2011–12 Aston Villa F.C. season


The 2011–12 Aston Villa F.C. season was Aston Villa's 137th professional season; their 101st season in the top-flight; and their 24th consecutive season in the top flight of English football, the Premier League. The club was managed by former Birmingham boss Alex McLeish, following Gérard Houllier's departure on 1 June 2011 after less than a year in charge. An extremely disappointing season for the club, saw them finish in 16th place and only two points off relegation. Numerous records were broken during the season including: the lowest points total in the Premier League, fewest wins in a season and worst home record in Villa's 138-year history. As well as poor performances in both domestic cups – being knocked out in the third round of the League Cup and the fourth round of the FA Cup. This awful season eventually culminated in the sacking of McLeish on 14 May 2012, a day after the season had concluded.
As Villa finished 9th in the previous season, this term was the first since 2007–08 without the club participating in European competition. There was also no Second City derby in the Premier League as local arch-rivals Birmingham City were relegated to the Football League Championship at the end of the 2010–11 season. Derbies with Villa's other West Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers were played in the Premier League.
The season was marred with the tragic news that club captain Stiliyan Petrov had been diagnosed with acute leukaemia. The news was a shock to the Villa faithful and the footballing world alike; clubs all around the world have united donning T-shirts with Petrov's name and words of support written across them. The game on 31 March 2012 against Chelsea was the first game played since the diagnosis and fans of both teams gave him a standing ovation in the 19th minute, the significance being Petrov's squad number is 19. He was at the game with his wife and two children, and you could see the emotion of the event was getting to him as he acknowledged the fans.
An under-19 Aston Villa team also took part in the inaugural season of the NextGen Series, a tournament similar to the UEFA Champions League for young European footballers to compete in. The team reached the Quarter-finals, before being knocked out by Marseille.

Kit

Supplier: Nike / Sponsor: Genting Casinos

Kit information

The home kit featured a subtle checkerboard print on the shirt and was very worn with black socks, last seen between mid 1920s until 1957. The away kit was unsurprisingly white with claret shorts and white socks – and has the same design as the home kit. Claret and sky blue shorts/socks were worn in several away games in order to prevent kit mix-ups. The three goalkeeper kits were blue, black and grey and was based on Nike's 2011 template which featured stunning details on the sleeves and the side of the shirt.

Players

Squad

In the 2010–11 season the Premier League introduced new rules on squad lists. The rules included a cap on the number of players at 25; players under the age of 21 on 1 January of the year in which the season starts are exempt from the list of 25. A "home-grown rule" also requires clubs to name at least eight players in their squad of 25 players that have been registered domestically for a minimum of three seasons prior to their 21st birthday.
Players under 21 do not need to be named and can still be used.
Correct as of 12 January 2012.
1

Squad numbers

Following the exit of Ashley Young to Manchester United, Stephen Ireland was given the #7 which was held by the former winger. With Ireland having worn the #9 shirt last season, him taking the #7 allowed Darren Bent to wear the #9 this season. Also, after Stewart Downing's departure to Liverpool, James Collins took over the #6 meaning his old #29 shirt could be given to January signing Enda Stevens.
New signings goalkeeper Shay Given and winger Charles N'Zogbia were given the #1 and #10 shirts, respectively.
Deadline day capture Alan Hutton, took the #2 shirt left free after Luke Young's transfer to Queens Park Rangers and loan signing Jermaine Jenas had been given the #8 shirt for the season, last worn by Robert Pires. It was again vacated, however, when Jenas returned to Tottenham Hotspur in December.
Young striker Graham Burke was added to the first-team squad ahead of the League Cup tie against Bolton Wanderers on 20 September, being handed the #36 shirt.
January loan signing Robbie Keane was given the #20 shirt for his short spell at Villa, left vacated since Nigel Reo-Coker's summer departure
Youngsters Derrick Williams, Samir Carruthers and Jack Grealish were also given squad numbers at different points during the season, when called up for first team action.

