A Villa Fan Showing No Fear (Interview)

An interview with JP Fear from Vital Villa. (Our interview on Vital Villa: An Interview With A Spurs Fan)

Firstly, are you quaking in your claret and blue slippers after our demolition of Wigan last week or do you take it as a freak result and expect us to shoot ourselves in the foot as usual?

No, not at all, we demolished Bolton 5-1 in our last home game and have Liverpool and Chelsea scalps so far this season, I think we are more than a match for any team who visit Villa Park as long as our right team turns up - much like you guys, we seem to have the ability to raise our game to great end one match then stroll around and blow it the next!

I really think this match is too close to call to be honest, both teams on their day play good attacking football so this will probably end up a 0-0 bore!!!!!!!

Is it my imagination or are Villa looking better at home this season?

Strange, the other season we couldn't get a home win for love nor money and were great away from home, this season it is our home form that is best. Why the hell can't they just do it home and away! lol

Our first home game was truly woeful, we literally didn't turn up, the fans were muted, the bench was silent, MON was like a statue (if you know MON, he is never usually still) and the players were somewhere else. It was embarrassing, anger inducing and unexplainable. Then we visited Anfield away for a thrashing ... click, all went right and all of a sudden it wasn't all doom and gloom.

Since the first game, we've gone unbeaten at Villa Park, some of the displays haven't been that convincing but hey, if you can win (or in the case of Man City game draw) whilst not playing that well, it isn't a bad habit to pick up really is it? Even away we are picking up points apart from a disappointing display at Blackburn.

I have to say that I think Martin O`Neil bought very astutely in the summer, giving you greater depth as a squad, but is this enough to take you forward as other rivals like ourselves have also improved?

Who knows? Seriously the league seems to be so unpredictable. Personally I don't think we have the right strike force, I think John Carew on his day is world class but his days are 1 in 10. When he is 'on' he is unplayable, so I can't - and I'm not alone as MON has mentioned it several times - understand why in so many games he doesn't turn up. Hopefully tomorrow he'll be there with his shooting boots on. Gabby Agbonlahor is promising, he has muscled up, shown a good attitude and is putting in the effort this season (after a very poor run in to the campaign last season) and then we have the enigma of Emile Heskey.

For me Darren Bent would have been perfect but MON is the boss not me... thank goodness!

The defence looks solid now, although we do have James Collins injured which is a shame as he has been the surprise package this season, he really does look like a rock. Think he is doubtful for tomorrow. Warnock is a great signing and we are just starting to see the introduction of Stewart Downing who I believe might make a home debut tomorrow. If he clicks right and the team shifting around to fit him in works, it could be an interesting season. As said, apart from a few noticeable games like Chelsea, we have laboured more than dazzled so far, when a few of our younger players like Ashley Young hit their stride and a run of form, it could be happy days!

After losing Martin Laursen last season, how impressed have you been in the two new boys at the back (Dunne & Collins). I assume you have been very pleased with what were perhaps seen as un-ambitious signings, particularly James Collins, who has looked fantastic?

Ah, wish I'd read down before speaking about him in the last question! I knew nothing about Collins before he came and he's been great. As for Richard Dunne, he's been solid at the back and a threat up front so all is good. Warnock has also slotted in nicely.

It was nice to see England`s No9 at last get on the score-sheet at Burnley. Would you take him to the World Cup for his ability to link well with Rooney and be a bit of muscle or do we need more?

I wouldn't no. Not unless he gets at least 10 for Villa and sets up at least 10 goals for us. He has set one up (v Wolves - and put in more work in 15 mins than Carew in the 75 mins before) and only scored one (last game away to Burnley). He needs to impose himself more to deserve his place in the Villa team let alone the England squad. I am one of the Villa fans who don't care he played for Blues, I WANT him to succeed, but he has to want it, show some aggression and start to get stuck in.

As things stand, I'd take Carlton Cole or Peter Crouch as the big man. Trouble with Crouchie is in the International scene the refs blow up for everything he does (unfairly in most cases) whereas in the PL his ungainly style works and doesn't get penalised all the time.

Talking of Villa strikers. I see Gabby Agbonlahor has again started the season well, but does he have the staying power to maintain this form all season and perhaps stake his own claim for a WC place?

He has a chance. Remember he is only 23 so maybe it is the world cup after this one that he will feature more prominently but if he can keep his motivation up and carry on the season as he has started, he must be in with a shout as an option from the bench. Maybe he will need another option to have an injury to guarantee his place but then Capello does seem to like Villa and our players.

The one shoe in is James Milner I think.

I understand this could be the first start for the massively under-rated Stewart Downing, a player so often linked with Spurs. Were you pleased with his signing and where do you see his role in the side, long term?

