Petrov Keeps Villa Armband

Aston Villa's new manager Gerard Houllier has decided to keep midfielder Stiliyan Petrov as the club's captain. The Bulgarian took the captaincy over two years ago after Gareth Barry left the club. Petrov has been a good servant to the Midlands club, making 134 appearances for Villa since joining from Celtic four years ago.

Houllier has made it clear although Petrov will be captain, he is looking for a group of two or three players to help Petrov with the leadership. Villa are lucky to have a number of senior players capable of assisting Petrov in his duties. Richard Dunne, Brad Friedal and Nigel Reo-Coker have all been used as captains throughout their careers and will be asked to assist Petrov.

Since taking over at Villa, Houllier has started his tenure with two wins and a draw. After a draw against Bolton in his first games, Houllier saw his Villa side comfortably beat Blackburn in the Carling Cup, before a late winner gave his team the win in their derby match against Wolves last weekend, a result that the best odds for Premier League games suggested would happen.

Houllier has managed the impossible feat of getting goals out of Emile Heskey. This is the second time Houllier has done what no other has done and got Heskey playing like Alan Shearer. With a severe lack of striking options at the club, Heskey will be integral to Houllier until the January transfer window opens and Villa can stock up their striking department. Anyone who has made a Premier League betting prediction should bear this in mind.

Villa will face a Spurs team this weekend, who are coming off the back of a confident Champions League win. Houllier will be hoping his opponents suffer another one of their European hangovers so his Villa side can keep the pressure on as they hunt for that elusive fourth spot.