Sponsorship

Aston Villa had a new club sponsor for this season, after the deal with previous partner FxPro was terminated in February 2011. On 22 June 2011, Aston Villa announced via their official website that the club's new sponsor until the end of the 2012–13 season would be Malaysian-based Genting Casinos.

Managerial changes

Manager Gérard Houllier missed the final five games of Villa's 2010–11 campaign due to health issues. He had previously faced similar problems during his time at Liverpool.
On 1 June 2011, the club confirmed that Houllier had parted ways with the club by mutual consent due to the Frenchman's ill health.
He was replaced by Scottish former Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish on 17 June 2011, despite protests from some Villa fans outside Villa Park.
DateOutgoing ManagerNew ClubIncoming ManagerPrevious TeamNotes
17 June 2011 Gérard Houllier Unattached Alex McLeish Birmingham CityVilla paid £2 million compensation for McLeish's services.

Transfers

In

Summer
DatePositionPlayer namePrevious clubLeagueTransfer feeNotes
18 July 2011GK Shay Given Manchester City Premier League£3.5m
29 July 2011MF Charles N'Zogbia Wigan Athletic Premier League£9.5m
31 August 2011DF Alan Hutton Tottenham Hotspur Premier League£3m

Winter
DatePositionPlayer namePrevious clubLeagueTransfer feeNotes
1 January 2012DF Enda Stevens Shamrock Rovers League of Ireland Premier Division£250,000Transfer was announced on 31 August, with player joining in January 2012

Out

Summer
DatePositionPlayer nameNew clubLeagueTransfer feeNotes
27 May 2011MF Nigel Reo-Coker Bolton Wanderers Premier LeagueReleasedJoined Bolton Wanderers following release from Villa
27 May 2011FW John Carew West Ham United ChampionshipReleasedJoined West Ham United following release from Villa
27 May 2011MF Isaiah Osbourne Hibernian Scottish Premier LeagueReleasedJoined Hibernian following release from Villa
27 May 2011MF Moustapha Salifou Saarbrücken 3. LigaReleasedJoined Saarbrücken following release from Villa
27 May 2011MF Robert Pires UnattachedReleased
27 May 2011MF Harry Forrester Brentford League 1ReleasedYouth player; joined Brentford following release from Villa
27 May 2011DF/FW Arsenio Halfhuid HBS Craeyenhout Topklasse SundayReleasedYouth player; joined HBS following release from Villa
27 May 2011DF Durrell Berry Plymouth Argyle League 2ReleasedYouth player; joined Plymouth Argyle following release from Villa
27 May 2011DF Ellis Deeney Kettering Town Conference NationalReleasedYouth player; joined Kettering Town following release from Villa
27 May 2011DF Calum Flanagan Hinckley United Conference NorthReleasedYouth player; joined Hinckley United following release from Villa
3 June 2011GK Brad Friedel Tottenham Hotspur Premier LeagueFree Transfer
23 June 2011MF Ashley Young Manchester United Premier League£17m
15 July 2011MF Stewart Downing Liverpool Premier League£20m
27 August 2011MF Jonathan Hogg Watford ChampionshipUndisclosed
27 August 2011DF Luke Young Queens Park Rangers Premier LeagueUndisclosed

Winter
DatePositionPlayer nameNew clubLeagueTransfer feeNotes
3 January 2012GK Elliot Parish Cardiff City ChampionshipUndisclosed
27 January 2012DF Shane Lowry Millwall ChampionshipUndisclosed
2 February 2012DF Habib Beye Doncaster Rovers ChampionshipReleasedContract was cancelled by mutual consent. Joined Doncaster Rovers following release from Villa.

