The Villa Times - 30/04/2008

Unoial Villa News...

The Villa reserves drew 1-1 with Arsenal at Villa Park last night. Nathan Delfouneso scored for the champions. VILLA: Taylor, Lund, Baker, Osbourne, Roome, Lowry, Salifou, Herd, Williams, Weimann, Bannan. Subs: Forrester (for Bannan72), Bevan, Albrighton (for Roome 77), Delfouneso (for Weimann 59), Lichaj.

Images of the reserves getting their championship trophy: Click Here

Reports yesterday were suggesting that Villa are interested in Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey. They claim that Martin O'Neill watched him v Coventry City on Saturday. Wolves have said none of their stars are for sale.

Another local link is Zoltan Gera from West Brom. He seems to be linked every year but apparently he has yet to agree a new deal with the Baggies. Gera told Nemzeti Sport, 'I wanted to leave WBA a couple of times, I didn't make a secret of it and now it seems that I will have the possibility. My contract expires soon, there are some interested teams but I don't want to focus on it at the moment. I like this country, I like the football and I also enjoy the life here.' Boro have also been linked.

Club promoVilla skipper Gareth Barry leads by example on the pitch - and he'll be hoping his new DVD makes the same impression when it hits the shops this week. The new release - 'Gareth Barry: 10 Years at Villa' - is available from the club stores at Villa Park and in Birmingham city centre as well as the Holte End matchday store on May 3 - the day of the Wigan game. Shot on location at Gareth's family home in Hastings as well as at Villa's state-of-the-art Bodymoor Heath training ground, it not only looks into Gareth's career, but also at the history of the academy and its success in creating first team regulars for Villa. The price is £16 and it has the DVD extra of Gareth's top Aston Villa XI. I was one of many fans interviewed for this before a game this season, hopefully I made it to the cutting room floor!

The Express & Star have reported that Shaun Maloney has been ill and also picked up an ankle problem, hence is longest absence from the Villa squad since joining.

Martin O'Neill has blasted the people who have criticised him for not buying players in the January window. He says a few weeks back the view was the players were tired because of the size of the squad but since coming back from our slump he says he hears we are winning because of having a settled team. 'People can pick out of that what they choose. It’s great to have the players available. They’re in fantastic form, they’re really heady spirited and they really want to go for it. It’s all encouraging. Whether it’s because we have a settled side, I don’t know. But in the papers, the reason we were losing games was because the players weren’t being rested.' Adding, 'You can’t get it right. I’ve always said the best thing is to try to win games and that way you get a bit of respite.' Hmmm, ok you can never get it right but even he has to admit, surely - in fact, he was quoted as saying so recently, the squad is too thin and if we'd had cup runs it would have been even more stretched than it would have been.

Gareth Barry is believed to be involved with the consortium buying into Lewes. The Argus understands that the England international is investing some of his own money into the club. Click Here

Aston Villa starlet Gabriel Agbonlahor continued his fine season after climbing into the top 10 in the Actim Index, the official player ratings system of the Barclays Premier League. The 21-year-old moved into 10th place after earning 31 points in the draw with Everton at the weekend, moving level with Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard on 534 points. Skipper Gareth Barry also climbed two places, moving up to seventh overall (558 points). Click Here

John Carew has been having a good old talk recently, anyone would think the Norwegian striker is happy and enjoying his time at Villa. Top news! For quotes on Europe, MON and team spirit: John Carew On O'Neill, Europe And Team Spirit

The issue for around 400 fans who are having to be re-located from their seats in the Trinity Road stand. The 'Trinity 400'

Vital Villa Prediction League Update

With the season drawing to a close, Martin O'Neill has said he has made no firm decision on the future of Scott Carson. O'Neill said: 'We have Scott until the end of the season and when we talked about it in the first place, there was no decision going to be made one way or another until the end of the season. Now, of course, if someone does very well then there is talk about 'can you hurry this on?' or if someone is not doing so cleverly then the talk is 'well, what are you doing about it?' Full article: No Decision On Carson

Ashley Young has earnt himself a place in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year, and he couldn't be more delighted. PFA Premier League Team of the Year: David James (Portsmouth), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal), Fernando Torres (Liverpool). Full article: Young Named In PFA Team of the Year

Vital Villa asked for your man of the match for the Everton 2-2 Villa game at the weekend.

Villa skipper, Gareth Barry took the honours with 48% of the vote. Olof Mellberg, the bearded one, was next with 15%. Full results: Click Here

Our latest poll is asking you for your end of the season awards vote for young player of the season. Options being Ashley Young, Gabby Agbonlahor, Craig Gardner and Shaun Maloney.

Thought for the day: I have a degree in liberal arts. Do you want fries with that?

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

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