In usual big game pre-match fashion, we’ve had a quick chat with Damian from The Villa Blog about Sunday’s League Cup final.
Scott the Red: What would constitute a good season for Villa?
Damian: A good season for us will be winning the League Cup or even, if things go our way and we get a bit of luck, the FA Cup. At the start of the season, I said it had to be progress in the league, but I am blinded by silverware at the moment and afterall, isn’t winning things, what it’s all about?
STR: Of course. Whilst achieving a higher league position is great, I doubt it would bring that same intense feeling seeing your captain lift a trophy brings. So, what for next season?
D: Our expectations should be to do better than 6th and look to challenge the top four. I hate writing that, as if the top four is the be all and end all, but in terms of realisticly what is possible – it has to be to finish top four and beat off the likes of Spurs, Manchester City and Liverpool, who are losing the plot.
STR: Well there’s currently just one point between the four clubs between 4th and 7th, so to be the club that breaks away from that would say a lot. Which player stands out at someone who helped achieved your current position this season?
D: Richard Dunne. He has come in and replaced Martin Laursen and done itsuperbly. Fantastic defender.
STR: I was expecting you to say Young, Milner or Agbonlahor to be honest, as they’re the players that tend to steal the headlines, but there’s no doubting the former City skipper has come in and done a great job (just look at my fantasy football team!). How long do you think you can keep Young for?
D: Webcam will stay for as long as he believes we are progressing. For a club like us, we need to progress for players to want to stay and it is understandable. But if he keeps getting better and we stop progressing and someone comes in for him, can he be blamed for wanting to go to a bigger club?
STR: Speaking of people leaving Villa for a bigger club, Martin O’Neil is often mentioned as one of the potential managers to replace Sir Alex Ferguson. My personal preference is for Laurent Blanc but do you think O’Neil could cut it at United?
D: I really do think this is a question you should ask your own supporters and I will be bringing it up in my daily post tomorrow, to see what your fans think.
STR: Gareth Barry fancied himself as someone capable of moving up to a bigger club, yet instead opted to play for City. How have you got on since he left?
D: Gareth who? He was a decent player but he was slow, couldn’t track back or tackle and really only had a left foot and I’ve said this for years, not just since he left. A decent player for sure, but we got the best deal with him going to Man City.
STR: Who got the best deal for Fabian Delph? We were linked to the lad but he hasn’t appeared to hit the ground running in the Premiership with Villa. Was he worth the money?
D: It is impossible to say at the moment, but I am a big fan. He has vision and is not frightened of trying things. With a little more time and confidence these things will start to come off and players around him will learn. He has bags of potential and we need to nurture it and not try to change his natural game. He really could be a very special player. Ask me again in two season though, but I hope also by then, you will know if he was worth it or not.
STR: O’Neil seems to have done a decent job in the transfer market with Villa, so Delph has that on his side. If O’Neil could take any player from United, who would you want, aside from Rooney?
D: Given the choice, and taking everything into consideration, I’d take Berbatov. Say what you want about him, but the man is class.
STR: I wish all of our fans could see that! I’m a big fan of Berbatov so it’s nice to hear that fans of other clubs can see the class in him. What about your feelings on the teams at the top? Who do you want to win the league?
D: I hope you lot do. I don’t like Chelsea and dont think Arsenal have the balls and Liverpool are about to implode.
STR: How nice. I can feel the love in the room. Just to spoil that, does the thought of Federico Macheda give you nightmares?
D: It was horrible, but we learn by our mistakes. It is nice, in a way though, to see it appears to have just been his moment as we have heard little else about him.
STR: Be fair. He was only 17 when he scored that goal and he is only 18 now! It’s a bit premature to think that was the last you’ve heard of him! Anyway, more about United and Villa. What is your favourite ever Villa vs United game?
D: Dare I say it, 1994, but I hope to be able to say 2010 on Monday.
STR: And finally, what are your predictions for the final?
D: Only because you have so many players missing I am going to say us. If you were playing your strongest side, I’d be mad and I’m not convinced Sir Alex is going to even play your strongest available team on Sunday as he has more important things to think about. I also think he has a soft spot for Villa, which in no way will mean he doesn’t want to win, but we are not Manchester City – he doesn’t want to stop us winning sivlerware as much as he didn’t want them winning some.
