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 (38 from 38 games), fewest wins in a season (7) and worst home record in Villa's 138-year history (19 points from 57 available). 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.[1]
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.[2][3]
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.[4] The team reached the Quarter-finals, before being knocked out by Marseille.[5]
Kit
Supplier: Nike / Sponsor: Genting Casinos
Kit information
The home kit featured a subtle checkerboard print on the shirt and was very interestingly 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.[6][7]
Players under 21 do not need to be named and can still be used.[8]
Correct as of 12 January 2012.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
- 1 Stiliyan Petrov was the club's permanent captain, but Gabriel Agbonlahor was named temporary captain while Petrov underwent treatment for acute leukemia.
Left club during season
These players were given squad numbers at the beginning of the 2011-12 season before transferring to another club for all or part of the season.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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.[7][9] 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.[7][10]
New signings goalkeeper Shay Given and winger Charles N'Zogbia were given the #1 (vacated by the departed Brad Friedel) and #10 (vacated by the departed John Carew) shirts, respectively.[7]
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 Pirès. It was again vacated, however, when Jenas returned to Tottenham Hotspur in December.[7][11]
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.[7][12]
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[13]
Youngsters Derrick Williams, Samir Carruthers and Jack Grealish were also given squad numbers (#37, #40, #41, respectively) at different points during the season, when called up for first team action.[7]
Sponsorship
Aston Villa had a new club sponsor for this season, after the deal with previous partner FxPro was terminated in February 2011.[14] 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.[15]
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.[16]
He was replaced by Scottish former Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish on 17 June 2011, despite protests from some Villa fans outside Villa Park.[17][18]
Transfers
In
Summer
Winter
Out
Summer
Winter
Loans
In
Summer
| Date |
Position |
Player name |
Previous club |
League |
Duration |
Return Date |
Notes |
| 31 August 2011 |
MF |
 Jermaine Jenas[32] |
Tottenham Hotspur |
Premier League |
4 months |
December 2011 |
Initially season-long, the loan was ended early after Jenas was ruled out for the rest of the season with an achilles injury[33] |
Winter
Out
Summer
Winter
Fixtures and results
Pre-season
Win
Draw
Loss
Postponed
Premier League Asia Trophy
Premier League
League results summary
| Overall | Home | Away |
|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 38 |
7 |
17 |
14 |
37 |
53 |
−16 |
38 |
4 |
7 |
8 |
20 |
25 |
−5 |
3 |
10 |
6 |
17 |
28 |
−11 |
Last updated: 13 May 2012.
Source: Competitive matches
| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| Ground | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A |
| Result | D | W | D | D | D | D | W | L | L | D | W | L | D | L | W | L | L | D | W | L | D | W | D | L | L | D | D | W | L | L | D | D | L | D | L | D | D | L |
| Position | 7 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
Last updated: 13 May 2012.
Source: http://www.premierleague.com/page/Results
Ground: A = Away; H = Home. Result: D = Draw; L = Loss; W = Win; P = Postponed.
Matches
League table
2011–12 Premier League table
Updated to games played on 13 May 2012.
Source: Barclays Premier League
Rules for classification:
1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
1Chelsea won the 2011–12 Champions League and thus qualified for the group stage of the 2012–13 competition. This means that Tottenham are now to compete in the Europa League in the 2012-13 season, since only four clubs from the Premier League can play in the Champions League.
2Liverpool won the 2011–12 Football League Cup and thus qualified for the third qualifying round of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League.
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.
FA Cup
Main article:
2011-12 FA Cup League Cup
Statistics
Appearances
|}
Last updated: 13 May 2012
Source: Squad stats and Start formations.
Only competitive matches.
Using the most used start formation.
Ordered by position on pitch (from back right to front left).
Includes Cup competitions as well (Carling Cup and FA Cup)
Goalscorers
Correct as of 13 May 2012
Players are listed by their position on the club's official website Source
Players highlighted in light grey denote the player had scored for the club before leaving for another club
Players highlighted in light cyan denote the player has scored for the club after arriving at Aston Villa during the season
Players highlighted in Blonde denote the player has scored for the club before leaving the club on loan for part/the rest of the season
Disciplinary Record
Correct as of 13 May 2012
Players are listed by their position on the club's official website Source
Players highlighted in light grey denote the player has received a yellow/red card for the club before leaving for another club
Players highlighted in light cyan denote the player has received a yellow/red card for the club after arriving at Aston Villa during the season
Players highlighted in Blonde denote the player has received a yellow/red card for the club before leaving the club on loan for part/the rest of the season
- Notes
- ↑ Left for Queens Park Rangers on 27 August 2011
- ↑ Loaned out until January to Doncaster Rovers on 21 November 2011
- ↑ Player's contract was then cancelled on 2 February 2012.
