The Villa Times - 11/08/2009

Unoial Villa News...

Ashley Young is set to play for England as Liverpool's Steve Gerrard has had to withdraw due to a groin injury. Capello says Young's first start (it will be his 6th cap) will be a 'good test' for him.

Villa squad numbers for the new season. No number 5 or 13... hmmm? Has my chance finally come?! Aston Villa Team Players Squad Numbers

Villa promo: Villa's cracking new home kit is out to buy this week. The claret and blue classic, which made a winning debut at the Peace Cup, will hit the Villa Store at Villa Park in a special midnight opening tomorrow (Wednesday). And then, supporters will get the chance to have their photograph taken with the Peace Cup trophy when it goes on display on Thursday and Friday. In another cracking incentive, if you download this voucher and bring it with you to the Villa Stores at either Villa Park or New Street, you can claim 20 per cent of all non-Nike products too*. *This discount is not in conjunction with any other offer including season ticket discount. www.avfc.co.uk

Villa v Wigan and Blues v Villa ticket news: Click Here

A great Premiership preview looking at all the teams and Dan Jones predictions for all teams this coming season. Exhaustive and I'm sure to write it exhausting.. Full preview: **Premiership Season 2009/10 Preview** Pt1 (Link to part two within the article)

Our latest poll, in an update from when the question was asked in June, asks, 'as things stand, where will Villa finish?' Seems the opinions in the article comments differ greatly! Link: As Things Stand Now - Where Will Villa Finish?

Mike Field: Heskey Ordered To Attack The Near Post. It's not as exciting as you'd first imagine to be fair, he's not going to be running onto the pitch with a broadsword or a stick of dynamite, he's simply been told by Monny to get into the little area near the near post more often to grab a few extra goals. See, told you it wasn't very exciting. Full article: Heskey Ordered To Attack The Near Post

Player injury update on the official site, not a great deal of new news on that front, MON is hoping Petrov will be fit for Wigan and Luke Young has been able to resume training again today: www.avfc.co.uk

Lunch with a lord? Villa promo: ://www.avfc.co.uk

Well, the Birmingham Post say that sources at Villa yesterday insisted Tuncay had not been the focus of the visit {to see Middlesbrough v Sheffield United}, O’Neill was simply at the game as a spectator. Not sure if that means 100% we aren't after him but I guess if we wanted him, we'd have got him by now as he is obviously for sale and so why not bid when we brought in Stuart Downing? Full article and poll results for the 'what sort of signing would Tuncay make?' question: Villa Distance Themselves From Tuncay + Press Talk

General Krulak summary of recent questions and feedback: The General Krulak Feedback Update

Mike Field: Well it sounds like it when you listen to Monny's latest speech. Speaking on the official site Monny said that between those players who can make the step up and those that he has identified to come in from other clubs should make us a 'a better footballing side' and more resilient to deal with whatever a season may throw at us. He also talks about having to 'adjust' to the combined losses of Gareth Barry and Martin Laursen, going a stage further with our former concrete heading captain and pointing out what most of us had already realised. Full article: MON, More Signings To Come

Thought for the day: I married a Miss Right....I just didn't know her first name was Always...! Bonus thought! I was stealing things in the supermarket today while balanced on the shoulders of a couple of vampires. I was charged with shoplifting on two counts.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.