Uno
ial Villa News…
Blackburn Rovers Australian international Lucas Neill has been linked to Villa. The 28-year-old is out of contract in the summer and can therefore talk to interested clubs in January.
There is a meeting with General Charles Krulak tonight for some fans, I’m not sure the full list, I know representatives of Vital Villa, Villa Talk and Heroes & Villains have been invited, as have the heads of the fans supporter clubs. Should be interesting, there is also a buffet, I’m hoping for caviar. I also have a feeling my heated, cushioned seat with drinks dispenser and pop up umbrella will be unveiled tonight, fingers crossed.
26-year-old Rapid Vienna defender Markus Katzer has claimed in the Daily Mirror that Villa are interested in his services. The £2m-rated Austrian said: ‘There is interest in me from Aston Villa, who are not just any old club. It would be fantastic to join them. I’d be lying if I said I did not want to go abroad. There is a rumour about me going to Villa – and it’s a gigantic one that many people know. I am at the right age to go abroad, and it is a chance I want to take.’
Villa captain Gareth Barry has stuck up for former Villa striker Darius Vassell saying the player didn’t want to leave. ‘I think moving away was probably a big decision for him and Darius was probably a little upset when he was eventually told he’d be moving on. I’m not sure of the details, but I’d be surprised if he asked to leave the club. It was a bit of a shock for Darius and it probably took him a while to get used to things.’ Full article: Click Here
O’Neill believes Chris Sutton will be fit to return in time for the Sheffield United clash in December. ‘It’s a shame for Chris. He did the injury whilst out for a run by himself. He didn’t think it was much and then suddenly the scans suggested it was a wee bit more than that. It’s not a long-term injury and he should be recovered and in contention for the Sheffield United game – but I might be wrong.’
Chris Sutton says he will decide on his future at the end of the season. The former Blackburn, Chelsea and Celtic striker said: ‘I’m obviously on a short-term contract but that suits me and I want to do as well as I possibly can when I am fit. The way I look at it is I’m going to put everything into things and then see what happens next summer.’
19-year-old Isaiah Osbourne is set to sign a new 3 1/2 year deal at Villa after breaking into the first team under O’Neill. The Villa boss said: ‘We are hoping to agree the contract within the week, a three-and-a-half-year contract. Isaiah has got potential and I am very pleased with the way he has played. He has played four or five first team games now and I am very pleased with him.’
Lee Hendrie’s loan spell with Stoke has been extended for a third month. O’Neill said: ‘Stoke have Lee Hendrie for another month, until around the end of December, but we have instant recall. We can bring him back at any given second. When Lee first went to Stoke, he didn’t have the match fitness behind him after being injured for some of the pre-season, and for him to step in and play Premier League football immediately would have been tough. But he has gone to Stoke, he is enjoying it, is getting fit, he is playing for a cause as well and the Stoke fans have been delighted with him. Fitness would not now be an issue if he came back to us.’ The fact he hasn’t been recalled despite the lack of strength in depth at Villa speaks volumes doesn’t it?
Martin O’Neill podcast on tonights game: Click Here
Martin O’Neill has told us fans not to believe all they read in the papers in reference to in-coming players!! Awww, that is part of the fun! He said: ‘There has been much speculation- it looks as if we have got this transfer market all to ourselves! Because it is a story and because Lerner is supposed to have this ‘Transfer War Chest’ – which is what I really love, as if we are pirates now! It really does make you laugh. But some of these things make you cringe at the end of the day. I am looking generally to try and inject a bit of pace into the team, which we need, and inject a bit of panache which would be great. But then that is easy for me to sit behind a desk and say. Doing it is a different issue.’
The madness of Vital Villa knows no bounds as we discuss the need for Adidas at Villa Park! Maybe we are more in touch with our feminine side that we realised?! Click Here
Martin O’Neill has made a rallying cry to the players saying: ‘The fans are demanding more and we should rise to the challenge.’ Full article: Click Here
Vital Villa asked for your predictions ahead of the match tonight against Manchester City. 76% said we’d win, 15% are predicting yet another Villa draw leaving just 9% saying we will lose.
Mystic Mug 
is going for a 1-0 victory for Villa. Aston Villa (from): Taylor, Olejnik, Mellberg, Hughes, Cahill, Ridgewell, Bouma, Samuel, Agbonlahor, Petrov, Davis, McCann, Osbourne, Barry, Whittingham, Agathe, Baros, Angel, Gardner.
Thought for the day: Rules for life: In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling. Don’t judge people by their relatives. Talk slowly but think quickly. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully. Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
