Aston Villa away Feb 14th around 2ish

[Molby]

A mouth watering array of talent suddenly available now

And Benteke will be there too

And some good kids, with good attitudes

 

So what do we want to see ?

[Will]

Down Memory Lane

YNWA takes a look back at past memorable away League meetings as we visit Aston Villa for the 91st time in the League on Sunday. Our all-time League record in the Midlands is fairly good, reading 31 wins, 21 draws and 38 defeats to date.

Most recently

We won 2-0 in January 2015 when Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert both bagged their last reds goals. Left-back Aly Cissokho made his reds bow from the bench as Daniel Sturridge’s first-half strike was enough to secure victory in August 2013, with keeper Simon Mignolet making a series of crucial stops after the break. We won 2-1 on Easter Sunday five months earlier, after falling behind to a Christian Benteke strike, one of his five past us. Jordan Henderson levelled the scores before Steven Gerrard converted a penalty.

We won 2-0 in December 2011 thanks to early goals from Craig Bellamy and Martin Škrtel. Luis Suárez hit the woodwork to make it sixteen times in total we had suffered that fate to date that season. We lost in our final game of the campaign seven months earlier, with future red Stewart Downing netting the only goal as David N’Gog played his 94th and last reds game. In December 2009, Fernando Torres struck the only goal of our game in injury time, his fiftieth League goal, in his 72nd game, a new club record. David N’Gog made his reds bow as a substitute for the injured Torres in a goalless draw in August 2008, with Robbie Keane again drawing a blank.

Ryan Babel, Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin all made their first-class reds bows in our season opener in August 2007 as a late Steven Gerrard free-kick secured a 2-1 win. This ensured that we became the fourth team to pass a thousand points in the Premier League, reaching 1,002, and was the first ever live Premiership match shown on Setanta Sports. We had taken the lead through a Martin Laursen own goal before Jamie Carragher gave away a penalty that Gareth Barry converted, one of his four goals against the reds to date.

Pepe Reina kept his fiftieth clean sheet for the reds in March 2007, in his 93rd outing, as we were held to a goalless draw in a lifeless match. Steven Gerrard played his 300th reds game in November 2005, converting a late penalty with Xabi Alonso then also scoring as we won 2-0.

Other recent reds debutants

Nicolas Anelka made his reds debut on Boxing Day 2001 as we won 2-1, with goals from Jari Litmanen, gifted to him by Peter Schmeichel, and Vladimír Šmicer. Jari also hit a spot-kick against the post. Torben Piechnik debuted in September 1992 as we lost 4-2, with ex-Villain Mark Walters and Ronnie Rosenthal on target as ex-red Dean Saunders struck twice on his home debut. Dalian Atkinson bagged one of his four goals against us, with Garry Parker also scoring.

Brad Friedel made his reds bow in a 2-1 defeat in February 1998, as an early Michael Owen penalty was cancelled out by ex-red Stan Collymore’s brace in John Gregory’s first game as Villa boss. Eleven years earlier, John Aldridge debuted in our 2-2 draw as a substitute for goalscorer Craig Johnston, with Paul Walsh also netting and Mark Lawrenson putting through his own net and Paul Elliott also on target for the Villains. Winger Jimmy Carter made his reds bow as a substitute for Ronnie Rosenthal in our goalless draw in January 1991.

Trebles for and against

Robbie Fowler bagged a hat-trick in our 4-2 win over Villa in November 1998, who were unbeaten in their opening twelve League fixtures, their most successful ever start to a League campaign, to secure Gérard Houllier’s first win in sole charge. Dion Dublin scored twice and had a penalty saved by David James, with Stan Collymore sent off for shoving Michael Owen. Steve Harkness was playing his hundredth League game for the reds. Inside-left Ronald Orr scored on his reds debut in April 1908, but could not prevent us succumbing 5-1, with Joe Bache grabbing a hat-trick. Harry Hampton struck two of his fifteen goals past us.

