' Why Aston Villa '

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' Why Aston Villa '

Postby Forever Blue » Thu Aug 10, 2017 3:21 pm

Why Aston Villa's squad is the strongest Cardiff City will face


By Ian Mitchelmore

Thursday 10th August 2017

Cardiff City's promotion credentials will be given a stern test this weekend as the Bluebirds host Aston Villa in their first home Championship game of the 2017-18 campaign.

Neil Warnock's men go into the match on the back of consecutive wins against Burton and Portsmouth and will hope to secure a repeat of last season's 1-0 victory against Steve Bruce's side on Saturday.




The Villans have been widely tipped to go up this season, with many expecting them to clinch one of the two automatic promotion spots come the end of the campaign.

It has been announced that more than 20,000 tickets have already been sold for the match including nearly 5,000 Villa fans, and there's no doubt the Bluebirds will need the full backing from the Cardiff faithful if they are to overcome Villa.

Having splashed the cash following their relegation from England's top flight in 2016, Bruce's side have been far more subdued in the transfer window this year.

But that's not to say they haven't strengthened.



The signature of John Terry hit the headlines, and with more than 700 Chelsea appearances to his name, Terry needs no introduction.

But the Villans have made a few other shrewd signings over the close season.

Bruce has added former Stoke man Glenn Whelan and ex-Hull midfielder Ahmed Elmohamady to his ranks as well as securing loan deals to take Josh Onomah and Sam Johnstone to Villa Park from Tottenham and Manchester United respectively.

Their three permanent signings have an average age of almost 33, and with that comes a wealth of Premier League experience.

Whelan has 81 caps for Republic of Ireland and has secured promotions with Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke during his professional career while Elmohamady has been part of a promotion-winning side on two occasions with Hull.

And when you factor in the experience of Wales duo Neil Taylor and James Chester along with frontman Gabby Agbonlahor, it's easy to see why Villa are being tipped for good things this season.

Former Blackburn man Chris Samba was listed among the substitutes for Villa's 1-1 draw with Hull on the opening day of the new season, and even some of those who did not feature against the Tigers - including Conor Hourihane - have vast experience in the second tier of the English football pyramid.

It goes to show just how experienced Bruce's side are, even more so when you consider that the key duo of Jack Grealish and Mile Jedinak haven't even featured for the club yet this season.


So backed by a bumper crowd and buoyed by the Bluebirds' winning start to the season, there's no doubt Warnock's men will be up against it, although he will relish the clash as Cardiff look to send a real statement out to the rest of the division.



Little more than seven months ago, Joe Ralls' first half strike proved enough to see Cardiff clinch all three points against the Villans in what proved to be a tactical masterclass from Warnock.



And if the Bluebirds look at the league table to see a tally of six points next to their name at around 4:50pm on Saturday evening, the already-high optimism in the Welsh capital will continue to rise, and the other Championship sides will have no doubt that Cardiff really do mean business this year.
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' Why Aston Villa '

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Re: ' Why Aston Villa '

Postby Pembroke bluebird » Thu Aug 10, 2017 5:54 pm

Get in to them f--- em up come one city :bluescarf: :twisted: :ayatollah:
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Re: ' Why Aston Villa '

Postby brickyblue » Thu Aug 10, 2017 6:10 pm

Should be a big crowd for villa .city have the feel good factor back and Warnock wants a go at promotion it will be a big test early on in the season.
If we can get a good result then the feel good factor will only get better and better .
City really do need show there intent and beat villa to show fans we mean business.

Going for 2-0 city.
Hate John Terry so let's show him what Cardiff fans are all about..
Looking forward to this one. :bluescarf:
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