The Villa Times - 21/04/2008

Unoial Villa News...

Tragic news to begin with I'm afraid. Makes the rest of the news from over the weekend seem insignificant and somewhat pointless. Police are appealing for information following the suspected murder of a 26-year-old man near Villa Park after the derby game yesterday. A West Midlands Police spokeswoman: 'A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. A 26-year-old male suffered fatal injuries after a road traffic collision between a Volkswagen Golf and a pedestrian.' Anyone with information should call the police on 0845 113 5000. Full article: Click Here

Martin O'Neill says that the European dream is still very much alive: 'We have scored 15 goals in the last three games with Bolton, Derby and Birmingham and have put ourselves in with a chance. I have a lot of time for Everton. I think it has been a great season for them. They have been heavily involved in the Carling Cup and the UEFA Cup, a bit unlucky there I think. But we are going there knowing we have to win the game to give ourselves a chance and have to try and make the most of the opportunity facing us.'

Have you any old Villa tops that you want to send along for a good cause? Converting Villa Fans in Ghana

Villa reserves have another chance of taking the Barclays Premier Reserve (South) league title tonight as they travel to Griffin Park to face Chelsea. Villa need just two points from the next two games. Villa finish the season at home v Arsenal on the 29th April at Villa Park.

Villa v Blues list of articles:

Images of the Villa v Blues: Click Here
A picture speaks 1000 words: Click Here
Match report: Click Here
Martin O'Neill on the Blues game: Click Here
Villa v Blues stats: Click Here
John Carew - best moment yet: Click Here
Mellberg on derby and future: Click Here

Zat Knight said after the game: 'It was amazing and a great feeling. I knew it was going to be a tough game and I'd been thinking about the game all week. A few of my friends are Birmingham City fans, and I told them we were going to keep a clean sheet and win 2-0. We didn't keep a clean sheet and I am disappointed about that, but to get five goals - making it 15 in three games - is amazing.' Also adding in the Birmingham Mail that John Carew is a 'man mountain' 'He is strong and quick and he has the qualities to be a world class striker. We are lucky to have him. When he plays in that free role, and when his spirit is high, he showed against Newcastle a couple of months ago how good he can be. Hopefully he can carry this on for the rest of the season.

The papers are full of quotes about Gareth Barry looking to be convinced to stay and that he might well be tempted to move on to a side in the Champions League and one goes further and links us to Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell as a replacement. Full Barry quotes; Click Here

Other more positive quotes from the Villa skipper saying he can be successful at Villa: Click Here

Vital Villa asked: Would You Sell Gareth Barry? 78% said no,it sends out the wrong signals 7% were more realistic saying that the club would have no choice if Barry wants to go. 7% said they would sell Barry if the £12million fee was offered and another 7% said they'd let him go but only for a higher fee. That left just 1% unsure.

Martin Laursen has spoken of Villa being linked to Liverpool striker Peter Crouch and says the Villa should get him back! The Danish defender said: 'This is a club who are going places. We have a lot of good young players here so an England striker like Peter Crouch should be interested in coming to Aston Villa. It's why I signed a new contract this year, because I believe in the future. I can't see myself playing for another English team.'

Martin O'Neill has insisted that Shaun Maloney is still in his plans for the run in to the end of the season. Having been dropped for the last two games and with Stiliyan Petrov in good form - at long last - Maloney looks under pressure. Full article: Click Here

The world of football seems to be getting stranger and stranger! Sky Sports are reporting that German club Werder Bremen are interested in Villa striker John Carew and former Liverpool and Villa boy Milan Baros who is now plying his trade - unconvincingly so I believe - at Portsmouth. The Bundesliga sides manager Klaus Allofs said in SportBild, quite wrongly as surely this is tapping up the players? 'We are considering the possible signings of players like John Carew or Milan Baros.'

Vital Villa fantasy league and mini league table: Click Here

MON on the chances of Europe: 'We have scored 15 goals in the last three games with Bolton, Derby and Birmingham and have put ourselves in with a chance (of Europe). I have a lot of time for Everton. But we are going there knowing we have to win the game to give ourselves a chance and have to try and make the most of the opportunity facing us.'

Thought for the day: How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.

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