Crazy Jens Aston Villa Bound?

It's unusual of Vital Villa to cover transfer rumours in an individual article, but I thought this one needed a very special mention for a very “special” player.

It has been suggested that Martin O'Neill may well replace his goalkeepers with a high profile signing. However the inbound stopper may well have a more recent high profile for being madder than the proverbial hatter.

Jens Lehmann, out of contract at the end of the season and highly unlikely to be staying on at Arsenal, has been linked with a move to the Midlands.

It is believed that the German goalkeeper had fallen out with boss Arsene Wenger early in the season, allowing Manuel Almunia (who deputised in the Champions League final following Jens' early red card) to keep hold of the #1 jersey for the majority of the season. Lehmann was however given a final send-off by the Arsenal boss, as a rare unforced substitute in their 1-0 victory over Everton (COME ON THE TOON!) last weekend.

Anyone who has watched the Premier League over the past few seasons will know full well what the German is capable of, the good, the bad and the downright Crazy Jens'ly.

The 2005/06 season saw Lehmann make a key contribution in a fine league run, and Champions League tournament that saw the London side all the way through to the final...

...only for Jens to get himself sent-off after just 18 minutes!

Then there's the famous 'Lehmann Vs Drogba' incident. You only need to Google that phrase on a well known video-sharing website to see what I am on about, backed lovingly to the Benny Hill theme tune.

This season has been a torrid time for a man who had safely kept stalwart Oliver Kahn out of the German squad for the vast majority of the World Cup. Two mistakes in the first two league matches (his first error coming just 5 minutes into the opening day) coupled with injury saw him dropped for the majority. Lehmann has been in and out of the team and bench, with Fabianski and Almunia preferred.


Like Lehmann's future (has also been reported to be talking to VFB Stuttgart lately), the next few seasons choice of goalkeeper for Aston Villa is equally unclear.

Liverpool loanee (how can a loan cost so much?) Scott Carson has had what could only be described as an 'average' season, after 14 pints. Of course this is my opinion but week in, week out various Aston Villa fora (not that there are any others than Vital!) have been discussing the finer points of Scott Carson, the shot stopper who can't stop shots, and the handling keeper who can't catch crosses!

It has been suggested since January that O'Neill will attempt another go at persuading the Home Office that American Brad Guzan is worthy of a work permit. The Chivas USA player was set for a £2million move to the Premier League, however his international record of 5 caps wasn't deemed enough to allow him into the country.

With Guzan not featuring in a Team USA game since January, Everton's (COME ON THE TOON!) Tim Howard being preferred in the starting role, I would expect it to be unlikely that those in the Governments immigration departments will look any more favourably on the situation now and Martin O’Neill may need to look closer to home for a new backup net minder

A double-team of Crazy Jens and an un-known American. Is this really a sensible option?

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