Lee Carsley has removed himself from consideration to replace Gareth Southgate as permanent England manager after a controversial decision to field a team without a recognised striker in a recent match. The abrupt choice raised eyebrows among fans and experts alike, with critics accusing him of disrespecting the strikers on the bench. As the FA moves towards appointing a German manager for the national side, there are growing concerns about the identity of the English team and the implications of having a foreign coach.
Aston Villa FC will focus on the upcoming fixture against Fulham this Saturday, after a break from international football. Villa have a strong record against Fulham, winning five of their last six Premier League encounters, including the last three matches in a row. Remarkably, Fulham have never lost consecutive home league games against Aston Villa, making this a critical match for both teams.
Aston Villa have lost only one of their last twelve Premier League games in London, with eight wins during that period, all under the management of Unai Emery. Conversely, Fulham are unbeaten in their three home games this season, winning two and drawing one, though they last managed a longer run without defeat at Craven Cottage in the 2011-12 season.
Villa's recent performance indicates their resilience, remaining unbeaten in their last five league matches, despite a goalless draw against Manchester United last time out, which marked their first clean sheet in twelve games. The team is currently known for their attacking prowess from crosses, leading the league with five goals from such situations, while Ollie Watkins stands out as the player with the most goals from crosses.
Notably, Aston Villa's Jhon Durán has been highly efficient, scoring four goals in just 184 minutes of Premier League action, giving him the best minutes-per-goal ratio among players with considerable playing time this season. As the match against Fulham approaches, Aston Villa will aim to continue their strong performance in the league and build upon their successful history against the Cottagers.
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