Uno
ial Villa News…
Sometimes you’ve just got to laugh… well, you haven’t got to, I’m not going to throw laughing gas your way, but you get my drift…Anyway, The Daily Express has a ‘report’ today suggesting that Martin O’Neill will soon be the target for a consortium from the Middle East (Dubai based to be exact) who are looking to buy Championship club and former glory hole (not sure what a glory hole is to be honest but then again, it sounds good) of Brian Clough Nottingham Forest. Full article: O’Neill To Forest – Fear To Wed Rachel Stevens
Villa are holding a second donation day for Acorns: Click Here
Martin O’Neill has admitted the contractual situation with Gareth Barry baffles him. Some are suggesting Barry could buy his way out of his contract this summer but the rules appear unclear to say the least. The Villa boss said: ‘I really do not know enough about the Webster situation. I don`t know where we stand politically in all that. All I do know is that if he doesn`t sign his contract, he has one year definitely left to run by the time we get to next June or July time. Cashing in on Gareth has never been a big concern.’
Vital Villan: Martin O’Neill has hinted that Stiliyan Petrov will be one of the next in line to receive a contract extension after his performances this season. This won’t come as a surprise now to most fans who for the most part agree we have sorely missed the midfielder in recent games. O’Neill said: ‘I think Stilyan has done very well. He has about 20 months left and I actually think we have missed him in the last two games. He is enjoying his football, getting on with it great and we will see how things develop over the next month or so. The fact is he has shown great determination to not lose the battle and he has come out the other side and he is very important to us.’ Full quotes: O’Neill To Open Petrov Talks
Looks like John Carew is in danger of missing a 2nd game in a row as he is struggling for fitness ahead of our trip to the Emirates. On the plus side Martin O’Neill has hinted that both Stiliyan Petrov and Luke Young could be back for the game v Arsenal. Full article: John Carew To Miss Out On Arsenal Trip?
The source of all things true in football, the Daily Star, today linked us once again to Wigan’s striker Emile Heskey. Or at least I think he is a striker, he doesn’t seem to actually score much does he?! According to the red top, Villa will try to lure him to Villa Park in January with Wigan being tempted to cash in as the big England forward could leave on a free in the summer. In recent months Villa have been linked numerous times, mainly I guess because he would be a) cheap b) is a big man and MON likes the big man small man combo c) he played under MON before at Leicester City d) I don’t have a d to suggest but didn’t think it appropriate to end on a c.
Our latest poll asks what sort of signing you think Heskey would be.
Some reports have suggested Villa might offer Marlon Harewood in exchange for Heskey.
Steve Sidwell says his back pass which lost Villa the game v Boro was the ‘worst moment in my career.’ He’ll bounce back, got a feeling Sidwell is going to be a very important player for Villa over the next few years!
Vital Villan: Sometimes Stan comments on the Villa and you can’t help but think it’s a way to be remembered, or to get into the papers, however more and more of late he’s making sense and you can’t help but see the claret and blue blood bubbling through. Full article: Stan Collymore In Sense Shocker
Our last poll asked, which striker would you like most in January? Seems most want Ajax striker Klass Jan Huntelaar who got 34% of the votes. Next up the one that a fair few Premiership clubs will be sniffing around (unfortunate turn of phrase) this January as he can leave on a free next summer, is Newcastle’s Michael Owen on 22%. Would be a world class addition if he can stay fit. He is only 29 (this December) and has years ahead of him injury permitting. There is no better on his day…. ooooh, just imagine! Then comes Portsmouth’s Jermain Defoe with 11%. Why oh why did Martin O’Neill not want him last January!????! Full results: Which Striker Would You Like Villa To Sign?
Small match report v Boro: Click Here
Match stats v Boro: Click Here
Video highlights v Boro: Click Here
MON’s Boro loss match reaction: Click Here
Martin O’Neill told the official site he has no complaints at the fixture pile up for Villa. ‘This is where we want to be. We want to be playing European football after Christmas – we have given ourselves a great chance of that. We want to be striving in the Premier League, matching the top teams and surpassing our efforts from last season. We want to do all those things but it’s hard. You get knocked back a few times and then you have to raise yourself up again and really go for it. That’s the nature of the season.’
Thought for the day: I almost had a psychic girlfriend, but she left me before we met.
