Aston Villa Match Preview Part 2

Last updated : 01 March 2002 By Mike Reich
Taylor - New Villa Manager
We caught up with Michael David Ault, editor of Villa fanzines www.thevillan.co.uk and http://www.astonvilla-mad.co.uk to ask him some questions about this weekend's match:

What was your reaction to the news that John Gregory had resigned?
Shocked as I didn't think he will quit, but he had enough of his stupid boss.

What do you think of the appointment of Graham Taylor? Is he the better manager?
He will be better, and probably make us top 4-5 instead of 7th I think he will do a better job, but he hadn't won anything apart from promotions.

Do any Villa fans actually like Doug Ellis?
99% of the fans hated him. He make the club run for his benefits not football team or our benefits.

Was Peter Schmeichel your best summer signing?
Olof Mellberg is the best

You sold Gareth Southgate at the end of last season, as well as Ehiogu during last season - how has your defence coped with their absence?
We didn't miss them as Olof Mellberg is much better defender than Southgate. We are ok in defending apart from Long term injury of Alpay. The midfield is the problem area.

Are there any key players missing for the Hammers match?
Alpay. I don't think anyone else is out.

Who are your worst and best players so far this season?
Worst Players erm Hard to say, best player Olof Mellberg and Mark Delaney

Have you got any hidden gems in your squad?
Thomas Hitzsperger the german u21 midfielder - he could be our missing playmaker.

In which area do you think the team needs the most money invested?
MIDFIELD MIDFIELD MIDFIELD

How do you think the team will line up against the Hammers?
Schmiechel, Delaney, Samuel, Staunton, Mellberg, Hadji, Boateng (Two from Hendrie, Stone, Merson, Hitzsperger), Angel, Vassell.

What is your current opinion on West Ham?
West Ham seem a good team with weak defence and have a good home record with a lot of trashing received. But I never pay attention to other english football teams as I am more interested in La Liga ;-)

Who do you think is West Ham's potentially dangerous player?
Di Canio I think and possibly fired up David James.

What do you think the score will be?
1-1 don't expect a 5-0 win for Villa as our midfield are crap.

Any other comments?
We could be playing a lot better without having a difficult opposition so we might be more entertaining and attacking.

With Michael predicting a 1 - 1 draw, we took a lot at the Head-2-Head stats between the two sides (see below) to find that West Ham have the better overall record, with 29 wins to their name. Having won 10 times at Villa Park, it would seem that the Hammers don't have a bad chance, although with their last victory away at Villa seven years ago in 1995, hopes shouldn't be too high.

And unless Glenn has worked wonders on our away form since the Bolton game, it could be another seven years till we get another victory there.


