The Villa Times - 23/11/2007

Unoial Villa News...

Vital Villa asked who you wanted as England manager. The majority (39%) said Jose Mourinho with 30% saying they didn't care as long as it wasn't Martin O'Neill. Full results: Click Here

Martin O'Neill has put pay to any talk of him leaving Villa for the England job saying he is committed to Villa and has only just started a job he wants to see through. Full quotes: Click Here

Martin O'Neill might look at once again improving Gabby Agbonlahor's contract to warn off possible suitors. In the Birmingham Mail the Villa boss said of the striker, who a week ago was linked to interest from Arsenal, 'He has done exceptionally well, he is attracting a lot of attention and we are delighted that he is. He is playing very well. All sorts of stories like that will obviously follow.' And on his contract, 'We will revisit every situation that we think merits that.'

Martin O'Neill knows he'll face a strange dressing room following the mixed international fortunes this week. Again in the Mail, he said: 'A lot of the players have been away on international matches. You cannot look after them at all, they are in the hands of somebody else. All you can try and do is look after your own that were left here.' Adding 'Players in this particular week will come back either absolutely elated about something, like perhaps Sweden and Olof Mellberg, or as in the case of Scotland and Shaun (Maloney), disappointed.'

Craig Gardner has spoken about the trip to Middlesbrough this weekend saying on the official site: 'The Riverside will always have a special place in my heart. You never forget your first senior goal and it was a really amazing feeling doing that last season in the 2-2 draw. It would be nice to get on the scoresheet again but, as footballers often say, it doesn't matter who scores the goals as long as we pick up points. We have a lot of confidence going into the game because we have a good record against Middlesbrough. Luke, in particular, will fancy his chances up there. He scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 win and then again last season when I scored.'

Liverpool and former Villa striker Peter Crouch has defended Scott Carson saying it wasn't his fault for England's failure to qualify for the Euro Championships and instead - rightly - blames mistakes throughout qualifications. Full quotes: Peter Crouch Defenders Scott Carson

Other Vital editors opinions on who should take the England job: Click HereVital Villa members messages to Martin O'Neill: Click Here
William Hill odds for new England boss: Click Here
Football Fans Census on the England farce: Click Here
O'Neill audio on the England job: Click Here

Luke Moore has hinted that his future might lie away from Villa Park. With the young strikers contract up in June and no sign of a new deal being offered, Luke said: “I’ve been here since I was eight-years-old and I’m a fan so I want to see the club move forward – regardless of whether I’m here or not.' Full article: Click Here

Villa v Boro preview: Click Here

Martin O'Neill says Scott Carson will put his England nightmare behind him. 'It's the nature of the game for goalkeepers that they are remembered for their mistakes rather than their saves. They are not too many people mentioning that fantastic save he made in the second half - but that's the nature of being a goalkeeper. It is so precarious and it won't be the first time something like that will happen to a goalkeeper. We hope Scott will come out stronger for it.'

Martin O'Neill has suggested we'll be getting new arrivals in January as he hopes to soon have a squad big enough to cope with the rigours of the Premiership. He explained 'We are probably at the stage of our development where we are not able to stand three or four players going out of the side. Luckily, touch wood, that hasn't happened so far but we have eight games to negotiate between now and the new year which is a big ask for us but it is up to us. We will, in the not too distant future, be able to cope with the loss of big players - and I know the players who I would be particularly interested in bringing in.

The Daily Mail claim we are after Peter Crouch and John Arne Riise from Liverpool, Jermain Defoe from Tottenham (who lets face it is linked every transfer window and if not him, Robbie Keane!) and the link to Porto right-back Jose Boswinga has also re-surfaced. I'll also throw in a link to Bolton striker Nicolas Anelka, why not, everyone else makes them up!!??

Thought for the day: 'Men who wonder why they should have a prostate exam usually get it in the end.'

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