A Tribute to Gareth Barry

Tomorrow sees us take on Everton in the most played top flight game in England. Incredibly we have played each 196 times in the top division.

It is a game we badly need to win, but against an inform Everton team and a manager who always seems to beat us then it is going to be hard. Whatever happens in the game I will start it by applauding the return of one of the few Villa legends of the 21st Century. We welcome back Gareth Barry, a player who gave his all for Aston Villa and deserves all the medals and money that have come his way at Manchester City.

There is no doubt that Gareth's heart is still firmly at Villa Park. When he eventually hangs up his boots he will be remembered in the football world firstly as a Villa man. So please all Villa fans let's give Gareth a really good greeting before kickoff tomorrow and show him that Villa fans will always love him. Let's finally say thank you for the ten fantastic years of service he gave us. If it wasn't for Gareth Villa would probably have been relegated in the season before Martin O'Neill took over.

I was a fan of Gareth within minutes of his home debut in 1998. He was just 17 and picked to play against champions Arsenal. He played centre-back that day facing Ian Wright, Overmars, Anelka and co. The Arsenal forwards never got a kick, Villa won one-nil (a Yorkie penalty) and Barry was the calmest and coolest player on the pitch. He glided around the pitch and everyone could tell that he was a very special talent. Before he turned 18 he was being labelled as FVC ('Future Villa Captain'). Although many of us thought it should also be 'Future England Captain'. For the next 10 seasons Gareth was the first name on the Villa team-sheet and which ever left-sided position he played in he was the standout player.

Personally, I feel that Gareth should now have over 100 England caps. He only has 53 because Sven never picked him despite his song at Villa being 'Barry for England' and that Barry could play in too many positions. For me Gareth Barry could have been one of the all-time great Centre Backs. His composure, passing and reading of the game was immense. Villa needed him to boss midfield and have probably never replaced him, but he was best at the back.

So thank you again Gareth for ten excellent Villa years. Oh and thank you for that cracking own goal last year in the cup right in front of the travelling  Villa fans.

My prediction tomorrow is a very close game, maybe 2-2 but hopefully 3-2 to the Villa boys.

Up the Villa

    

We Must Deliver

A disappointing result and performance against Spurs on Sunday. Sorry Mr Lambert but it was flat and predictable. Only the arrival of Benteke put the sparkle into us. Sadly just as we had got on top Spurs scored the second. Maybe I am being too harsh but I felt it was a below par performance that had worrying signs.

The slick passing of the end of last season has gone. I remember purring at the passing against Chelsea and Liverpool even though the results went against us. But Sunday was bland. Westward tried but many other players seemed happy just to lump it. A policy that can work when you have CB leading the line but for Kozak and Gabby it was just a waste. I was also very disappointed with the performance of Gabby. Maybe he isn't fit, but surely he needs to realise that there is a place on the plane to Brazil if he just puts his mind to it. On his day he is simply unstoppable and let's just hope we see one of those days against Everton.

A win against Spurs and everything in the garden would have been rosy. Especially considering we have played all the big boys except Man U already. However, after another home failure we are already starting to look towards the bottom of the table. So we need a result on Saturday so let's all get down Villa Park and get right behind the lads. We saw at the end of last season the kind of football this team are capable of so come on the Villa.

Memory Match 3 : August 1995 Villa 3 Manchester United 1
For many this is the game made famous by the Alan Hansen comment 'You don't win anything with kids!' but for me it was one of the most optimistic starts ever to a Villa season. That day Brian Little's Villa team were magnificent and the first half display was just mind-blowing.

A Villa side who had narrowly avoided relegation the previous May, thanks to the terrific appointment of former Holte End favourite Brian Little, were suddenly potential title contenders. Little had already signed Ian Taylor and 'little' Alan Wright last season, but it was three new signings that made a big impression that Saturday afternoon. Gareth Southgate, Mark Draper and Savo Milosevic were the new trio that shone. By half time the Man U fans were feeling as grey as their teams shirts. Goals from Taylor, Draper and Yorke within 36 minutes had many of us dreaming of double figures. That is just how good the Villa were that day. Savo was unplayable and Mark Draper was running midfield.

Maybe we took our foot off the gas but that was the end of the Villa goals. Some young kid called Beckham did score a late wonder goal for United. His first one apparently. But it was Villa's day.

That season ended up as one of our best in recent times. Destroying Leeds at Wembley to win League Cup, losing FA Cup Semi Final to Liverpool (mainly because they took the lead when Gareth Southgate was off field receiving treatment) and finishing fourth in the Premier League. It probably should have been better but this team certainly entertained us.

