Uno
ial Villa News…
Well blow me down that was a saga! Had a lovely bumper Villa Times set up on Friday and my computer decided to turn itself off. Now I’m very computer literate and I realise that if a computer turns itself off there is ‘something’ wrong. Therefore, one re-boot later, we are back up and running. Not sure why I said ‘we’ when it is only me. Well, me, myself and I, so I guess ‘we’ is correct.
The Sunday Mirror claim that Reading boss Steve Coppell wants Villa midfielder Steven Davis as Steve Sidwell is highly likely to leave on a free in the summer. Sidwell has been linked to Villa (even today the NOTW is linking him to us) but this report suggests a £2m bid will be incoming for our Northern Ireland international.
West Ham midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker has also been linked.
Gabby Agbonlahor has injured his knee playing for England Under-21’s in the 3-3 with Italy. The extent of the injury is yet to be ascertained. Gary Cahill made his Under-21 debut in the same match, nice debut to make christening the new Wembley as well! Liam Ridgewell was unused and Ashley Young got just two minutes at the end of the game.
The papers are once again linking Neil Warnock’s Sheffield United with our very own midfielder Lee Hendrie, currently on loan at Stoke. Hey, I said we were back, not that the news had got any more exciting.
The Vital Villa auction is now finished (albeit there is a programme of the 1982 cup final that I can get signed by Sir Dennis of Mortimer + a 2004 signed Villa ball if anyone wants to bid). Winners: £25 for the keyring!!! Rocky7 (From Vital Arsenal) £20 for a pen Gordonsleftboot. £10 for a pen IanRobo £10 for the badge IanRobo, £20 for the scarf PENFOLD17, £150 for the shirt – Steve64k, £12 for the crest. spit-fire and £20 for the DVD – merlin (Vital Chelsea).
John Robertson, who won the European Cup twice with Nottingham Forest, has spoken about our history and the decision by Martin O’Neill to put up photographs of the 1982 winning team to remind the current players where Villa have been before and where they want to be again. “We don’t think that the history of the club should be put to one side. It should be something that today’s players can aspire to. Villa is a big club, but there are bigger clubs who haven’t won the European Cup. You cannot deny a club’s history and I don’t see a point in trying to do that. Martin has put pictures up of the 82 team in the dining room. They weren’t there before and they should serve as a reminder. Whether the players get there or not, it is something that can be strived for.” Full article: Robertson on Villa pedigree
The weekend press have linked Villa and Manchester United to 22-year-old Dutch player Wesley Sneijder. The tough Ajax midfielder has played 121 times with 38 goals for Ajax and also has 31 caps with six goals for Holland. Full article + youtube video clips: Dutch Midfield General Villa bound?
Looks like Jlloyd Samuel has come to the inevitable conclusion that he will have to leave Villa Park this summer. Jlloyd Samuel Admits Villa Defeat
Quotes from Shaun Maloney about his move from Celtic. Click Here
Criticism of Martin O’Neill seems to have increased slightly recently. We’ve had Matthew Le Tissier and Andy Gray saying the team is Martin O’Neills and should do better and now former Villa striker Milan Baros, who moved to Lyon in exchange for John Carew (and what a great deal that was, although I’d loved to have seen them BOTH play in the same team I must admit!) has slated the Villa boss. The former Liverpool striker and Czech Republic international said; ‘To be honest, the last six months at Villa was a kind of survival. Neither I nor the club was doing well and everything was much more difficult.’ Adding ‘We play football at Lyon, not long ball tactics. ‘ Full article: Villa Manager Slated
Villa have said they will start contract talks with defender Olof Mellberg and midfielder Gavin McCann after the Everton game on the 2nd of April.
Martin O’Neill has hinted that no matter how hard some of our players try, they aren’t quite good enough. ‘This season, regardless of what our abilities are, I could not fault the effort of the team. We’ve been found wanting on a few occasions this season without doubt, but in terms of effort on the field, it’s been there – even if it’s misguided.’ Full article: Misguided players at Villa?
Good news, Martin O’Neill says Villa fans will see a different Stiliyan Petrov next season. Great, as the one we’ve seen this season hasn’t been up to much and often I’ve forgotten he has been on the pitch. His debut against West Ham showed an 11/10 player, he made an outstanding contribution, so – apart from some brief glimpses – I’m not totally sure what has happened since. Maybe it is just going to take him time and a good pre-season to fully settle in? On his debut I thought we’d got ourselves a new Magic Merse, since then I’ve wondered if we’ve not landed the next Mark Draper! Full article: Bench Stiliyan Petrov?
Hope you don’t like 3pm Saturday kick offs as we have no more until next season I’m afraid! Full details of game changes: http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=58002
Thought for the day: Steve McClaren – England manager? Got to be a joke right? If he is better than Big Sam Allardyce of Martin O’Neill then my name is Sheila and I ride a uni-cycle to work.
