The 2010-11 season was Aston Villa's 19th season in the Premier League. The 2010–11 Premier League season was Villa's 136th season in English football. It was the club's 100th season in the top-flight; and their 23rd consecutive season in the top flight of English football, the Premier League. It was also the first (and only) season under French manager Gérard Houllier, who was appointed after previous boss Martin O'Neill resigned on 9 August 2010. Despite a generally disappointing season in both the league and cup competitions, a late surge allowed the club to finish in 9th position in the Premier League (3 places lower than their 6th-place finish the previous season).
Aston Villa once again competed in the UEFA Europa League, marking their 2nd consecutive season in the tournament and 3rd consecutive season in European competition overall. However, after drawing the away fixture, Aston Villa were eliminated for the second consecutive year in the play-off round, and again at the hands of Rapid Vienna.
This season marked the first time that four West Midlands county clubs performed in the Premier League. Aston Villa once again contested the Second City derby with Birmingham City, who remain in the league, alongside Wolverhampton Wanderers, who also avoided relegation. West Bromwich Albion also joined them in the league, meaning that Villa contested a total of six local derbies throughout the duration of the Premier League season. An additional derby game at Birmingham City took place on 1 December 2010 in the Football League Cup.
Notable events include Kyle Walker scoring on his debut only nine minutes into the match against former club Sheffield United in the third round of the FA Cup in January 2011.8 January 2011 Sheff Utd 1-3 Aston Villa, FA Cup 3rd round In February, Walker scored his first ever Premier League goal, a 30-yard strike low into the left corner against Fulham.5 February 2011 Aston Villa 2–2 Fulham
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Players Updated 21 January 2011.
Premier League squad Players under 21 do not need to be named and can still be used.
Under-21 Players
UEFA Europa League Players These players were not part of Aston Villa's Premier League squad, but were given squad numbers and selected to play for the club in the UEFA Europa League.
Squad numbers Villa's squad numbers for this season were announced on 12 August 2010. The only major changes from the previous year saw defender Stephen Warnock wearing the number 3 shirt which had last belonged to Wilfred Bouma, and Stephen Ireland take over Marlon Harewood's number 9.
Villa's squad numbers were revised ahead of the Premier League fixture at home to Bolton Wanderers on 19 September 2010. Many of the club's young players had their numbers reduced below 30, with the exception of goalkeeper Elliot Parish, who remained at number 43. Andy Marshall retained the number 33 shirt on his return to the club.Aston Villa News & Record: Official Matchday Programme – Vs Bolton Wanderers, Saturday 18 September 2010
Robert Pires took the number 8 shirt on his arrival at the club, which was previously worn by James Milner. Loan signing Kyle Walker received the number 36 shirt, while incoming striker Darren Bent acquired number 39. Newly signed midfielder Jean Makoun took over the number 17 shirt from teammate Moustapha Salifou, who remained without a replacement squad number.http://world.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2274102,00.html Michael Bradley took over the vacant number 13 shirt upon his arrival to Villa on loan from Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Managerial changes
Aston Villa completed their pre-season preparations under former boss Martin O'Neill. However, he resigned from his position as manager on 9 August 2010, just five days before Villa's opening Premier League tie at home to West Ham United. Reserve team coach Kevin MacDonald was appointed as caretaker manager with immediate effect.
MacDonald managed Villa until 8 September 2010, when former Liverpool and Olympique Lyonnais manager Gérard Houllier was officially announced as O'Neill's successor. MacDonald had previously announced his intentions to apply for the position on a full-time basis, however the club opted to sign Houllier instead. MacDonald did however take charge of Villa's next two games, before Houllier officially took the reins on 22 September after fulfilling his duties with the France national team.
On 22 April 2011, Gérard Houllier was taken to hospital with chest pains with the doctors fearing another heart attack (he suffered a heart attack in 2001 while manager of Liverpool). It was later ruled out with the Frenchman ordered to bed rest and medicine. Assistant manager Gary McAllister took charge of Houllier's managerial duties on 23 April for the Premier League match with Stoke City at Villa Park, and it was later revealed that Houllier would not be able to return to the touchline until after the end of the season.