As for United that year with their youngsters Scholes, Giggs, Butt, Beckham, Neville brothers and Lee Sharpe. Well, they won the league and became household names. But for 90 minutes Villa simply tore them apart.

Thanks to Brian Little a true Villa legend.

      

Villa to Earn their Spurs

On Sunday Villa have the chance to start to really establish themselves agin as a 'Top Half of the Table' team by gaining three points. I just have a feeling it might happen even though I would gladly take a draw now if you offered it me. So why am I not expecting another Tottenham thumping?

Well, I think the defence is finally getting a 'mean' streak and hopefully with the return of Benteke we will score at least once. I know they walloped us in the cup, but what would have happened if the ref had have seen the 'pulling of pants down' incident. 

Hopefully a converted penalty would have followed and forty minutes to play against a 10 man Spurs team with the scores level. At least we can now see the funny side but it was probably the worst decision I have seen at Villa Park in my 33 years. Well, apart from appointing Billy McNeil in 1986 maybe!

So my Sunday prediction is 2-0 to the Villa. Yes, a home clean sheet. It could happen. Although I expect us defend for much of the game.

Memory Match 2 - Aston Villa 6 Everton 2 (November 1989)   

In 33 years watching from the Trinity I can still count on fingers of one hand the number of times I have seen the Villans score six or more. So this game is one that has always been a favourite. 

It was this time of year and a Graham Taylor team who had narrowly avoided relegation six months ago suddenly made the whole nation sit up and take notice. Live on ITV on a Sunday afternoon the Villa were simply sensational. The score doesn't even do the performance justice as two Everton goals came right at the end and one of those Paul McGrath scored for them.

This was the match which finally rocketed David Platt into the England team and booked him a place in the 1990 World Cup squad. A World Cup that was to turn Platty into and England legend thanks to his sensationally winner against Belgium.

On that Sunday afternoon the telepathy between 'Sid' Cowans and Platty just mesmerised the Toffee men. Everton had started the day expecting a win to take them top of the league against a Villa side who had climbed to 7th place. But that Villa were just too hot to handle on the 5th of November. Two goals from Platt, a pair from Ian Olney (who was an unsung hero), one from Sid and a header from the only foreigner on the pitch Kent Neilsen. World class goalie Neville Southall could only watch. Villa were on the march and back to being the best in the land. 

The 80's had seen the Villa start as the best in England, become the best in Europe, slump to the 2nd Division and now under Graham Taylor rise back to the top. It is never dull being a Villa fan. 

This memorable game was probably the reason that Graham Taylor was chosen as the next England manager. Did the Villa fans 'Not like that...'. 

Villa finally finished runners-up to Liverpool that season (1989/90) after leading the league for much of the season. Maybe the record purchase of Tony Cascarino was a mistake, but we all applauded it at the time. What would have happened if we would have stuck with Ian Olney?        

Up the Villa

Games to Remember

To Hull and Back

A draw at Hull might not have excited many of us and it deserved to be last on Match of the Day, but I think a pleasing result. A second consecutive away clean sheet and Villa creating chances that on another day would have seen them winning convincingly.

Slowly the Villa are moving forward and I believe starting to reestablish themselves as a top half of the table team. Yes, we have only played 7 games but players like Bacuna and Luna are starting to bed in and we are at last seeing the real potential of players like Delph and El Ahmadi. After having concerned last season I am starting appreciate what a good player Karim El Ahmadi can be. Maybe we still need more creativity but generally the signs are good. Especially with a certain Christian Benteke almost ready to return.

Great Games

Time for me to reminisce and over the next few weeks I will look back at my favourite games of my time in the Trinity Road stand. There have been many great European nights and thrilling comebacks but there really is only one place to start;

1994 v Tranmere League Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg
When you have waited all your life to see the Villa reach Wembley any Semi Final victory is memorable, but never have Villa fans been on such an emotional roller-coaster as they were that night. Despite being overwhelming favourites 'Big Ron's' team were destroyed by Tranmere in the one-sided first leg and but for a vital 'out of the blue' late away goal by Dalian Atkinson the second leg would have been a formality for Tranmere.

Instead with Villa trailing 3-1 the second leg became one of the greatest nights at Villa Park.

Screened live on television (I must have watched the video a hundred times) most of the nation were willing Tranmere to beat the mighty AVFC but the spirit in that team was typified by the memorable Shaun Teale goal. Only the bravest or maddest would have put their head there.

