You Must be Sjoke-Ing (Mini-Preview)

Introduction
Stoke city stage their first every Premier League match and their first match in the top flight at the Britannia Stadium. Aston Villa travel to the Potteries looking to continue their fine form, having overcome an owner-less-kind-of Manchester City last weekend.

Fabio Capello has proved he`s just as idiotic as the last England Manager and newly qualified Dutchman Scchhteve McccLaren, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young have proven a point, Maloney proved himself to be a bit of an idiot and I have proven that I can write in a proven fashion, or not.

It`s Villa, it`s Sjoke Shi…sorry Stoke City, it`s Vital Villa Previews back in league action!

Villa Quotes

Lets get cracking with Fabio Capello, those having seen his cameo in the respect advert, may well get the Cap/Stoke link in the article title with his “you must be joking” line right at the death. He seems to have attempted (poorly) to blame the Gareth Barry saga for his part in what was a dismal England performance at the new Wembley. Our former captain wasn`t his usual self although was said to have an ok performance as Capello opted to stick players in baffling positions, and actually played Emile Heskey.

The Italian, who is quickly proving that all he needs is some hair dye and a brolly to be no different from previous boss Steve McClaren, said following the 2-2 Czech draw:

“At the moment, the Liverpool situation means Barry is not at his best. That is my opinion.”

Think you`ve got more important things to worry about Fab!

*****

Meanwhile, another wantaway has gone away, and Shaun Maloney has rather stupidly attempted to alienate those who responded poorly to my suggestion that the guy was an idiot who wasted his brief chances at Villa Park. On his return to Celtic, he said:

“Leaving Celtic was a mistake and I shouldn`t have come to the decision that I had to leave.”

“That mistake was made by myself and I didn`t handle the whole contract situation too well. Villa was a great club, the fans were brilliant, but I shouldn`t have come to that decision in the first place. Thankfully the transfer has gone through now and I have a fresh start.”

Enjoy the SPL Shaun, you say it`s a challenge, I say “You Must be Joking.”

Meanwhile on the game, MON said:

We have a major test. I went to see them on the opening day against Bolton and ironically enough, as Tony Pulis said after the match, they were in control during the first half hour. They certainly didn’t look like they would go into the break 3-0 down.
“They will try to cause us plenty of problems. It’s their first Premier League home game and the crowd will be right behind them.
“My players are starting to strive in such circumstances and I feel we are more than capable of winning the game.”


Team News
Here`s the teams, well one of them!

VILLA: Friedel, L.Young, Shorey, Laursen (C), Davies, Reo-Coker, Barry, Petrov, A.Young, Carew, Agbonlahor. Subs: Taylor, Osbourne, Harewood, Knight, Gardner, Salifou, Routledge.

Musical Interlude

Partly for the fact that Gabby scored a hat-trick last weekend, mostly because I heard it at 3am whilst driving on the M6 this morning!



Thanks!
Sorry for the delay and the lack of a full preview, normal service will be resumed for the next match, FH Hafnarfjordu on Thursday!