April Poster Player of the Month; Gabby Agbonlahor

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

 

 

Gabriel Agbonlahor

After his perfectly timed return to form recently, the local born goal getter has been a hero at Villa for as long as you can say his full name.

 

Agbonlahor joined Villa as a boy and made his way through the ranks, making a name for himself as a prolific goalscorer, after scoring forty goals in one season at youth level. He was then handed his first team debut in 2006 by former manager David O'Leary.

 

 

He scored his first goal on his debut against Everton despite then going on to lose 4-1 at Goodison Park.

 

Gabby then went on to make a further two appearances that season but came to light in the first team in the new look Aston Villa side that was managed by Martin O'Neill after the dismissal of O'Leary that summer.

 

Named in the opening day of the season against Arsenal at the Emirates, he went on to appear in all but one of the forty two league and cup games that season. He finished the campaign as top scorer, scoring ten goals, nine in the Premier League and one in the League Cup.

 

The following season he only missed one game and again the goals kept coming. This time around he scored eleven goals all in the league, bagging himself a player of the month award and a place in Fabio Capello's England side.

 

And still there was more to come from the Brummie.

 

On the opening day of the 2008/09 season in the match against Manchester City, he got himself the match ball after scoring a hat trick in a 4-2 victory.

 

Gabby finished the season with thirteen goals, and his impressive form earned him  his first full international cap against Germany in 2008.

 

Maintaining his scoring form throughout the following season, he hit a personal best, scoring sixteen goals.

 

Yet the 2010/11 campaign became a frustrating one for Agbonlahor who struggled with injuries throughout the year. However, it still came with its memorable moments under Gerard Houiller, scoring against rivals Birmingham City in the League Cup quarters and then also celebrated his 200th appearance for the claret and blues in the Second City derby draw later on that season. In April, he then went onto score a last minute winner against West Ham to springboard Villa's final push which saw us finish 9th after a horrid season.

 

The frustration continued for Gabby during the 2011/12 as his injuries seemed to linger despite his flying start under Alex McLeish when he scored a curler against Blackburn Rovers in the second game of the campaign.

 

This season the revival of Gabriel, our very own guardian angel, has been much welcomed by Villa fans.

 

He's not only noted for his goal scoring though. His love for Villa and commitment to the cause make him ten times more attractive than his shocking moustache.

 

Strikers get judge on goals, simple as, yet if Gabby lacked in his all round game he wouldn't be the player we all know and love.

 

You could say he's sacrificed Man City esque millions, a heap of medals and silverware and England call ups to remain a local hero. But he's not prepared to let his Premier League status slip.

 

 

This season, his goals and assists and general work rate to push the team forward are helping to do so.

 

Lightening quick, powerful and with the predator's eye for goal, Gabby's loyalty to the club has not always brought him the rewards he arguably requires. Two trips to Wembley and three seasons of relegation fights is hardly a nice trophy to treasure on your mantelpiece.

 

But for all these reasons, he's a player and a man I would never like to see wearing anything but claret and blue.

March Poster Player of the Month; Matt Lowton

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

 

Matthew Lowton

Cool, composed and measured; Matthew Lowton arrived to Aston Villa and has left a lasting memory to remember from his debut season in the Premier League.

 

Yes it's April and this write up has been published a month late, yet coincidentally I've posted this at just the right time. With everyone raving about the former Blade, I think it's about time we have a look at his impressive first season in the Barclays Premier League.

 

After arriving from Sheffield United in the summer, he had to make the step up from League One to the top flight in just a matter of months. No matter what anyone says, replacing an experienced Premier League right back in Alan Hutton is a hard act to do. Yet, Matthew Lowton has done just that. He's shone in what ever position he's played, whatever formation that has been tried out. Centre back, his natural right back, or in a three at the back formation, Lowton has managed to perform and give 100%.

 

He had his slip ups, he has had his moments but even the best of the best do.

