On Sky
Yup, six pointer, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! Will the news of the impending takeover buoy the team or confuse them? O’Leary has used the talk of takeovers as an excuse for poor performances in the past, that said, he has used pretty much everything as an excuse in the past! I guess for him it will spell uncertain times, quite which way that decision will go is anyone’s guess. Oh, and we need the takeover to go through before getting too carried away! Aston Villa haven’t won on a Boxing Day since 1999, this game will see us correct that statistic……..won’t it? It better had, because Villa can simply not afford to drop home points against teams anywhere near us in the league at the moment.
Aston Villa Team News:
Mellberg and Phillips will both be out. No other news is available at the moment.ASTON VILLA (4-4-2) Sorensen, Hughes, Delaney, Ridgewell, Bouma’ Bakke, McCann, Davis, Barry’ Milner, Baros.
Player to watch: James Milner.
He has been in and out of form recently, so lets hope he is having an ‘on’ day as he is an exciting player when he is on his game.
Everton Team News:
EVERTON (4-4-2) Wright’ Hibbert, Yobo, Weir, Valente’ Arteta, Cahill, Neville, Davies’ Beattie, McFadden.
Taken from Vital Everton: To See Their Preview Click Here
Andy van der Meyde, is definitely out for the Toffees, and may not even make it back for the Merseyside derby. Richard Wright is expected to stay in goals after his stints for the injured Nigel Martyn (groin). Martyn is expected to play some part in the matches over Christmas. Long-term absentees Gary Naysmith and Lee Carsley are expected to return to full training early in the New Year.
Player to watch: James Beattie.
You just get the feeling don’t you? No? Ok, just me then.
Match Facts & Stats
Listen, it is nearly Christmas, so I’m going to be brief today!
Villa are 15th with 17 points.
Best case: 13th (but would take a major change in goal difference!!)
Worst case: 17th
Current Form League: 10th
Home Form League: 15th, 2 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses
Last Six Games: L W W D D L
Everton are 16th with 17 points.
Best case: 14th (unless radical changes to goal difference)
Worst case: 17th
Current Form League: 14th
Away Form League: 11th with 3 wins, 1 draw, 5 losses.
Last Six Games: L W W D L L
Last season: Aston Villa 1-3 Everton (Solano 46), (Osman 17, 67, Cahill 48)
Premiership record: Villa 12 wins, Everton 6, Draws 8
Record at Villa Park: Villa 8 wins, Everton 1, Draws 4
Ref Watch:
Mike Riley, 13 matches, 2 reds, 60 yellows. A bit fussy, but not the worst.
Match Prediction:
Mystic Mug is full of festive spirit (mostly vodka) and says a home win for Villa. Tough game to predict though, both teams have been terribly patchy this season, you would think the first team to score will come out the eventual winners.
Next Fixtures:
28/12/2005 (Fulham)
31/12/2005 ARSENAL
02/01/2006 (West Brom)
