Aston Villa and Everton

After 14 minutes of last Wednesdays game, a loud roar is made by the home fans. Everton have just won a throw-in - inside their own half! I thought to myself - Everton fans are desperate. 54 seconds later, the home crowd are going nuts. Why? Sagna has just beaten Cahill to a header and the referee fails to give Everton a free-kick. Instead, he waves play on.

Everton are a desperate football club. So are Aston Villa. They are desperate to break into the top four. They are desperate for Champions League football.

The style of football they both play reflects that.

The last time Everton won any silverware was 1995. It was the FA cup. The last time they were Champions of England was 1987. Ronald Reagan was President of the United States. He died five years ago.

The last time Aston Villa won anything was 1996 - the League Cup. True they won the European Cup in 1982. But the Champions League is different. It's like comparing the election of Thomas Jefferson - who won the US Presidency by barring black people and women voters to that of Barrack Obama. The Champions League is a different kettle of fish just like US voting rights are today.

Yet, have you heard anything on Everton or Villa not having won a trophy for well over a decade. No. All you here is that Arsenal haven't won anything in four years - and that was only the FA cup.

Everton qualified for the preliminary stage of the Champions League in 2005. They were knocked out by Villarreal who were eventually knocked out by Arsenal in the semi-finals. Everton lost the first leg at Goodison Park 2-1. They also lost the second leg 2-1 but only after Duncan Fergurson had a perfectly good headed goal ruled out for infringement. It would have forced extra time. Instead, Villareal went up the other end and scored the game winner. Forlan sending Everton into the UEFA cup.

But watching Everton trying to qualify for the Champions League group stages was like watching Henry Cooper trying to beat up Classius Clay. And that to me sums up Villa and Everton.

They try hard. And the British love a team that tries especially when they are an underdog. Both teams are organized and committed. But they are fading clubs living on past glories. Just like the British were in World War Two.

Villa will never win the Champions League.

Everton will never play in the Champions League group stage.

Villa knocked Arsenal out in the semi-finals the year they last won their last trophy. We drew 2-2 at Highbury after leading 2-0 and then drew the second leg 0-0 at Villa Park. Bruce Rioch was in charge of Arsenal that season. But over the two legs, Arsenal were the better team.

A month later, Villa beat a poor Leeds team 3-0 in a one sided final.

However, with the benefit of hindsight, I am pleased that Villa beat Arsenal. Had Arsenal won the League Cup that season, then I think that it would have been harder for them to have fired Rioch and replaced him with Wenger. Without Wenger there would be no Champions League football for Arsenal.

After 26 minutes of Wednesdays game against Everton, Joe Royle the ex-Everton boss commentating for Setanta said: "Arsenal look a little bit stronger and have more intent."

Since we drew 2-2 away to Villa the media have ignored this fact.

West Ham at the Emirates

Tomorrow, it's West Ham.

Let me take a moment to salute them for a little bit.  They're on good form, they're playing football, and they've given Zola the breathing room he thoroughly deserves.  Obviously, I'm no fan of Chelsea, but Zola was brilliant.  I was surprised and didn't think he'd work out, but I'm pleased that he's making things happen.

So, to that end, let me tell you teams that I enjoy watching more than other teams in the Premier League.

West Ham - They recently bought this 19 year old, black German named Nsereko for a fee rumored to be around 5 million pounds.  I heard that fee in itself was inflated, but here's West Ham buying a kid from Brescia, a kid who hasn't played in top league football.  Why do I feel like this kid will be a tremendous success in this league?  To be fair, the video I have seen on him isn't overly impressive, but we'll see.  I admire them, because they play football.

Fulham - I have a soft spot for Roy Hodgson.  He reminds me of a professor in college.  Of course, he's not THE Professor (Arsene Wenger, may he never die), but his team tries to play.  They've sold Bullard, and that may affect them.  I hope they stay up.