Ian Rush scored a hat-trick past the young Nigel Spink on a frozen pitch in January 1984 as we came from behind to win 3-1 in a live Friday night BBC game, in front of just 19,566 hardy fans. Scouser Dennis Mortimer struck the Villains’ consolation. 52 years earlier, George Brown scored four goals for Villa in their 6-1 thrashing of the reds, with Eric Houghton bagging one of his six goals against us and George Stephenson also netting. Centre-forward Harold Barton scored our consolation.

Harry Hampton scored the first of his club-record fourteen hat-tricks for Aston Villa in their 5-0 trouncing of the reds in September 1905 to leave us without a point and with a goal difference of -9 after three games. However, we still went on to claim the title, becoming the first side to do so having won promotion the previous season. Left-half George Fleming played his 82nd and last reds game as Alf West put through his own net, with Billy Brawn grabbing the other goal. Hampton netted his final treble for the club in their 6-2 victory in April 1915, when defender Phil Bratley played his thirteenth and final reds game. Jackie Sheldon converted a penalty with Tom Miller bagging our other goal. Debutant Harry Nash also struck three times for Villa in the same game.

Other recent meetings

Michael Owen had a penalty saved by Peter Enckleman in August 2002 after John Arne Riise had scored the only goal of the game, our first League fixture of the season. Ulisses De La Cruz made his Villa debut. In October 1999, Steve Staunton was laughably sent off by Rob Harris for a second bookable offence after half an hour, having been wrongly adjudged not to have retreated ten yards at a free-kick. Steven Gerrard then slotted in as our emergency left-back as we held out for a goalless draw.

Yuletide encounters

Terry McDermott struck on his 28th birthday as we won 3-1 in December 1979, with Ray Kennedy and Alan Hansen also netting and Brian Little bagging the home side’s consolation. Three years earlier, Villa inflicted on us our biggest defeat in ten years as we lost 5-1. Andy Gray and John Deehan both struck twice, and Little also netted with Ray Kennedy grabbing our consolation. Ian Callaghan made his 600th League appearance. Winger Jackie Sheldon netted our consolation from the spot as we lost 2-1 in December 1913, the first of his twenty reds goals. Harry Hampton struck both Villa’s goals.

Final games

The last game in front of the standing Holte End was played in May 1994, with Robbie Fowler on target in our last game of the season as we lost 2-1 to finish in eighth, with Julian Dicks playing his 28th and final reds game and Don Hutchison turning out for the sixtieth and last time. Dwight Yorke bagged the first two of his eight goals past us. Meanwhile, travelling fans were glued to their radios as Everton somehow stayed up following their relegation decider with Wimbledon. Alan A’Court played his 354th and final reds League game as we lost 2-0 in May 1963 in a game postponed from Boxing Day with George Graham netting the first of his four goals past us and Bobby Thomson also on target. Back in April 1899, centre-forward George Allan made his 96th and last reds appearance in our second 5-0 defeat in this fixture. This was our last match of the season, in which Villa won the title by two points from the second-placed reds. Fred Wheldon struck the last two of his five goals against the reds, with Jack Devey nabbing two of his seven past us and Jimmy Crabtree also on target. In February 1939, forward George Patterson played his third and final reds game as we lost 2-0 as Harry Broome netted the final two of his five goals against the reds.

More reds debutants

Centre-forward Louis Bimpson made his reds bow as we were thumped 4-0 in March 1953. Johnny Dixon and Dickie Dorsett, who had guested with the reds during the war, each bagged the last of their four goals past us, with Dave Walsh nabbing one of his four and Tom Thompson also on the scoresheet. Winger Billy Watkinson scored on his reds debut in our 2-1 win in April 1947, with Willie Fagan netting the other. Left-back Jack Tennant debuted as we lost 4-2 in September 1933, with Sam English and Gordon Hodgson on target. Eric Houghton struck twice for the home side, with Dai Astley and Alec Talbot also on target for the Villains. Eight months earlier, outside-left Alf Hanson made his reds bow as we suffered another heavy defeat, this time 5-2, with Gordon Hodgson and Syd Roberts on the scoresheet in the first half, as centre-forward Les Bruton played his eighth and last game for the club. Tom Waring nabbed two of his six goals against the reds, with Eric Houghton also scoring one of his six past us, with James Gibson and Joe Beresford also on target.