- ↑ Loaned out until February to Leeds United on 20 January 2012
- ↑ Loaned out until January to Coventry City on 24 November 2011, before being recalled in late December (all appearances made after return from loan spell)
- ↑ Loaned out until end of season to Olympiacos on 28 August 2011
- ↑ Returned to Tottenham Hotspur in early December after being on loan at Villa since August (all appearances made in first half of season)
- ↑ Loaned out for five months to Watford on 26 August 2011, before being recalled in late September (all appearances made after return from loan spell)
- ↑ Loaned out until February to Leicester City on 23 January 2012
- ↑ On loan at Villa from Los Angeles Galaxy from 12 January - 25 February 2012 (all appearances made in second half of season)
- ↑ Red card against West Bromwich Albion on 22 October 2011 was rescinded on appeal.
Home Attendances
Correct as of 6 May 2012
Win
Draw
Loss
| Comp |
Week/Round |
Date |
Score |
Opponent |
Attendance |
| Premier League | Wk 2 | 20 August 2011 | 3-1 | Blackburn Rovers | 32,319 |
| League Cup | Rd 2 | 23 August 2011 | 2-0 | Hereford United | 21,058 |
| Premier League | Wk 3 | 27 August 2011 | 0-0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 30,776 |
| Premier League | Wk 5 | 17 September 2011 | 1-1 | Newcastle United | 34,248 |
| League Cup | Rd 3 | 20 September 2011 | 0-2 | Bolton Wanderers | 22,261 |
| Premier League | Wk 7 | 1 October 2011 | 2-0 | Wigan Athletic | 30,744 |
| Premier League | Wk 9 | 22 October 2011 | 1-2 | West Bromwich Albion | 34,152 |
| Premier League | Wk 11 | 5 November 2011 | 3-2 | Norwich City | 35,290 |
| Premier League | Wk 14 | 3 December 2011 | 0-1 | Manchester United | 40,053 |
| Premier League | Wk 16 | 18 December 2011 | 0-2 | Liverpool | 37,460 |
| Premier League | Wk 17 | 21 December 2011 | 1-2 | Arsenal | 35,818 |
| Premier League | Wk 20 | 2 January 2012 | 0-2 | Swansea City | 35,642 |
| Premier League | Wk 21 | 14 January 2012 | 1-1 | Everton | 31,853 |
| Premier League | Wk 23 | 1 February 2012 | 2-2 | Queens Park Rangers | 32,063 |
| Premier League | Wk 25 | 12 February 2012 | 0-1 | Manchester City | 35,132 |
| Premier League | Wk 28 | 10 March 2012 | 1-0 | Fulham | 32,372 |
| Premier League | Wk 30 | 31 March 2012 | 2-4 | Chelsea | 34,740 |
| Premier League | Wk 32 | 9 April 2012 | 1-1 | Stoke City | 30,100 |
| Premier League | Wk 34 | 21 April 2012 | 0-0 | Sunderland | 32,557 |
| Premier League | Wk 35 | 24 April 2012 | 1-2 | Bolton Wanderers | 32,263 |
| Premier League | Wk 37 | 6 May 2012 | 1-1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 36,008 |
|
|
|
|
Total Attendance |
686,099 |
|
|
|
|
Average League Attendance |
33,873[59] |
|
|
|
|
Average Attendance |
32,643 |
References
- ↑ "Alex McLeish sacked as Aston Villa manager". BBC (BBC). 14 May 2012.
- ↑ "Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov has acute leukaemia". BBC (BBC). 30 March 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
- ↑ "Emotional Stiliyan Petrov receives standing ovation at Villa Park". BBC (BBC). 31 March 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
- ↑ "MacDonald backs young guns to show Euro pedigree in Ajax clash". AVFC (AVFC). 16 August 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
- ↑ "Aston Villa - Marseille". The NextGen Series. 16 August 2011.
