Uno
ial Villa News…
Gareth Barry was hoping to stay in contention for England in the Euro 2008 qualifiers v Israel and Andorra. With Wayne Bridge injured and Ashley Cole suspended his name must surely be on the team sheet? Well, according to Steve McClaren the answer is no as the numpty has not named Barry in the 23 man squad. Sod off Steve and take the twerps at the FA who chose you over Martin O’Neill and Sam Allardyce with you!
Vital Villa asked for predictions in our last poll. Unfortunately the majority were wrong with 40% saying Villa would beat Arsenal. 38% said we’d lose and 22% predicted a draw.
Well, the papers have linked us to Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy several times and now Martin O’Neill, who had him on loan at Celtic a few seasons ago, has said he was ‘brilliant’. Doesn’t take a stretch of the imagination to see Bellamy incoming this summer does it? To be fair when fit and firing, he is a top striker, plenty of pace, aggression and the ability to score – which in a striker is nice! – however there is the other part of Bellamy. We do need a nasty snarling player in the team, our lot are all pretty much to the man far too nice, we need a bit of aggro within the team, but would he upset the dressing room? Full article: O’Neill On ‘Brilliant’ Bellamy
Jlloyd Samuel is weighing up his options after speculation linking him to a summer move. ‘Personally I am dying to get another chance to show what I can do. I am always hungry to play, no matter what game it is.’ Full article: Jlloyd Samuel Staying Positive
Stiliyan Petrov says he is delighted that he has moved to Aston Villa from Celtic and says he is ‘very excited’ about the future. Full article: Petrov Happy With Villa
Villa Shirt Auction: Click Here
Well, that puts pay to probably the daftest rumour I’ve heard in a few years, apart from the one that said Villa would buy Amule Heskey that is. The Villa site has categorically denied there has been any contact between West Bromwich Albion and Villa over a loan move for Juan Pablo Angel.
Vital Villa asked if Juan Pablo Angel should be allowed to leave on loan until the end of the season? 50% said no, he should be kept as he is a useful option. 3% said JPA should be a vital part of the first team. 3% said he should be allowed to leave as he isn’t good enough. 27% said a loan would be a good idea for him to get back his confidence and form and 17% wanted him to go permanently as he has no future at Villa.
Injury updates: Scooby Doo And Villa Injuries
Vital Villa asked what do you think of Stiliyan Petrov so far? Seems the majority are happy to give the summer arrival the benefit of the doubt as 60% voted ‘great potential, needs more time’. 3% said he was a ‘great signing’. 3% thought he was ‘average but doing ok’. That left 31% ‘not impress so far’ and 3% saying ‘waste of money, must do better MON’.
The Villa’s Under-18s take on Fulham tomorrow looking for three wins on the trot. Tony McAndrew told www.avfc.co.uk: ‘The players have shown a lot of character over the last couple of weeks. We asked for a reaction after a very poor performance against MK Dons and we’ve had one. The performances in the last couple of games have been more like the standard we expect. Now it’s up to the players to continue that now. Like MK Dons, Fulham are struggling for results, but that doesn’t mean a lot in Academy football and we’ll have to be on our game to get another win.’
According to the Daily Mail, Villa and Boro are both interested in Spurs and former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy and Spurs might be willing to let him go on a free after his move from Charlton has proved unsuccessful.
Martin O’Neill says there could still be a future at Villa Park for 33-year-old former Czech Republic international midfielder Patrik Berger. The former Liverpool and Portsmouth players’ contract runs out at the end of the season but O’Neill says there might be an option of extending the playmakers stay. ‘Will Berger be given a new contract? I wouldn’t rule anything out. I have an open mind. I never once said that Patrik Berger’s career was finished here.’ Full article: Click Here
Villa defender Gary Cahill says he would like to add to his derby day goal against Small Heath last season. The 21-year-old ‘I think I’m due another goal now.’ Adding ‘I wanted to start this season like I finished the last, but because of my injury I couldn’t do that. When I came back, it was a frustrating time. When you’re fit, you want to go straight in the team but that’s not the way it works. I just got my head down and worked hard, and I got my chance to get back in the side when Martin was injured. Thankfully I’ve stayed in there and it’s good to have had such a long run of games. I’m really enjoying it.’
Prem Betting Preview: Lettuce get it on.
Villa v Arsenal match stats: Click Here
Villa v Arsenal match report: Click Here Villa v Arsenal O’Neill reaction: Click Here
Martin O’Neill has spoken about Villa owner and chairman Randy Lerner saying the American knows success at Villa won’t come at the drop of a hat and that patience will be needed. Lerner Knows Villa Reality
Thought for the day: Try not to let your mind wander… It is too small and fragile to be out by itself.