Yes, loved the signing, especially the pictures of him going to Bodymoor for his medical on crutches (although as explained to me by someone at Villa, the medicals aren't about running around, more the heart rates etc!). Think he'll slot in nicely. I'm really interested to see how he is deployed to be honest. MON has hinted that Downing could give Barry a run for his money in the centre for England but also that James Milner might have a central role for us so who will do what is a mystery. I'd think Downing on the left, Young on the right and Milner in the centre but many have tried to second guess MON before and failed, so if he turns up in goal, I'll not be that shocked!

After missing out on your dream of qualifying for the Champions league last season, can you do it this time and what do you make of the prospects of your main rivals for what I guess will be a fight for the final spot, behind Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal?

Such a shame, we really did blow it last year, it was there for the taking, much like you guys the season before (think it was the season before anyway?) Man City will throw money at it, nice to see at the moment it isn't clicking all their way. Obviously Spurs are similar to Villa as well, another club big enough to be in the top four but one that also never does quite do it. What annoys me now is that we all talk about 4th as success, it used to be about winning the league. I hate the Champions League and what it has done to the Premiership, the four who were in there have made more and more money and that has put them over and above the rest. It isn't as it was and football is worse off because of it. When we won (oh here we go!) the European Cup, you had to be champions of your league. I'd rather, if we have to have multiple teams from each league, see a place go to the FA Cup and League Cup winners, Champions and maybe runners up. At least it would have 3 out of 4 teams in the CL as champions?

Sorry, what was the question!? Oh yes, well, main rivals are Spurs and Man City. Everton would usually be up there as well but they are having a horrible time of it and look like they might struggle this season. I guess Sunderland aren't totally out of the equation either although that would be more of a shock.

Do Villa really hate Spurs or is it just banter? Be honest, I can take it...

I've not got that much space in my head or heart for hate these days to be honest. I do think (on both sides) some do the banter well and others take things too personally. I would say that some (SOME) of the Spurs visitors we've had on Vital Villa are a bit too arrogant and think themselves at a far far bigger club. For me, unless we win the league, I don't really care for comparisons on the size of clubs. I think Spurs, Villa, Everton (and I would have said Newcastle before last season) all have a big club to support and all have the chance of breaking the top four and winning things, who will and who won't remains to be seen.

Got to say most who have joined in on the forum thread Villa v Spurs (and the lets all laugh at Spurs in open terrace) have been good fun, have given and taken and have the right attitude. End of the day, who cares, we all love our teams and that is the be-all and end-all for us!

And you know I love you OxfordSpur!

Which of both squads players will be linked with moves between our clubs in January, there has to be a few?

Nigel Hokey-Cokey for Jermaine Jenas. I think that is the most obvious link. I'd take that to be honest, I think Jenas is a marmite player for you lot and NRC hasn't ever really cemented a place in our team and after playing well in our 5-1 v Bolton was dropped for Petrov to return from suspension, so he'll want out and I hear it is out and back to London he is most interested in. I guess the Bentley rumour will return but I can't see there being a place for him at Villa now.

If you combined the two squads together, what would be the best eleven?

Great question

Brad Friedel. Getting a bit long in the tooth now but Gomez seems unpredictable?

Dunne, Collins and Woodgate fighting it out for the centre back roles. Obviously Woodgate wouldn't be fit very often. Ledley was a great but injury seems to have ruined that and Dawson seems to have too many lapses?

Warnock at left-back (Gareth Bale as back up!), Luke Young at right-back. I don't think Hutton has settled? Don't know enough about Kyle Naughton and whether he would be pushing for a place to be fair?

An in form Aaron Lennon on the right, Ashley Young on the left, Milner in the centre with Tom Huddlestone/Jermain Jenas. Stiliyan Petrov isn't far out of that equation either although your two seem to get forward and attack / shoot more? Throw in Robbie Keane in the hole behind the strikers every now and then as well.

Could Jermain Defoe and Gabby play together? Maybe, maybe not. Would go for Defoe at the moment as he is the finished item. Crouch of John Carew? Well, I think they'd be swapped about, Crouch always gives 100% but John Carew's 100% (when he can be arsed) is better, he is world class on his day.

What is your prediction for this weekend`s game and who will be your key men we have to worry about?

I'd worry about Carew if he is up for it and this sort of game he should be. I'd also watch out for the hard work from James Milner. Hopefully Downing will make a splendid debut!

Really is too close to call this, I'll go for a 3-2 to Villa but quite honestly, really have no idea at all!

With thanks to JP Fear from Vital Villa. Our interview on Vital Villa: An Interview With A Spurs Fan

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