PREMIER LEAGUE: VILLA? WE’RE ALL FRONT
Targett promises thrills RICHARLISON IS BACK TO OFFER
MATT TARGETT has told Aston Villa fans to strap themselves in for a whiteknuckle ride in the Premier League this season.
The club’s new left- back, a £17million catch from Southampton, has revealed that boss Dean Smith 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 Athletic – but Targett, 23, says Villa will be standing toe-to-toe with the big-hitters and going for it.
He said: “The manager has told us he wants to go into every game to win – even against one of the top six – he doesn’t want to sit back, try to take a point or surrender defeat.
“He wants to go for it. He’s made that very clear.
“I played against his Brentford team when I was at Southampton. 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 lots 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 when I was on loan.
“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.
But the Saints have an unrivalled record in pushing through top-quality left-backs.
Wayne Bridge started the trend, then there was 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 BRAZILIAN STAR Richarlison is on a mission to make a difference – on and off the pitch.
And expectant Toffees’ fans just hope he stays in an Everton shirt long enough to make his mark at Goodison after forging a growing reputation in his homeland.
Everton boss Marco Silva won’t be able to relax until the transfer window slams shut on Thursday, with the £90million-rated striker still on the radar of top clubs in Europe.
If Richarlison stays, Everton can look forward to a tilt at the top six. If competition that Targett attempted to make a name for himself. But it appears 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.
“And there was Luke, too. Two very good left-backs and it was nice to learn from them, but you get to a certain stage where you want to be not, the 14 goals he scored last season and scary direct pace will be tough to replace.
Richarlison isn’t pushing for a move after an encouraging first season at Everton which saw him promoted to the national team where he made a big impact.
In fact, life couldn’t be sweeter for the 22-year-old, who arrived back on Merseyside last week after being given extra time off after helping Brazil win the Copa America.
Richarlison (right) scored from the spot in the last minute to help his
SUNDAY PEOPLE in front of them. And that didn’t happen.
“To move on loan to Fulham was massive for me, it was good to go and test myself playing week in, week out, and to know that my body could do that and handle it.
“That experience was unbelievable, and to go on the run that we did was amazing. Promotion was even better.
“However, it was difficult for me to get into the Southampton team when I went back. I’m coming up to 24 in September, so I think it’s the right time for me to move on and establish myself at Villa.
“When the chance came to join Villa, what with the size of it and the manager I’m playing for, I didn’t need long to make up my mind.” countrymen beat Peru 3-1 at the Maracana Stadium and clinch Brazil’s first Copa America title in four attempts.
That brought him the adulation of his football-mad nation. And it also earned him an even greater honour closer to home.
Within days of winning on the pitch with Brazil, Richarlison was awarded the Sporting Merit Commendation at a ceremony in the striker’s home city of Nova Venecia in the state of Espirito Santo.
Cementing his place in his community as a role model
Richarlison then hosted a