Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.AFTER the clouds of coloured smoke which greeted them in Milan, Aston Villa step into the Avni Aker Stadium at Trabzon tonight amid reports that the Turkish team's followers are in the habit of firing guns into the air.
Whatever their veracity, Villa have had warning shots aplenty before the first leg of their Uefa Cup second round tie.
The most pertinent came from Brian Whitehouse, Villa's chief scout, who has watched Trabzonspor twice. After their draw at Ankaraguku, he informed Ron Atkinson that Villa's opponents were 'probably as good as Inter'. The impression was confirmed by Sunday's 3-1 defeat of Denizlispor, which took them to within a point of the leaders, Besiktas.
Trabzonspor are unbeaten at home, and dispatched Dinamo Bucharest in the first round. Two of their players, Kemizkanoglun Ogun and Cikrikci Orhan, played in Turkey's 5-0 rout of Iceland last week. That result, along with the three draws Galatasaray have achieved against Manchester United over the last year, demonstrate that Turkish football is currently on a high.
Whitehouse's report will ensure that Villa show the appropriate respect, and having seen off Bergkamp, Bergomi, Pagliuca and company, they ought to account for Trabzonspor over two legs. Optimism is qualified because while Villa are capable of winning the League Cup at Wembley, or of overcoming the Uefa Cup holders, they appear uninspired by less glamorous fixtures.
The outcome this evening may hinge, therefore, on their ability to metamorphose once more from the side who have taken only one of the last 15 Premiership points available into a big-game team. The transformation will be eased greatly if Andy Townsend, who showed his best Villa form against Internazionale, is passed fit.
The Irish international, who counts as an 'assimilated' player, missed Saturday's drab draw with Norwich with a groin injury but has been given until this afternoon to recover. As for the three permitted 'foreigners', Mark Bosnich may give way to Nigel Spink in goal, narrowing the choice to Dean Saunders, Dwight Yorke, Paul McGrath and Steve Staunton. Nii Lampety is absent on duty with Ghana.
Some 50 Villa supporters have made the arduous trek, others perhaps having been put off by horror stories from English fans in the 'hell' of Istanbul and Izmir. However, at least one aspect of the Black Sea port is designed to make the visitors feel at home. Trabzonspor's colours, omnipresent in the city, are claret and blue.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments