The Villa Times - 06/10/2008

Unoial Villa News...

Raising funds for Paul Birch. Just a quick reminder, just a fiver would do very nicely to help add to the current total of £1065: Raising Money For The Paul Birch Trust

Chris Cooper (the Villa fan cycling from Villa Park to Paris in aid of The Paul Birch Trust) blogs:
Chris Cooper - From Villa Park To Paris - Day 1
Chris Cooper - From Villa Park To Paris - Day 2

www.givemefootball.com have an interview with former Wolves star Keith Downing who is running the Birmingham half marathon to raise money for the Paul Birch Trust Fund and have given Vital permission to publish it: Downing lends his support to Paul Birch Trust

Darn is, 22% right as Villa lose to Chelsea! The other results of our poll asking what Villa would do v the Stamford Bridge mob was 42% win and 36% draw.

Video highlights Chelsea v Villa: Click Here
Martin O'Neill post match reaction: Click Here
Chelsea v Aston Villa stats: Click Here

A reminder that the UEFA Cup draw takes place tomorrow and Villa are in Pot 4. Villa In Pot 4 For Uefa Cup Draw

Gareth Barry has again been called up into the England squad. Looks like he is now an established England regular. Surprising to see that Ashley Young still has no call up but it is only a matter of patience, his time will come surely? Full squad: Gareth Barry Gets England Call - Still No Young

Chelsea's happily hatted goalkeeper Petr Cech says his team were surprised at the ease of their win over Villa on Sunday. He told their official site: 'We played out a great game, from the first minute there was only one team on the pitch. Unambiguously, we deserved to win and could have scored even more goals. With regards to the previous encounters with Aston Villa, we expected a very difficult game. Eventually, it was not that difficult, also because we played really well.' Meanwhile Martin O'Neill admitted Villa were given a footballing lesson by Chelsea. Not sure why our team, with enough international players to know better surely, would need a lesson, especially after being so well taught last season at Old Trafford!? Full article: Villa Get Footballing Lesson According To MON

Steve Sidwell has declared himself fit following a disappointing start to the season for the summer arrival. The former Reading and Chelsea midfielder is now back in full training and told the official site he is fully fit adding, 'it's great to be out there again. It's been such a frustrating start to the season because I wanted to make a mark here. The main thing now is I feel fine and I feel fit.' Full article: Forgotten Man Steve Sidwell Declares Himself Fit

Ticket news for Villa v Pompey, Wigan v Villa and Villa v Blackburn: Click Here

Tiny bit of transfer speculation as Villa are linked to Barnsley starlet Reuben Noble-Lazarus. Villa Linked With Hot Young Barnsley Striker

Villa keeper Brad Friedel and Stiliyan Petrov both admitted that Villa were simply not good enough against Chelsea and say the key now is to bounce back against Portsmouth. Full article and quotes: Friedel & Petrov Say Villa MUST Bounce Back

www.givemefootball.com have an exclusive interview with Ashley Young which they have given Vital Villa permission to use. Ashley Young - Aston Villa: Exclusive PFA interview Ashley Young: Part One of our exclusive interview with one of England's rising stars. PFA Interview With Ashley Young

Martin Laursen spoke to AVTV after the 2-0 defeat at the hands of table toppers Chelsea admitting the team had gone with confidence thinking they could get something out of the game. 'We were too far away from them. They had too much room and space to play and you can't give good players that. They played it around us. It was disappointing because we really did feel we could come here and get something from the game. Confidence was high so we thought we could do something. It just didn't happen on the day. They have a brilliant team and some wonderful players but we could have made it harder for them. We needed more of a physical presence - especially in the first half. We now have to accept the defeat and move on.' He did however say that the defeat isn't a disaster and says Villa are still riding high in the league.

England Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce has been singing the praises of Villa's new winger James Milner. Pearce says the former Newcastle midfielder, who holds the record with 36 caps, for appearances in the U21's is at the right club with Aston Villa and tips him to be a major success. Full quotes from Psycho: Stuart Pearce Waxes Lyrical About James Milner

The Sunday Mercury has suggested that Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Mick McCarthy is interested in taking Villa winger Wayne Routledge on loan as they are struggling with a couple of injuries in their squad. Apparently McCarthy was at Villa Park on Thursday watching Routledge - who had an ok game - against Litex Lovech in the UEFA Cup draw. Full rumour: Click Here

According to the Daily Telegraph Villa have been told they have no chance of signing Zenit St Petersburg striker Andrei Arshavin as the player wants Champions League football. His agent Dennis Lacther said the 27-year-old Russian striker, who is also versatile and plays as a winger or attacking midfielder, would only consider offers from the 'big four' of the Premiership. Just as well we didn't want him then I'd suggest!? Full article and quotes: Andrei Arshavin Too Big For Villa? PAH!

Thought for the day: 'Does killing time damage eternity?'

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