The Villa Times - 08/01/2008

Unoial Villa News...

17-year-old Harry Forrester has signed his first professional contract for Villa in a two-and-a-half year deal. Academy Director Bryan Jones told the official site how happy they were that he has signed adding, 'Harry is a good passer, has great vision and can play in a variety of positions. But, as I say to all the academy graduates, there's still a lot to learn. He will have to work hard, put in lots of effort and perform well for Aston Villa.'

Big John Carew says he is happy and settled at Villa and would like to see his future with us and helping the club to fulfil their potential. The 28-year-old Hulk said: 'I hope to be a Villa player for many years. It's good to be at a club with such big potential. There's no reason why Villa shouldn't get into Europe. We've a lot of talent, a great manager and a lot of young players with great futures.'

The Villa reserves beat West Ham 2-1 last night. Bannan and Mikaelsson scored. Harewood missed a couple of chances according to the official site report: Click Here VILLA: Taylor; Lund, Earls, Clark, O'Halloran; Herd, Salifou, Hogg, Hofbauer (Delfouneso, 63); Harewood (Banana, 74), Mikaelsson. Subs: Delfouneso, Bevan, Y Bellon, D Bellon, Bannan.

Gareth Barry says after the Man Utd loss: 'I am sure we won't let the defeat get to us. We are not unhappy with the way we are playing. We stopped the best team in the country from creating chances. We will bounce back against Reading. Our confidence will still be high.' Full article: Click Here

Martin O'Neill has insisted that our younger players did not have a case of the 'willies' because of playing in front of new England manager Fabio Capello. Some of the press have been stating that Gabby and Young failed to find any fluency during the match because they felt intimidated, which although a nice excuse is a load of nonsense. Were they affected by Capello's presence? You may well have to ask them but it never entered my head. Was he here? But then I'm not 21 and trying to play for England. Full quotes: Click Here

Stats for Villa v Man Utd: Click Here
Martin O'Neill and Sir Chewalot's reactions after the game: Click Here
Match report: Click Here

Vital ran a snap poll asking which of the three main strikers we have been linked with you would prefer. The main links have been Peter Crouch from Liverpool, Jermain Defoe from Spurs and Obafemi Martins from Newcastle United Looks like the Magpies man is the one most want as Martins got 62% The former Villa striker and England international Peter Crouch was next up with 18% and Jermain Defoe trailed with just 12%. That left 8% wanted a.n.other striker.

Sunday press Villa gossip: Click Here

The Holte Pub have two promotions on this January: Click Here

Nigel Hokey Cokey says of Martin O'Neill 'Villa have taken off this season and the fans have been fantastic. They have come back in their droves because of Martin O'Neill and now we look forward to every home game because it is going to be a sell out and the atmosphere will be electric.' Full article: Click Here

Martin O'Neill on the transfer window in a Birmingham Post article: 'We will be trying to bring people in. I can't tell you if we will be as successful as last January, but we will be trying - but so is everyone else. It won't be through lack of effort if we don't succeed. We want to do something to give us all a bit of a boost. But equally I would prefer not to lose any players already here if that is at all possible as well.'

The man of the match vote for the Manchester United game went to Curtis Davies with 42% Next up came the resurgent Stiliyan Petrov with 15% and Villa skipper Gareth Barry, who I thought looked tired so shows what I know, with 13%

Our latest poll asks what you think of modern players wearing gloves. Yes sir, we discuss the major issues in footie here!!!

Thought for the day: Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

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