On Sky
Oh great, Man Utd finally remember how to score and we lose our rock in defence. Ain’t life a bitch!!?
Vital Quotes:
Aaron Hughes says: he can fill the void left by Mellberg: ‘I’ve played there before. I started out as a centreback and have played most of my international football there. It’s only over the past couple of years I’ve moved to full-back with Newcastle and I came here as a full-back.
Steven Davis says: ‘It is a special game for me. Playing against world class players and top teams is what you aim for. It is good to test yourself against the best – especially someone like Paul Scholes. He is someone I looked up to when I was younger. It will be nice to come up against him and have a close view of just how good he is.’
Olof Mellberg says: ‘OUCH. Oh bugger.’
Doug says: How much did you offer for Villa again? Can I still run the club then?! No? Oh.
Aston Villa Team News:
Where do you start with Villa team news? The news isn’t great with Mellberg out with a hamstring, Delaney could return and fill that spot, or Hughes may be switched to the centre with Delaney slotting into his more usual right back position. It might not be a shock to see O’Leary adopt the five across midfield tactics like he did against Bolton (1-1) last weekend. However, with our defensive problems, the best way to try to get anything out of this game is to attack! Berger is still out, although he has now been told he won’t require surgery. Phillips (ankle) is out for a couple more weeks, Jlloyd Samuel (knee) and Ulises de la Cruz (ankle) required scans following the reserve game v The Baggies which might rule them out (as if DLC was ever going to be ruled in!)(from): Sorensen, Taylor, Hughes, Delaney, Fear (then the alarm clock goes off), Ridgewell, Samuel, Bouma, McCann, Milner, Hendrie, Davis, De La Cruz, Jumper Jumper, Barry, Baros, Angel, Moore.
Player to watch: Steven Davis.
We might as well watch him because you can be sure Sir Al will be! Mind you, he is said to be due to sign a new ‘double your money’ contract to stay at Villa.
Manchester United Team News:
Silvestre could be on the bench having recovered from his groin injury. (from) Van der Sar, Howard, Neville, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Brown, O’Shea, Richardson, Ronaldo, Park, Fletcher, Scholes, Smith, Giggs, Rooney, Van Nistelrooy, Saha.
Player to watch: Rooney
On his day he is the best in the world. No way round the fact. Still looks like Shrek though. Mind you, Bouma looks like Shrek’s brother! You can see the fun I have in my own little world can’t you!?
Match Facts & Stats
Villa are 14th with 17 points.
Best case: 13th
Worst case: 17th
Current form league: 11th
Last six games: L L W W D D
Home form league: 15th with 2 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses.
Man Utd are 2nd with 34 points.
Best and worst case = remaining 2nd.
Current form league: 2nd
Last six games: W W W W D W
Away form league: 1st, 6 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss.
Last season: Aston Villa 0-1 Manchester United (Giggs 41)
This season at Old Trafford: Manchester United 1-0 Aston Villa (Ruud van horseface Nistelrooy 66)
Premiership record: Villa 2 wins, Man United 18 wins, Draws
Prem record at Villa Park: Villa 2 wins, Man United 8 wins, Draws 3
Ref Watch:
Mike Dean, 8 matches, 1 red, 27 yellows.
Match Prediction:
Sorry, you can call Mystic Mug a miserable git if you want, but if there is to be a win tomorrow, it will belong to the visitors. The best we can hope for in our current up and down form is a draw. Lets hope the lads shock us, but Mystic says 2-0 to Man Utd. And on behalf of my mate Norm who hasn’t been too well recently, a Villa win, always a Villa win.
Next Fixtures:
26/12/2005 EVERTON
28/12/2005 (Fulham)
31/12/2005 ARSENAL
