Uno
ial Villa News…
Jeff Winter has spoken on Vital Hartlepool about Villa’s chances of 4th place. All of a sudden I like him, he says he’d like us to finish 4th! Full quotes: Jeff Winter on Villa
Vital Villan: Emile Heskey has said the team are looking forward to testing themselves against some of the brightest talent in Europe when we feature in the Peace Cup. As covered earlier on the site, Villa will travel to Spain in July for the pre-season tournament featuring the likes of Real Madrid, Juventus, Lyon, Ajax and FC Porto and Heskey doesn’t believe we could have much better preparation for the 2009-10 campaign. Speaking on the official site, he said: ‘Obviously seeing who is involved, it is very exciting coming up against Real Madrid, Seville, Juventus and Lyon – they are all big clubs. We’ll be pitting our wits against the best in Europe so hopefully we’ll do well.’ Full article: Heskey’s Peace Prospects
Here we go again, more on Gareth Barry to Liverpool. Oh joy! Plus Brad Friedel says Barry is ‘world class’. No arguments here, he is one of two world class players we have in my opinion, the other being Martin Laursen. Full article: The 9000th Article On The Gareth Barry Saga
Lawro says we’ll lose v Liverpool. Martin O’Neill says we are capable of winning: Lawro Says Villa Loss At Anfield
Mick McCarthy has repeated in the Sunday Mercury
that he’d love to sign Marlon Harewood on loan: ‘He is a Premiership striker and why wouldn`t I want to be taking someone of that quality to try and help us win the league? He has got power and pace and he has got goals in him and maybe he has just got something to prove and hopefully he can do that if he comes. We`ll see. I will be having further talks with Martin. I have asked the question and I want to do a deal and hopefully it will be done.’
John Barnes on Villa this season (and if you used to like doing the Football Pools, why not click a link and see that you can now do them online?!) ‘The performance of the side seems to have leveled off in recent weeks but that`s not to be unexpected. Martin O`Neill doesn`t have the biggest of squads and certainly not the strength in depth of their rivals. To finish in the top four, the team would have to play at their maximum best for the rest of the season but that isn`t really feasible. Unfortunately for Villa, Arsenal have the knowhow and a number of top stars returning so I can`t see them slipping up at this stage.’ Full article: John Barnes On Villa This Season
The ever excellent weekly column by Steve Wade: Something For The Weekend (228)
Sheriff Kimbo with his fab ‘that was the week that was’ round up for all things Villa: The Week In Villa #30 (13/3/09 – 19/3/09)
The Sheriff also gives us the low down on his opinion on formations and why Villa shouldn’t play 442: Why Villa should NOT play 4-4-2
Vital Villa asked for your man of the match votes for Villa v Spurs. Painful I know but hey ho! Again, no real surprises here, Stiliyan Petrov came first with 31% closely followed by the freshly returned from injury Nigel Hokey-Cokey who played very much like the Hokey Cokey – in – out but I’m not sure if he shaked it all about … actually, I’m not sure I want to be thinking about such things. Full results:
Alan Hansen has told Villa fans they should get behind the team and manager and not boo. The press and pundits all seem to miss the fact that the vast majority ARE behind the team! ‘The recent criticism of Martin O`Neill by a number of Aston Villa fans perfectly illustrates the unrealistic thirst for success of modern day supporters. For me, Villa have had a magnificent season whether they finish 4th or not. Particularly when you consider the limited size of their squad. It`s no surprise that a number of the players are looking a bit tired at the moment and unfortunately for Villa it does now look as though they will struggle to finish 4th with Arsenal turning on the gas. That`s the difference in the respective squads at the moment. Arsene Wenger`s team has been in this situation for many seasons and has a bigger squad which is getting stronger by the game with the return of key players.’ Full article: Alan Hansen Says Get Behind MON & Villa
Vital Villan: Craig Gardner and James Milner have both been selected in the England U21 squad for the friendlies against Norway and France. The friendlies serve as a warm up to the UEFA European U21 Championship which takes place in Sweden this summer. Nathan Delfouneso has also found himself in the England U19 squad for their friendly against the Czech Republic next Wednesday and that game is taking place at the Bescot Stadium and kicks off at 7pm.
Video Preview, Liverpool v Villa: Click Here
Vital Villa asked, in our last poll: Topical at the moment, which striker/s should start? 44% said Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew. Interesting result! 19% wanted one up front and for that one to be John Carew. Isn’t he a popular boy at the moment, that said he is also the only striker scoring at the moment! Full results: 44% Say Go Back To Gabby and Carew
Bit of transfer gossip doing the rounds today, I was so excited I left it until 4pm to even think about writing anything on them! The Sun says Villa are after £13million rated, 20-year-old Belgian international Steven Defour. The midfield playmaker, who currently plays for Standard Liege, won the Belgian Golden Shoe award in 2007….which I’m sure was nice. Wolves are in talks to take Marlon Harewood to the Molyneux on loan for the rest of the season. And more on the Barry saga: Aston Villa Transfer Gossip
Vital Villan: As we move ever close to the crunch clash against Liverpool, Martin O’Neill has again been singing the squad’s praises and is sure we can come away with a result. Speaking on the official site today, O’Neill said about previous tough encounters that we’ve performed well in: ‘We’ve had to play strongly in those games. We’ve had to withstand plenty of moments in matches where it could have turned the other way but we’ve been resilient and strong and we want to try and get back to that. I still believe we’ve got the capabilities of upsetting the apple cart.’ Full quotes: O’Neill Aims To Upset The Apple Cart
John Carew also says Villa can go to Anfield and get a result: Carew In Confident Mood
Thought for the day: ‘Is it fair to say that there’d be less litter in Britain if blind people were given pointed sticks?’
Oh and Happy Mothers Day mom!
