in my tenure.

One piece of bad news was that Charlton Cole, now the Leagues top scorer with 19 goals from 18 appearances in the Premier League, was banned for 1 match after accumulation 5 yellow cards. The thing was that the next match was another all important Midlands Derby, only a few days away...

retired_bootcamp_nat

Suspension is the only way to stop Cole from scoring the way he's going. Heading for a 40 goal season is amazing and i can't help but think it has something to do with the extra 'H' you've given him. God even the media seem to be confused about Carlton Cole (yes, Carlton). And Sven.

Press release - Carlton Cole will now be known as Charlton Cole. Following his recent rise to fame he has decidied that he simply does not have enough letters in his name and has moved to rectify this immediately

KUTGW taxman!

retired_bootcamp_nat

I just had to let you know taxman. Every time i read your story i am just looking for the next Cole reference and grinning it's great. BTW this is a story so you can call him whatever you want. I'm guessing that by May you'll be calling him King Cole!!