Not The Dream Start We All Wanted

I suppose after two games we were expecting to be top of the league, turns out if we turn the table upside down we are. Not the story I wanted to be telling my boyfriend; who may I add supports Manchester United *cough* glory hunter *cough*; after his week away in Egypt. I would have preferred to have bragged about Villa's amazing start to the season, and United's loss to Everton. Unfortunately he'll probably enjoy tormenting me on the recent poor results of my beloved Aston Villa.

I say poor results, they have only been poor results. We've had decent displays, in patches in both matches. More so in the first game of the season, rather than the latter against a high flying Everton side who could be a force once again in the Premier League - maybe even this season's Newcastle. If that makes sense.

West Ham 1-0 Aston Villa
"We didn't have the cutting edge"

The start of the new Paul Lambert era and certainly a wave goodbye to Alex McLeish's saw the beginning of the 2012/13 Premier League season for Aston Villa. They begun at Upton Park, where facing them was Sam Alladyce's claret and blue men; the returning West Ham United that had just battled their way back into the top flight.

Memories of Gabby Agbonlahor's winner two seasons ago still lingered in the air, as well as a new found optimism from the travelling Villa faithful.

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The game started in the visitors favour, summer signing Brett Holman spurned the first chance of the afternoon to test Jussi Jaskelainen after he found a pocket of space outside West Ham's area however the Australian blazed his right-footed effort wide of the goal.
Villa continued their dominance in possession and looked transformed from the languid unit which limped to an uninspiring 16th-placed finish in the league last year under McLeish. The approach work was well-intentioned as they passed the ball, just as if it was a new born, for long periods, enjoying the majority of possession.

Karim El Ahmadi was tidy in possession in central midfield alongside Fabian Delph, who mirrored the Morocco international superbly, while Stephen Ireland showed a neatness and vision on the ball which has seemed to desert him since his days at Manchester City.

The only problem was that despite the whole pretty possessional play business, we got no where with it. There was a lack of service for the big man Darren Bent, who was making his first league appearance since being injured in February. To be quite honest, he might as well have remained on the treatment table. It's not all his fault seeing as with no service, he won't score. He's that type of striker, let's face it, and the sooner we can get a forward that isn't afraid to get involved with play in the better. The memories of the ammunition Bent used to get from Ashley Young and Stewart Downing seemed as remote as ever.

West Ham did score in the 40th minute through a Kevin Nolan tap in, after a neatly taken free kick floated over the top of former Villa man James Collin's head, to the feet of Vaz Te who, oblivious to the linesman's flag slotted it to Nolan who passed it into the net. The offside flag had been raised however the referee over ruled the decision, leading to a questionable goal which was later resolved after seeing Match of the Day.

******

Aston Villa 1-3 Everton
"The early goal really knocked Villa"

It took exactly two minutes and thirty-five seconds to rock the home side on their heels, as Steven Pienaar’s beautiful early strike took the sting out of anything Villa might have had to offer.

With the roll of thunder rumbling before kick off, the added electrical change did nothing to ease the nerves of the fans, players or manager.

The Scot made three changes from the team that started the season off. Stephen Ireland, Fabian Delph and Brett Holman were replaced by Chris Herd, Barry Bannan and Nathan Delfouneso. Yet the changes seemed to make no difference as Steven Pienaar found plenty of space in a mix-matched midfield, where he let fire. His swirling shot flung into the back of the net, leaving Shay Given and the rest of Aston Villa Football Club stunned, gobsmacked in fact.

However, Everton weren't done yet. They came in waves. Wave after wave, attack after attack. One led to a second. Fellani's thumping (over exaggeration, just makes Given's mistake sound a little more comforting) header fumbled past the Irishman. Then two became three when Jelavic slotted neatly into the bottom left hand corner of the host's net after smart interplay between David Moyes' men.

Let me add this was all before half time. And once half time arrived the players were 'serenaned' to a chorus of boos from the crowd.

Some habits never die hard.

The introduction of Brett Holman after half time seemed ineffective for the first part of the second half as Everton carried on their vibrant display at Villa Park.

Matters turned even more sour when Jelavic strode free, with Ciaran Clark not far behind. With a clip of the heels, the big man fell to the ground. A red card was shown, and that was that. Villa were down to ten men, three nil down.

Comeback was quite surely off.

However, Karim El Ahmadi perhaps ignited a little fire that burned inside when he found a small bit of space in a compacted Everton setup. Encouraged by the fans to let rip, he well and truly did. His shot, taking a slight deflection on the way, dipped and twisted before spiralling past the fingertips of Tim Howard.

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Despite getting a goal back, and showing character in the closing twenty minutes. Not even the clever work of Holman, who released a ball straight into the path of substitute Andreas Weimann whose shot came back of the post, could get just one more goal back in a match that had been dead and buried in the first half.

