Seven Days of Villa (1)

Monday, 28th December

The talk today starts off reflecting on yesterday`s defeat (damn that Fabregas) and ends up focussing on tomorrow`s game with Liverpool. Ashley Young`s stupid dive the previous day lead to his fifth booking and therefore a suspension for what is essentially our biggest game of the season to date.

Tuesday, 29th December

Villa 0-1 Liverpool. Well, we didn`t deserve that. Don`t get me wrong, we weren`t great. But if anyone deserved to win the game it was us so we definitely didn`t deserve to lose that. The current Liverpool team is the worst I have seen in over 20 years of watching football but in Torres and Gerrard they have two players that would get in absolutely any team in the world, and unfortunately their chance at the death fell to one of them. Still, no time to get down on the last three days, we must get on with it and respond both well and quickly.

Wednesday, 30th December

Craig Gardner is linked with a move out of the club while we are linked with a move for West Brom duo Graham Dorrans and Paul Downing.

Thursday, 31st December

The last day of the decade sees little to discuss, other than the fact that Nicky Shorey extends his loan deal at Nottingham Forest until January 26th and Isaiah Osborne extends his deal at Middlesborough until February 5th. In terms of transfer talk, we are linked to Scott Parker. What a pointless link, as that would be an absolutely pointless signing!

Friday, 1st January

Happy new year! In fact, happy new decade!

Only real newsworthy notes today are that James Milner is a doubt for tomorrow and Emile Heskey is linked with a move to Chelsea and John Carew with a move to Liverpool, both of which MON says he is unconcerned over. He also understandably defends Ashley Young`s diving; of course we all know the truth, but hey.

Saturday, 2nd January

Villa 3-1 Blackburn. It was a pretty easy day, although we do like to make it harder for ourselves than it should be. Delph impressed in the first half, as did Delfouneso. NRC deservedly got the man of the match plaudits, and Brad Guzan made yet another penalty save, this time from David Dunn. So it was a good day, really. I have to say that I understand the crowd getting frustrated but the way they got on the players backs a bit was a tad OTT; there is nothing wrong with just playing a bit of keep-ball to take the sting out of the game against ten men. But we`re through, and that`s all that matters.

Sunday, 3rd January

There are quotes today suggesting that MON actually IS looking to add to the squad this month, despite reports to the contrary in recent days. We are drawn home to Brighton in the FA Cup; I`ll take that.

See you next week. Up the Villa!

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