The Week In Villa #8 (10/10/08 - 16/10/08)

Friday, 10th October

It`s international time again (sigh) and we start off with the England U-21`s, away at Wales. I always take a relative interest in the U-21`s as there are Villa players involved but as I am attending the second leg, this takes on a significant interest for me! Anyway we win 3-2, Milner and Gabby both play quite well and the latter got the winner. Coolio.

In ex-Villa player news, Stefan Moore signs for Kidderminster. Now, it was no real surprise he didn`t make it at the top grade but he surely should be doing better than that level; still, I`m sure he`ll do well for them and maybe he`ll enjoy being 'a big fish` and all that.

Saturday, 11th October

Starting with England, Gareth Barry was unlucky to be substituted at half-time, but, ya know, bothered! We won 5-1, was a boring game, nothing more to say.

John Carew says that Shaun Maloney was hasty in leaving Villa. I thought Maloney was ok & didn`t really want him to leave but at the end of the day, he aint Ashley Young. He also seems to keeping Aiden McGeady out the Celtic team a fair bit, which I don`t really understand, but then I don`t see enough of them to comment properly. When Carew met Maloney on the pitch, Scotland drew 0-0 with Norway, & the big man played fairly well. I thought the wee man also put in a standard Maloney performance, in as much as he looked dangerous at times but it was easy to forget he was playing. The game also included a BRILLIANT miss from Wolves player Chris Iwelumo. I assume most of you saw it, but if you didn`t, then go find it!

Finally, Thomas Sorenson makes a lot of noise about MO`N trying to ruin his career. What absolute drivel. He wasn`t good enough and, while I`m not a massive fan of Scott Carson, it seems a simple equation to me. He`s a bitter, bitter man who should shut up about MO`N and concentrate on failing to keep Stoke in the Premiership.

Sunday, 12th October

Nothing much to report as it is all about the internationals… Kevin Doyle is linked with a move to us yet again, Marlon Harewood is suggested as a possible makeweight in the deal and Wayne Routledge is linked with a loan move to Wolves. That`s all, folks!

Monday, 13th October

The only first-team news is that Ashley Young picks up the Premiership Player of the Month award. Personally I don`t even think he was the best player at Villa (I`d say Stiliyan Petrov was) but congratulations to him all the same. In other good news, Steve Sidwell scored for the reserves in a 1-0 win away to Chelsea, which was nice to hear.
Two further pieces of good news occur, albeit non-Villa related. First of all, Cleveland Browns beat the Giants, so Randy must have been delighted. Secondly, I saw probably the best gig I have ever seen when Oasis come to the NIA and we… what? You don`t care about that? FINE! Moving on…

Tuesday, 14th October

The England U-21`s drew 2-2 with Wales to go through to the European Championships. Agbonlahor was pulled off at half-time with a slight injury, and thanks to Stuart Pearce for that. We attended, and I thought it was a pretty good crowd. The first-half was thoroughly enjoyable, and the Wales goals, in particular the first goal, were superb. The second half was more nervy but overall it was a good game and I`m glad I attended.

The Academy lads beat Coventry 5-0, with goals from Kofi Poyser (cool name), Will Grocott and a hat-trick from James Collins, who continues to impress, doing the job.

Also, I very rarely have any idea how the ladies get on, but I noticed via NewsNow that they beat Preston 2-1. Good for them!

Wednesday, 15th October

Gareth Barry plays as England beat Belarus. Fair play to Cappelo I suppose, that`s the first time we`ve won the first 4 games of a qualifying campaign. I find it hard to care about internationals, but credit where it`s due, eh.

Only other Villa news is that Ashley Young is supposed be signing his new contract soon. Which is good, but I am sure I reported on that last week! Come on people, get it sorted!

Thursday, 16th October

FINALLY, the internationals are over! We now can concentrate on the Pompey game. Carlos Cuellar and James Milner are both tipped to start, and Steve Sidwell is available for selection again. We will wait and see.

On the transfer news front, the M*rror are at it again, saying we will spend '£30 million` to push for a Champions League place. A couple of internet sites pick up on it and depending on where you look, we`ll be signing players from Kevin Doyle, Emile Heskey, Dean Ashton and Joleon Lescott. I`m sure more names will be coming up as January approaches.

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