Vital Villan Interviews

Vital Villa Summer 2011 Interviews: Ruggaboy

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Image for Vital Villa Summer 2011 Interviews:  Ruggaboy

Vital Villa Summer 2011 Interviews: Ruggaboy

Vital Villa Summer 2011 Interviews: Ruggaboy

How do you do one I hear you cry? Click here and find out! YOUR TURN: The Vital Villa Interviews..

1) When did you become a Villa fan and why?

Well it may sound cliché, but I’ve been a Villa fan since birth. Every picture of my youth includes a rather chubby me, normally covered from head to toe in Villa gear. This ranged from caps, to underwear, to replica away shirts with incorrectly spelt player’s names as my parents couldn’t decide how to spell Vassell. That went down well on Christmas day!
First match was Chelsea at home in the 2001/02 season. Starting my account with a 3-1 win’s always good!

2) Alex McLeish? Your opinion please?

Initially, I wasn’t a fan at all. Probably due to the fact I’m mates with many die-hard Small Heath fans and they despise his boring style of football that was shown at St. Andrews. But now I’ve had time to actually think about it, I don’t think it’s such a bad appointment. I think that he will solidify the defence and this will sort us out. We were freely scoring goals at times last season but it was our discipline in defence that I believe, let us down at so many points. I read an OPTA fact the other day that said Villa lost the greatest amount of points from winning positions than anyone else. I believe the figure was a staggering 29 points! If Mcleish sorts this out and makes a few good signings, I truly believe we will be a competitive force next season. Easier said than done! I also think that because Randy Lerner has brought Mcleish in against many/most of the fan’s wishes, he’s GOT to back him or else he’ll show him self up, big time. From the professional way he rightfully portrays himself, i don’t think Randy would let this flop.

3) Best and worst moments of last season?

Best moment- It’s got to be Gabby’s last minute goal against the Hammers to win us the game. I thought we deserved the game the whole way through but the ball just wouldn’t go in. Eventually it did and it was nice to see Gabby score when brought on in his CORRECT POSITION instead of being stood out on the wing like a cabbage!
Worst moment- Leighton Baines’ last minute penalty after a blatant dive from Jagielka. The emotional roller-coaster of going 2-1 up through Mr Bent to then be pegged back in the dying seconds, blood pressure was through the roof!

4) Your opinion of Randy Lerner?

I think he’s the best thing to happen to Villa in my lifetime! I grew up in the Deadly Doug days of torturous transfer policies and fans being driven insane therefore Mr Lerner was an absolute breath of fresh air. He seemed to listen to the fans and appoint the best manager possible at the time in the form of MON. Not only that he’s pumped over £100m into the club in the form of transfers alone, and always seemed to back the manager. Therefore happy Manager = happy players which lead to three consecutive 6th positions. So for that, Thank you Randy.

5) Which player/s should Villa sign this summer?

-The priority is obviously a goalkeeper. This should be in the form of Given in my opinion. Best goalkeeper around when fit. But i do believe we missed out big-time on Al-Habsi. He was a steal at £4m, and without a doubt kept Wigan in the Prem. But if he’s a steal, I can’t think of an adjective strong enough to describe what given coming to the Villa would be!

-I think we need a RB and LB. I think Hutton would be a solid signing for a small fee, such as the £3m being touted around. In terms of LB, i think we should try and get Kieran Gibbs on a season long loan, Jose Enrique from the barcodes, (but that would be rather expensive) or lets make a cheeky bid for Ryan Bertrand to build for the future.

Midfield- I really think we should re-sign Reo-coker but sell Petrov. I do acknowledge that he’s the club captain but I think his legs began to go towards the end of the season and he just can’t keep up with a 4-4-2. Therefore i do think we need a new CM, sort of a Huddlestone figure. I would’ve loved Adam, but he’s been snapped up by Liverpool now it seems, so maybe Joey Barton for a small fee as he’s on the last year of his contract. May be troublesome is a damn fine player on his day. I’d focus my attentions on Fernando Gago though. I believe he’s absolutely class and would be a fabulous addition to our squad. Maybe Diego is a far-out hope, but that would be quality and would really outline the ambition of the club. I’d leave the Midfield there actually as I believe Delph, Ireland and Makoun will seem like new signings as none of them really have shown their class YET, for one reason or another. I truly believe Delph will shine next season, and will fulfil the role of the midfield general that we need, but also bringing youth, energy and precision passing to our game that we so desperately need.

Finally, Attack- I believe N’zogbia is on the way anyway, but i do believe we require him to fill the hole of Ash. His tenacity, pace and goal-scoring ability coming in from the left wing will be something that Bent will thrive off as the ‘Zog gets in behind defences and will provide so many goals for him!
I think we should look at Danny Sturridge. If he can be bought for under 9-10 million, i think he’ll be one of the premiership’s best in years to come. Also, isn’t he a Villa fan anyway? (boyhood dream maybe? 😉 )

6) Stewart Downing, if he really wants out, should Villa refuse to let him go or get shot?

Get shot without a doubt. If we can get £20mil for him, I believe we can replace him with much, much better players. Granted, he showed great commitment amongst other things last season, but there’s just something about his play that i just don’t rate. I’m a big believer in loyalty, and I think if he won’t show it to a club that’s rebuilt his career after a potentially career ending injury, then he doesn’t deserve to be with us. Simple as that.

7) Favourite current player?

Marc Albrighton. I believe we’ve found a partially rough diamond here. I say partially rough because he’s an extremely good player already, but I believe he has so much potential that he could be playing for the best clubs in the world in the future, but of course I’d love him to stay at Villa for his whole career! Extremely exciting times ahead!

8) Favourite all time player/s?

Martin Laursen. The best Centre Back I’ve ever seen in a Villa shirt. End of! Gave his all for the club and just outlined the commitment that should be shown by footballers these days.

9) What do you expect us to do/finish this season?

Premier: 7th
FA Cup: 3rd round to Man U as always!
Carling: Semi’s.

10) You can ask yourself any question you want to about Villa and what is your answer?

How many summer signings and Highest transfer fee paid? All of the above and £15m for Diego (wants to go, sold on the cheap!)

11) Right, lets lower the tone… which celebrity would you most like to bang and which (male I would think) celeb would you most like to thump!?!

Francoise Boufhal. Damnnnnnnn!
and I’d love to thump Liam Gallagher, but as most people already have, I’d have to go with Justin Bieber for obvious reasons.

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