Centre-forward Hugh Henderson made his reds bow as we lost 5-0 in October 1894 on our first trip to Aston Villa, when they were still playing at their old Perry Barr ground. Jack Reynolds bagged a brace, with Denny Hodgetts, Billy Dorrell and Jimmy Cowan all also scoring. In December 1909, left-half John McConnell debuted in our 3-1 defeat, with Jack Parkinson netting from the spot. Joe Bache struck two of his nine goals against the reds, with Harry Hampton also scoring. Forward Herbert Leavey made his reds bow as we drew 1-1 on Christmas Eve in 1910 when James Stewart was on the scoresheet and Harry Hampton netted another of his fifteen goals against us.

Red milestones

Keeper David James reached a century of reds games in our 2-0 defeat in May 1995, with Dwight Yorke netting twice. Terry McDermott’s second goal was his fiftieth in the League for the reds as we won 3-0 in January 1982. Ian Rush had opened the scoring in the third minute. Roger Hunt reached 200 appearances for the club, scoring in our 2-2 draw in February 1964, with Alf Arrowsmith also netting. Forward Jack Balmer grabbed his hundredth reds goal as we drew 1-1 in September 1950. We won 4-1 in January 1925 in our 500th away League game, in a match postponed from three weeks earlier, with Jimmy Walsh bagging a brace. Harry Chambers and Danny Shone were also on the scoresheet as Len Capewell nabbed one of his six goals past us. Bill Murray struck his only reds goal as we won 3-2 in November 1929. Jim Smith also netted with Tommy Mort putting through his own net for us. George Brown netted one of his nine goals against the reds, with Joe Beresford scoring one of his four past us.

Left-half Jimmy McDougall scored his first reds goal as we lost 3-1 in September 1928. Joe Beresford struck the first of his four goals against the reds, with Len Capewell scoring the last of his six past us and Dicky York also on target. In September 1919, Dick Forshaw bagged the only goal of the game to hand us victory, the first of his 124 reds strikes. Harry Bradshaw struck his fiftieth reds goal in our 3-1 defeat back in October 1897, our first visit to Villa Park. Jack Devey bagged one of his seven goals past us, with Fred Wheldon bagging one of his five and Charlie Athersmith also scoring. Seven months earlier, our last trip to Perry Barr had ended goalless with inside-left Davy Hannah playing his 33rd and final reds game.

More ex-reds on target

Bert Goode bagged a brace as we lost 5-0 in December 1911, with Charlie Wallace also netting twice and Joe Bache nabbing one of his nine goals against the reds. Gordon Hodgson was on target as we lost 3-0 in February 1936, with Dai Astley nabbing one of his six goals past us with Jack Maund also scoring.

Battling back

We led 4-0 with just 24 minutes remaining of our Second Division fixture in March 1960, thanks to a brace from Dave Hickson and goals from Roger Hunt and John Molyneux. However, the home side struck three times inside nine minutes, and Bobby Thomson grabbed his second goal to equalise with five minutes remaining. Peter McParland, who had already scored, as in the earlier meeting at Anfield that season, missed a clear-cut chance in the last minute that nearly completed an amazing comeback for the Villains, although they went on to claim the title that season. Villa’s other goal came from Stan Lynn’s spot-kick.

Other meetings

We lost 3-1 in April 1979, with David Johnson nabbing our consolation and Phil Thompson putting through his own net, and John Deehan bagging a brace. We only conceded sixteen goals in the whole of that League campaign. Centre-forward Fred Howe bagged the first of his 36 reds goals in our 4-2 defeat in April 1935, with Berry Nieuwenhuys also on target. Harry Broome netted the first two of his five strikes past us, with Arthur Cunliffe and Dennis Watkin also scoring. Right-back Bob Done bagged his thirteenth and final reds goal with Syd Roberts also on target as we lost 3-2 in January 1934. Tom Waring struck two of his six goals against the reds, with Ronnie Dix nabbing one of his four past us.

