The Week In Villa #42 (5/6/09 - 11/6/09)

Friday, 5th June

The silly season is getting into full swing… Ashley Young to Chelsea or Spurs, Olof Mellberg back to Villa, Villa want Spurs players, Spurs want Villa players… There is almost 3 more months of this to endure!

In very important news… I finally renewed my season ticket.

Saturday, 6th June

Right, so now, Spurs are going to give us £8m and David Bentley for Ashley Young. Hahaha!

Emile Heskey scores as England beat Kazakhstan 4-0.

Sunday, 7th June

Today there are lots of rumours that Michael Owen is heading to Villa Park. You know what? I actually think it`s worth the risk, because his goal per game ratio is superb. Even at the joke that is the Barcodes, he managed 29 in 71. Not bad at all, that; especially when you consider the supply and lack of form.

We are also linked with Alan Hutton who plays for….. yep, Spurs!

In non-transfer news, Stilyian Petrov says he would be honoured to be Villa captain. Out of the current squad, he would be my pick.

Monday, 8th June

It`s my Dad`s birthday. Happy birthday Dad!

During the day, there are lots of further rumours about Owen, including Heskey saying he would welcome Owen… but then MON denies it. He doesn`t actually say we are not interested, just that we have not offered him a contract.

Talking of players we are not signing, Sky Sports News say we are no longer interested in Anderlecht`s Roland Juhasz. Who knew we were, really? Strange.

Craig Gardner scores for the England U-21's in a 7-0 hammering of Azerbaijan.

Tuesday, 9th June

Luke Young says that we will take the European adventure more seriously next season. One can only hope, hey.

The media over in France say that we have made an £8m bid for Marseille`s Benoit Cheyrou, with the idea that he`ll replace Barry. No-one else does, so we`ll assume they are lying…

Speaking of replacing Barry, Craig Gardner says he would be delighted to be given an opportunity to do just that. I am not sure he`s up to that, but on the flip side I am a fan of his and very much see a place for him in the squad. To be honest, just like every other central midfield player we have at the club, I would be more confident if he was to play in a 3-man central midfield than I would be if he was to play in a 2-man central midfield.

Speaking of replacing Bar… no, I just did that, where am I… Ah, right. Speaking of players staying, John Carew says he will be. GOOD!

Wednesday, 10th June

We`re linked with Damien Duff. I am in the minority here, but I think, as long as it was all for a relatively low fee and wage, he would not be a bad squad player. I know most of you disagree, but I stand by it!

We are also linked with Silvain Distin. Again, I would not see this as a bad squad player signing. It would also stop him having all his best games against us! I mean, remember that brilliant solo goal he scored against us? What the hell was that?!

Curtis Davies says he is holding on to his England dream. He is a decent enough defender. But he is woeful on the ball and makes silly mistakes. Thankfully, that can be worked on. If I was the coaching staff, I`d be having him on the training ground after sessions just using old school methods like throwing a tennis ball at him while he wears slippers until he learns how to control the blooming thing! He has the basics there though, so maybe one day he will fulfill his potential.

Ashley Young comes on as a half-time sub in England's 6-0 win over Andorra.

The squad is announced for the Midland Masters. We have 9 players. We have a goalkeeper that never played for us and we don`t really have a striker other than David Norton. But the other 7 were decent enough, and were defenders or midfielders. I worry we wont score enough goals, but as always it should be good entertainment.

Thursday, 11th June

Plenty of sources suggest Marlon Harewood is off to 'Boro. Most of them also suggest we are after Tuncay and/or David Wheater. Given the choice, I would rather go for Tuncay, as he offers us something a little different to what we already have.

Zat Knight is linked with a move to Blues. I can not see that one myself!

That is about it folks. I`m sure the next few 'Week in Villa` editions will be pretty short and sweet, but hopefully some incoming players will be confirmed sooner rather than later!

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