STR: Good stuff. It should be a good game, with Villa up for it, but after our 10 man performance against you the other week, I think we’re right to be fairly confident. May the best team win, but failing that, come on United!
Man Utd News 24/7
Nice to see other club fans saying nice things about Berba…
Nice comments there,
quite fair in his prediction i guess, but it can go either way to be honest, it will depend on how well we play going forward and how well we defend set pieces.. get these things right and we should win as they pose little threat other than corners free kicks etc..
i hope they feel the same about us missing key players so that the will actually come at us and not defend for the entire cup final..
many fans dont care about this cup, but i do having got here we may as well win it as it could be the catylist for making united even more hungry and determined to win the prem and cl as walking up the stairs of wembly must be a great feeling..
Go United!!!
Think this one could be close, would like to see a couple of the kids get a chance. Berba is really starting to hit form so hope he plays from the start, maybe with Owen although I know Wazza is desperate to play. Villa are no mugs though as they showed at OT….but fancied us to do them at their place until Nani was sent off. Will be a big loss if Petrov doesn’t recover in time! Can’t wait for this though !!
AndyCR7
yes
it is nice to hear other fans showing berba some love..
Whether you love him, hate him, or think he’s not for united you have to be fair and say that he really is a fuckin class act, best touch in the prem, up there with the best in terms of vision and a good finisher..
a bit more pace and he’d be up there with rooney ronaldo and messi..
admire him tho:-)
Confident lot…I hope it comes back to haunt them, but I guess it is their seasons high point and before their usual march collapse..hehe
To be honest..after all the success over the years, I wont be too sad if they have something to celebrate.
Nice interview. We don’t have so many absences. However, I would start Owen instead of Berbatov tomorrow.
I dont think SAF will play youngsters and he is right about it.He rested Fletcher, Carrick for that reason on Tuesday.I am not saying we will not will the league or CL but at the moment this looks our best chance of winning something this season so SAF will want to get some silverware in the bag.
WIth Vidic back i can see the backline more stable and Rooney is in good form.
VIlla are very defensive in such games and park the bus inviting the opposition to break them down.I cant see us keeping a clean sheet but i think we will win the game possibly in extra time if not in the 90 mins
United 2 Villa 1
Oh yes and Berbatov should start.He is doing well at the moment and to keep that run going he must play consistently
true him abt Sir Alex wanting to beat shitty more than villa. Sir Alex might just go easy with this cup final since we’re playing villa. if it’s shitty, sorry, never a chance we or even Sir Alex would let them win.
“Given the choice, and taking everything into consideration, I’d take Berbatov. Say what you want about him, but the man is class.”
Sir Alex wont go easy on the final. Its a final FFS
http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/34763/Sir_Alex_Ferguson_reveals_his_delight_in_tying_evergreen_veteran_to_new_deal_.aspx
thank god we dont need to find a replacement this season
Scott run the Edwin story, fantastic news…. Although Fergie has said he is not sure who will start in the final, I hope Edwin gets a game…Although Foster was better last week .
I’d be very surprised if we don’t see our strongest team possible play on Sunday and that means the team that played against Milan (minus Rio and Nani for differing reasons with Valencia and Vidic fopefully coming in).
The Berba haters will be paranoid that you got the Villa bloke to say he would take Berbatov!!
Just out of interest where the fuck is Macheda? I know he had that groin injury but ain’t seen him for months even in the reserves.
Fergie has said the “youngsters” that will more than likely start are Rafael, Evans and Gibbo.
King Eric….The trouble is all the Berba haters have gone very,very quiet over the last few weeks?! Funny that!!
@King Eric
I was wondering the same. With Rooney,Berba,Owen and Diouf fit, it’s not surprising that he hasn’t featured at all for the first team. But he should have gotten over his injury by now.
Excellent.. loved the Berba and Barry parts..
http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/34755/Tevez_If_he_didnt_understand_I_dont_care.aspx
Oh dear…..
Excellent Interview, and very imformative.That Lad Damian sound’s real smart and balanced.I wish him no luck however on Sunday, and I dont want the Villa to achieve 4th spot either, Spuds all the way for me.