[realtarragona]

Would like to see Coutinho, Firmino and Sturridge in the side. Bring Sturridge off on 60 for Origi.

 

I'd keep Lucas at the back and play Stewart in midfield.

 

Then whatever with the rest.

[D.Boon]

I'd keep the centre half's the same unless they are still knackered. Be tempted to play Stewart too. Up front Coutinho, Sturridge and Firminho. 5-0 to us.

[Hassony]

Benteke will finally come good against his old club

 

I'd start him again with coutinho and firminio

[Molby]

Benteke will finally come good against his old club

 

I'd start him again with coutinho and firminio

Ha yes just for a goof

 

He can singlehandedly bring the pair of them down with him

[Benzo-13]

Same team as West Ham mostly.

Get Sturridge and Firmino in somehow though.

[Gravy]

Sturridge, Benteke, Firmino,

Coutinho, Henderson and Milner as the front 6

 

Won't happen but would be great to see how that worked

[RedMersey]

I'd go with a 4-3-1-2.

 

Mignolet

Clyne, Ilori, Lucas, Smith

Coutinho, Stewart, Milner/Henderson/Chirivella/Anyone

Firmino

Benteke, Sturridge

 

Flano probably won't play again so soon. Henderson should really be nowhere near this.

Edited February 11, 2016 by RedMersey

[Benzo-13]

Don't want to see Benteke.

I'd rather Origi/Sturridge start and the other one gets to replace the other.

[Will]

Double Agents

In advance of our second meeting of the season on Sunday, YNWA looks at the careers of some of those who have represented both Aston Villa and the mighty reds.

Current double agent players

Christian Benteke signed from Aston Villa for £32.5m last July, after netting 49 times in 101 games since arriving from Koninklijke Racing Club Genk for a reported £7m in August 2012. He has so far struck seven times in thirty reds outings. Centre-half Tiago Ilori signed from Sporting Clube de Portugal for £7m in September 2013, so far making three senior appearances, since returning early from a loan move to Villa Park last September, where he failed to make the first team.

James Milner arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City in July, so far notching four times in 28 games, many as captain in the absence of Jordan Henderson through injury. He joined Villa on loan from Newcastle United for a season in August 2005, scoring three times in 33 games. He made the same move for £12m three years later, bagging another twenty goals in 96 games, being named as the PFA’s Young Player of the Year for 2009/10. He left Villa Park to join City in August 2010 for £26m plus Stephen Ireland.

Aly Cissokho signed on loan from Valencia in August 2013 for a season, making nineteen appearances. He joined the Villains permanently a year later, so far playing 34 times. He was due to spend this campaign on loan back at Porto, but returned prematurely last December.

In charge

Gérard Houllier took over as Villa boss in September 2010, appointing Gary McAllister as his Assistant. Houllier led the Villains to fourteen victories in 39 games in charge before stepping down the following June, although he was recovering from a heart problem for part of this time. Houllier was appointed as joint Manager at Liverpool in July 1998 alongside Roy Evans, taking sole charge four months later. He led us to the UEFA Cup, FA Cup, two League Cups, UEFA Super Cup and FA Charity Shield in his six years at Anfield. McAllister was one of his most inspirational signings, arriving on a free transfer in July 2000. He netted nine goals in 87 reds games before moving back to Coventry City as Player/Manager, having helped us to claim five trophies in 2001. He too left Villa Park in June 2011, returning to Anfield as a First-team Coach in July.

