Uno
ial Villa News…
A little less conversation please Mr Agent. Pavel Paska, who is agent to Villa striker Milan Baros, is getting a little bit too vocal in the press for my liking, he seems to forget Aston Villa are the people who pay his clients wages and deserve a bit more respect than him explaining what is happening to Baros to the press, he should be making these representations to the club only surely? Anyway, he says that Chelsea want him but Villa won’t sell until they get a replacement in. Hmmm. A little less conversation please Mr Agent
Martin O’Neill has poured scorn on suggestions – I’m not sure from where as I’ve not seen any such reports – that Randy Lerner won’t back his attempts to bring some fresh players in. It was my understanding from previous comments by the Villa boss that Randy is chomping at the bits to bring in new players and I have seen nothing else to contradict that! Martin O’Neill backs Lerner
Reports that Sheffield United are once again interested in Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie are growing. The Blades were linked to Hendrie before he upped and went to Stoke on loan, and now according to The Sheffield Star, which is the first paper I read each day obviously, say that they might return with a bid.
According to The Sun, the bastion of all football knowledge, Villa have seen a bid of £5million for Reading striker Kevin Doyle rejected. The Sun claim that 23-year old Doyle, currently on 10 goals for the Royals, is the top of his shopping list. Seems a strange one as the Republic of Ireland forward only just signed a new three-and-a-half year contract at the Madjeski Stadium.
The Sun are also claiming – in what seems the oldest bit of gossip out there now – that Villa will bid around £6million to try to lure Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy. I think Pool will be looking for a couple more million on top of that as he does have a crafty habit of scoring, something our strikers can’t really claim to have.
The Guardian are reporting, after reports yesterday said Villa might be at the front of the queue, that Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd would rather sell Ashley Young to Tottenham Hotspur as he could then attract a part exchange including Callum Davenport and Wayne Routledge.
Tickets for Villa’s home game against Arsenal go on general sale next week, Monday 15th January. If Arsenal progress to the final of the Carling Cup, the match, scheduled for Saturday 24th February, would be subject to change.
According to The Mirror, Chelsea and Lyon are ‘locked into a battle’ to buy Milan Baros. They further claim that we might get more from Lyon as Gerrard Houllier is willing to pay a decent fee to get Baros into his squad but O’Neill might prefer Chelsea to come in and would look at Shaun Wright-Phillips to make up part of the deal but SWP still wants to prove himself at Chelsea!
Martin Laursen could well be on his way back sooner than expected after being sidelined with knee ligament damage since the Carling Cup loss to Chelsea in November. Full article: Laursen return on cards
Martin O’Neill says that they are not sure if Gabor Kiraly will be required to increase his loan spell at Villa which runs out this Saturday as Thomas Sorensen and Stuart Taylor are both getting closer to fitness and at least one could be available for the Watford game on the 20th of this month. Full quotes: Villa’s Goalkeeper Quandary
Thought for the day: Why is it called tourist season if we can’t shoot at them?