Wigan - Steve Bruce reminds me of a fat lesbian.  I don't have anything against lesbians.  In fact, there are too many times when I've found a girl to be really interesting and an awesome person, and they turn out to be lesbians.  Steve Bruce is the matronly lesbian.  Imagine him on Flamini's couch, asking Mathieu to play for Birmingham.  MF: Would you like some tea?  SB (with his hands cupped together in his lap):  Um...  yes... I'd like that... maybe with some milk...  thank you.  Joe Kinnear would be the angry, drunk, macho lesbian in this couple.  Steve Bruce has been a failure before, and he certainly didn't need to comment on the Eduardo disaster (he tried to absolve "Tiny"), but he's doing well now.  His team works hard without crossing the edge, and he has a player now that Real Madrid is willing to pay 15 million euros for.  He's doing something right.

West Brom - They're doomed, but they try.  And Mowbray straight out said, "Aston Villa is not interested in playing football."

Which brings me to my main point.

Aston Villa is a team that is being anointed by the English media as the saviors.  Now, they are being considered contenders for the title.

In fact, I acknowledge that they may make it to the Champions League (not at our loss of course, I'm thinking Liverpool and Chelsea are not as safe as people think), but they will not represent England well.

Everton tried, and they were promptly destroyed by Villarreal.  Aston Villa utilize their one plus asset, which is Agbonlahor's and Ashley Young's pace.  For Agbonlahor, his pace is his only quality.  He's Theo Walcott without skills.  He's a quarter of the player Bendtner is.

If we had half the luck that Aston Villa has had this year, if we had half that luck last year, we would have won the title by five points.

When the bottom falls out, when they get screwed, somewhere, a great man will laugh loud and hard.

I acknowledge that freshness is a vital component for the good of football, but please not Aston Villa.  They don't play football, they play for results.  Somewhere along the lines, this new breed of fan became obsessed with just winning, and not necessarily in winning with style.

I blame Greece for that.

West Ham is a much more interesting team than Aston Villa.  Tomorrow, they may play without verve.  They may even squeak out a result.

But Robin van Persie and Zola are great men.

That's all I have to say about that.

The January Transfer Window

January has never been my favorite month. It's usually cold, dark, and grim with only the FA cup and the January transfer window providing me with comfort.

The current economic recession has not helped. The news is full of job cuts and bail outs, so much so that I have now become a News Now junkie hoping for any news of Andrei Arshavin signing for Arsenal. What is more pathetic is that I found myself watching the FA cup 5th round draw via the live text feed on the BBC website. For five minutes on Sunday I was excited, only to be brought back down to earth with the realization that it's the FA cup we are talking about, not the Champions League.

West Brom and Burnley are not as glamorous as Roma. They even sound drab just like the January winter. But let's not get gloomy. The season is now starting to breathe life. We are on an unbeaten run. We are catching up with the leaders of the Premiership and we have a great chance to progress to the FA cup quarter-finals. The 5th round draw was kind to us.

We also have Mr. Arshavin.

Do we need him? Yes.

His signing brings me out of the January blues. It takes me away from the economic downturn and high unemployment figures. I don't care for a defensive midfielder. If we sign one great but the Arshavin deal has been a real saga. It's been long and boring and I want a positive outcome - Andrei in a red Arsenal shirt.

Eduardo

England vs. Croatia, Thursday, 12 October 2006.

I was in a hotel room in Paris with a fine view of the Eiffel Tower. Shutterbug that I am, I weighed the options that stood before me – shoot (even more) pictures, pretend to enjoy snuggling with my ex-girlfriend/travel partner, or watch Croatia vs. England. You might think if you know me well enough that my true love, football, would win easily. But it wasn't AFC vs. who ever, it was shapeless England and their sorry manager Steve McClaren. Truthfully, the ex had almost no chance. It had reached that point. Plus, I had already shot the tower from every possible angle.

