The Week In Villa #30 (13/3/09 - 19/3/09)

Friday, 13th March

Harry Redknapp says he believes Arsenal will finish ahead of us in the race for 4th. Predictably, the media try to make more out of his comments as is necessary.

Stuart Taylor goes on loan to Cardiff, and Barry Bannan goes on loan to Derby.

Saturday, 14th March

Arsenal give Blackburn a pasting so we are out of the top 4 for the first time in a long time; worrying times.

Sunday, 15th March

Villa 1 - 2 Spurs. Early in both halves, I don`t know if we were asleep or what but Spurs scored on both occasions. We had enough of the game that if we had got something out of it I don`t think anyone could have begrudged us, but the bottom line is, if you don`t score the goals then you don`t get the results.

Gabby got jeered by the fans. I do not condone that AT ALL. However, he is not playing well and whether it is arrogance or tiredness, either way he should not be in the team at the mo. Now John Carew is fit again, I believe Emile Heskey should also be dropped to the bench.

Also, and I am very tired of repeating this, we should not play 4-4-2.

Monday, 16th March

Agbonlahor shrugs off the jeers and MON defends him. As I said, he should not be in the team (in my opinion) but I really do not see how booing our own players can have any positive affect. MON also says he still believes we can finish 4th. So did I, prior to Sunday. But I am officially deflated.

The club announce that there is now more availability to buy tickets online, which is pretty handy.

Tuesday 17th March

It is announced that we will be involved in the Peace Cup, which also has Real Madrid and Olof Mellberg`s Juventus in the entrant list, as well as Lyon, Porto, Seville and others.

The reserves beat WHAM! reserves 2-0. Andreas Weimann and Dominik Hofbauer got the goals. Strangely, Wilfred Bouma was not involved.

Wednesday, 18th March

To make Bouma`s absence from the reserves even stranger, MON talks about him 'chomping at the bit` to be involved. I`d have thought playing for the reserves would be good for him. Maybe he plans on chucking him in against Liverpool, who knows.

Thursday, 19th March

Martin O`Neill talks about being pleased with John Carew, and about us going to Anfield without any fear. Coincidentally, John Carew talks about us going to Anfield without any fear, too!

Craig Gardner and (23 year-old) James Milner are called into the England U-21 squad.

So that is about it then; lots of talk about getting back on track. Anfield and Old Trafford await us. Six easy points then… eek!

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