Premier League

KC Stadium

10-02-2014 @ 19.45 UK

How are the two sides form?

What are the probable line-ups?

Hull City are without James Chester, Mohamed Diamé, Liam Rosenior and Robert Snodgrass for the Aston Villa match. Villas injury list have been shortened the last month with only Libor Kozak and Philippe Senderos left. 

McGregor

Dawson - Bruce - McShane

Elmohamady - Huddlestone - Livermore - Mayler

Ramirez - Brady

Aluko

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Weimann - Agbonlahor - Gill

Delph - Westwood - Cleverley

Cissokho - Clark - Okore - Hutton

Guzan

Worth keeping an eye on

Hull City - Ahmed Elmohamady: The Egyptian International have developed to become one of the most important players for Steve Bruces Hull. The midfielder currently plays as a wingback and has impressed the last couple of matches. His clever play and ability to read the game will be crucial against Villas pacy strikers. 

Aston Villa - Gabby Agbonlahor: The pacy striker is back for Aston Villa and will make an impact on a struggling team. In a time where Christian Benteke is playing way under his normal standards alot of pressure is resting on Agbonlahors shoulders. 

What to expect from this match?

Hull managed to get a point against Manchester City while Aston Villa scored their first goal, for a long time, against Chelsea lost 2-1 in the end. Paul Lamberts job is on the line and a loss against Hull could be the end of his reign. Steve Bruce will be hoping to build on his draw against Manchester City and take a win against Aston Villa to bring his side out of the relegation zone. Despite Hull home statistics we can expect them to be the dominating side and take all three points against Aston Villa.

What are the odds?

Hull City: 13/10 (BET365)

Draw: 9/4 (Betfred)

Aston Villa: 14/5 (BetVictor)

 

After an interesting first round, the Premier League is rolling, and this weekend can be just as thrilling. Two very even sides are meeting in the second round; match of the week is between Aston Villa and Newcastle United. 

Aston Villa v Newcastle United

Premier League Round 2

Villa Park

23-08-2014 @ 12.45 BST

How are the two teams current form?

Aston Villa won 1-0 in the premiere against Stoke, on a goal by Andreas Weimann early in the second half. The match was rather even when it comes to chances, two shots on goal by each side, and could well have ended in a draw.

Newcastle only had one shot on target when they lost 0-2 to Manchester City last weekend. Manchester City were the controlling side in the match and Newcastle will hope to play a greater part against Aston Villa.

NUFC have won 6 of the last ten meetings with Aston Villa.

What are the probable line-ups?

Aston Villa are without Christian Benteke and Libor Kozak while Joe Cole is doubtful for the match against Newcastle. The guests are without Papiss Cisse, Ryan Taylor, Davide Santon and Tioté while Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is dubtful.

Guzan

Hutton - Senderos - Vlaar - Cissokho

Delph - Westwood

N'Zogbia - Richardson - Weimann

Agbonlahor

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Riviere

Cabella

Gouffran - Anita - Colback - Sissoko

Dummett - Williamson - Coloccini - Janmaat

Krul

Worth keeping an eye on

Aston Villa: With Benteke and Kozak injured alot of the pressure is on Gabby Agbonlahor. The 27-year old striker scored four goals last season and with less than a year left of his contract he has to perform.

Newcastle United: Rémy Cabella looks to be a very interesting signing for Newcastle. The French attacking midfield scored 14 goals in 37 matches for Montpellier last season and develop to become the next great French player in the Premier League. 

What to expect from this match?

Last season was a rollercoaster for Newcastle with good periods and many bad periods. However, this season they are hoping for more continuity and have brought in some interesting signings. Many faces have left Aston Villa, and new have come in, and some of them will play against Newcastle. Despite the new faces in both squads, it is unlikely that things will change; this will be as tight as always. Given Newcastle's history against Aston Villa, they are my favorites, and their attack looks better on paper. However, football is not played on paper.

What are the odds?

