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At [link="http://www.eurofootball.com"]EuroFootball.com[/link] portal - section "Fan Thoughts"! Before the most important, interesting, and highly anticipated matches, we speak to the fans who are passionate about the teams entering the duel.
Birmingham fan Powered about the first half of the season, transfer window news, and upcoming matches.
The first half of the season The first part of the season can be described in one word - tragedy. Just before the start of the season, coach O'Neill left, who was undoubtedly one of the best league specialists. Temporary strategist McDonald's debut was marked by a convincing victory over the London "West Ham" footballers and everyone was talking about him becoming the new head coach, but the defeat to the "Newcastle" team 6-0 brought the fans back to reality. Then came Houllier (from whom the "Aston Villa" fans expected a lot) with his tactics and rotations. The result of those idiotic rotations was a "respectable" 17th place. There was nothing else to expect when a new central defender pair played in every game, often changing Collins' partner in defense... Of course, the team weakened when Milner left for "Man City," but 17th place is still an unjustifiable result. I hope that with the arrival of Makoun, he will form a stable central defender pair with Petrov and we won't see all sorts of Hoggs in the starting lineup. Another weak point of the "Aston Villa" team was the attack (15th place in goals scored) - Gabriel Agbonlahor was not even like his own shadow, Carew was always injured, Heskey... well, as always, and from the young players - Delfouneso and Weimann - nothing much was expected. Although Downing, Ashley Young, and the season's discovery Marc Albrighton were dangerous in attack, the lack of good "finishers" meant that most opportunities were wasted. Hopefully, with the arrival of Darren Bent, the team's attacking machine will be fixed.
Transfer window After a disappointing summer, "Aston Villa" is doing really well in the transfer market this winter - Walker (about whom I had a poor opinion) turned out much better than I could have imagined, Makoun was a much-needed player, and we got him at a really low price (just 6 million pounds sterling). Of course, the most important January acquisition - Darren Bent, for whom a bit too much might have been paid (even 18 million pounds sterling), but a striker of similar caliber would not be acquired for a lower price, especially from a middle-of-the-road team like "Sunderland" (which, although in sixth place in the standings, is still, in my opinion, an average team), where he replaced five players.
Although I guess that was all, there could still be more signings as the team needs to strengthen the defensive line - in terms of goals conceded, "Aston Villa" ranks 3rd (in other words, only two teams conceded more than us). Candidate No.1 - Christopher Samba, who wants to spread his wings from the "Blackburn" club. A goalkeeper is also needed, as Friedel no longer looks very reliable, and besides, he will turn 40 in the spring and will probably end his career in the near future.
Regarding the players who left, the team did not experience any losses - the perpetually injured Sidwell was sold to London's "Fulham" club, and the constantly injured Carew was loaned to the "Stoke" team. The latter's contract expires in the summer, so it was the last chance for the Norwegian to earn at least a penny, but at least the team will save some money on his salary.
Birmingham "Aston Villa" - "Man City" Although the 'blues' are in second place, and "Aston Villa" is just a hair's breadth away from the relegation zone, I believe we can snatch at least a point. Besides, this will be Bent and Makoun's debut in the team, so they should play with triple enthusiasm.
Before the match, there are no major losses in the "Aston Villa" ranks - Heskey is suspended, and the injured Ireland and Luke Young probably wouldn't appear on the field from the start anyway.
It's unknown who will play on the flanks. In my opinion, it should be the experienced Warnock and Cuellar, as the young and heads-in-the-clouds Walker and Clark against Silva and Tevez won't hold up.
For the 'blues,' Balotelli will not play, although he probably wouldn't play even if healthy, and Richardson's injury should weaken the "Man City" defense.
My prediction - 1-1.
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