WEMBELIEVE 28/02/2010 On On On
We have to win on Sunday! If the worst happen, we can still say we won something in this season.
… and EVDS is truly one of the Sir’s best purchase, i’m abs. delighted he signed another year!!
Bangladeshi Red, like the ⓛⓤⓗⓖ!
this interview pissed me off
not that there was anything wrong with scotts questions
not that there was anything wrong with the villians answers
its the fact that other teams supporters go around with the (right) opinion that Berbatov is Class and after a wonderful game from berbatov against West Ham there is still United Supporters come on here and butcher the guy
I was watching the city game against stoke and all i could think at the end was Villa playing at wembley on sunday and are battling city and liverpool for 4th place
and barry left Villa “because he wanted to win silverwear”
if the bottom falls out on united on sunday and villa do what everton did in the fa cup in 1995 then ill take solace in the fact that Barry knows when he looks in the mirror that been a money grabbing whore aint as glamorous as ir first seems
Ober-fucking-tan, Mankini’s players obviously have a lot of respect for him! This summer when he inevitably becomes the second City manager sacked in the space of 6 months it will put any manager worth his salt off joining that circus. What would we do without the “comedy club?”
Tevez was right about this. Mankini really came out looking like an ass.
Damian seems like a nice guy. Great chat between you two.
I like Villa, it’s a team that know their limitations but are not paralysed by it. Try to win and do things, have ambition and a lot of quality.
But in the League Cup I bet on us!
King Eric
Can`t you just keep your mouth shut mate!
with all these berba haters,nani haters and shit names you give to Man Utd fans on this blog.
Stop treating man utd fans as berba haters…whateva haters
We ALL love man utd here just as much as you do or may be more than you do!
I’m going to agree with KungFuKick @ 15:28 – although I will agree in somewhat more “diplomatic language”.
It’s misleading to call bloggers who are sceptical about DImitar Berbatov’s contributions “BerbaHaters”.
From what I’ve read, most of US – yes, I’m one ! – are “BerbaSceptics” because they remain unconvinced that Dimmy has made the kind of impact that would justify his playing time and his enormous signing-fee.
Some of the “BerbaSceptics” are wary of his “languid style” – and others think he is just too slow – but absolutely no one has doubted the man’s ball skills and close control.
It is hard to suggest that there has actually been any significant change in his play – he neither scored nor made the first-assist against West Ham – Valnecia did that !; Dimmy did stab in an errant ball against Everton but his inclusion was at the expense of having another man in midfield from the get-go and my memory of that game is that UTD were simply over-run in midfield; and if you go further back then several of his goals have been tap-ins. I don’t believe that I am suffering from “selective memory” or even “revisionist history” – it’s just the way I’ve seen his impact on the games. I remain sceptical.
For these kind of reasons, many fans join me in continuing to be “BerbaSceptics” – the guy hasn’t exactly set the world on fire.
Team for the final?
GK: Foster
D: Rafa, Vidic, Evans, Evra
M: Valencia, Fletcher, Carrick, Gibson, Obertan
S: Rooney
Villa will go 5 in midfield so I reckon we need to match them there. I’d like to see Obertan get the nod on the left for the experience of playing in Wembly. I think Gibson is a certainty to start.
Come on Utd!!
The villa fan is smart, he wants us to start with berbatov so villa will play against 10 man united.
Denton
I tend to agree with you in parts. In reality, I really don’t think anybody really disagrees and are often arguing the same point. Lets be honest, EVERYONE on here must recognise what a quality footballer Berba is, however, the real argument here is whether he is right for United. The fact that his inclusion against Everton meant we were over-run in midfield was not his fault, it was SAF’s fault for selecting the team. If we then question that selection, does that mean we are Fergie haters?!! No, I didn’t think so.
Many of you try to paint him as a class player, he is good on the ball blablabla.. cantona was class and he delivered, giggs is class he is still, scholse, keano, ronaldo rooney ole…we are blesses with class players over the years who contributed(ing) a lot for us in big occasions. Berbatov is not a bad player but ultimatly us fans should value palyers by thier contribution not by thier ball control, touch like that. Some one pointed out this a couple of day before but woth noting again Flecher may not have berbatov’s skill on the ball but thier contribution to the team and style is beyond comparison. i have no problem with him if he delivers but he is so slow, no passion and agressivness and determination means he is unlikely to succeed with us.