- ↑ "Home-grown quota for Premier League". premierleague.com (Premier League). 10 August 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Squad Profiles". BBC. 9 April 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
- ↑ "New Premier League squad rules explained". BBC. 27 July 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
- ↑ "Official first team squad number list revealed for 2011-12 campaign". AVFC. 14 July 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- ↑ "James Collins given number 6 shirt". Sport Witness. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ↑ "New signings Hutton and Jenas handed squad numbers". AVFC. 1 September 2011.
- ↑ "Carling Cup match report: Villa 0-2 Bolton". AVFC. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
- ↑ "Free shirt printing on 'Keane 20' this afternoon in Villa Store". AVFC. 14 January 2012.
- ↑ "Aston Villa search for a shirt sponsor after deal with FX Pro comes to an end". Birmingham Post. 26 February 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
- ↑ "Villa announce Genting as new principal partner". AVFC. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
- ↑ "Club statement: Gerard Houllier". AVFC. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
- ↑ "Club statement: McLeish confirmed as new Villa manager". AVFC. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
- ↑ "Aston Villa fans protest against Alex McLeish". BBC. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ↑ "Goalkeeper Given joins Villa after penning five-year deal". AVFC. 18 July 2011.
- ↑ "Aston Villa sign Charles N'Zogbia from Wigan Athletic". BBC. 29 July 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ↑ "Villa confirm agreement for Hutton and Jenas". AVFC. 31 August 2011.
- ↑ "Villa reach agreement for January transfer of Stevens". AVFC. 31 August 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Farewell to Reo Coker and Carew as Release List is Announced". 27 May 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
- ↑ "Friedel agrees to join Tottenham". AVFC. 3 June 2011.
- ↑ "Liverpool sign Stewart Downing from Aston Villa". BBC. 15 July 2011.
- ↑ "Ashley Young joins Man Utd from Aston Villa". BBC. 23 June 2011.
- ↑ "Hogg signs for Hornets". Watford F.C.
- ↑ "Right-back Young joins Queens Park Rangers". AVFC.
- ↑ "Parish signs for Cardiff while Lowry extends Millwall loan deal". AVFC.
- ↑ "Aston Villa defender joins Millwall". BBC.
- ↑ "Defender Beye departs Villa by mutual consent". AVFC.
- ↑ "Villa confirm agreement for Hutton and Jenas". AVFC.
- ↑ "Aston Villa's Jermaine Jenas ruled out for six months after surgery". BBC.
- ↑ "Villa complete loan deal for Keane from LA Galaxy". AVFC.
- ↑ "Weimann returns to Watford". Sky Sports.
- ↑ "Aston Villa end Andreas Weimann's Watford stay". BBC.
- ↑ "Makoun joins Olympiakos on season loan subject to FIFA approval". AVFC.
- ↑ "Cardiff City sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Elliot Parish on loan". Wales online.
- ↑ "Habib Beye joins Doncaster on loan from Aston Villa". BBC Sport.
- ↑ "Baker joins Championship side Millwall on month's loan". AVFC.
- ↑ "Lowry moves out and joins Baker at Millwall on loan". AVFC.
- ↑ "Sky Blues grab Gardner". Sky Sports.
- ↑ "Villa end Gardner's loan". Sky Sports.
- ↑ "Parish signs for Cardiff while Lowry extends Millwall loan deal".
- ↑ "Leeds United re-sign Aston Villa's Fabian Delph on loan". BBC News.
- ↑ "Aston Villa's Nathan Delfouneso signs Leicester loan deal". BBC News.
- ↑ http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2384412,00.html
- ↑ http://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~2352501,00.html
- ↑ http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2385030,00.html
- ↑ http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10303~2367555,00.html
- ↑ "Aston Villa v Bolton match postponed". Premier League.
- ↑ http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2537034,00.html
- ↑ http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2570330,00.html
- ↑ http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2575063,00.html
- ↑ http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2418380,00.html
- ↑ http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2436175,00.html
- ↑ http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2493442,00.html
- ↑ http://soccernet.espn.go.com/stats/fairplay/_/league/eng.1/barclays-premier-league?cc=5739
- ↑ http://soccernet.espn.go.com/stats/attendance/_/league/eng.1/barclays-premier-league?cc=5739