Villa were out the blocks so fast and quickly that the tie was soon all-square when a moment that I am sure all Tranmere fans still think 'if only' about changed the game. Goalkeeper Mark Bosnich pulled down former Liverpool legend John Aldridge. There was a covering man on the line (that's my Villa bias) but Bozzie could easily have been shown a red card. Aldridge scored the penalty and until the 88th minute Tranmere were on their way to Wembley.

With time almost up it was yet again time for the enigma that was Dalian Atkinson to score an unexpected late goal that the Holte End almost sucked in. That goal meant the aggregate score was level and extra time was looming, but before extra time Tranmere hit the inside of the post with a free kick. I still don't know how it stayed out. Yes it really was Villa's day.

It went to penalties and it swung and swung. Misses by Ugo and Richardson looked to have blown the dream but the heroics of lucky goalkeeper Bozzy meant that the Villa Park sound system was soon playing 'Que Sera Sera'.

Even typing about it now makes me tingle. Has one game ever had so many twists and turns? Compared to that game beating Man United in the final was a piece of cake. Thanks to Ron Atkinson's Graham Fenton Master Plan.

Thirty Three Trinity Seasons Ago

Welcome to the first post of this new Villa blog 'Talk of the Trinity'. Hope you will enjoy my look at days gone by at Villa Park and that my thoughts on the modern Villa team start a few discussions. Football is full of opinions and I make no apologies for my total Villa bias.

So first of all let me tell you my Villa story and emphasis that although my occupancy of a seat in the Lower Trinity (or Lower Trinity Enclosure as is was then) starts the season following the League Championship success I am no 'Glory Hunter'. In fact I had wait, with my ear glued to my lucky radio every Saturday afternoon, until my 14th birthday for my parents to buy me a season ticket. Well, I was born to a family of Wolves supporters and even in 1981 it was a big thing for a boy to attend games on their own. I started following the Lions (Aston Villa) when I was four years old (yes 1971, when they were in the 3rd Division) after my Granddad gave me a claret tracksuit. At first I was disappointed it wasn't a Wolves tracksuit like my big brother's, but it was C&A's finest. My Granddad told me it was the colours of one of the most famous teams called Aston Villa, who had won the FA Cup a record seven times. From that day onwards I had a new love in my life. Still desperately seeking that elusive 8th FA Cup win, maybe this season.    

On my 14th birthday (the day Bucks Fizz won the Eurovision contest and Villa won 4-2 away at Leicester) my parents gave me my first Villa season ticket and a red chopper bike. The two aren't connected though because come the following August dad had arranged for a man from church, a lifelong Villa fan named Howard Hill, to give me a lift to the games.

On Saturday 29th August 1981 I witnessed my first game as an Aston Villa season ticket holder in the old Lower Trinity. A game against newly promoted Notts County (the iconic image on the programme of that game is featured to the right). Before the game started my heroes paraded round the  pitch the famous trophy they had won back in May. My dad had purchased me a seat on the front row just to the right of the manager's boxes so I had a fantastic view leaning forward with my nose perched on the advertising hoardings. Then sat back anticipating a feast of Villa goals from the likes of Shaw, Withe and Morley.  
      
Of course, I soon discovered that being a Villa fan is never plain sailing. A shock 1-0 home defeat to a newly promoted team and the following Monday it was me who was being ridiculed at school by my Wolves and Baggies mates.

I must point out that this wasn't my first visit to Villa Park that was a much more successful night in 1977 against Middlesbrough for my 10th birthday when I stood in the Holte End. It was a one-nil win thanks to John Deehan. [Match Details]

This Week's Game - Hull v Aston Villa

Like many men in their 40's I like to be nostalgic, but football never stands still and all that really counts is the next game.

Last week's victory over Man city was as memorable as it was unexpected. Even when we took the lead I was just thinking at least we couldn't get a drubbing now and I wouldn't have to hide my head at work on Monday. Yes, I was one of those who had gone just praying for us to keep it below four.

So tomorrow is another game and the chance for us to win three straight Premier League games for the first time since 2010. I really think we could get a win here and I have been quite impressed with Libor Kozak leading the line in the last two games. No, he isn't in the Benteke class but then I haven't seen another striker as good as Benteke for many years (if ever). So if we keep Hull down to no more than one goal I think we will win. But it is important we start to defend set pieces better.

Hope you have enjoyed this first post of 'Talk of the Trinity' and will pop back in the future. Please feel free to leave any comments you wish.

Up the Villa !