Loans

In

Summer
DatePositionPlayer namePrevious clubLeagueDurationReturn DateNotes
31 August 2011MF Jermaine Jenas Tottenham Hotspur Premier League4 monthsDecember 2011Initially season-long, the loan was ended early after Jenas was ruled out for the rest of the season with an achilles injury

Winter
DatePositionPlayer namePrevious clubLeagueDurationReturn DateNotes
12 January 2012FW Robbie Keane Los Angeles Galaxy MLS1.5 months25 February 2012

Out

Summer
DatePositionPlayer nameNew clubLeagueDurationReturn DateNotes
26 August 2011FW Andreas Weimann Watford Championship1 month23 September 2011Initially a 5-month loan but Villa recalled player in late September.
29 August 2011MF Jean Makoun Olymipacos Super LeagueSeason-longJune 2012
24 September 2011GK Elliot Parish Cardiff City Championship2 months10 November 2011

Winter
DatePositionPlayer nameNew clubLeagueDurationReturn DateNotes
21 November 2011DF Habib Beye Doncaster Rovers Championship2 monthsJanuary 2012
22 November 2011DF Nathan Baker Millwall Championship1 monthDecember 2011
23 November 2011DF Shane Lowry Millwall Championship1 month2 January 2012
24 November 2011MF Gary Gardner Coventry City Championship1 month21 December 2012Initially a loan until January but Villa recalled player in late December.
3 January 2012DF Shane Lowry Millwall Championship1 monthJanuary 2012
20 January 2012MF Fabian Delph Leeds United Championship1 month20 February 2012
23 January 2012FW Nathan Delfouneso Leicester City Championship1 monthFebruary 2012

Fixtures and results

Pre-season

Premier League Asia Trophy

Premier League

League results summary

Matches

League table

FA Cup

League Cup

Statistics

Appearances

Goalscorers






Pos.Playing Pos.NationNamePremier LeagueFA CupLeague CupTotal
1
FW
Darren Bent
9
1
10
2
FW
Gabriel Agbonlahor
5
1
6
3
MF
Stiliyan Petrov
4
4
4
MF
Marc Albrighton
2
1
3
4
FW
Robbie Keane
3
3
6
DF
Stephen Warnock
2
2
6
DF
Richard Dunne
1
1
2
6
DF
Ciaran Clark
1
1
2
6
DF
Eric Lichaj
1
1
2
6
MF
Charles N'Zogbia
2
2
6
FW
Andreas Weimann
2
2
7
DF
James Collins
1
1
7
MF
Stephen Ireland
1
1
7
MF
Barry Bannan
1
1
7
MF
Chris Herd
1
1
7
FW
Nathan Delfouneso
1
1
7
FW
Emile Heskey
1
1
Total Goals
37
5
2
44

Disciplinary record






;Notes

Home Attendances




CompWeek/RoundDateScoreOpponentAttendance
Premier LeagueWk 220 August 20113-1Blackburn Rovers32,319
League CupRd 223 August 20112-0Hereford United21,058
Premier LeagueWk 327 August 20110-0Wolverhampton Wanderers30,776
Premier LeagueWk 517 September 20111-1Newcastle United34,248
League CupRd 320 September 20110-2Bolton Wanderers22,261
Premier LeagueWk 71 October 20112-0Wigan Athletic30,744
Premier LeagueWk 922 October 20111-2West Bromwich Albion34,152
Premier LeagueWk 115 November 20113-2Norwich City35,290
Premier LeagueWk 143 December 20110-1Manchester United40,053
Premier LeagueWk 1618 December 20110-2Liverpool37,460
Premier LeagueWk 1721 December 20111-2Arsenal35,818
Premier LeagueWk 202 January 20120-2Swansea City35,642
Premier LeagueWk 2114 January 20121-1Everton31,853
Premier LeagueWk 231 February 20122-2Queens Park Rangers32,063
Premier LeagueWk 2512 February 20120-1Manchester City35,132
Premier LeagueWk 2810 March 20121-0Fulham32,372
Premier LeagueWk 3031 March 20122-4Chelsea34,740
Premier LeagueWk 329 April 20121-1Stoke City30,100
Premier LeagueWk 3421 April 20120-0Sunderland32,557
Premier LeagueWk 3524 April 20121-2Bolton Wanderers32,263
Premier LeagueWk 376 May 20121-1Tottenham Hotspur36,008
Total Attendance686,099
Average League Attendance33,873
Average Attendance32,643