Tue 16th Mar - DW Stadium
By Chris Burton Last updated: 1st April 2009
Guzan: Still learning
Brad Guzan is determined to establish himself as Aston Villa's No.1 in the not too distant future.
Standing between the American and that ambition at present is his countryman and mentor Brad Friedel.
Guzan admits that Martin O'Neill's preferred option between the sticks played a major role in his decision to pursue a career in football.
At 24-years-old, Guzan cut his teeth in the MLS with Chivas USA before completing a protracted switch to England last summer.
Having realised his dream of securing a move to the Premier League, and having got a taste for first-team action in the Carling Cup and Uefa Cup this season, Guzan has now set his sights on becoming an integral part of the Villa side.
"Seeing Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller come over here to England, be successful, and have such a long career inspired me to try and do the same," he told the Birmingham Mail.
"They were among the first Americans to play in this country which was brilliant because the rest of the world never looks at Americans as footballers. What they achieved is phenomenal.
"Brad has had a fantastic career and working with him can only be beneficial to me. But now I'm looking to play more games, to seize opportunities when they come along, and to keep moving forward."
Guzan added: "To play in the Uefa Cup was tremendous. There is a special buzz about European nights and to be part of that was something you never forget.
"I want to get better as a keeper and put Brad under pressure. I want to make it difficult for the manager week in and week out in terms of selection.
"If I can do that I will also be helping the team because it will make Brad better, myself better, and the team better."

Wigan 1-2 Aston Villa - Martinez
Wigan 1-2 Aston Villa - O'Neill
Stoke 0-0 Aston Villa - Le Tissier
Stoke 0-0 Aston Villa - O'Neill
Stoke 0-0 Aston Villa - Pulis
O'Neill - Squad use integral for 4th spot
Reading 2-4 Aston Villa - Carew
Reading 2-4 Aston Villa - O'Neill
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 20th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Aston Villa vs Wolverhampton |
| Wednesday 24th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 27th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 3rd April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 10th April | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| 17:00 | Aston Villa vs Chelsea |
| Wednesday 14th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Everton |
| Sunday 18th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Portsmouth vs Aston Villa |
| Wednesday 21st April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Aston Villa |
| Sunday 25th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:00 | Aston Villa vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 1st May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Aston Villa |
| Sunday 9th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Blackburn |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 16th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 1 - 2 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 13th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 0 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 7th March | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Reading 2 - 4 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 28th February | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Wednesday 24th February | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Aston Villa 3 - 1 Crystal Palace | |
| Sunday 21st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 2 Burnley | |
| Sunday 14th February | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Crystal Palace 2 - 2 Aston Villa | |
| Wednesday 10th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Tottenham 0 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 30th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Fulham 0 - 2 Aston Villa | |
| Wednesday 27th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 0 - 0 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 23rd January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Aston Villa 3 - 2 Brighton | |
| Wednesday 20th January | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Aston Villa 6 - 4 Blackburn | |
| Sunday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 0 - 0 West Ham | |
| Thursday 14th January | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Blackburn 0 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 2nd January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Aston Villa 3 - 1 Blackburn | |
| Tuesday 29th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 0 - 1 Liverpool | |
| Sunday 27th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 3 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 19th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Stoke | |
| Tuesday 15th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 0 - 2 Aston Villa | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Liverpool | 30 | 51 |
| 6 | Manchester City | 28 | 50 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 28 | 49 |
| 8 | Birmingham City | 29 | 44 |
| 9 | Everton | 29 | 42 |
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