I decided to watch the match. Right away I noticed that Croatia had a very non-Croatian looking player up front. OK, no big deal. Asamoah and Olisadebe lined up for Germany and Poland respectively and they were clearly not German or Polish. So why couldn't Brazil-born Eduardo line up for Croatia?!?! He impressed me instantly with his touch and intelligent movement off the ball. And in the 61^st minute, he impressed Paul Robinson.

Sixteen months later, Eduardo da Silva was in the Arsenal lineup to face Birmingham City. Several things annoyed me on 23 February, 2008. Not least of course was that horrible challenge by "Tiny" on our star striker. In no way am I comparing what he went through with what happened to me when I was 19. But I did suffer the same injury, to the same leg, and did eventually play again. Eduardo has come back from almost losing his leg. He has returned to playing football, to doing what he loves, to being able to put smiles on our faces once again. I am and all football fans should be thankful. His return was no small feat.

I can hardly wait until he scores his first goal for the first team. And is it folly or classy for Mr. Wenger to allow Slaven Bilic to select the player for Croatia's upcoming friendly vs. Romania? Surely Arsene could be forgiven if he'd opted to keep the player protected a bit longer after that traumatic experience.

Everton Away

It was assumed that once Everton lost Yakubu for the year that they'd struggle to score goals.
They have, but that hasn't affected their fine run of form. 
To put it nicely, they've been opportunistic. 
Hanging on the ropes against the better teams, they rely largely on set pieces to score their goals. 
Arteta delivers a fine ball, and Cahill and Lescott are good at making the most of these chances. 
Ask Liverpool fans about that.

Their midfield is now anchored by the gigantic Fellaini. 
He's a bit overrated, but he is a promising prospect. 
The last time we played them, he actually limited their attack. 
His height is an obvious advantage, but it also worked against them. 
Our defense against this type of football, hoofing it towards a large target.
And hoping they'll get a head on it and create a chance, is actually not bad. 
The problem is that we repeatedly get punished on the one occasion we do make a mistake. 

Fellaini wasn't useful against us the last time.
However, he may combine with Cahill and Lescott to give them even more of an aerial threat in the game.

This game may come down to one of those moments where we give up a stupid free kick.
Or an unfair free kick is award against us. 
You know when those moments happens, a small part of you says:
"God, I just know something is going to happen here." 
Oftentimes, it doesn't, but for a team like Everton at the moment, it represents their best chance to score. 
They have zero offensive capability on the ball, because Cahill is not a natural striker.

Their back four is solid but unspectacular.  Jagielka is a capable performer.
He is a "jack of all trades" (a euphemism for The Man With No Position).
Jagielka has put a foot down in the central defense. 
That is to our advantage, as the more muscular Yobo has no place in their starting XI now. 
His partner is Lescott, who as a defender is largely overrated.

Adebayor needs to pressure these people as much as possible. 
He is physically a handful for their entire defense.
This will help create space for van Persie to do his magic. 
Currently, van Persie is as influential a playmaker as he is a goal scorer. 
With van Persie and Nasri's contributions, they have bridged the gap that went missing when Cesc went down. 
The right side of the the midfield is a void at this point, but Eboue is trying his best.

If things are status quo after 70 minutes, expect Bendtner and Vela to enter and change the game. 
They are as good impact subs as anybody, because they positively affect the outcome. 
They are underrated contributors, and their youth is a positive, not a detriment.

Who will start alongside Djourou?  Reports suggest Gallas. 
I hope that's the case, because Kolo (I love the guy, but...) looked out of sorts against Cardiff.

Yesterday was not a good day for us, so we need to keep the pressure on. 
A draw wouldn't be the worst of results in a larger sense.
But that's not something we should even be thinking about.

The game is entirely winnable, because Everton will struggle to create much. 
Their energy levels are high, so they may not tire.  But we have enough ingenuity to carve them open. 
We need to keep our eye on the ball, focus, and finish.