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Club History:
Aston Villa Football Club was formed in March 1874, by members of the Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel in Handsworth which is now part of Birmingham. The four founders of Aston Villa were Jack Hughes, Frederick Matthews, Walter Price and William Scattergood. Aston Villa's first match was against the local Aston Brook St Mary's Rugby team. As a condition of the match, the Villa side had to agree to play the first half under rugby rules and the second half under football rules. Villa soon established themselves as one of the best teams in the Midlands, winning their first honour, the Birmingham Senior Cup in 1880, under the captaincy of Scotsman George Ramsay.
The club won its first FA Cup in 1887 with captain Archie Hunter becoming one of the game's first household names. Aston Villa were one of the dozen teams that competed in the inaugural Football League in 1888 with one of the club's directors, William McGregor being the league's founder. Aston Villa emerged as the most successful English club of the Victorian era, winning no fewer than five League titles and three FA Cups by the end of Queen Victoria's reign. In 1897, the year Villa won The Double, they moved into their present home, the Aston Lower Grounds. Supporters coined the name "Villa Park"; no official declaration listed the ground as Villa Park. The Squad:
Goalkeepers:
Aston Villa have two great Goalkeepers in Brad Guzan and Shay Given both equally as good. I play Given due to him having more Premier League experience but you could always have Guzan as your first choice like IRL. Your third choice keeper could be either the young Benjamin Siegrist or the old Andy Marshall due to Siegrist being younger I have sent him out on loan to get first team football and hopefully improve his potential so I would recommend promoting Marshall from your reserves to be third choice.Right Backs:
Right back needs improving but if you choose not to sign someone, I would play Lowton at right back as he has more potential but I would rotate with Hutton because Hutton has Premier League experience something Lowton doesn't. For third choice you have Eric Lichaj if you choose not to sell him what I would strongly recommend he is not good enough for the Premier League and does not have potential either and he starts in the reserves. Ashley Westwood could play their if needed but if Lowton, Hutton and Lichaj(If you keep him) get injured I would advice playing someone who is a natural right back from the youth ranks.Centre Backs:
At centre back you should be fine with Ron Vlaar, Richard Dunne and Ciaran Clark all good enough to be first choice but with Dunne injured at the start of the game I would play Vlaar alongside Clark with Baker as back up but come January if all 3 are fit I would send Baker out on loan to get some first team football. Hutton and Lowton could play their if needed but I would advice playing someone from the youth who is a natural centre back if somehow Vlaar, Dunne and Clark are injured. Left Backs:
Just like right back the left side needs improving with your first choice being Stephen Warnock(Thankfully because in real life he is on loan at Bolton!) with the next three players being better than your "next natural left back:" Joe Bennett. I would advice spending money on improving the left side but if you choose not to I would play Warnock at left back with either Bennett or Stevens as back up and whichever one you decide not to have as back up send on loan to get first team football. Obviously you could play N'Zogbia here but he would be better played on the wings and you could also play Clark or Baker their if you choose to prefer them over a natural left back.Centre Midfielders:
Aston Villa's best centre midfielder is Jean Makoun but he is currently on loan at Stade Rennais with their second best centre midfielder Stephen Ireland being a natural Attacking Midfielder but they still do have great "Natural centre midfielders" in Karim El Ahmadi their new signing from Feyenoord and the young stars in Fabian Delph, Barry Bannan and Gary Gardner. I would sell Chris Herd as he is not good enough and you have better young players than him anyways also look out for former Crewe captain Ashley Westwood who is also a natural in defensive midfield if you choose to play with one.Attacking Midfielders:
Stephen Ireland is the only natural attacking midfielder at the club and performs best in that position, He is the clubs second best centre midfielder so if you choose not to play with a CAM you could play him their. Nobody else is worth mentioning because Ireland is the only natural one and N'Zogbia being the only other players who could possibly play here. Right Attacking Midfielders:
Aston Villa have a lot of options of the right side with Gabby(Gabriel) Agbonlahor and Charles N'Zogbia both key players who should play on opposite wings to each other. They have new signing Brett Holman and Marc Albrighton as back up. I would play N'Zogbia as he is left footed and can cut in with either Holman or Albrighton as back up. I would advice sending Albrighton out on loan if you decide to have Holman ahead of him.Left Attacking Midfielders:
Charles N'Zogbia is the only natural left attacking midfielder at Aston Villa but I prefer playing him on the right so he cut in on his left foot leaving Agbonlahor as my first choice left winger. You should probably sign a natural left winger to be back up to Agbonlahor or even first choice as your back up would probably be N'Zogbia meaning you would have to bring on a right winger to replace him on the right. Again Holman and Albrighton are back ups but are much better on the right wing.Strikers:
The striking position at Aston Villa is easily the best at the club with Agbonlahor and Bent both proven Premier League strikers and the best two if you decide to play with two up front. You have a lot of players with potential: Christian Benteke who is rated the third best striker and has the most potential is also Aston Villa main striker IRL ahead of Darren Bent. You also have Nathan Delfouneso who starts the game on loan at Blackpool. Andi Weimann the Austrian international who made his senior debut for his country in real life this year. And finally you have Jordan Bowery the former Chesterfield star he has the least amount of potential but could still be a decent back up look to send him out on loan.
Players injured at the start: Richard Dunne, Joe Bennett, Marc Albrighton, Gabby Agbonlahor.