The Villa Times - 06/03/2009

Unoial Villa News...

Gareth Barry has told the official site that Villa are still positive and will be looking up not down. 'We've just got to try and see it through in the final part of the season. But we would prefer to be looking up, chasing Liverpool and Chelsea. That is the aim, rather than thinking about Arsenal. You've always got to think like that, no matter who you are. We are still in there. Some of the results keep giving us chances. The players, the manager, the fans, everyone at the club realises we've got to try and take it while it is there this season. We are right in there still.'

Martin O'Neill has spoken about Wilfred Bouma who played 90 mins in the reserve win over Chelsea. The Villa boss told the official site: 'I'm really pleased to see Wilfred back. It's nice for him to get a game under his belt. While he still has a way to go in terms of proper fitness and getting over everything, I'd be hoping that he will be able to come and help us along in the final stretch. He certainly has his determination, enthusiasm and drive back. The rest will be a bit of a process now over the next couple of weeks. But I hope that reserve game will hasten things on for him.'

Villa legend Harry Parkes has passed away at the age of 89. Another Holteender in the Sky. Full article: Villa Hero - Harry Parkes RIP

The ever excellent weekly column by Steve Wade: Something For The Weekend (227)

Sherriff Kimbo: Two more defeats... Further sponsorship deal with Acorns... Bouma plays 90 minutes for the reserves... Another mixed bag at Villa Park. Another that was the week that was here: The Week In Villa #28 (27/02/09 - 5/3/09)

Manchester City v Villa stats: Click Here
Match report: Click Here
MON's post match reaction: Click Here
VIDEO match 'highlights': Click Here

Vital Villan asked for your idiot of the match, I think he meant Man of the match but was despairing after the game. Vital Villan, tut tut young man! Results: Agbonlahor (32%) O'Neill (32%) Friedel (11%) Cuellar (10%) Heskey (5%) Barry (3%) Milner (2%) Petrov (2%) A. Young (1%) Davies (1%) Knight (1%) L. Young (0%) Gardner (0%) Carew (0%)

Our latest poll asks where you currently think Villa will finish in the league.

Villa midfielder Isaiah Osbourne, currently on-loan at Nottingham Forest, has told the official site he is looking to impress whilst away in the Championship. 'I've got a chance to impress now and I want to try and make the most of it. I'm very excited to be at the City Ground and looking forward to hopefully playing a few games. It feels like a long time since I started a game. We haven't even played many reserve matches at Villa because of the club's UEFA Cup commitments. I've left a club fourth from top in the Premiership for one fourth from bottom in the Championship but that doesn't bother me. I look upon it as a challenge, it's nothing to be worried about and I can't see Forest being relegated. The club is trying to go forward and I'm looking forward to being part of that, even if it's only in the short-term.'

Vital Villan: Luke Young believes our destiny is in our own hands and he's looking forward to the Dubai trip so we can return and start playing to our best. Speaking on the official site after the dust has settled given last nights result, Luke Young insists that fans shouldn't feel too despondent, and neither should the players, despite the week we've had because all of us would've been more than happy with this position if it was offered at the start of the season. 'We are aware of the situation and the games that are to come. If we don't finish fourth it is down to ourselves. We don't need to worry about others because it is down to us. When you look at it, destiny is in our own hands.' Full article: Luke Is In Control

The official site have stamped on a rumour reported in the Sun saying that Villa spent time sight-seeing before the Manchester City game. The paper apparently said they went to the Museum of Science and Industry (yes, that would really interest them wouldn't it ahead of a top game!) and TV studios of Coronation Street...! MON said: 'There is absolutely no grain of truth in this story.'

Villa have announced they are extending the free Acorns sponsorship for another season. Full details: Villa To Extend Acorns Sponsorship

0% Villa season ticket offer: Villa Season Ticket Offer At 0%

We seem to have said this a lot recently, but our next game really is a CRUNCH game.

I hope Villa go into the game v Spurs on March 15th like it is a cup final. We simply CANNOT lose this one, not with Arsenal getting a sniff of 4th place and being within 1 win of equaling our points total. Full article and ticket news: Villa's CRUNCH Game Tickets On Sale

According to The Sun, Villa are lining up a swoop for yet another Manchester City player! We've so far been linked with Michael Johnson, Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge now if this red top report is to be believed, we want their Under-21 England international keeper Joe Hart. Full 'article': http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=7500424 Another Manchester City Player Linked To Villa

Thought for the day: My dad is Irish and my mum is Iranian, which meant that we spent most of our family holidays in Customs. (Patrick Monahan)

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