Aston Villa vs West Ham United Match Preview
The resignation of manager Martin O’Neill just five days before the start of the new season throws Aston Villa’s aspirations toward a top four finish into disarray. The probable sale of star midfielder James Milner and possibly Ashley Young combined with owner Randy Lerner’s refusal to allow the purchase of new players seem key to O’Neill’s decision.
Reserve team manager Kevin MacDonald will take over the reigns for the immediate future, but who’s on the list for full-time replacement? MacDonald wants it. So to does USA coach Bob Bradley. Martin Jol and Alan Curbishley may also be on the list, as well as Sven-Goran Eriksson, who is desperate for a return to a big time management gig.
Supporters are demanding a high-profile replacement for O’Neill. But if he won’t spend money on quality players how likely is Lerner to hire a high profile manager?
West Ham’s sacking of manager Gianfranco Zola following last season’s poor performance opened the way for Avram Grant, late of Portsmouth, to take command at Upton Park.
The Isreali worked wonders under great duress last season as Portsmouth lurched from one financial setback to another. Still, Grant led Pompey to the FA Cup Final.
Can he work similar magic with the Hammers? Certainly he has a more stable platform upon which to build.
Defender Tal Ben-Haim has come to Upton Park from Portsmouth on loan until January, while New Zealand international defender Winston Reid, hero of the All Whites World Cup draw with Slovakia, signed a three year deal, coming over from Danish side FC Midtylland. Up front the Hammers have landed Ajax’s Serbian striker Miralem Sulejmani. Mexican winger Pablo Barrera joins from UNAM and striker Frederic Piquionne, who played under Grant on loan to Portsmouth last year, joins from Lyon.
If Grant can keep the likes of midfielder Scott Parker at Upton Park along with Carlton Cole, Matthew Upson and Keiron Dyer, he should at least have the makings of a solid team.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United Match Report
Despite the resignation of Martin O’Neill just days before the kick off of the new season, Aston Villa crushed a poor West Ham squad in a performance that could not have hurt care taker manager Kevin MacDonald’s aspirations toward taking on the Villa managerial duties full time.
Goals by Stewart Downing, as well as Stillian Petrov and James Milner did the damage to West Ham but the three goals belied Villa’s dominance; six goals would not have seemed overly-fortunate given West Ham’s hapless defense, which was unable to effectively contain the runs of Man-of-the-Match Downing, England international Ashley Young and England Under 21 international Marc Albrighton.
The Hammers’ faithful could be forgiven for expecting more from their team under new manager Avram Grant, who did so well at Portsmouth in difficult circumstances last season.
Aston Villa 3-0 West Ham United