Kevin MacDonald was in charge of the reserves at Villa Park until June 2012, leading them to a hat-trick of Reserve League South titles and one national play-off success. He took charge of the first team on a temporary basis for the first eight games of the 2010/11 season. He struck five goals in 64 reds games after signing from Leicester City for £400,000 in November 1984. Mark Walters signed pro forms at Villa in May 1982, scoring 39 times in 181 first-team appearances until Graeme Souness signed him for Rangers in December 1987 for £550,000. He rejoined Souness at Anfield in a £1.25m deal in August 1991 and bagged nineteen goals in 124 reds games. He also spent time as head coach of Villa’s Under-14’s. Mark Waller joined the reds to look after first-team medical matters in 1993, and was the doctor involved when Houllier suffered his heart problems at Anfield in October 2001. He left the club in June 2010, moving on to Villa for a year.

Other recent double agents

Winger Stewart Downing arrived at Anfield from Villa for £18.5m in July 2011. He scored seven times in 91 reds outings, having spent two years at Villa following a £12m move from his hometown club Middlesbrough. He bagged eleven goals in 82 games for Villa, and was named their Player of the Season in his second campaign. However, he left L4 to join West Ham United in August 2013 for a £6m fee. Joe Cole signed for Aston Villa from West Ham United on a free transfer last June, scoring once in just sixteen outings before leaving for Coventry City last month after a loan spell. He notched just five times in 42 reds outings after joining on a free transfer from Chelsea in July 2010, spending a season on loan at Lille OSC Métropole before returning to West Ham United for free in January 2013.

Scott Carson spent the 2007/08 season on loan with Villa, keeping nine clean sheets in 36 outings. He joined the reds from Leeds United for £750,000 in January 2005, with Paul Harrison going on loan in the opposite direction. Carson made just nine first-team appearances while at Anfield, only managing to keep two clean sheets, and was sold to West Bromwich Albion for £3.25m in July 2008. Brad Friedel left Blackburn Rovers for Villa Park in July 2008, playing 131 times before joining Tottenham Hotspur on a free in June 2011. The American keeper joined the reds from US side Columbus Crew for £1m in December 1997. He went on to appear 31 times between our sticks before moving to Ewood Park on a free transfer in November 2000.

Emile Heskey joined Villa from Wigan Athletic for £3.5m in January 2009, notching just fifteen times in 111 outings before being released in May 2012. He joined the reds from Leicester City for a then club record £10.5m fee in March 2000, and struck sixty goals in 223 games, helping us to claim the UEFA Cup, FA Cup, two League Cups, UEFA Super Cup and FA Charity Shield in his four years at Anfield. He was sold to Birmingham City for £6.25m in May 2004. Stephen Warnock played 67 reds games, notching once, before moving to Blackburn Rovers in January 2007 for £1.5m. He moved on to Aston Villa in August 2009, notching four times in 104 appearances for the Midlands outfit before joining Leeds United on a free transfer in January 2013.

Patrik Berger joined the reds from Borussia Dortmund for £3.25m following an impressive Euro ’96. He scored 35 times in 196 games, helping us to claim the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and FA Charity Shield, before joining Premiership new boys Portsmouth in June 2003. He then joined the Villains in July 2005, and played just 32 times for them as he once again struggled with injuries, netting twice. He was released in the summer of 2008, returning to his homeland to join Sparta Praha.

Peter Crouch joined Aston Villa from Portsmouth for £5m in March 2002, netting just six times in 43 games before returning to the south coast to sign for Southampton for £2m. He arrived at Anfield in July 2005 in a £7m deal, and struck 42 times in 134 outings, helping us to claim the FA Cup and FA Community Shield, before rejoining Pompey for a fee of up to £11m in July 2008. Robbie Keane spent two months on loan with the Villains from LA Galaxy from January 2012, bagging three goals in seven games. He joined the reds from Tottenham Hotspur for £19.3m in July 2008, but only netted seven times in 28 games before making the return journey for an initial £15m fee the following January.

Cup winners for Villa

Sam Hardy was one of our all-time great keepers, signing for £340 from Chesterfield in May 1905 and playing 240 times in his Anfield career. In his first season he conceded just 26 goals as we won the League. He was sold in May 1912 for £1,500, becoming the first player to switch straight from the reds to Villa, going on to help them to two FA Cup Final wins and playing 183 senior games for them, as well as four during wartime, before moving to Nottingham Forest for £1,000 in August 1921. Centre-half Jimmy Harrop joined the reds for £250 from Rotherham Town in January 1908, notching four goals in 139 games before joining Villa for £600 in June 1912, with whom he won the FA Cup the following year, netting four goals in 170 games and playing another twelve during the war before joining Sheffield United in March 1921.

