‘Time for cup, Irons’
MATT TARGETT has told Aston Villa fans to strap themselves in for a whiteknuckle Premier League ride this season.
The club’s new left-back, a £ 17million capture from Southampton, has revealed that boss Dean Smith has ordered his players to play on the front foot – with excitement the order of the day.
Villa’s pre-season games so far have yielded eight goals, – against fourth-tier Walsall and Championship newcomers Charlton.
But Targett, 23, says Villa will go for it and fight toe-totoe with the big-hitters.
He said: “The boss has told us he wants to go into every game to win – even against the top six. He doesn’t want to sit back, try for a point or surrender defeat. He’s made that very clear.
“I played against his Brentford team when I was at Southampton, and they played such good football – and it was the same when I was at Fulham on loan.
“They were one of the toughest teams we played. They get it down and try to be creative. You could see straight away it was what the manager wanted.
“And if you look at the signings we have made, they’re all young and have got lots of potential.
“It’s going to be a very enthusiastic team with a great deal of energy.
“I’m looking to be on the front foot, so are the rest of the lads. It’s going to excite the fans, I’m sure about that.
“When you’re winning, it’s the best feeling in football. I had a taste of it at Fulham.
“We went on an incredible run – we only lost once, the last game of the season at Birmingham City.
“So we’ll see where it takes us. I think it will be an exciting season.”
Targett had a tough time attempting to forge a path for himself at Southampton.
The Saints have an unrivalled record in pushing t h rough top- quali ty left-backs.
Wayne Bridge started the trend and he was followed by Gareth Bale.
Luke Shaw made a move to Manchester United when he was still in his teens and Ryan Bertrand has pushed himself into the England set-up since moving to the south coast club.
It was against this high level of competition that Targett attempted to make a name for himself, but it would appear that the Saints’ loss is Villa’s gain.
He said: “I didn’t play as much as I’d like to have at Southampton. In terms of consistency, Ryan has been one of the most consistent left-backs in the country.
“Two or three years ago when Ronald Koeman was manager at Southampton, Ryan was probably the best left- back in the Premier League.
“He was unlucky with injuries at certain stages of his career, but he’s been very unlucky as well that he hasn’t had more caps for England.”