Aston Villa, A new Era!

[ripton]

O'Neill steps down!​

It has been confirmed today that Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has officialy resigned from his post as manager. He claimed that a lack of funds and ambition where stopping him from taking the club to the next level, however he wished the club well and stated how he had enjoyed his time spent in the midlands.​

Mistake or Genius?​

That is the question many Villa fans will be wondering as Randy Lerner appoints unknown rookie coach George Ripton as the clubs new manager. This will be Riptons first managerial job and many are already expecting it to be a fairly brief stay at the helm. However Ripton has said that he is relishing this chance and that he is looking forward to taking the club to the next level. When asked how he would approach the job, he claimed that the side would play free flowing attacking football and he stated if he was to delve into the transfer market he would be looking for young exciting British footballers, to add to the already talented squad i have here.​

All Change at Villa Park!​

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The changes have began almost immedietly with new manager George Ripton dismissing most of the backroom staff, including former assistant John Robertson. It is clear the new manager is looking to stamp his own mark on the club and is not affraid to make the changes he feels are needed. The only coaches who managed to escape the axe where Steve Walford, Gordan Cowans, Tony McAndrew and spanish coach Rafa. On the same day no less than eleven players where also released, Moustapha Salifou being the biggest name in a group made up mainly of youngsters.​

New faces arrive!​

The new backroom staff at Aston Villa has started to take shape with the arrival of a few familier faces. First in was Ally McCoist as he signed a three year contract to become Riptons assistant. Also coming down from Rangers was goalkeeping coach Jim Stewert. In from Manchester United came Paul McGuinness and Brian McClair and the club also named the clubs new fitness coaches as spaniard Manuel Delgado Meco and former arsenal coach Tony Colbert.​

Wonder Signing!​

New Aston Villa coach George Ripton has stated the clubs ambitions and gone a long way to winning the fans over by completing the signing of Arsenal teen sensation Jack Wilshere. The youngster is tipped to be a definate star of the future and many are shocked that Wenger has agreed to let him go. The deal is reported to be worth upto £16 million however it is worked over two years and the gunners are only expected to recieve £2.5 million upfront, Jack is said to be delighted with the move and will join up with the rest of the squad as they prepare to fly to the states for the clubs upcoming tour. In other transfer news Adam McGurk has moved on to Gillingham for £75k and Shane Lowry to Notts County for £220k.​

The tour of the USA begins!
New England 0-1 Aston Villa​

Aston Villa started there tour with a 1-0 vicory over New England. Ripton fielded two different sides each half which included Jack Wilshere making his debut for the side, the only goal came on the 37th minute through the impressive Gabby Agbonlahor.​

Ratings: Friedel 6.8, Beye 6.9, Shorey 7.1, Cueller 6.8, Dunne 6.8, Petrov 7.1, Delph 7.2, Milner 6.8, Wilshere 6.8, Young 6.7, Agbonlahor 7.2 2nd Half Guzan 6.9, Young 6.6, Collins 6.7, Davies 7.2, Baker 7.2, Sidwell 6.9, Reo-Coker 6.5, Osbourne 6.4, Albrighton 6.8, Bannan 6.7, Delfouneso 5.7​

 

[SWHUFC]

Good start to the Story ill be following

 

[ripton]

DC United 7-2 Aston Villa

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Aston Villa where brought smack back down to earth in there second game of there US tour, Ripton fielded a totally different squad from the one that had played New England three days ago, It was made up off youth and reserve team players and they where taught a lesson by there american counterparts. Hit for seven with only two in reply coming from Gary Gardner and Will Grocott. However Ripton was not to worried and said that the players will learn from this and it will help there development.

Ratings: Brad Guzan 6.7, Eric Lichaj 6.3, Nathan Baker 6.2, Ciaran Clark 6.7, Sam Simmonds 6.7, Samir Carruthers 6.3, Dominik Hofbauer 6.7, Gary Gardner 7.0, Ethan Moore 6.2, Harry Forrester 6.4, Emile Heskey 6.4 2nd Half Elliot Parish 6.2, Jon Hogg 5.8, Ellis Deeney 5.9, Calum Flanagan 6.0, James Clifton 5.9, Richard Blythe 4.5, Daniel Johnson 5.9, Will Grocott 7.2, Ebby Nelson-Addy 6.8, Ryan Simmonds 5.9.​

 

[flamindamon]

Nice layout, and good luck.

I have also just started with Villa, so it will be good to see how you're doing aswell

 

[ripton]

Thanks SWHUFC and flamindamon good luck in your villa game aswell.

