A 'Good Going Rover' with Vital Villa

It's Aston Villa time again! Yes just when you thought we had them out of the way for the season the laps of the gods decided to pitch us one last battle at Villa Park on Saturday.

Ahead of the game we decided to find time in our otherwise clogged diaries (cough cough) to have a little chat with Vital Villa's Mike Field.

Questions were asked, answers were given, a borderline riot was spoilt before it even began. You know, the usual stuff.

1) Now I know we joked about this last time we played but surely this is just getting daft now? Are your fans bored of Blackburn Rovers?

It is getting daft really isn't it. The games themselves are generally quite fun but we seem to have the measure of you in the Cup clashes, yet invariably struggle far more in the league clashes recently so plenty of fans would rather you not be visiting again because we are conscious we need to start picking up all 3 points, and we haven't done that since what 2009?

2) Villa seemed to have improved since Christmas, what do you put this down to? Anybody in particular or just team work?

It's been a mix of things really, the youngsters obviously have better experience of the league so haven't been making as many 'basic' errors when called upon, Houllier has started getting the changes done that he wanted and for any players who thought he'd leave before them, it's clear he won't so for the experienced lads they've just had to knuckle down and then with people returning from injury, it's all played it's part.

Obviously Bent has given the place a big lift and played his part aswell.

The biggest change is our defence isn't leaking as many silly goals now so we look better and are gaining more points from it, but overall most fans are struggling to see how our performances have changed even if things are looking slightly better than they were before the festive season.

3) Has Gerard Houllier won over the fans now?

No. With the uplift in results of late and his January signings more people are back on the fence as it were as opposed to being staunchly in the 'out' camp, but he's a long way to go before he can be considered to have won the fans over...if in fact he ever will.

4) Having had a bit more time to run the rule, what do non-Rover fans make of Steve Kean?

Judging from highlights as best I can, he is still trying to get you to play the right way but results have certainly been a bit erratic.

You seem to be very open in defence, but good on the break. In trying to improve your attacking play it does look like you've sacrificed a more solid defence and at the moment it's not balancing itself out, or the players haven't quite adjusted to the newer ideas.

Shades of Villa to be honest.

5) Anybody in particular from the Rovers ranks you feel is a big threat?

Hoilett looked tasty in our last clash as you said he would, but I suppose it was sod's law that Kalinic would score given I said he doesn't bag goals often enough. (Ed - Can you please make similar claims about Benjani and Roberts please ;))

Would still have to be those two for me.

6) I love this question... Make a team up of Villa and Rovers players using a max of 7 from one side.

Make me think for a change why don't you!

obinson, Walker, Clark, Baker, Givet, Albrighton, Bannan, Dunn, Hoilett, Bent, Kalinic

Does that work? (Ed - No not enough Rovers players)

7) And its prediction time, what do you reckon???

We need the 3 points so I'm going a hopeful 2-1.

Thanks to the always game for a laugh and wonderfully first named Mike Field for helping us out here.

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