DateOutgoing ManagerNew ClubIncoming ManagerPrevious TeamNotes9 August 2010 Martin O'Neill Unattached Kevin MacDonald (Caretaker) Aston Villa Reserves8 September 2010 Kevin MacDonald (Caretaker) Aston Villa Reserves Gérard Houllier LyonHoullier officially took charge on 22 September 2010.
Transfers
In
Summer DatePositionPlayer namePrevious clubLeagueTransfer feeNotes18 August 2010MF Stephen Ireland Manchester City Premier League£8 millionPart exchanged for James Milner3 September 2010GK Andy Marshall Aston Villa Premier LeagueFree transferPlayer initially released, but rejoined the club on 3 September 2010. Winter DatePositionPlayer namePrevious clubLeagueTransfer feeNotes18 November 2010MF Robert Pires Villarreal Primera DivisiónFree transferPlayer unattached following release from Villarreal15 January 2011MF Jean Makoun Lyon Ligue 1Undisclosed feeFee believed to be in region of £6 million18 January 2011FW Darren Bent Sunderland Premier League£18 millionClub record transfer fee, with add-ons potentially rising to £24 million.
Loans in Winter DatePositionPlayer nameNew clubLeagueDurationReturn6 January 2011DF Kyle Walker Tottenham Hotspur Premier League5 monthsEnd of season31 January 2011MF Michael Bradley Borussia Mönchengladbach Bundesliga5 monthsEnd of season
Trialists DatePositionPlayer nameClubLeagueReturnNotes28 December 2010FW Omar Cummings Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer18 January 2011Had been on trial with a view to a 3-month loan deal. Player was not signed due to work permit issues.
Out Summer DatePositionPlayer nameNew clubLeagueTransfer feeNotes1 July 2010Departure initially announced on 6 May 2010.DF Wilfred Bouma PSV Eindhoven EredivisieFree1 July 2010Departure from Aston Villa initially announced on 7 May 2010. However, he did not join Blackpool until 11 August 2010.FW Marlon Harewood Blackpool Premier LeagueFree1 July 2010Departure initially announced on 6 June 2010.GK Andy Marshall Aston Villa Premier LeagueReleasedPlayer initially released, but rejoined the club on 3 September 2010.1 July 2010Departure initially announced on 23 June 2010.DF Stephen O'Halloran Coventry City ChampionshipFree13 July 2010GK David Bevan Walsall League OneFreeYouth player23 July 2010MF Jack Dyer Burton Albion League TwoFreeYouth player9 August 2010DF Nicky Shorey West Bromwich Albion Premier LeagueUndisclosed18 August 2010MF James Milner Manchester City Premier League£26 millionClub record. Stephen Ireland accepted in part exchange Winter DatePositionPlayer nameNew clubLeagueTransfer fee7 January 2011FW James Collins Jr Shrewsbury Town League TwoUndisclosed7 January 2011MF Steve Sidwell Fulham Premier LeagueUndisclosed28 January 2011DF Curtis Davies Birmingham City Premier LeagueUndisclosed
Loans out Summer DatePositionPlayer nameNew clubLeagueDurationReturn26 August 2010FW Harry Forrester Kilmarnock Scottish Premier League5 monthsJanuary 2011 Winter DatePositionPlayer nameNew clubLeagueDurationReturn15 October 2010DF Curtis Davies Leicester City Championship1 monthNovember 201015 October 2010FW James Collins Jr Burton Albion League Two1 monthNovember 201010 November 2010DF Curtis Davies Leicester City Championship2 monthsJanuary 20111 January 2011GK Brad Guzan Hull City Championship2 monthsFebruary 201113 January 2011DF Shane Lowry Sheffield United Championship5 monthsEnd of season19 January 2011FW Andreas Weimann Watford Championship5 monthsEnd of season21 January 2011FW John Carew Stoke City Premier League5 monthsEnd of season25 January 2011MF Jonathan Hogg Portsmouth Championship5 MonthsEnd of season29 January 2011DF Arsenio Halfhuid Volendam Eerste Divisie5 monthsEnd of season31 January 2011MF Isaiah Osbourne Sheffield Wednesday League One5 monthsEnd of season31 January 2011MF Stephen Ireland Newcastle United Premier League5 monthsEnd of season9 February 2011DF Eric Lichaj Leeds United Championship1 monthMarch 201126 February 2011DF Calum Flanagan Kettering Town Conference National5 monthsEnd of season
Spring DatePositionPlayer nameNew clubLeagueDurationReturn8 March 2011MF Barry Bannan Leeds United Championship1 monthEnd of season (recalled in April)8 March 2011FW Nathan Delfouneso Burnley Championship2 monthsEnd of season (returned in May)8 March 2011GK Brad Guzan Hull City ChampionshipShort-term emergency loanMay 201125 March 2011GK Elliot Parish Lincoln City League TwoEnd of seasonMay 2011
Fixtures and results
Premier League
Villa again competed in the Premier League, after finishing sixth for the third season in a row during 2009–10. The fixtures were officially announced on 17 June 2010.
