The Villa Times - 21/11/2008

Unoial Villa News...

Sir Chewalot says that Villa can break the top four and Martin O'Neill says Villa are going into the game with respect for Manchester United but does believe we can win. Full article: Sir Chewalot Big Ups Villa & MON Goes For Win

Ryan Giggs....one of my all time favourite Premiership (no Villa) players (not that you needed to know that really!)... has joined in saying Villa are a quality side who can turn teams over. He says the Arsenal result didn't surprise him 'because Villa can do that to teams. They have quality and pace and have been there or thereabouts near the top for the past couple of years.' He also mentions Gabby, Carew and Ashley Young as our danger men.

Martin O'Neill has spoken on BBC WM admitting that former Reading player Nicky Shorey is still finding his feet at Villa Park. He told the radio station: 'You want players to settle in at once but it doesn't always happen. Nicky's used to one team's way of playing and now he has to adjust.'

I'm not saying I told you so, but I told you so! Gareth Barry said at the end of the last transfer window that he would be at Villa for the season and would not talk about a contract or look at talks for a move away from Villa until the following summer. In a move that will hopefully kill the obvious newspaper links to Liverpool for our former captain, Barry said on the Friday Football Show: 'I made a statement to say that I`ll spend this season with Aston Villa and hopefully we can achieve the things I want to achieve in my career. I`m 28 early next year so, as you say, years will be slowly running out so hopefully this will be a big year for Aston Villa and we`ll see what could happen in the summer. I`m looking no further than trying to get Aston Villa into the Champions League. I think it would be wrong for me to sit here and be looking elsewhere.' Full article: Gareth Barry Going Nowhere In January

Brad Friedel will equal David James Premier League record of successive Premier League appearances of 166 when he takes to the pitch v Manchester United on Saturday.

Vital Villa asked, in a poll suggested by Sheriff Kimbo: If you could put one of the team of 81 winners in today's team, who would it be? The winner was the man with the golden shin, Sir Peter Of Withe with 30% of the votes. Next up came Gordon 'Sid' Cowan's with 28%. Full results (and image of Sid as I don't have a Withe one!) Peter Withe Wanted Back By Villans!

Wayne Routledge, who has joined Cardiff on a two month loan deal, is hopefully about to get regular first team football. Martin O'Neill explained the move on AVTV: 'He wants to play - and he wants to play regularly. He feels he could be in the team but at this minute, players are keeping him out. I was reluctant to let anyone on the fringes of the first team out on loan because we have a lot of games to play. However, this is opportunity for Wayne to go and play - and play for a cause. It means now he won't be eligible to play in the European games - and I would have been intending to use him in those. But, injury and form-permitting, he should play pretty regularly. I know they have had a couple of injuries to key players and Dave Jones said he will go and play. That should give him a boost of confidence and match fitness.' Villa can end the deal after 28 days if needs be.

Villa have been linked in the Daily Mirror to £8m-rated Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour who is also interesting Arsenal apparently. Not totally sure we will be in the market for another midfielder at this stage though would we!?

Villa are delighted to announce that Villa on a Plate is now available from Villa Stores. The book is filled with a unique collection of dishes and what makes it special is that all proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to Acorns Children`s Hospice. Villa on a plate contains a selection of favourite recipes from famous Villans including players and managers past and present, famous celebrity supporters and club VIP's. Villa On A Place For Acorns

Video: Classic Match Chelsea 1-3 Villa
Video: Villa v Man Utd preview

Sheriff Kimbo's weekly column summarising the Villa's week. The Week In Villa #13 (14/11/08 - 20/11/08)

Martin O'Neill has said today that Carlos Cuellar is a major doubt for the Man U game, but it looks like John Carew will be fit and raring to go. Full article: Injury Update

Vital Villan: Martin O'Neill was chuffed to bits when he saw Gabby walk onto the pitch to make his Senior England Debut and he believes the achievement is the result of two years hard work. We all know O'Neill isn't a fan of international friendlies, and as a manager he isn't alone, the difference is Villa players when it comes to England, are just injured less. Speaking on the official site O'Neill made the distinction between the perception of friendlies from the standpoint of the manager and the player, and picked up on the point above...he won't stop players from representing their Countries if they want to. Full quotes: Click Here

Thought for the day: Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.

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