The Villa Times - 20/10/2008

Unoial Villa News...

Stan Collymore has told the official site that Thursday night v Ajax could be the best night at Villa Park for a decade. He said: 'There's no doubt about it, these are exciting times for Aston Villa - with an appealing attraction coming up on Thursday. Ajax are in town as the UEFA Cup group stages get under way and the prospect of facing one of the biggest names in European football must be appealing to everyone connected with the club. I reckon it has the potential to be the most exciting night at Villa Park since 1998, when we beat Atletico Madrid 2-1. I will certainly never forget that one after scoring our second goal and I've never heard the place quite like so raucous.'

Bad luck, as if my appearance on MOTD2 wasn't enough last night to give you nightmares, I'll be on Sky Sports News later today. I apologise if this comes on during your tea, just have a sick bag around in case!!!

Villa have commentary for the reserves game v Portsmouth tonight: Click Here

Villa soccer schools info for half term: Click Here

According to the Sunday Express Villa will once again do battle with Liverpool in a transfer window. However this time there is no mention of Gareth Barry, it is a fight for the signature for Wigan and England striker Emile Heskey. Hmmm, a battle I wouldn't mind us losing!

Our latest poll asks for your man of the match votes for the Pompey game. At the moment Petrov is the runaway leader, I must admit I think Laursen should be neck and neck with him, he was awesome!

Video highlights of Villa v Pompey: Click Here
Raising money for Birchy: Click Here
Match report, Villa v Pompey: Click Here
Managers reaction: Click Here
Stats: Click Here

Curtis Davies, who must have been relieved to have retained his starting place after being subbed in the previous game against Chelsea, said he was happy with the defence getting back to a clean sheet v Pompey. He told AVTV: 'We are happy with the point. It was always going to be a tough game against Portsmouth. We will take the confidence from the clean sheet and the main thing is we limited them to very few chances. We also created plenty of openings ourselves.' Full article: Curtis Davies Relieved With Clean Sheet

The Sheriff is back in town with his, that was the week that was for Villa: The Week In Villa #7 (10/10/08 - 16/10/08)

Vital Villan: After an idiot at the Pompey match aimed a 50 pence coin into the technical area hitting the assistant referee, the club have released an official statement. Aston Villa have condemned the idiotic behaviour of the so called 'fan' after assistant referee Phil Sharp was hit above his right eye, causing a small cut. The club and the FA will conduct an investigation into the event, and will be studying CCTV closely to identify the idiot. The club have also said they will issue a lifetime ban to any individual found guilty of throwing the coin, and the FA have insisted their investigation will focus on finding the culprit as opposed to punishing the club. Click Here

Good wishes to the assistant ref Phil Sharp: Click Here

Bloody hell, the lucky git! From the Sunday Mercury: Former Aston Villa footballer Stan Collymore has won more than £1.5m in damages from financial advisers who invested money he made from his footballing career. The former Liverpool striker was not at the High Court in London to hear Mrs Justice Gloster rule that the advice he was given was negligent and in breach of statutory obligations. I did similar and got 75p :o( Full Report >> Click Here For Mercury Site

It is a funny old game, we wait for two seasons for a right-back and then when we get one, after only a few games, he gets dropped for a centre back! In fact yesterday against Portsmouth Martin O'Neill dropped two new buys in order to fit in, well, two new buys really! Both Luke Young and Nicky Shorey were consigned to the bench with Carlos Cuellar being put to right-back - or as some suggested in a back three, although that isn't how the game panned out I don't think, and James Milner into midfield. Martin O'Neill says neither player have anything to worry about though saying there really is 'nothing fantastic to read into it.' Full quotes: MON Explains Villa's Change In Tactics - Sort Of

Gareth Barry told Sky Sports that he was surprised to have been put at left back in the 0-0 draw v Portsmouth on Saturday but says he'll play wherever he is asked. 'I was a bit surprised when the manager read the team. I'm not a player who enjoys players running at me too much when I play in defence, I try to enjoy going forward and I hope the manager appreciates that. He had a brief chat with me before the game and said it wasn't a long-term thing, but I know he changes his mind, so I'm going to have to take that with a pinch of salt.' Ouch, that comment won't go down well with O'Neill will it?!?! Full article: Click Here

Thought for the day: Never put off the work till tomorrow what you can put off today!

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