Looking back over Aston Villa’s year, it hasn’t been the best for them, but they can take some consolation that it’s finishing much better than it started.
I wanted to mention this but it doesn’t fit into any of the categories below. Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov was diagnosed with Leukemia in March this year and had to take a break from playing to receive treatment. This was so sad to hear and the world united in support for Petrov. Villa Park did a standing ovation at the Chelsea game. He is making a recovery now, but the whole thing clearly affected the Villa team deeply which shows the strength in the background.
There have been many changes at Villa Park this year and I wonder what 2013 holds for them… but for now let’s look at Aston Villa’s 2012.
The Good
Paul Lambert taking over at Aston Villa as manager, is the best bit of Villa’s year. Lambert left Norwich to take over at Villa during the summer and I think there has been definite improvement since he arrived.
Their best game this year, came when they beat Liverpool 3-1. Villa played brilliantly and thoroughly outclassed Brendan Rodger’s boys.
Signing Christian Benteke was one of best signings they have made in a few years. Brilliant striker and he has really boosted the team. Now onto the ‘bad’.
The Bad
Form has been one of Villa’s bad points this year. From January until the season ended in May, Villa won only 2 games and finished 16th, just points away from relegation. None of them were the dreadful big losses that other teams suffered, but bad form affected Villa in a big way this year. It was their worst home record in 138 years and they had 7 wins in the whole season.
Alex McLeish’s complete denial towards the end of the season was also a low point. He just couldn’t get his tactics right either and made silly substitutions.
The Ugly
The ugly part to Villa has to be Lambert’s refusal to play £24mil Darren Bent. He has been questioned profusely on this matter and still holds that this is the best team to play. Nobody can fathom why he is choosing Jordan Bowery over proven striker Darren Bent, when he has been struggling for goals. There has definitely been a row between these two. Bent got injured and since then, he has been fit, yet he hasn’t played much at all. You don’t drop your captain and arguably your best player especially when you need them.
Strange decision. Ugly moment.
What’s your take? What were Villas’ best and worst moments this season?
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