By Abdul Kashif

 

AS far as tag teams go, the duo of Martin O’Neill and Randy Lerner would surely hold the heavyweight belt with their partnership so far.

 

The genial Irishman and the elusive American have shown the rest of the Premier League the upside of foreign ownership.

 

O’Neill arrived at Aston Villa with his ‘five year plan’ and at the half way point, it all seems to make sense.

 

European nights are back at Villa Park as Martin O’Neill attempts to juggle his squad between the league and the UEFA Cup.

 

After seven years of mediocrity, the Midlands club finally made their fans’ dreams come true last season with a sixth place finish and subsequent entry to Europe.

 

Villa fans were hoping for a star studded group and fate has plucked a very decent line up out of the hat.

 

Dutch giants Ajax, managed by the legendary Marco Van Basten, will be the first team to visit Villa Park on October 23.

 

A tough trip to Eastern Europe follows with an away day at Slavia Prague on November 6.

 

Slovakian club MSK Zilina make the trip to Villa Park on December 4.

 

An exciting but testing away tie against Martin Jol’s Hamburg rounds off the group on December 17.

BY ABDUL KASHIF

ASTON VILLA blew away Manchester City at Villa Park courtesy of a stunning seven minute hat-trick form Gabriel Agbonlahor. John Carew scored the other goal for Villa on a great opening day for Martin O’Neill’s troops.

After a goalless first half where both teams were evenly matched, the game sprang into life on 47 minutes as Carew headed home Ashley Young’s cross. Brazil international Elano then equalised for Man City with a penalty on 64 minutes after Michael Johnson was upended in the box.

However, Agbonlahor then stole the show with the second fastest hat-trick in Premier League history with goals on 69, 74 and 76 minutes. Agbonlahor, who could have played for Nigeria through his father, will have surely caught the attention of England boss Fabio Capello.

As for the hat-trick, it is amazing to think that there hadn’t been a hat-trick by any Villa player for the past 11 years, and then we get two in the space of 6 months! The first this year was John Carew’s destruction derby against Newcastle!

Typical, just like London buses these hat-tricks are, especially at Villa!

Vedran Corluka grabbed a late consolation but Manchester City boss Mark Hughes will be frustrated after a game which was pretty even at half time. It has been a miserable week for City after dodgy Doctor Thaksin’s no show at court and humiliation in the UEFA Cup against little known FC Midtjylland.

But confidence is now sky high at Villa, who are within touching distance of the UEFA Cup and with 2 weeks of the transfer window remaining; brace yourself for a few solid signings.

Former Aston Villa star Juan Pablo Angel scored a double for New York Red Bulls in a crucial 4-1 victory over east coast rivals DC United.

Despite falling a goal behind, courtesy of Jaime Moreno’s early header, the Bulls powered back with a fantastic Angel free kick to level matters. Mike Magee’s strike ensured that the Red Bulls went into the break 2-1 up.

A physical game saw 7 players pick up bookings leading to Jaime Moreno being substituted at half time. Moreno, a veteran of MLS, didn’t seem to be too impressed with the bullying tactics employed by the Bulls.

The second half was dominated by the home team as the Bulls pressed forward. A speculative lob by Angel led to his second of the game followed by a late tap in for Sinisa Ubiparipovic.

The Red Bulls new signings, Pietravallo, Cichero and Rojas, provided some steel in midfield, something which has been lacking since the retirement of Claudio Reyna. Juan Pablo Angel’s return to form is crucial as the Bulls try and force their way up a tight eastern conference.

DC United, however, will hope that this defeat is a temporary blip as they battle to remain in the race for the playoffs alongside rivals New York.

ABDUL KASHIF

Aston Villa have completed a double deal to sign England full-backs Nicky Shorey and Luke Young.

Left back Shorey, 27, has arrived on a 3 year contract from Reading following their relegation from the Premier League. Shorey has played for England and hopes that a move to Villa will re-ignite his international career.

Right back Luke Young, 29, is currently undergoing a medical at Villa and is expected to be unveiled as early as Friday morning. Young spent last season at Middlesbrough and ended the campaign as one of their most consistent performers.

Both players have arrived in time to bolster Villa’s defence which is badly short of numbers following a serious injury to Wilfred Bouma and Olof Mellberg moving to Juventus.

Aston Villa currently possess the smallest squad in the Premier League and O’Neill knows he has to spend big if they are to get anywhere near the heights of last season.

With a UEFA cup campaign on the horizon, Villa fans are excited and relieved to see new faces but still expect a few more.
ABDUL KASHIF