Fleck flies in!​

Aston Villa have completed there second summer signing as 18 yr old John Fleck flies into the states to join up with his new side. John joins from Rangers for a reported fee of £4million again spread over the next couple of years and new Villa assistant Ally McCoist knows him well "John is a fantastic talent and definetly has a bright future ahead of him, he is great on the ball and loves to take on players, I believe he is the perfect type of player for what George is trying to build here at Villa and we are very excited to have him on board"​

Tour ends with a win
New York 1-3 Aston Villa​

Villa ended there tour of the US with a comfortable 3-1 win over New York Red Bulls. The star of the show was striker Gabby Agbonlahor as he hit a stunning hatrick, with former Villa frontman Juan Pablo Angel hitting the Red Bulls consolation goal late on. Newboy John Fleck also made his debut playing 45 minutes.​

Ratings: Friedal 6.8, Beye 6.9, Shorey 6.8, Cueller 7.0, Dunne 6.8, Petrov 6.8, Delph 7.1, Milner 6.8, Wilshere 6.8, Young 7.6, Agbonlahor 9.2 2nd half: Guzan 6.7, Young 7.0, Collins 6.8, Davies 6.7, Baker 6.6, Reo-Coker 6.7, Sidwell 6.7, Albrighton 6.3, Bannan 6.8, Fleck 6.4, Delfounseo 6.3/​

Heskey heads to toon!​

Emile Heskey has moved to Newcastle on a season long loan with the view to make the deal permanent at the end of the season. When asked about the deal the Villa manager had this to say "Emile wanted guarantees of first team football and we just couldnt offer him that, we do however wish him the best of luck with his loan spell and hope it goes well for him"​

Peach!
Aston Villa 1-0 Hearts​

Stilliyan Petrovs peach of a goal was enough to earn Villa a 1-0 win over Hearts in there final pre-season friendly before there Europa League qualifying games kick off. Petrov put in a man of the match perfomance with his superb range of passing catching the eye.​

Rating: Friedal 6.8, Beye 6.8, Shorey 6.9, Cueller 6.8, Dunne 7.2, Petrov 7.6, Delph 6.1, Milner 6.7, Wilshere 6.7, Young 6.6, Agbonlahor 7.2 2nd Half: Guzan 6.8, Young 6.9, Collins 7.2, Davies 6.8, Reo-Coker 6.8, Sidwell 6.6, Fleck 6.7, Albrighton 6.8, Bannan 6.4, Delfounseo 5.7, Osbourne 6.8.​

Wilson makes it three!​

Aston Villa have made there third summer signing, bringing in highly rated scottish defender Danny Wilson from Rangers. Wilson is only 17 and can play either fullback or centre half. The deal was said to be in the region of £1million. Speaking about the deal Danny said "Its a great move for me, Villa are a big club and are definetly building for the future, I already know John Fleck, McCoist and Jim Stewert from my time at Rangers and cant wait to meet the rest of the lads"​

 

[MrJammyyoochy]

I'm liking the Sounds of this Story, So Good Luck. And when i Read you lost 7.2 i was like :O....
But then you wrote you put reserve's and Youth i was Like, OhhhRight Fair Enough

 

[joepane]

Great story, will be following. I usually end up ruining Villa, and get sacked, but it's a good start for you.

 

[ripton]

Thanks joepane hopefully i can do a bit better, and thanks mrjammy, i was still pretty suprised with the heavy defeat even though i played the kids but its only preseason so i wasnt to worried.

More Good News!​

Good news coming out of Villa Park today is that James Milner has ended speculation by commiting to a new four year deal. Milner had been attracting interest from Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United but has shown great loyalty by staying with Villa, "I have been flattered by the interest being shown in me, but the new gaffer has come in and ive been really impressed with his ambition and his plans, i want to stay here and be succesfull here and i believe we will be and im looking forward to the new season getting underway" Nathan Delfouneso and Ciaran Clark have also commited there future to the club by signing new deals.​

Europa League 3rd Qual Rnd Leg 1
Aston Villa 3-0 Qarabag Agdam​

Aston Villa comfortably won the first leg of there europa league qualifying game, in a match which they had a total of 31 shots, they may feel the 3-0 scoreline somewhat flattered there opponents from Azerbaijan. However this kind of domination was expected beforehand. The three shots that did make it into the back of the net where from, Agbonlahor, Delph and Ashley Young. And Villa are now pretty much guaranteed a place in the next round.​

Ratings: Friedal 7.0, Beye 7.4, Shorey 7.3, Cueller 7.0, Davies 7.0, Petrov 7.0, Delph 7.7, Milner 7.9, Wilshere 7.4, Young 8.1, Agbonlahor 7.3 Subs Sidwell 6.9, Delfounseo 6.6.​

Europa League 3rd Qual Rnd Leg 2
Qarabag Agdam (0)0-0(3) Aston Villa ​

Ripton sent out a second string side captained by Nigel Reo-Coker in this second leg and despite a lot of Villa pressure they couldnt break through a suprisingly stubborn Qarabag defense. The 0-0 draw was still enough to send them into the final qualifying round where they will face Helsingborg.​

Ratings Guzan 6.8, Young 7.3, Shorey 7.3, Collins 7.3, Wilson 7.0, Reo-Coker 6.8, Fleck 6.4, Sidwell 6.9, Bannan 6.8, Albrighton 6.8, Delfounseo 6.9.​