The Week In Villa #49 (24/7/09 - 30/7/09)

Friday, 21st July

Apparently, we`re 'rocked` by news that Stewart Downing may be out until December. Psst, you stupid cockney journaliarists (sic), we already knew!

The new kit comes out. It`s, er, very similar to the old one… Not that I really mind. Our kit is how it is & shouldn`t be messed with too much.

Saturday, 22nd July

Our first Peace Cup match is not great. An alarming lack of creativity, we certainly went down without much of a fight. It was relatively understandable though due to some of the first-teamers having only just returned to training. Their goal came from mistakes from Eric Lichaj and Brad Friedel. The former didn`t do anything else wrong though and didn`t look out of place (Anyone who has read anything by me will know that I have been shouting about Albrighton and Bannan for a while, and after that Lichaj has been my other tip for being ready to get involved for us next season). To make matters worse, fans proverbial punching-bag Emile Heskey went off in the first few minutes with a concussion. So, a disappointing opener but due to the group stage format we have a chance to rectify things if Malaga lose their other match.

Oh and Zat Knight leaves for Bolton. Another man down then. EEK!

Sunday, 23rd July

As we had a game yesterday, the hacks seem less inclined to talk about our potential transfer targets, although the same old names do get mentioned. We also find out that Heskey is feeling better.

Monday, 24th July

Something a wee bit bizarre happened earlier. Darren Bent was pulled off a flight due to take Spurs to China. He this happened, the SSN news reel at the bottom claimed that happened as we were linked with him. Yet all they talked about was him going to Sunderland. So what happened there then?

Anyway, I`m looking at the news for today and other than MON saying positive things about transfers, the only real news of note is that Atlante beat Malaga 3-1, meaning that if we beat them by two goals on Wednesday, we are through to the semi-final.

In other news, there is worldwide panic as Vital Football goes down. Good Samaritans, emergency service workers, religious figures and pub landlords everywhere say they have never been so busy.

Tuesday, 25th July

MON says that Citeh should be potential favourites to win the league next season. MON lovers will say it`s a psychological tactic ala Sir Alex, MON`s haters will say he`s a bumbling idiot who has already admitted defeat. Those of us that stay somewhere in the middle (not fence sitting, just believing there is more to the situation than the argument that he is brilliant or he is rubbish) will just take it all with a pinch of salt and move on!

Lots of sources claim that we are in for Darren Bent. A few also claim that we after Robbie Keane.

The youngsters (an 'Aston Villa XI`) beat Barwell 3-0 with goals from James Collins, Daniel Bradley and Adam McGurk.

Wednesday, 26th July

We are through to the semi-finals of the Peace Cup after a 3-1 win over Atlante. Curtis Davies (who we saw the worst of this evening in my opinion) scored an own-goal, but then the fight-back was on! Marc Albrighton stuck the first one away well, as did John Carew with the second following a comical defensive mix-up. The third saw Sidwell put Albrighton away down the right before he put in a fantastic cross that was stuck away by Ashley Young via a diving header of sorts to provide a nice finish to a very good piece of play.

Unfortunately, the night had its down sides. Stilyian Petrov dislocated his shoulder early on and MON was sent-off for having a word in the shell-like of a Mexican that was doing the dying fly!

As I`m updating this, Porto have dumped Lyon out and consequently are our opposition for the semi-final.

Earlier in the day, the Bent and Keane rumours maintained their presence on the World Wide Web.

Thursday, 27th July

And they do again today, along with the daily Distin rumours. Matthew Upson seems to have joined the list today. Ah lets go get all of 'em, we need a few!

In other news, Petrov is sent home for a scan, and Nathan Delfouneso scored twice for England U-19`s as they beat France 3-1 in the semi-final of the Euro Championships, meaning they (well, we!) face Ukraine on Sunday. Oh and France finished the game with eight men! Ha!

Okay so no new signings but not we progressed in the Peace Cup and MON seems to think there`ll be movement soon so lets hope he`s right, eh? See you next week… up the Villa!

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