Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: J P Fear 
Date:Tuesday July 28 2009
Time: 10:40AM
UK time is: 07:30:09
Vital Login
Social Login
Choose your club
Other Sites
Network Navigation
Vital Partners
'If It's Football, It's Vital'
Steve Sidwell The Gareth Barry Replacement?
There was a report in The Mirror over the weekend by James Nursery with Steve Sidwell saying he is keen to step into the void left by Gareth Barry's exit to Manchester City.
Just wondered what you thought about that? Our latest poll asks your opinion and obviously you can discuss the quotes in article comments and in the forum.
The former Reading and Chelsea midfielder, who is getting a full pre-season under his belt following a disappointing first year at Villa. If you remember he arrived after not playing much at all at Chelsea and carrying an injury so didn't get up to speed for a fair while (despite a stunning debut goal away at Wigan!) and then picked up another injury taking him back out of the team... he then struggled to push his way back in, said in the report:
'I feel strong and I can't wait for the season to start.' He also knows it is a big season for all at Villa and promises he has far more to 'offer' than the claret and blue faithful saw last season.
He added, 'It was a bit stop-start for me last year. Every footballer will tell you they need a run of games and I'm no different.'
In the Express & Star the other day he mentioned the loss of Barry and that he wanted to push to replace him, he said the departure was a big loss 'But, as the saying goes, if one door closes then another one opens. There’s a space up for grabs. It’s down to me to take it. Hopefully it will be me who takes advantage. It’s going to be a big season for everyone, but particularly for us at Villa, because we have to get over the loss of Gareth and Martin Laursen and try to kick on. So the challenge is there for us all.'
So there you go, the latest poll, can Sidwell replace Barry....?
Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for the British GP
Seconds Out! Vital Boxing is here!
Your Comments
He's a different sort of MF player but considering that Barry was asked, seemingly, to play a more attacking role last season then yes, I think Sidders can do that job better. I don't think he has shown himself to be as good a player as yet but he is a better attacking option.
Villan Of The North
He's a different sort of MF player but considering that Barry was asked, seemingly, to play a more attacking role last season then yes, I think Sidders can do that job better. I don't think he has shown himself to be as good a player as yet but he is a better attacking option.
Villan Of The North
There is one aspect of Sidwell's game that is superior to Barry's, and that is his long range shooting. Unfortunately for us, every other aspect of Sidwell's game is not only inferior to Barry's, but is not of a sufficent standard for a Premierl League player. His passing is inadequate, and he can't tackle. The only way I can see him being accomodated in the team is if we use a 4-5-1, with him as the luxury midfield player. Ironically enough, Steve Sidwell is about as close as you get to an O'Neill luxury player. Not for him the cultured playmaker, capable of sublime moments of brilliance. Instead, we have a midfield clogger who scores the odd pile-driver from long range. But who knows, maybe he'll score a dozen goals next season!
Albarnista
There is one aspect of Sidwell's game that is superior to Barry's, and that is his long range shooting. Unfortunately for us, every other aspect of Sidwell's game is not only inferior to Barry's, but is not of a sufficent standard for a Premierl League player. His passing is inadequate, and he can't tackle. The only way I can see him being accomodated in the team is if we use a 4-5-1, with him as the luxury midfield player. Ironically enough, Steve Sidwell is about as close as you get to an O'Neill luxury player. Not for him the cultured playmaker, capable of sublime moments of brilliance. Instead, we have a midfield clogger who scores the odd pile-driver from long range. But who knows, maybe he'll score a dozen goals next season!
