The Villa Times - 10/09/2009

Unoial Villa News...

Got any spare change guv'nor? Vital Villa Acorns 450 challenge update: *Vital Acorns 450 Challenge Update*

Carling Cup info v Cardiff City: Season Card holders who attended the Europa League Play-off at home to SK Rapid Vienna will receive a ticket for the Cardiff City fixture FREE OF CHARGE by way of thanks for your loyal support. (nb, you'll receive a paper ticket, not have your season ticket card activated for the game)

Non-Season card holders who attended the Europa League Play-off at home to SK Rapid Vienna will receive a ticket for a Premier League Category B or Villa Value fixture of their choice in certain areas of the ground only.

Oooh Ahhh Paul McGrath backs Richard Dunne to do a great job for Villa: Could We Have A New God?

Ticket info update for Carling Cup and Premiership games: Click Here

Mike Field: After earlier reports implying that Luke Young may make a return in the Blues derby this weekend, Martin O'Neill has said the match will probably come too soon for the player. Speaking to SSN O'Neill confirmed that Luke is too far from match fitness, and it's a distance that won't be covered between now and kick off. Luke Young Won't Be Rushed

Emile Heskey is looking for his feet. Seriously guys, practical jokes are all well and good but this is taking it too far, if anyone knows where he has left them, PLEASE return them: Heskey Determined To Find His Feet

Plenty of coverage of England 5-1 Croatia over on Vital England: www.england.vitalfootball.co.uk

Carlos Cuellar is backing Birmingham's bid to be a host city for the 2018 World Cup. Carlos Backs The Brummie Bid... Do You?!

Mike Field: Gabby Agbonlahor would prefer nothing more than to grab this winner in this weekend's clash against the Blues. Speaking on the official site, Gabby took a trip down memory lane to our 5-1 of our lowly neighbours, but yet he prefers the more subtle 2-1 victory at the Sty. Why? I hear you cry. Well it's quite simple really, although Gab found the net in the 5-1 smasher, he much preferred grabbing what became the winning goal in the dying minutes of the 2-1 win. Full article: Gabby Wants Another Derby Victory

Martin O'Neill says Richard Dunne is man enough to take the Number 5 shirt vacated by Martin Laursen and obviously also having been used by Paul McGrath. He said: 'For the most part now, with numbers going up to about 99, there's less consideration given to what shirt you hand out or its significance. But I accept that with Richard being given number five, people have vivid memories of quality centre-halves playing for Villa.' Full quotes: www.avfc.co.uk

Fieldy: Ian Taylor has admitted that one of his biggest Villa career regrets is not being able to take part in a full blown derby match. Speaking on the official site, Taylor was positively beaming about having Blues back in the Premiership after their unfortunate relegation (he, he) but he did stop short of saying 'nice and easy 6 points', obviously he doesn't want to omen us.
'It's a massive weekend for the City. It's great to have the derby back as I want these games to be a permanent part of the fixture calendar every season.' Full article: Taylor Envious Of Derby Debutants

Fieldy: Martin O'Neill has no problems throwing both James Collins and Richard Dunne into the derby match this weekend if needed, believing both players are more than equipped to deal with it. With Curtis Davies now 'out' for a period of months Monny will have to call on at least one of the new signings as it's highly unlikely we'll see Ciaran Clark in the starting line up again. Full article: Collins and Dunne For Debut?

The official site have confirmed that Curtis Davies has now undergone surgery for his injured shoulder. Davies Undergoes Surgery

The official site now has a blog by ..... for anyone who is interested Paul Brown and Dan Harrison keep you up-to-date with what's going on behind the scenes at Villa Park and Bodymoor Heath: www.avfc.co.uk

Mike Field: Carlos Cuellar has given the big thumbs up to new signings Richard Dunne and James Collins, and is full of praise for newbie Ciaran Clark. I was going to try for a alliterative title but being thick I ran out of ideas after stringing the words Cuellar Chats Competition Clark. Doesn't really have a ring to it does it sadly, although it does sound like me first thing in the morning - not that I wake up thinking about Carlos Cuellar or Ciaran Clark I must add. Chatting to Mr Harrison (not George) on the official site the Spaniard said he welcomed the additions of Dunne and Collins as it would help keep him and Davies on their toes if they wanted to keep the first team jerseys. He also said the experience the new signings bring would be wonderful for the youngsters coming though, not least Clark who is already knocking on the managers door for appearances. 'I think it's very important for the club because to stay at the top you have to have a big squad.' Full article: Cuellar On Competition and Ciaran Clark

An interview with Foxxy from Vital Blues ahead of the derby game this weekend: An Interview With A Blues Fan

Viz thought for the day: What is it with diabetics? One minute they're on the floor with a loved one standing by screaming 'Give him some chocolate! Give him some chocolate!' The next day someone offers them a piece of chocolate and quick as a flash they say 'No thanks, I'm diabetic.' I wish they'd get their story straight.

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