******

"It’s Going to be a Really Positive Season for us at This Club"

Sat anxiously up in the Doug Ellis Stand one day watching Aston Villa under the management of Alex McLeish, Randy Lerner came to a stark realisation that enough was enough. He needed to try to reverse, and hopefully erase the last two seasons of steep decline.

McLeish simply could not carry on as manager after the club flirted with relegation.

Villa survived yet luckily McLeish did not.

Paul Lambert's appointment breathed a new lease of life into the club, which just three months ago had escaped the daunting depths of the Championship. Aston Villa have been crying out for a new hero, a feel-good factor, and Lambert should surely produce that after his pretty seamless start to his Villa career.

After a nightmare eleven months, Villa fans would surely settle for mid-table this season now our nerves have reached a calmer level, heartbeat has regained a steady beat and fingernails have returned to normal length. However, could we believe in bigger, better things? All that Lambert is asked for at this moment in time is to simply build on the positivity surrounding his arrival and pre season.

Looking ahead to the new season which is just under twenty-one hours away we have a lot to look forward to. The only way can be up for us.

Darren Bent has two goals under his belt from pre season, and has appeared galvanised by Lambert's arrival and will be a man on a mission after being left out of the England squad for Euro 2012. "Everyone on the planet knows he can score and hopefully if he is playing, everything goes well for him." It was a frustrating season for the big man up top, yet he will face a lot of weight on his shoulders with many of the media labelling him Villa's key man. But as Paul Lambert rightly pointed out today in his pre match press conference, we cannot just rely on him. We are a team full of exciting prospects and good players.

Gabby Agbonlahor will also have a point to prove after his career hit the pause button under the last two managers, yet this season will also get off to a slow start for him after the Birmingham born striker suffered an injury setback. Also Charles N'Zogbia must justify why McLeish paid £9.5 million for him last summer. With a decent performance against Nottingham Forest from the winger I expect to see a few more dazzling displays.

The comparisons between Martin O'Neill and Lambert are endless, from the rolled up tracksuit sleeves to the glasses and the wariness of the press. Hopefully if he can achieve just a slight bit of what O'Neill did at Villa Park it will feel like the last two years never happened.

My Key Man;
Stephen Ireland is a talented player, plain and simple. He can pick a pass, read the game, score a goal, make a tackle. You can ask him to play all over the park and he'll still produce a dynamite display. The past two seasons have been tough for Ireland and ones to forget. Neither Houllier or McLeish could get the best out of a player who was named Manchester City's Player of the Year in 2009 for his blistering performances week in, week out.

Ireland should fulfil every ounce of his potential this season, yet this depends on whether or not he is used in his best position. By trade the Irishman is an attacking midfielder, however I feel he can be utilised in any position in midfield. In my opinion, you'll get the best out of Stephen Ireland when he's just playing off the striker as he did against Chelsea on New Year's Eve.

For me, Ireland needs a team to be built around him. Yet as I've already pointed out, Aston Villa are a team not a one man club.

Bye Bye Defence of 2011-12;
A noticeable weakness in the Villa side is our defence. James Collins has already departed to our claret and blue counterparts, yet still Stephen Warnock and Alan Hutton remain.

An overrated player for years, Warnock is poor defensively. It's baffling that a better left back hasn't been drafted in, or at least Warnock hasn't been shifted down the pecking order behind Ciaran Clark. Even Big 'Eck could have done this. Lambert's more than likely already looking for a new left back however there could be one waiting in the wings.

Eric Lichaj, even though a right back, spent most of last season playing at left back, impressing in that very position. Also, Enda Stevens has crept into contention after a string of pre season games. He's still possibly not up to Premier League standards just yet so perhaps a new left back with experience in the league could help Stevens with his progression into the first team squad.

Oh and then there's Alan Hutton. I'll drive him anywhere in the world myself, personally, with a forced smile just to see the back of him.

Nonetheless, Stephen Warnock and Hutton are pieces of deadwood that the squad do not need. As the Lambert era begins, they are the type of remnants of previous regimes that Villa just don’t need.

Players to Watch;
Brett Holman, despite being one of McLeish's signings the Australian has gotten of to a hot heeled start at Villa. Expect him to be celebrating a few more goals this season and his locks flying about as flawlessly as the Villa Park pitch.

Karim El Ahmadi, also another addition this summer, the Moroccan can pick out any pass perfectly. Give the ball to him in any position and he'll weave you out of trouble. A smart buy, Lambert has pulled off a decent signing for the claret and blue's who will hopefully impress the faithful over the coming season.

Realistic Ambitions;
After some horrible finishes in the last couple of seasons, it would be rather optimistic of fans to expect Lambert’s Lions to burst back into the top six so quickly, especially given the greater levels of competition at that end of the table. Mid table should be the big aspiration this season, along with a good cup run or two, with this season being more about laying foundations for a European attempt the following year and beyond.