Albarnista
Totally disagree with you there Albarnista. Steve Sidwell certainly has it all to prove this season, but to suggest that he is not of premiership quality is way off the mark. He has the talent and he has the ability, and I believe that if he can stay relatively injury free, then he will become a very important player for us in the months ahead.
glensider
Totally disagree with you there Albarnista. Steve Sidwell certainly has it all to prove this season, but to suggest that he is not of premiership quality is way off the mark. He has the talent and he has the ability, and I believe that if he can stay relatively injury free, then he will become a very important player for us in the months ahead.
glensider
Have Your Say
Log in...
with your social network OR with your Vital account
Recent Articles
Seville Confirm Luna Interest (Tuesday June 18 2013)
Bacuna Speaks Roncrete & Improvements (Tuesday June 18 2013)
The AVFC Summer Transfer Action So Far (Tuesday June 18 2013)
Giant Striker Joins Villa! (Tuesday June 18 2013)
Vital Villa Interviews 2013 - Villa67 (Tuesday June 18 2013)
Vital Villa Interviews 2013 - Connerz1874 (Tuesday June 18 2013)
Pre Season Ticket Latest (Monday June 17 2013)
Matty's Mr Consistency (Monday June 17 2013)
Vital Villa Interviews 2013 - Draig Cymraeg (Monday June 17 2013)
Go To Hull Bent! And An Inward Coming Striker (Monday June 17 2013)
Archived Articles
Vital Members League (view all)
| 1. | The Fear | 393 |
| 2. | Pride of Lions | 371 |
| 3. | ClivetheVillan | 321 |
| 4. | BodyButter | 197 |
| 5. | DeanoVilla | 184 |
| 6. | CDX_EIRE | 168 |
| 7. | mike_field | 167 |
| 8. | Green Tea | 156 |
| 9. | Trekker | 151 |
| 10. | HeathfieldRoad1874 | 148 |
League Results (view all)
| Latest Results | ||||
| Wigan | 2 | - | 2 | Aston Villa |
| Aston Villa | 1 | - | 2 | Chelsea |
| Norwich | 1 | - | 2 | Aston Villa |
| Aston Villa | 6 | - | 1 | Sunderland |
| Man Utd | 3 | - | 0 | Aston Villa |
| Aston Villa | 1 | - | 1 | Fulham |
League Table (view table)
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 12. Fulham | 38 | 11 | 10 | 17 | -10 | 43 |
| 13. Stoke | 38 | 9 | 15 | 14 | -11 | 42 |
| 14. Southampton | 38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | -11 | 41 |
| 15. Aston Villa | 38 | 10 | 11 | 17 | -22 | 41 |
| 16. Newcastle | 38 | 11 | 8 | 19 | -23 | 41 |
| 17. Sunderland | 38 | 9 | 12 | 17 | -13 | 39 |
| 18. Wigan | 38 | 9 | 9 | 20 | -26 | 36 |
Breaking League News
| Canas: 'I Saw a Great Opportunity At Swansea City'
» Swansea : 18/06/2013 22:51:00
|
| Saints Season 2012/2013 Review - Goalkeepers
» Southampton : 18/06/2013 22:27:00
|
| Madness Confirmed.
» Newcastle : 18/06/2013 21:48:00
|
| Liverpool: International Heartbreak For Borini
» Liverpool : 18/06/2013 21:17:00
|
| Elliot Ward Joins Bournemouth
» Norwich : 18/06/2013 20:38:00
|
| Isco Torn Between Man City amp; Real Madrid
» Man City : 18/06/2013 20:13:00
|
| Yankees' Lawyer on Man City MLS Partnership
» Man City : 18/06/2013 19:59:00
|
Current Site Poll (view all polls)
|
|
1 © - All content copyright Vital Network Ltd, not to be reproduced without explicit permission Copyright Issues
Cookie Policy
At Vital Football, we along with most other modern websites use small files called 'cookies' to create the most secure, effective and functional website possible for our users. Without these files our business model, based on advertising, breaks down and we would be unable to continue to provide the services that you are here to utilise. By continuing to use this website after seeing this message, you consent to our use of cookies on this device unless you have disabled them. For full details please read our Cookie Policy which can be found here. However, if you would like to disable cookies on this device, please view our Cookie Policy which contains an opt-out tool for disabling advertising cookies. Please also visit our information pages on 'How to manage cookies' if you would also like to block all other types of cookies. Please be aware that parts of this site will not function correctly if you disable cookies.