Villa V Man Citeh Preview

IT’S CCCCHHHRRRIIISSTTTMMMAAAASSS!!!

Saturday sees the aftermath of the ‘Vital Villa Christmas Bash,’ it also sees the return of Sven to Villa Park as Aston Villa take on a team who have overtaken them in the top four chase stakes. Whilst their form at home has been phenomenal, Sven’s foreign warriors aren’t so great on the road, having not won in seven away league fixtures.

Villa meanwhile have had a torrid time of late, the 4-0 hammering of Blackburn Rovers in late November a distant memory, with defeats at the hands of Arsenal and Pompey, followed by a disappointing draw with relegation candidates Sunderland.

Can Martin O’Neill’s men install some festive cheer to the claret and blue faithful?

Full preview as always here on Vital Villa!

Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg (should that be want away defender?) has insisted that Villa need to avoid defeat on Saturday in order to avoid a similar slump that the club experienced this time last year:

'It's important to get a good start in this period,' said Mellberg. 'Because there are so many games, you really climb the table if you play well.'

'We had a bad Christmas and because there are so many games in this period, a bad spell at this time of the year can be costly.

'Saturday is a big, big game for us and an opportunity to improve the home record. We want to turn the recent home results around.'

Manager Martin O’Neill has been talking this week about how Stiliyan Petrov’s availability this week gives him a selection headache, a selection headache very welcome to the boss. O’Neill also hinted that Togolese surprise signing Moustapha Salifou may be close to a first team call-up:

'I want competition in the middle of the field. Moustapha Salifou is doing very well and his fitness has improved immensely.

'He's done exceptionally well in the reserve team and he won't be too far away, so that's encouraging.

'We also had Isaiah Osbourne back on Saturday and in terms of competition in midfield, there's competition for places which is encouraging despite the size of the squad.'
'We've been lucky with injuries, but we have four games in quick succession and I'm sure a few players will be used.'

I’m sure a few players will be used as well Martin, try 11 for starters; add 5 substitutes and you’ve got yourself a football team! It may just be cynicism on my part but O’Neill has been the sort of manager who plays “his team” with very little rotation making his quotes of a few players being used seem obscure.

With tough games coming up, can O’Neill afford to risk Osbourne? Personally he hasn’t particularly impressed me when he’s been on the pitch. Few young players I have ever come across have made their big first team break, disappeared back into the reserves for months and managed to make it back!


*****

Turning to Eastlands, former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has been talking goalkeepers. In a surprise move, the Swede has turned his back on fellow countryman, and national team number 1 Andreas Isaksson in the pecking order. Sven has managed to use 3 goalkeepers this year, including current number 1 Joe Hart and Kasper Schmeichel, the latter now out on loan.

On the #1 shirt decision, Sven said: (‘Well eh’) 'It was important for everybody that I came up with this decision before the transfer window opens in January.

'I don't know what Andreas will do but if he comes back and tells me he wants to go, I will not be surprised and I will understand.'

'Joe will be my number one for the foreseeable future, which just shows how much belief I have in him,' said Eriksson.

'I strongly believe he will be a great goalkeeper. He is only 20 and he will get better and better. He is the England Under-21 keeper and he has a great future.'

At 20 years old Hart may just be challenging the likes of current Villa first choice keeper Scott Carson. Should the Manchester City stopper be able to claim a cross or corner ball, he has a distinct advantage over Carson, who in my opinion hasn’t set the world alight in claret and blue (or in reality, two tone yellow or grey!)

With Manchester City flying surprisingly high, courtesy of a number of high-profile signings, the man behind the money former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has praised the performance of his team, and believes that the impact and subsequent success of his manager may lead to him being offered a long-term deal.

When talking about the man I kind of wish was at Villa now, Mr Shinawatra said: 'I think Sven can remain our manager until he retires.'

'I didn't expect the team would achieve this kind of level. But I did believe when I arrived that Manchester City could improve a lot.

'And you simply have to hand it to Sven who has done a marvellous job.

'He is a very good football strategist and he teaches the players well. His motivational ability is another important part of his game.

'We consider him as a world-class manager. There are not many of them in football but Sven is certainly one of them.'

Villa are boosted by the return of Stillyan Petrov who has missed the last two matches with hamstring trouble giving O’Neill the previously mentioned selection headache. Petrov’s injury came at a time where the former Celtic midfielder was enjoying a good run of form, to the point that some Villa fans were even contemplating whether he was finally becoming a good signing for the club.

Curtis Davies is likely to be back on the bench despite breaking his nose last week. The travesty that is this decision may mean that Gary Cahill is left out of the squad despite being available and having impressed just about everyone during his loan stint at Sheffield United.

Thomas Sorensen fans, after the Danish goalkeeper said: 'Even if the manager personally offered me a new contract, I wouldn't sign it.'

'If somebody shows me a contract, I will sign it, no matter what the offer is.'

…I wouldn’t expect him to feature!

My predicted 16: Carson, Bouma, Laursen, Knight, Mellberg, Young, Barry, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Agbonlahor, Carew. Subs: Taylor, Davies, Berger, Gardner, Harewood.

One of the big ‘pro’ arguments for the signing of Scott Carson on a permanent basis is his shot stopping ability, something he hasn't shown us yet.

With Manchester City having developed a habit of firing from long range, yet again our £10million-rated keeper will have to be on his toes!

Good news for Villa as Michael Johnson is a major doubt following surgery on his abdominal injury. Obviously this isn’t good news for Mr Johnson but, it’s great for us.

Stephen Ireland misses out due to suspension, possibly giving Geovanni a rare start in midfield.

Manchester City team (from): Hart, Isaksson, Corluka, Sun, Onuoha, Richards, Dunne, Garrido, Ball, Hamann, Fernandes, Johnson, Geovanni, Petrov, Elano, Bianchi, Vassell, Mpenza, Etuhu.

Elano is the said long-ranger that will be giving Carson something to think about. The midfield will have to ensure they close him down quickly so that he doesn’t get the opportunity to beat Carson from distance.