Aston Villa to win: 8/5 (BetVictor)

Draw: 2 (Tokesport)

Newcastle: 12/5 (Ladbrokes)

Agbonlahor to score first: 7 (Bet365)

Nicolas Anelka's West Bromwich Albion career ended Friday night when the French nomad was sacked for "gross misconduct." The striker was given a five-match ban and a £80,000 fine by the FA for the quenelle gesture he mad at Upton Park in December. Just hours before he was sacked, he Anelka announced that he was terminating his playing contract with the club, but it turned out he was sacked. His hunt for a new club might turn out to be a hard one as FIFA is considering a global ban for the 'quenelle.'

Sunday March 15 - Mourinho

Aston Villa won against Chelsea on Sunday, but it was Willian, Ramires and Mourinho who stole the picture. First, Willian was sent off after two yellow cards, then Ramires, rightful, was sent off before Mourinho was asked to leave the bench for arguing with the ref. William only had himself to blame after receiving a second yellow card for a cynical challenge to stop a Delph run. Ramires challenge was not much better, and finally Mourinho felt the referee was against him. Mourinho was yesterday charged for improper misconduct.

Sunday March 15 - Zlatan breaks PSG record

The Swede took his season tally to a club-record with 40 goals in the 2-0 win against St Etienne. Ibrahimovic surpassed Carlos Bianchi's record from the 1977-78 season where the Argentine scored 39 goals. Zlatan surely is one of the best strikers in the world, but credits have to be given to the team behind him and the league he is playing in. Many still believes that Zlatan could be playing in a much better league than the French. However, the Swede can now add another record to his long cv.

Monday March 16 - Lionel Messi breaks Barcelona record

He is only 26 but have already made his 25th hat-trick for Barcelona on Sunday. As it wasn't enough, the hattrick helped the Argentinian to become Barcelona's all-time leading scorer when he helped his side to a 7-0 win over Osasuna. Messi have now scored 371 goals and eclipsed the record set by Paulino Alcantara who scored 369 goals in 356 appearances between 1912-1927. This is the sixth consecutive season in which the Argentinian has scored 30 goals, and currently on 18 goals this season.

Tuesday March 17 - Ronaldo is set to break record

After Real Madrid's Champions League win against Schalke on Wednesday, where Ronaldo scored twice the Portuguese is only 2 goals away from breaking the Champions League goalscoring record. The record holder at the moment is Ronaldo's rival from Barcelona with 14 goals. However, with 13 goals on the account Ronaldo is more than likely to take the Champions League goalscoring record this season.

Newcastle United v Aston Villa

Barclay Premier League 27th Round

St James Park

23-02-2013 @ 13.30 UK

How are the two teams form?

One win in five matches; that's the current situation for Alan Pardew and his Newcastle squad, who have lost the last four home matches before welcoming Aston Villa to St James Park. Aston Villa are also struggling at the moment, with 3 consecutive matches without a win. 

Despite, not haven won in the last four matches at St James, Newcastle have a good take on Villa as they have not lost against the Lions since April 2011.

What are the probable line-ups?

Coloccini, Tioté and Ryan Taylor are all out with injuries for the match against Aston Villa while Obertan is rated doubtful. Villa are without Kozák, N'Zogbia and Okore while Herd is rated doubtful. 

Krul

Debuchy - Taylor - Williamson - Santon

Anita - Sissoko

Gouffran - de Jong - Ameobi

Remy

______________________________________________

Agbonlahor - Benteke

Weimann - Delph - Westwood - Albrighton

Bertrand - Vlaar - Baker - Bacuna

Guzan

What to expect from this match?

Given Newcastle's history against Aston Villa with five consecutive matches without defeat, they are the favorites at St James on Sunday. However, Aston Villa needs a win just as much as Newcastle does, with only four points down to the relegation zone. De Jong is ready for his just fourth match for Newcastle and will be on the hunt for his first goal with Newcastle not scoring in their last four matches. I expect Newcastle to go into this match and win against an, at the moment, weak Aston Villa side.

