The Villa Times - 17/11/2008

Unoial Villa News...

Peter Aldis, who played in the 1957 FA Cup-winning team, has sadly passed away. The left-back played for Villa 294 times. RIP.

Villa have released details of the second half of the season 'passport' or half season ticket. Full details: Click Here

Villa will face Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday December 10 at Villa Park, 7pm kick off. Villa under 18's have won their last five games against: Cardiff City, Coventry, Birmingham City, Reading and Watford.

I was lucky enough to not only meet but also sit with Villa legend... yes, that word does fit in this case... Brian Little on Friday night at the Villa Former Players Association night at the Perry Barr dogs. Fear Meets Brian 'He Walks On Water' Little

Gabby Agbonlahor, Ashley Young and Curtis Davies have joined Gareth Barry in the England squad for the 'friendly v Germany on Wednesday 19 November at the Olympic Stadium, Berlin. I'm with Martin O'Neill - not literally obviously! - on the futility of this friendly at this stage of the season, but congratulations to the Villa boys, great to see that you can fulfill your international dreams whilst being at Villa Park! Full squad: Four Villans In The England Squad

Join Vital Villa or have the hamsters of hell (I lost the hounds, they were let out and never returned) unleashed. Click Here

The Sunday Mirror again linked Villa striker Marlon Harewood for a January transfer to Stoke.

I must admit I didn't realise how much I'd missed listening to Big Ron after his little 'mistake' in the press but since he has been on radio WM commentating on Villa games, I've realised what a top Villa man he is. He still uses Ronglish which is ace and certainly gives as good as he gets in the phone ins! Anyway, that is the long way around saying the former Villa manager has told the official site that Villa totally deserved the win v Arsenal at the weekend. Full quotes: The Return Of Big Ron & His Villa Compliments!

Villa's official merchandise catalogue is now available - and you can have it sent direct to your door. Click Here

Vital Villa asked in our last poll what sort of signing you thought Newcastle striker Michael Owen would be. Seems the majority would like to see him at Villa Park with 53% voting 'A risk but well worth it' and 24% voting it would be a world class signing. 18% felt it was too big a risk due to his injuries, 4% that it would be a poor signing and the remaining 1% thinking the prospect average.

Interview with Rocky from Vital Arsenal after the 2-0 win for Villa: Click Here

Match report 1 v Arsenal: Glensider at Emirates
Match report 2 v Arsenal: Randy.Stand at Arsenal Away
MON's post match reaction: A glorious day, we weren't arse
Match stats v Arsenal: Click Here

Lovely article by BBJ on the long distance travelling to Villa games: The Loneliness of the Long-distance Supporter

The Sheriff has been in town with his weekly Villa summary: The Week In Villa #12 (7/11/08 - 13/11/08)

Vital Villan: Martin O'Neill has revealed he is more than happy with our start to the season, despite our blips. Yes I am obsessed with our blips, there's no good reason why our losses to Stoke, Newcastle and Boro couldn't have gifted us a further 9 points, and had that have happened I think O'Neill would've been a bit more than happy with the start to the season....I know I would've been. Anyway, it's quite phenomenal to think that already we have played 7 more competitive games than we had done by this time last season and we still have a small squad by most comparisons so the blips are almost to be expected, but that doesn't mean I like them. Full article: O'Neill Satisfied With Season Start

Steve Sidwell told AVTV after the Arsenal victory that Villa fully deserved the win. 'We came straight out and meant business from the first whistle. We had some great chances, particularly the penalty, in the first half and we wondered if we had let it slip. But we came out in the second half, dug deep and buried our chances. I think the most important aspect of the performance was coming out and performing the same in the second half. It would have been easy to feel sorry for ourselves at the break but we continued our super form.'

Villa take on Fulham on Saturday November 29, kick-off 3pm, with tickets now on general sale. Full ticket news: Click Here

Both Gareth Barry and Steve Sidwell say that Villa ARE top four contenders: Barry & Sidwell Say Villa ARE Top Four Contenders

Thoughts for the day: When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

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