The Villa Times - 28/04/2008

Unoial Villa News...

Villa director General Charles Krulak has said Villa will do all they can to keep Gareth Barry at the club but if he still feels he wants to go, they won't block him. Now some fans will be angry at that stance but realistically, if a player has had his head turned (and I'm not saying Barry has) and from bitter experience with Dwight Yorke, we all know that player will get their own way, so it would be a sensible stance to not keep him against his will AS LONG as we get the fee that suits US not the club buying him! Full article: Villa Will Do All In Their Power To Keep Barry

Barry has shown what a thoroughly decent bloke he is by hinting he'll donate his testimonial money to charity. Gareth Barry - Thoroughly Good Egg!

Vital Villa asked for your Villa v Everton (away) predictions. Win (63%) Draw (17%) Just too close to call (11%) Lose (9%)

Post match reaction: Click Here
Match stats: Click Here
Match report: Villa Show Resilience
Glensider at Everton Click Here
Highlights on Virgin - Click Here

The News of the World say that Villa are still after USA international goalkeeper Brad Guzan who currently plays for Chivas.

Martin O'Neill has once again stated he hasn't made a decision about Scott Carson and will wait until the end of the season. Really? Not sure about that, he might not have made his decision public, but he's had long enough to know whether the £9m (press talk price or real price?) being asked for him is realistic or not. Martin O'Neill said: 'All parties will sit down then. We are prepared to leave it. I haven't relayed anything to Scott either way.'

Martin O'Neill says that Gabby Agbonlahor has the world at his feet: 'If he has the ambition I think he has to really be a big player in this league for a consistently lengthy time, so he has to keep going. But he's unrecognisable from the player I saw when I came on and it's all credit to him, absolutely. He said himself he was considered a runner - it was a case of : 'put the ball in front of me and I might get to it depending on what happens!'. I have got great regard for him. He's trying to get it down and hold of the ball and play like a proper centre forward.'

John Carew is looking to European football to help develop our young stars. The Hulk has played in the Champions League and says it is a crucial experience. He told the official site, as Villa look to take poll position in the race for the Uefa in our game v Everton this afternoon: 'It is important for development of young players to play in Europe, absolutely right, in terms of the experience and everything which can be gained from playing against top players from other countries. I was lucky in that I played in the Champions League when I was only 19 and was part of a final only a year later and you learn so much from things like that. I have played in Europe for almost all of my career and it is just an amazing feeling. I want these young lads here at Aston Villa to experience that.' Full article: Big John Carew On Europe

Tony McAndrew has spoken of his delight after the Villa Under-18s beat Arsenal 1-0 to clinch an FA Premier Academy Play-Off Final spot. Nathan Delfouneso scored. They will now face either Sunderland or Manchester City in the final. McAndrew told www.avfc.co.uk: 'I'm really pleased for our lads because they dug in and fought every step of the way against a very strong side. We've moved on from the Chelsea defeat and we've learned from it. That's what it's all about and we've learned a massive lesson from yesterday - you can't afford to give the ball.' Adding 'We could have played a little bit better but semi-finals are notorious for being a little bit drab at times. I can't give our lads enough credit though, I thought they were fantastic.'

The ever excellent weekly column: Something For The Weekend (185)

Dion Dublinis moving closer to the end of his illustrious career: Dion, Dion Dublin, Dion Dublin in the air.

There is an article in the Sunday Telegraph today about Martin O'Neill wanting to secure long term deals with our star players in order to fend off would be suitors. However he doesn't seem so keen to commit his long term future to the club and seems to prefer the rolling one year contract that he also had during the latter stages of his Celtic managerialship. His present deal is, apparently, up for renewal in August. Full article: Click Here

Thought for the day: Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!

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