Unrelated,
On the day pompey go in to administration, nobody bats an eyelid about chester city being kicked out of the conference.
http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-news/featured-stories/2010/02/26/chester-city-fc-latest-on-the-blues-expulsion-from-the-conference-59067-25921884/
UNITED4life – actually I want us to play 4-4-2 with Berbatov starting.
Pretty sure we’ll see:
Van der Sar;
Rafael, Evans, Vidic, Evra;
Valencia, Carrick, Fletcher, Park;
Berbaov, Rooney.
Subs: Kuszczak, Neville, Fabio, Gibson, Scholes, Obertan, Owen.
I would really like to see the Roon-Berb-Valencia trio play again. They had an amazing connection last game and I’d hate to break that up!
Kung Fu Kick – Woah easy tiger. That is the FIRST TIME I have used that expression and despite what you say some people do dislike him . Purely because they think he is “lazy” in alot of cases. I have never used the expression “Nani haters” or any other haters so get your facts straight. Fuck me I have had some stick this week. I will keep my fucking mouth shut now.
Do tell me what “shit names” I give to fans on here? I don’t simple as.
Toby, the plight of Chester City has not gone unnoticed.
On Saturday FC United will host a supporters rally aimed at putting supporter ownership at the very centre of the debate on the future of the game. Alongside FC United speakers, guests will include Guardian journalist David Conn, representatives from Schalke FC and Supporters Direct. Also confirmed: representatives from Portsmouth, Chester City, IMUSA, MUST and the Football Supporters Federation. It is also hoped that groups from English clubs affected by the escalating debt in the game, will be in attendance.
12 noon at Gigg Lane Social Club, Bury – Free Entry
Oh my fucking god, the Berba debate rolls on.
@King Eric
With you on this one mate.Calling someone Berba haters certainly isnt insulting anyone or certainly you aren’t giving anyone ‘shit names’.All you are doing is trying to defend a player and backing him which all of us must do as United fans.
The berbatov debate will not go away until he delivers big time or scott stop posting those stats and justifications.
Costas – Not just the first team mate but he has been nowhere near the reserves.
aig – Cheers mate. I have had a bit of stick this week as you have. If I upset people then I will do one. That is the first time I have ever used that expression.
@King Eric
Talk freely mate. Berba-haters wasn’t the appropriate word, but the line has been crossed on both ends. Fans who have defended him have been critisized for doing so too.
Costas – Yeah you are right mate. I think we were called his “cult followers ” yesterday.
@King Eric
I know you have used it first time.You have every right to give your opinion.As you said the other week certain opinions of ours will upset certain people. Dosent mean we should stop having opinions.
@King Eric
Anyway, personally, I will try to stay away from this debate from now on. It’s obvious that each one of us have made up their minds about Berbatov. The good thing is that Ferguson has eyes of his own and knows how to use him effectively.
AIG
calling SOMEONE berbahater is not insulting.
But calling MAN UTD FANS, who simply don`t appreciate the player`s attitude or passion on the pitch, berbahaters can be very insulting mate.
alright berbalovers
AIG @ 17.22 to King Eric
“…You have every right to give your opinion.As you said the other week certain opinions of ours will upset certain people. Dosent mean we should stop having opinions.”
talking so much about having your own opinions… then can`t these fucking berba haters have their own opinions about berbatov??
why can`t those who criticize berba have their opinions respected?
why these Man utd fans need to be called …….haters when they express their opinions on this blog??
I like Villa, they’ve got a lot of heart. They are a long way out of their financial weight division and they are doing good things. Not great things, not yet, but O’Neil, like Moyes, gets everything out of his team. That said I hope we put them to the sword. Get a little something in the trophy cabinet.
As for City they get the weekend off* to think about how much they suck and will probably have found some new reasons by Monday.
*No way City are going to put in any sort of a show against Chelsea. It must make them so sad that they can only gift them the three points. If Chelsea go at them I reckon they’ll easily get four, maybe more.
@KungFuKick
No player will be picked if he dosent give everything on the pitch or dosent have the right attitude. SAF wont tolerate that.