At Aston Villa (38)At West Ham (39)Overall (77 matches)
ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%
Aston Villa1950West Ham1948.72Aston Villa2532.47
West Ham1026.32Aston Villa615.38West Ham2937.66
Draws923.68Draws1435.9Draws2329.87
GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pg
Aston Villa751.97West Ham822.1Aston Villa1231.6
West Ham491.29Aston Villa481.23West Ham1311.7
Records
Highest Aggregate10West Ham 5 - 5Aston Villa1930/1931
Highest Aston Villa score:6Aston Villa 6 - 1West Ham1930/1931
Highest West Ham score:7West Ham 7 - 2Aston Villa1958/1959
SeasonDateHomeScoreAwayCompetition
2001/2002Wed 05 DecWest Ham1 - 1Aston VillaPremiership
2000/2001Sat 07 AprAston Villa2 - 2West HamPremiership
Sat 09 DecWest Ham1 - 1Aston VillaPremiership
1999/2000Sat 15 JanWest Ham1 - 1Aston VillaPremiership
Mon 16 AugAston Villa2 - 2West HamPremiership
1998/1999Fri 02 AprAston Villa0 - 0West HamPremiership
Sat 17 OctWest Ham0 - 0Aston VillaPremiership
1997/1998Sat 04 AprAston Villa2 - 0West HamPremiership
Sat 29 NovWest Ham2 - 1Aston VillaPremiership
1996/1997Sat 15 MarAston Villa0 - 0West HamPremiership
Wed 04 DecWest Ham0 - 2Aston VillaPremiership
1995/1996Wed 17 AprAston Villa1 - 1West HamPremiership
Sat 04 NovWest Ham1 - 4Aston VillaPremiership
1994/1995Sat 18 MarAston Villa0 - 2West HamPremiership
Sat 17 SepWest Ham1 - 0Aston VillaPremiership
1993/1994Sat 15 JanAston Villa3 - 1West HamPremiership
Sat 16 OctWest Ham0 - 0Aston VillaPremiership
1991/1992Thu 26 DecAston Villa3 - 1West HamFirst Division
Wed 28 AugWest Ham3 - 1Aston VillaFirst Division
1988/1989Sat 25 MarAston Villa0 - 1West HamFirst Division
Sat 17 SepWest Ham2 - 2Aston VillaFirst Division
1986/1987Sat 25 AprAston Villa4 - 0West HamFirst Division
Sat 22 NovWest Ham1 - 1Aston VillaFirst Division
1985/1986Wed 19 MarAston Villa2 - 1West HamFirst Division
Sat 19 OctWest Ham4 - 1Aston VillaFirst Division
1984/1985Sat 23 FebWest Ham1 - 2Aston VillaFirst Division
Sat 03 NovAston Villa0 - 0West HamFirst Division
1983/1984Sat 05 MayWest Ham0 - 1Aston VillaFirst Division
Sat 03 DecAston Villa1 - 0West HamFirst Division
1982/1983Sat 23 AprWest Ham2 - 0Aston VillaFirst Division
Sat 04 DecAston Villa1 - 0West HamFirst Division
1981/1982Sat 06 MarWest Ham2 - 2Aston VillaFirst Division
Sat 17 OctAston Villa3 - 2West HamFirst Division
1977/1978Sat 18 MarAston Villa4 - 1West HamFirst Division
Sat 22 OctWest Ham2 - 2Aston VillaFirst Division
1976/1977Sat 22 JanWest Ham0 - 1Aston VillaFirst Division
Sat 21 AugAston Villa4 - 0West HamFirst Division
1975/1976Sat 17 AprWest Ham2 - 2Aston VillaFirst Division
Fri 26 DecAston Villa4 - 1West HamFirst Division
1966/1967Tue 28 MarAston Villa0 - 2West HamFirst Division
Fri 24 MarWest Ham2 - 1Aston VillaFirst Division
1965/1966Sat 05 MarWest Ham4 - 2Aston VillaFirst Division
Mon 07 FebAston Villa1 - 2West HamFirst Division
1964/1965Wed 31 MarAston Villa2 - 3West HamFirst Division
Sat 10 OctWest Ham3 - 0Aston VillaFirst Division
1963/1964Sat 01 FebAston Villa2 - 2West HamFirst Division
Sat 21 SepWest Ham0 - 1Aston VillaFirst Division
1962/1963Sat 15 DecWest Ham1 - 1Aston VillaFirst Division
Sat 18 AugAston Villa3 - 1West HamFirst Division
1961/1962Sat 20 JanWest Ham2 - 0Aston VillaFirst Division
Sat 09 SepAston Villa2 - 4West HamFirst Division
1960/1961Mon 29 AugAston Villa2 - 1West HamFirst Division
Mon 22 AugWest Ham5 - 2Aston VillaFirst Division
1958/1959Sat 03 JanAston Villa1 - 2West HamFirst Division
Sat 30 AugWest Ham7 - 2Aston VillaFirst Division
1937/1938Sat 01 JanWest Ham1 - 1Aston VillaSecond Division
Sat 28 AugAston Villa2 - 0West HamSecond Division
1936/1937Mon 26 AprWest Ham2 - 1Aston VillaSecond Division
Sat 17 AprAston Villa0 - 2West HamSecond Division
1931/1932Sat 06 FebWest Ham2 - 1Aston VillaFirst Division
Sat 26 SepAston Villa5 - 2West HamFirst Division
1930/1931Sat 03 JanWest Ham5 - 5Aston VillaFirst Division
Sat 06 SepAston Villa6 - 1West HamFirst Division
1929/1930Sat 26 AprAston Villa2 - 3West HamFirst Division
Sat 21 DecWest Ham5 - 2Aston VillaFirst Division
1928/1929Sat 19 JanAston Villa5 - 2West HamFirst Division
Sat 08 SepWest Ham4 - 1Aston VillaFirst Division
1927/1928Mon 09 AprAston Villa1 - 0West HamFirst Division
Fri 06 AprWest Ham0 - 0Aston VillaFirst Division
1926/1927Sat 02 AprAston Villa1 - 5West HamFirst Division
Sat 13 NovWest Ham5 - 1Aston VillaFirst Division
1925/1926Sat 26 DecAston Villa2 - 0West HamFirst Division
Fri 25 DecWest Ham5 - 2Aston VillaFirst Division
1924/1925Sat 24 JanWest Ham2 - 0Aston VillaFirst Division
Sat 20 SepAston Villa1 - 1West HamFirst Division
1923/1924Wed 26 DecWest Ham1 - 0Aston VillaFirst Division
Tue 25 DecAston Villa1 - 1West HamFirst Division