Why Villa Don’t need a Bentley

The press are suggesting that David Bentley is being targeted by Aston Villa and Martin O’Neil is keen to get the right winger. I have huge respect for O’Neil and I think he probably should go to a bigger team (i.e. Man U/Arsenal) but I simply do not understand this one.

Bentley is useless, arrogate and did I mention useless? I’m not even sure where they would play him. Villa have Miller, Young, Downing and now Delph. Would he be prepared to keep his mouth shout and sit on the bench?? I don’t think so! Totally the wrong type of signing for them and would be very surprised if it works out.

oh and he is in the news again

Football.co.uk; Mirror; Bentley to Villa

Football: Barclays Premier League Mid-Season Review

Christmas is approaching and so is almost the 19 game mark, things have been quite interesting in the beginning half of the season with teams like Hull and Fulham have been killing off some of their giant competitors leaving a very uncertain view of the top four and how things will shape up in the new year.

Liverpool started off with some brilliant results but with some very poor performances but they got the results that they needed and that’s why they are top. Having wins against Man City away and Chelsea away are all great but then drawing to Hull, Fulham and West Ham all at home is shocking, two of them being goalless, sure Hull are playing well but if Steven Gerrard wants to live up to his wishes pre-season of actually challenging for the title the whole season and not just playing for 3^rd or 4^th, they really had to get at least 7 out of 9 points in those games, had they had done, they would have been 5 points ahead of Chelsea which would definitely have boosted their chances.

Chelsea showed great promise thrashing teams near the beginning and with their prolific striker Nicholas Anelka, actually I say prolific but I am only really quoting what the press say, I think personally Anelka is the most boring goal scorer in the Premiership, that’s harsh I know but he doesn’t do anything, he doesn’t threaten defenders, he doesn’t link up well he doesn’t know how to pass, he just finishes all the things left on a plate. Its not a bad thing I guess but Chelsea want to live to a standard of attractive football and Anelka is not it, ok sure people will criticize me in saying this but just wait when he goes through a period of not scoring goals he will as useless as the referee, or even worse, Kalou.

Now Drogba, there’s a striker who knows how to make an impact, he terrorises defenders and scores some wonderfully team and individually crafted goals, that’s a striker to be proud of (apart from his attitude). Chelsea did look really good but a string of poor home form has left in doubt whether they really have that edge to win convincingly this season, I do believe they will be up there at the end, but it will be very close with them and Manchester United

Speaking of Man Utd, who out of the top four have had the hardest first half of the season, playing 9 away games against the 9 teams that were in the top 10 last season, and they have managed to come out of this quite well being 3^rd in the Premiership only 6 points behind Liverpool with a game to spare, they did lose two really important games against Liverpool and Arsenal, but they have done the business against the rest, the 2^nd half will be easier for Man Utd and if Berbatov can kick his old goal scoring form into gear, Man Utd are sure to be strong favourites.

Arsenal on the other hand are not, they have struggled this year and its hard to explain why, the only thing that really makes sense about Arsenal is that they don’t have Flamini, or a replacement of him that is experienced enough to hold that mid-field strong, Denilson is absolutely rubbish, this player doesn’t know how to pass the ball, stay on his feet, or score! I think even Eboue is better than him, and Song, who has started playing in that position recently, is just not good enough. Why Arsene Wenger insists on playing Bendtner I don’t know, especially when you have Carlos Vela rotting away on the bench. I really think Wenger has been very stubborn this season and it does seem he is trying to make a point, his first point being not to fall for the presses pressure, the press said he needs experience, pundits said if he has money to spend, then spend it, he went against this, they also said buy experience, he ignored this and went young again, this has cost them dearly, and they just can’t win games with conviction anymore, just like Arsenal used to.

Middle table looks exciting as ever too, Aston Villa are playing some attractive football and so are Everton, Man City have disappointed defensively but attacking football has been immense for them, almost to the standard of the top four, if they spend in January and with over half a trillion funding them I’m sure they will, you can be sure they will be a menace in the 2^nd half, and especially next year.

So in the end, I do predict Manchester United will be crowned once again, but if Chelsea can get their home act together it will be a very close race to the finish. Liverpool, no chance, thats harsh I guess, they do have a chance but I really think its more luck than talent that will take the crown. Arsenal, I don’t like to say but this season they need to pit their hopes on the Champions League, because the premiership is going to need a miracle. I do believe the top four will remain the same as last season.

Please leave your thoughts and predictions.

Aston Villa: 2008-09 Predicion

Martin O’Neil is assembling a very good squad at this club who shall surely be looking for 5th place next season. Last season O’Neil had one of the smallest first team squads and finished an impressive 6th. However the on-going Barry saga is bound to effect teams morale and spirits.

Strengths:

• The manager: A great tactician, very highly regarded and extremely well respected by the other managers.
• Brad Friedal: A greatly conistent goalkeeper which will be a solid rock.
• The Strike partnership of John Crew and Gabriel Agbonlahor had a lot more to offer.

Weakness:

• Strength in depth: If some of the key first team players are injured no real quality to come on.

Our Predictions:

J-Lee: It’s hard to call but I’m going to go for 6th (with Barry). Without Barry, they’ll finish 7th.

The Doc: I expect a topsiturvy season. But O’Neil will work his magic so I believe Villa will finish 6th

Transfers:

• Villa, need to strengthen the right hand side. No real replacement has been made for the departed Villa legend Olof Mellberg and personally we do not believe Wayne Routledge is constant enough. Maybe a return for James Milner is on the cards.

Links: Yahoo! Aston Villa Wikipedia Aston Villa