January Poster Player of the Month; Andreas Weimann

Poster player of the month is the player that will appear each month of the year at the top of my blog.

Andreas Weimann

 

The Austrian we know as Andi made his rise to fame in a Villa shirt when he produced two of the most memorable moments of the 2011-12 season.

 

His recognition came in the dramatic last gasp winner against Fulham, after coming on as a substitute. However abrupt his entrance to becoming a senior star was, it wasn't inevitable.

 

What I mean by that is after the Villa fan's first few glimpses of the young striker, we got to see his frightening potential and natural ability in front of goal. Scoring in the Peterborough friendly; pre-season 2009-10; he then went onto lift the Peace Cup as a result of being handed a late call up to the squad for the tournament.

 

His nine goals in Villa's Premier League reserve title-winning side earned him an improved contract and also some of the Villa faithful's backing.

 

His long-term mentor Kevin McDonald introduced Weimann into his first taste of Premier League action, as a late substitute in the victory over West Ham on the first day of the season, in McDonald's first game as caretaker manager at the club.

 

In the same week, he then went on to come on against his boyhood club Rapid Vienna, only to be stretchered off in only a matter of minutes.

 

After his injury lay-off he announced his comeback in style, scoring twice in a 10-1 thrashing of Arsenal in the reserve league at Hinckley.

 

The striker then spent the rest of the season on loan at Watford where he scored four in nineteen matches for the Championship club.

 

The Vienna born talent began last season on the fringes of the first team, producing an impressive cameo against Hereford United in the League Cup in August 2011. Following his performance against Hereford, Andi was then loaned back out to Watford for the second time in his career.

 

With Villa's shortage of strikers and numerous injuries, his time at Watford was cut short as he returned back to the claret and blues.

 

In the games against QPR and Bolton Wanderers, in the Premier League and League Cup respectively, he came on as a sub. Despite this he continued his rich vein of form for the reserves in January and February; including hat tricks in matches against neighbours West Brom and Wolves; which earnt him a place in the first team.

Andi celebrating his goal against Manchester United earlier this season.

 

 The turning point in the Austrians career came on March 10th last year.

 

Let's rewind: Aston Villa had not won in front of the crowds at Villa Park for four, yes four months. Fulham were the visitors at the ground, where they were holding out for no score draw. Alex McLeish turned to Andreas Weimann, sat patiently on the bench. He had his call, he was about to come on. He entered the field of play. In the dying minutes, seconds in fact, Gary Gardner's shot was parred by Mark Schwarzer. And who other than Weimann was there to pounce and bundle it in to the back of the net. Villa fans rejoiced as a release of relief filled the surrounding airs.

 

The rest is history really.

 

Or not, there were plenty more moments of Weimann that cannot be forgotten. After all, that goal possibly saved us from relegation.

 

"Did I really?" His goal against Fulham earnt Aston
Villa their first home win in four months and possibly
saved us from relegation that season, gaining us three
valuable points.

(AP Photo)

The long range rocket against Stoke City later on that season earnt him his plaudits, winning the Goal of the Season award and also Young Player of the Year.

 

This season has been one to remember so far for Andi; scoring two goals against Manchester United, one against Liverpool, two against Norwich City to take us through to the semi finals of the League Cup and some other vital goals. There's so much more for the Austrian to offer, and with his budding relationship with Belgian Christian Benteke could they be the saving grace for Aston Villa this season? Could they be the bright future that we've be advertising for years now? One things for sure, both Benteke and Weimann are giving us some hope for the next few years to come.

It's not just Andi's goals that have earnt him his fans, but his link up play and ability to keep himself grounded at a time where his career is just starting to blossom.