Results by matchday
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 14 August 2010West Ham UnitedH3–036,604Downing 14', Petrov 40', Milner 66' 22 August 2010Newcastle UnitedA0–643,546 29 August 2010EvertonH1–034,725L. Young 9' 13 September 2010Stoke CityA1–225,899Downing 35' 18 September 2010Bolton WanderersH1–134,655A. Young 13' 26 September 2010Wolverhampton WanderersA2–127,511Downing, Heskey 2 October 2010Tottenham HotspurA1–235,871Albrighton 16 October 2010ChelseaH0–040,122 23 October 2010SunderlandA0–141,506 31 October 2010Birmingham CityH0–040,688 6 November 2010FulhamA1–125,676Albrighton 10 November 2010BlackpoolH3–234,330Downing, Delfouneso, Collins 13 November 2010Manchester UnitedH2–240,073A. Young (p), Albrighton 21 November 2010Blackburn RoversA0–221,84827 November 2010ArsenalH2–438,544Clark (2)6 December 2010LiverpoolA0–339,07911 December 2010West Bromwich AlbionH2–137,015Downing, Heskey18 December 2010Wigan AthleticAP-PPOSTPONED26 December 2010Tottenham HotspurH1–239,411Albrighton28 December 2010Manchester CityA0–446,7162 January 2011ChelseaA3–341,222A. Young (p), Heskey, Clark5 January 2011SunderlandH0–132,62716 January 2011Birmingham CityA1–122,287Collins22 January 2011Manchester CityH1–037,815 Bent25 January 2011Wigan AthleticA2–116,442Agbonlahor, A.Young (p)1 February 2011Manchester UnitedA1–375,256Bent5 February 2011FulhamH2–235,899Paintsil (o.g.), Walker12 February 2011BlackpoolA1–116,000Agbonlahor26 February 2011Blackburn RoversH4–134,309A. Young (2, 1 p), Hanley (o.g.), Downing5 March 2011Bolton WanderersA2–322,533Bent, Albrighton19 March 2011Wolverhampton WanderersH0–138,9652 April 2011EvertonA2–237,619Bent (2)10 April 2011Newcastle UnitedH1–037,090Collins16 April 2011West Ham UnitedA2–133,000 Bent, Agbonlahor23 April 2011Stoke CityH1–135,232Bent30 April 2011West Bromwich AlbionA1–225,889Méïté (o.g.)7 May 2011Wigan AthleticH1–136,293A.Young15 May 2011ArsenalA2–160,023Bent (2)22 May 2011LiverpoolH1–042,785Downing
FA Cup
Villa entered the FA Cup at the third round, which is traditionally played in early January.
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 8 January 2011R3 Sheffield UnitedA3–116,888Walker, Albrighton, Petrov 29 January 2011R4 Blackburn RoversH3–126,067Clark, Pires, Delfouneso2 March 2011R5Manchester CityA0–327,570
League Cup