Villa to Win !!!!!! hmmmmmm

1) After your defeat to Doncaster in the League Cup how wary are you guys of coming to the K.C Stadium ??

Very. We have a bad record against lower league teams in the cup matches in recent seasons. Mind you, we don’t have a great record in the league against Premiership teams this season! That said, you are facing us at a bad time because we seem to be rallying and our strikers have remembered – with some aplomb – where the goal is!

2) One win in 6 games (up to last night),do you think your form will start to turn round soon ??

Our recent form has picked up, we’ve beaten Sunderland (like everyone else has!) and Charlton, drawn with Bolton and Fulham and gave Everton a 4-0 whipping last weekend. Our problem is a defensive crisis, we have had two many injuries in what O’Leary assures us is a small squad (they are honest though apparently) and have had a few players whose form and confidence has dipped at the worst possible time.

3) Do you know much about the Tigers??

Yeah, man eating, live in India, nice stripes, Oh hang on, sorry, I’m with you! Yes, I kept an eye on them when Brian ‘he who walks on water’ Little managed you, but I must admit, I know very little of the current squad. I see you are 15th, but lets face it, league form goes out the window in cup games.

4) How do you think the game will go on Saturday??

I am finding it more and more difficult to predict Villa because there are two versions. The one that looks devoid of confidence, shape and desire, and the one that comes out and passes the ball sweetly about and keeps trying until the end. You get the latter and there will only be one winner in the game. Villa have to play as a team, the individuals aren’t quite ‘big’ enough to affect a game on their own like a Merson or Solano type could and often did.

5) I know you have class all the way through the team but who is the player we will have to look out for ??

That is the funny thing, we do have class, and that makes it even more frustrating to see how badly they have played at times this year. Mind you, there have been an amazing run of injuries as well. I would have said Baros, but he is now suspended following a fifth yellow card. There are a few who can cause problems. Our on loan player James Milner is very accurate with his crosses and can add a real aggressive cutting edge to the team. An on form Angel is still a world class player and young Luke Moore (striker) is growing in stature by the game. We also have a great young midfielder called Steven Davis, you’d need to keep him well marked as he has added goals to his game.

6) And the weak link ??

The main weak link is Doug Ellis, but I’d better not go off on a rant about him! The Tigers need to hope that Mellberg doesn’t return to action because without him – and the fact Martin Laursen (who we bought from Inter Milan) is out for the season – our defence is fairly weak, or at least stretched. The only way you will succeed is if you go all out and don’t give our players a minute on the ball. Give our lot time and you’ll really be made to pay for it.

7) If you are beaten on saturday how do you think it will effect the fans opinion of David O’Leary ??

There are so many opinions flying about it is untrue! We did a poll on Vital Villa with 96% saying they wanted him out. But we have rallied recently and maybe some fans are now having a re-think. A loss v Hull would put enourmous strain on him though, I’d say if we get beaten then it would be time for him to resign. But then again, not many people resign from million pound a year jobs do they!? What with the promise of new owners and the uncertainty surrounding the ‘bid’ I’m not sure Doug could realistically wield his axe, especially as some reports suggest to remove O’Leary and his staff would cost in the region of £4million.

8)Would you like to give us a score prediction ??

Yes, a month ago I would have said 1-0 to Hull. Now I’m looking at a Villa revival and a comfortable 3-1 win for the claret and blues. Funny how the mood changes after a few decent performances!

9)Finally if you guys dont win who would you like to see in the final

I’m not really sure it would matter greatly to me to be honest. I guess whoever knocks us out of the cup would be good, but it is more likely to be the money men at the top of the Premiership I guess. It would be great to see anyone other than Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd really. Oh, and Small Heath (Birmingham City), now that really wouldn’t be very nice!

Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions

See what I said to the Villa site by clicking here