What are the odds?

SportingBet has Newcastle as favorites with a 11/10 bet on a victory, compared to 888sports 37/13 on an Aston Villa win. A draw gives 12/5 at Ladbrokes.

Both Aalborg Boldspilklub and Aston Villa have confirmed the transfer of Danish striker Nicklas Helenius.

Striker Nicklas Helenius, 22, becomes the second Dane to join Aston Villa this summer as the club completes an estimated £1.2m deal with Aalborg Boldspilklub.

Last season Helenius scored 16 goals in 33 caps in the Danish Superliga and was recognised by UEFA as Danish Superliga player of the season in 2012-13.

Despite the success, the Dane did not expect a transfer to the Premier League this early in his career he admitted to the Aston Villa website:

"I thought that maybe when I was 28 or something I might eventually be able to move to the Premier League having made my mark in Danish football but now I have my chance and I think this is the right club for me with all the other young players in the side who want to do well and achieve something together."

Nicklas Helenius has signed a contract lasting for the next three years.

The day after it was announced that Aston Villa had made a bid for Danish striker Nicklas Helenius, another Dane is reported ready for the club.

According to the reliable source, Danish newspaper Politiken, the Lions has already agreed the fee for Danish national talent Jores Okore, who is travelling to Birmingham to go through the medical check this week.

The Danish defender was close to signing with Chelsea from FC Nordsjælland, in the winter transfer window, but has now chosen Villa as his next destination. Last year, the FCN defender, won the Danish championship as well as the Danish FA Talent of the Year award.

Nicklas Helenius might be lost for Aalborg as Aston Villa has made an offer on the club's topscorer. The striker has announced that it is time for him to try something new, and as his has only one year left of his contract, the club has opened for a transfer. 

Helenius was the man behind 14 goals in the 2011/12 Danish Superliga, followed up by 16 in the last season. So far he has played 102 matches and scored 40 goals for Aalborg where he has played his entire career. 

Neither Aston Villa or Aalborg has commented further on the transfer. Great Dane Football Blog will keep you updated on the latest on the Helenius transfer as well as other Danish talents during the summer. Meanwhile, you can read GDFB's profile of the soon-to-be Aston Villa strike here!

He is one of the most influential, but also most underestimated, foreign players in British football. Now, the career may be over for the Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov.

Last Friday, the 30th march, Aston Villa fans were shocked by the news of their captain diagnosed with acute leukaemia. Petrov had complained of a fever following the Aston Villa defeat against Arsenal and began recovery immediately on Friday after he had been diagnosed.  As always, the Bulgarian midfielder showed that he is a fighter as he told his team mates that he will win this battle, according to several British media.

The player received support from fans and players as well as his former manager in Celtic, Martin O’Neill, who recommended the specialist who treated his wife in 2004. Stiliyan Petrov’s influence in British was expressed when both Aston Villa fans and Chelsea fans held a standing ovation in the 19th minute (Petrov’s shirt number) of their match in the weekend. In Glasgow, Celtic fans also held a standing ovation for the player in their match against St. Johnston.

It has been out that Petrov would stop his career as a result of the leukaemia, but it has now been confirmed yet. This would be a loss, not only for Aston Villa, where the Petrov has played since his move from Celtic in 2006, but also for the Bulgarian international team. He started his professional career in CSKA Sofia, before moving to Celtic, where he became one of the star players, under the O’Neill regime. In Aston Villa, Petrov has become a leader and one of -  if not - the  most respected player in the team.

The player started his international career with his debut for Bulgaria in 1998, but decided to resign from the team, as long as Hristo Stoichkov was manager for the team. However, Petrov made amends with Stoichkov and came back on the team, which he has played 106 matches for.

The question is now if Stiliyan Petrov will comeback or if his career is over. One thing is for sure he probably will not play the rest of the season. A major loss for Aston Villa, who is struggling in the bottom of the table as well as for the Bulgarian national team.