Two reds went on to win the League Cup with Villa, Ian Ross in 1975 and Ray Houghton in 1994. Ross joined the Villains for £60,000 in February 1972 after his most successful season at Anfield, when he played just twenty League games. He captained Villa into the First Division, and then Wembley victory, notching three times in 205 first-team outings before moving to Peterborough United for £20,000 in December 1976. Houghton had five great seasons at Anfield, winning the League and FA Cup twice each as well as the FA Charity Shield, while grabbing 38 goals in 202 games. In summer 1992, Graeme Souness sold him to Villa for £900,000 following a pay dispute. He played 121 times for the Villains, notching eleven times, before joining Crystal Palace in March 1995.

Kenny’s first

Steve McMahon became Kenny Dalglish’s first signing, arriving from Villa in the first direct move in that direction for £375,000 in September 1985, after playing 91 times for the Midlands side. He had joined Villa from Everton for £175,000 in May 1983. He won three League titles, the FA Cup and two FA Charity Shields in his six years back on Merseyside, netting fifty times in 277 games before moving to Manchester City for £900,000 in December 1991.

1990’s double agents

Steve Staunton scored six goals in ninety appearances in his first spell at Anfield, joining Aston Villa for £1.1m in August 1991 after five years with the reds. After eighteen strikes in 263 games for Villa, he re-signed in July 1998, and made a further 58 first-team appearances, netting just once this time around before returning to Villa Park on a free transfer in December 2000. He played 87 times in his second spell at Villa Park, again only hitting the target once, before moving on to Coventry City in August 2003.

Stan Collymore was sold to Aston Villa for £7m in May 1997. He had bagged 35 goals in 81 reds games after his British record £8.5m signing from Nottingham Forest in July 1995. He went on to net fifteen times in 61 games for the Villains before joining Leicester City for free in February 2000. Dean Saunders signed from Derby County for a British record £2.9m fee in July 1991, scoring 25 goals in 61 appearances as the reds won the FA Cup, before being moved on to Aston Villa for £2.3m in September 1992, with whom he top scored in each of his three seasons, bagging 49 goals in 142 outings in total, before rejoining Graeme Souness at Galatasaray for £2.35m in July 1995.

David James joined Villa for £1.7m in June 1999, after 277 games for the reds. He only stayed for two seasons, playing 85 times, before joining West Ham United for £3.5m. Øyvind Leonhardsen joined the reds from Wimbledon for £3.5m in June 1997. He scored seven times in 49 reds games before being sold to Tottenham Hotspur for £3m in August 1999. He left there for Villa on a free transfer in August 2002, netting three goals in 23 games for the Villains.

More striking stars

South African Gordon Hodgson joined from Transvaal in November 1925, after impressing on a reds tour. He was a prolific marksman, holding our scoring records until the 1960’s, with 241 in 377 games, including nine in the League against the Villains, and an amazing seventeen hat-tricks in all. He moved to Villa in January 1936 for £3,000, netting eleven times in 28 games before joining Leeds United for £1,500 in March 1937. Dave Hickson was Phil Taylor’s last signing in November 1959, and a controversial one at that, making the short trip across Stanley Park. He had previously spent just two months at Aston Villa, arriving from Everton for £17,500 in September 1955, netting just once in twelve games before moving to Huddersfield Town for £16,000. He actually struck twice against Villa on his reds bow, netting 38 times in total in 67 reds games.