Not that i love Berbatov or anything like that. Totally agree that he has to do better but he has done well of late and this constant slagging of his can take a backseat at least when he is doing well. he was pretty good on Wednesday.It always will be better if we start getting behind our players rather than slagging them. It can make a difference at times.
I am sure King Eric didnt want to insult anyone or was doubting whether they are United fans
@King Eric – Berba-cultists, that’s right. Worshippers at the Church of Berbatology.
Has there ever been a player who divides opinion like Berbatov? The only reason I slate him so much on here is becuase there are poeple going around calling him a “King” and a “God” when he seriously doesn’t warrant such adulation. I was as excited as anyone when we signed him but the fella has been a big disappointment.
It’s bizarre that another thread has deteriorated into the Berba-debate again. But then again, look at the very first post by AndyCR7. From the entire interview and all the topics Scott and Damian discussed, he zones in on the comment about Berbatov! This is typical behaviour of the Berba-cultists.
@KungFuKick
Because at times people go overboard with their reactions. Why do we have to criticize players when they do well. I can understand when we dont play well.Now a days Berbatov is criticized even if he dosent play and we lose. That is what gets irritating. Every thread not related to Berbatov becomes a Berbatov slagging affair. Surely as fans do better than that
Just me.I feel we should back every player till he is at United. Of course everyone is entitled to their opinions.
this is an interesting article on redcafe.net where would united be without rooney and this will suprise quiet a phew PPL including myself.
http://www.redcafe.net/f6/where-would-united-without-rooneys-goals-287163/
@Fred
agree with your post. The Berba topic is very divisive. At times it is a totally slagfest between fans which is disappointing to see
Just shut up about Berbatov already. All day everyday the same ‘argument’.
Fred – well veron was more devided than berbatov. I was in the church of verontology I thought veron was just special shame he never did it at united
Fred – Thats it mate the “church of Berbatology”. I don’t thionk for one minute he is a king or a god, not remotely but I do like the geezer. Anyway that is the last time I will mention him.
RTNK – HI mate. Yeah but we HAVE got Rooney so the whole point of the discussion is moot. A pointless thread. Where would Barca be without Messi. Chav’s without Drogba, Pompey without Nugent. Oh hang on a sec.
@King Eric
There’s nothing wrong with admiring a footballer. For some, Berbatov is a king because they like his style. It’s their right and they shouldn’t have to apologise for that or shut their mouths. And if someone doesn’t like him or doesn’t appreciate what he has offered, it’s their right too. That doesn’t make the former Berbatology followers and the latter Berbahaterology followers.
Berba, I stand by wat I’ve always said n he ain’t proved my wrong yet. But he wears the united shirt so he’s got my support
I don’t want to give my prediction for the Final because this time last week I was on here hypothesising about us beating Everton and Chelsea dropping points to Wolves. I’m convinced I jinxed us so from now on I won’t make be making any predictions. Could try the old reverse-jinx but it’s too risky…
Awwww I enjoyed the interview just because it took me back to that special goal and the brilliant celebration from Kiko. What a goal.
I too have been worried by the absence of Kiko in the reserves games.
Good luck on sunday hope you finish a close 2nd either way i think it will be a cracker .
And did anyone see the highlights from the reserves this week? What a volley from Ctl Alt Deleat!! I like the belgian and he gave an interview after the match where he sounded like a good dude. I am kinda hoping he gets on the bench at least for sunday. But fuck me we have such a huge squad, I could say that about 10-15 players. Like Fabio!!
And I would give the start to Foster on sunday. I mean, after this we only have league and champions league matches left for the season and I will consider those all to be must wins at this point. Therefore we need to have VdS in goal. So this is pretty much Ben’s last chance at getting off the bench all year. And then there is the matter of VdS signing that new deal…
So give Foster, Ctl Alt Deleat and Rafael some minutes!!
We can leave Obertan out in the cold. Don’t rate him. Hopefully he is just holding back and will prove me wrong.
Oh, and I’ll quit rapid fire posting after this one…
Costas mate, hows it going?? Im glad to see you are keeping safe and staying out of all that crazyness going on in Greece. Let us know how you’re doing
Off topic, Sorry Lads.I feel genuinely very very sorry for all Loyal Pompey fan’s It just makes me think what misery they must be feeling.Two year’s ago the height’s they reached, and the calamity they now face.
