The Villa Times - 28/01/2008

Unoial Villa News...

According to The Mirror, Villa are after out of favour Spurs winger Wayne Routledge. I'm sure I read somewhere a fee of around £1million is being talked about, but can't for the life of me think where. He is a right sided winger, something we very much need. Not sure of his credentials as it seems so long since he has played regularly. He did spend time on loan at Fulham so you have to wonder why he wasn't taken on permanently there?

The error made by Aston Villa goalkeeper Scott Carson whilst on international duty has made the on-loan stopper stronger, according to Blackburn’s Brad Friedel. Friedel, an ex-Liverpool player himself, has constantly and consistently performed for Blackburn over the years, and believes that Carson can go on to do the same thing, no matter which club he ends up at for next season. Full article: Click Here

Football Fans Census survey on the standard of Premier League referees. Click Here

Vital Everton article on who might make the top four this season including my opinions for Villa: Click Here

Former Players Association Golf Day and Dinner: Click Here

Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers have agreed a fee, believed to be around the £5million mark for young defender Gary Cahill. Full info: Click Here

Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg will be leaving Villa Park for Turin after signing a pre-contract agreement with Juventus.

Gareth Barry has admitted that it's almost like a weight of his mind, knowing that Hokey Cokey makes an effective captain. Speaking on the official site today, Barry said: 'I was gutted to miss the Liverpool game and I was obviously delighted to be back against Blackburn. Nigel came in as skipper at Anfield in my absence and did a superb job. I thought he was tremendous and that's no surprise because he was skipper at West Ham and for England under-21s too. It's important to have leaders all over the pitch and we've certainly got that here.'

Vital Villa asked for your Man of Match votes v Blackburn. Up step goal scorer Ashley Young with 60% Next came shot stopper Scott Carson with 23% for pulling off a few great saves including a penalty save.

Ashley Young said he didn't realise that new England boss Capello was at the Blackburn game until afterwards. His goal won't have gone unnoticed though, step aside David Beckham (after getting his 100th cap) ? Young added, 'I won't spend any time thinking about the forthcoming squad to be honest. It will be nice to be in the squad but I just want to do well for Villa and get them up the Premier League table. Hopefully I will get a call-up. We will just have to wait and see when the squad is announced. But if I am in it then I will go down there with England and do as well as I have done for Villa - and even better than that.'

Thought for the day: Two blondes walk into a building. You'd think at least one of them would have seen it.

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