Tony Hateley joined Villa for £22,000 from Notts County in July 1963, netting 86 times in 148 games before moving to Chelsea for £100,000 in October 1966, from where he joined us for a then record £96,000 fee in July 1967. In his first season he grabbed 27 goals in 52 games, but injuries took their toll, and he was sold to Coventry City in September 1968 after a total of 28 strikes in 56 outings, funding the purchase of Alun Evans, who became England’s first £100,000 teenager when he arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers later that month, our new record signing. He never established himself, and joined Villa for £72,000 in June 1972 after losing his place to Kevin Keegan, having struck 33 times in 111 reds games. He grabbed sixteen goals in 74 fixtures for Villa, joining Walsall in December 1975 for £30,000.

Milan Baroš joined Villa for £6.5m in August 2005, having bagged 27 goals in 108 reds games after arriving from Baník Ostrava for £3.2m in December 2001, helping us to claim the Champions League and Worthington Cup. He struck fourteen times in 51 games for the Midlands outfit, before joining Olympique Lyonnais in a swap deal with John Carew in January 2007.

Other double agents

Bert Goode struck once in seven reds outings after signing from Chester in May 1908, moving to Wrexham in June 1910 and then Villa for £250 the following April, bagging a brace for them as they beat us 5-0 at Villa Park in December 1911. He struck three times in seven games for Villa before joining Hull City for £300 in May 1912. Richard Money signed from Fulham for £50,000 in May 1980 but only made seventeen reds appearances, before moving on to Luton Town in April 1982. He later became youth team coach at Villa Park. John Price signed from Fordhouse youth club in October 1954, but played just one senior game, at left-back at Leeds United in November 1955, before signing for Villa in March 1957.

Half-back Tommy Gardner signed from Orrell in April 1929 but played only five reds games before moving on to Grimsby Town in May 1931. He was eventually capped twice for England during his stint at Aston Villa. Other double agents include Frank O’Donnell who struck once in two Wartime appearances for the reds. He gained six Scotland caps as well as scoring in the 1937 FA Cup Final for Preston North End. He joined Villa from Blackpool in November 1938 for £10,500, netting fourteen goals in 34 games, as well another seven in fourteen Wartime games before joining Nottingham Forest in March 1947. Forward Jonathan Cameron signed from Villa in 1892, netting five times in nine reds games.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Highly confident the game will not end up "Aston Villa, nil"

[EC_Red]

Keeper

Clyne Illori Lucas Smith

Can Stewart Texeira

Firmino Benteke Coutinho

 

Assuming that Sturridge can't start the game.

[Molby]

Sturridge, Benteke, Firmino,

Coutinho, Henderson and Milner as the front 6

 

Won't happen but would be great to see how that worked

What if you touch live electrics to see how good a conductor you are ?

 

See how that works

[smithdown]

Berger played for Villa? Doesn't feel right that but there you go.

[cymrococh]

Berger played for Villa? Doesn't feel right that but there you go.

Wow

 

 

You read Will's post?

[smithdown]

Wow

 

 

You read Will's post?

I did skim it yeah.

 

Is right Will.

[D.Boon]

You read Will's post?

Ha. I did wonder.

[RP]

Highly confident the game will not end up "Aston Villa, nil"

 

 

There's a great pointer here for betting types.

[D.Boon]

A match thread isn't complete until the obligitary Macca pre match doom mongering.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

 

 

There's a great pointer here for betting types.

 

This s*** works - went to the bog during the Sunderland game last weekend - BOOM - 1-0

 

Should have stayed in there

[Molby]

Wow

 

 

You read Will's post?

tbf, and I'm not saying his Memory Lane posts are not excellent, as they clearly are....but also he regularly puts up spare tickets posts too, which, when push comes to shove, make him the best poster on YNWA year in year out

 

there, that's my pitch

[honourablegeorge]

Benteke to run riot against his former team?

 

No, not sold either.

[smithdown]

Benteke to run riot against his former team?

 

No, not sold either.

More like Supermarket Sweep the way he goes about it.

 

5-4 this, anyone's game.

[Hassony]

tbf, and I'm not saying his Memory Lane posts are not excellent, as they clearly are....but also he regularly puts up spare tickets posts too, which, when push comes to shove, make him the best poster on YNWA year in year out

 

there, that's my pitch

Yes, Will is my favourite poster