 

He's reminded me of a Kyle Walker player. Walker came to Villa on loan two seasons ago, also a former Blade and a right back with hardly any Premier League experience. He revelling in his role and broke into Fabio Capello's England outfit. Scoring two goals in his eighteen match loan spell, Walker caught a lot of people's eyes. Just as Lowton is doing right now.

Luckily for us, we have this gem of a player permanently and not with Harry Rednapp wanting him back asap.

 

Like Walker, Lowton has an eye for goal and is always eager to sprint up the line to get involved with attack. However, he also has a good defensive side to him unlike Walker did in his spell. He can be a little naive, like the rest of our back line, yet that comes with experience, right?

 

With or without the ball, Matt can have a significant impact. Neat little through balls, deadly crosses and a cracker of a strike in his locker all add something of a different dimension into his game. His partnership with Westwood in the middle of the park also means that we have two understanding players on the pitch that are willing to help each other out.

 

He's also the name on everyone's lips after his goal of the season contender strike in yesterday's game against Stoke City. If you remember, after his goal against Swansea earlier in the season, we knew he had it in him, yet this was something even more special. After a clearance by Charlie Adam following a Charles N'Zogbia corner, Lowton came towards the ball, controlling it tightly using his chest, he then hit it. There was a sudden silence as it left his right foot, as the ball peaked before dipping over Begovic's helpless body.

 

An absolute screamer.

 

 

Beauty.

 

One in a million.

 

No adjective in the dictionary could possibly describe that goal.

 

Overall, the right back will get even better. And with even more games in the Premier League and the guiding of Paul Lambert there is no doubting that this ever present in Villa's new look side, will become a Holte End hero and take Aston Villa to new heights.

 



 

February Poster Player of the Month; Brad Guzan

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

 

 

Brad Guzan

Returning to Aston Villa last summer, the American between the Villa sticks has provided top notch saves and the pride of a lion heart.

 

The USA international signed a three year deal in July 2012 after being released by the former management in charge last season. His aim and accomplishment being to claim the number 1 jersey off Shay Given. With the admiration of both Paul Lambert and our hard to please fans, he has not only won that jersey but also received the good words from the Villa Park faithful.

 

 

Two seasons ago Guzan made his first big impression. Two notable performances in two cups saw the keeper make a name for himself in claret and blue.

 

Heart of a lion.

The Chicago born stopper saved two penalties in the Peace Cup against favourable opposition Juventus as Villa triumphed the Italian giants in a thrilling penalty shoot out to lift the pre season trophy.

 

However, you could say that was surpassed in October 2009, when Guzan went on to be a hero in another penalty high pressure situation.

 

This time it was the Black Cats, Sunderland in the League Cup which saw Villa through to the next round. Not only did he save a penalty in the 90 minutes, he then went to save another three in the shoot out.

 

Other than his cup matches, his way into the Premier League was always blocked off by Brad Frediel, his fellow American. Because of this he saw this season through on the bench, and followed the next season under Gerard Houllier on loan to Hull City. He returned to Villa in April after two successful spells up in Hull.

 

Despite Alex McLeish purchasing Shay Given in the summer of 2011 after the departure of Frediel to Tottenham Hotspur, Brad Guzan made the step up to the Premier League over the Christmas period when the Irishman had an eight match injury lay off.

 

This season, Guzan has been one of the few shining lights. He has made his mark and has producing some sublime saves to not only keep us in some games but keep our dignity in some matches.

 

And Brad's right, we don't have to play Barcelona type football, we just need the wins, the three points. He's not just the type of goalkeeper that is gonna sit back and think he's already done the job at hand, he's gonna fight. Just like the rest of them need to, no matter what position you play. Whether you're a keeper, or just sitting on the bench, every member of that team has a job to do. Installing that belief and having that bit of passion has made Guzan become a hero in my eyes, it's not just because of what he does on the pitch. 

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.