However there is one very interesting common denominator here in my humble opinion.
I am not causing a slur,just an observation I am sure many other lad’s have thought the same thing.
Think Southampton, West Ham and obviously Portsmouth.I like Arry Rednaps demeanour,but mismanagement seem’s to follow him around.
I seem to recall allegation’s involving him and Sam Allardice, something to do with football agent’s and Bung’s.We all love a cheeky cockney type character though eh, just not sure if the Man I am describing is more Del boy or Trigger.
Anyhow good luck Portsmouth, hope to see you back 2011/2012.
Nice on Scott, I do enjoy the ‘View from The Enemy’ reads!
@Drew Vader
Oh hey mate. Good to see you post every now and then. I am good. I hope you are good as well. What crazyness you are refering to? We have plenty over here! The economic one? Our country’s shape resembles that of Portsmouth’s.
Interesting points about Sunday. I also like Ritchie a lot. After the Fulham game he fell off the radar, but he didn’t do a lot wrong there. Choosing him instead of Hargo in our C.L squad was the right thing to do.
I believe Sir Alex is also undecided about the goalkeeper. VDS is our number 1, Foster got some action on Tuesday and Tom Kuszczak did we ll for us last month. In fact he saved our necks in his last game at Birmingham. Here’s the team I would play:
Kuszczak – Rafael, Vidic, Evans, Evra(i wish Fabio wasn’t injured and he could guve poor Pat a rest!) – Valencia, Gibson, Fletcher, Park – Rooney, Owen.
I think Owen has played a bigger part than Berbatov in the campaign and deserves to start.
@ King Eric
Alright mate, I was just reading the posts today and was thinking you have been getting loads this week too lol!! It’s funny that people are taking offence at the berbahaters comments, some proper backlashing!! Berba is becoming Utd’s version of fucking marmite lol!!
Gee – Hi mate. Yeah I know, perhaps I need to change my tone but I can assure people I NEVER set out to upset or offend them.
As for the game on Sunday I think United’s experience will tell. It is a HUGE game for the Villa lads and will they handle the pressure of a final at Wembley?
I just thought I saw that there were riots going on in Greece. But I am quite literally on the other side of the world here in Houston so I might have been mistaken.
@Drew Vader
Oh that. The riots are connected to the economic crisis. The Greek governement is forced to take many unpopular measures to deal with the country’s debt and the unions are reacting. It happens all the time…
I actually thought you were from England. Houston sounds great though!
i am not worried about the result after all it cc. we did great to make sure city is no where near wimbley atleast for this year. what worry me is enjury ans suspention. if we avoid both on sunday i will have nothing to complain.
@ King Eric
Na it’s your opinion mate!!
It’s a big match for us to I think pal coz it might give us that extra push to finish the season with bigger trophies. Villa will give us a good game tho, looking forward to it!!
King Eric – well that really does intrigue me that chelsea would be worser off than arsenal and united without their key player. What would even more inrigue me is where would chelsea be without cech terry carvalho and cole, well we have had evra all season so that cancels out cashley.
na villa are a overated and poor side, I dont see what the fuss is with them they were lucky against united
I’d play Owen over Berbz. He’s hungry, he really hasn’t put a foot in wrong. Only not being given enough time to start. I’m not saying Berbz hasn’t shown he’s hungry but between the two I think Owen still has a lot to prove and hasn’t really been given the opportunity to fully showcase that.
He comes off as a sub and puts one away in less than 10 minutes. That has to count for something.
COSTAS SHOULD REPLACE FERGIE HES SUCH A GANGSTA
hey costas i think we saw you at shudehill coach station? was that you in the light blue balaclava?
Same old argument, same old comments – regarding Berba. I like how this turned into a “Do I like Berba?” session. United winning on Sunday will do wonders for the squad regarding a 2nd wind and confidence for the rest of the season. Don’t forget that SAF is greedy as hell for trophies…
Bolt speaks out ahead of the clash:
http://wazzasaidso.wordpress.com/2010/02/28/bolt-i-want-to-be-celebrating-at-the-end/
Though I must admit I disagree with him about berba..