The Villa Times - 30/07/2008

Unoial Villa News...

Good gracious me, you can win a Villa player. Is that even legal?!?! Oh hang on, it is a charity thing. Phew! Creating Chances is the Premier League's flagship community programme and once again this season community groups, charities and good causes can win a Barclays Premier League player and a cash donation. Last season John Carew, Curtis Davies, Gareth Barry, Zat Knight, Stuart Taylor and Isaiah Osbourne visited a variety of projects. Full details on the official site: Click Here

Craig Gardner is looking for Villa to go on a run in Europe. He told the official site: 'We've had a taste of European football so now we're even more desperate to have a run in the UEFA Cup this season. You can see the fans are really up for it and so are the players. As a player you desperately want to play in Europe and test yourself against some of the best players around. I've played abroad for the Under-21s and I want to experience that more and more with Villa.'

Gardner also expects some new arrivals...! 'I'm sure we'll have a few more new signings in by then and we'll be in good shape as we go into the season.'

Apparently links today include Jerko Leko (no thanks, I couldn't be trusted to come up with a family friendly nickname!) from Monaco, another link to Reading left back Nicky Shorey, Spurs defender Younes Kaboul who has been given 24 hours to decide whether he wants to move to Sunderland or not and fellow Spurs team-mate Steed Malbranque. Yawn!

Two words: Barry Staying...! BARRY STAYING AT VILLA!

Vital Villan reported: Martin O'Neill has vowed to stand by the promise of a new contract for Freddy Bouma, despite his recent injury. Bouma is likely to be out for 6 months after dislocating his ankle in our Intertwobob match against Odense at Villa Park. The left back is in his final 12 months after Villa took up the 12 month extension offer last season, and although there has been reasonably regular contact over a new deal, nothing has been set in stone yet. Despite that, O'Neill has no intentions of shelving the contract talks until he regains fitness. Speaking to the press, our manager said: 'Will I look after him? Absolutely, that is not a problem. I have done it before in my Birmingham time. We looked after Mark Delaney and I am quite sure I will look after somebody who has played 38 Premiership games last season for us.' Bouma's Contract Will Not Be Shelved

VV: Brad Friedel may not be able to help Brad Guzan with the work permit issue, but he's looking forward to working with him. Friedel said: 'It's always good to have competition in every position. I know Brad's a young goalkeeper for the future. He's 23 years of age and hopefully he can get a work permit. I'm going to do my best to hopefully support that bid. I don't know what help I can give him on that front as it took me five years to get my own permit to play here in England. But hopefully, fingers crossed, he can get it and then it will be a pleasure to work with him.'

Friedel has also been talking of his reception at Villa Park and the promise of some European nights this summer: Friedel Looking Forward To Euro Nights

Vital Villa asked, following the Aston Villa Captain Conundrum article Who would you make captain if Barry stays? Barry IF he decides to stay (41%) Martin Laursen (40%) Nigel Hokey-Cokey (16%) I've told you before, I ain't bovvered!! (2%) Barry even if he stays by default (1%) Full article: The Villa Captain Conundrum Poll Results

Our latest poll is asking if you are losing faith in this transfer window.... which is nice.

Thought for the day: 'Never test the depth of the water with both feet'.

80 signed up so far, we are rocking!

Join the Vital Villa fantasy football league and be in with a chance of winning £5000 in the overall league competition PLUS I will put the £250 our mini league won last year into a prize fund. So for our very own league the winner will win £150. Second place £75 and the third placed will get £25 It is easy to enter, just go to: www.vitalfantasyfootball.co.uk and pick your team. If you don't have time you can press for a lucky dip selection. Then press 'join mini league' or use the left hand side menu option 'mini league' to join Vital Villa's league: League title: Vital Villa
Password: vital

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