The Villa Times - 08/04/2010

Unoial Villa News...

This is a shame to read. There are still tickets available for Villa v Chelsea at Wembley this weekend. Details: Villa Wembley FA Cup Semi Tickets STILL AVAILABLE

Couple of snippets today, one on Nigel Reo-Coker who 'might' sit out his contract and another on a Cardiff City right-back transfer link: Aston Villa Press Transfer Talk

A chance to sit in on the official team group when we stage our annual photo-call at the start of next season. Details: Get In Villa Squad Photo Next Season!

Fieldy: Martin Laursen says Villa couldn't have found a better Captain than Petrov following his injury and unfortunate retirement from the game. Full quotes: Laursen Hails Skipper Petrov

Fieldy: Martin Laursen - twice in one day, we must be lucky - has said the defeat to Chelsea a few short weeks ago will ensure we are on top of our game this weekend. Speaking on the Official Site for the second time today, our former Captain stated that the players will use the shock defeat as the perfect motivation as we head into the weekend, and they will most certainly be out for revenge and the perfect way of doing that will be to book ourselves convincingly into the Final. Full quotes: Laursen Believes Chelsea Thumping Will Spur Us On

Fieldy: Villa's potential Reserve Premier South title confirming match against Fulham has been moved. Blimey that's a mouthful. Right, as those who follow the second string will know, we are going for consecutive reserve league titles again this season and well to be blunt, they've been doing jolly well. Full ramble, sorry meant article! Strange Reserve Fixture Change

Villa are set to assess the fitness of Richard Dunne ahead of our FA Cup Semi clash with Chelsea after he had to withdraw from training with his achilles problem again. Quoted on ITN news O'Neill confirmed the centre half had to sit it out but was optimistic that the big Irishman would be fit for the weekend regardless. Full article: Dunne Ducks From Training

Fieldy: Ashley Young has warned Chelsea and John Terry that they will need to play until the final whistle this weekend by insisting Villa will do the same. Following the media uproar (they finally caught on) after John Terry commented following our 7-1 thrashing that they knew we'd tire towards the end of the game, Ash has pointed to matches like Wolves where 'we scored late on' and uses that as proof that there isn't a fitness issue at the club, and that we in fact can play for the 90 minutes with full commitment. Full article: Ash Challenges Terry

Fieldy: Nathan Delfouneso is dreaming that Martin O'Neill will give him some pitch time this weekend as we take on Chelsea in the FA Cup Semi. Speaking on the Official Site with only a few days to go until we wreck revenge on Chelsea after our last encounter, Delboy is again trying to subliminally convince Monny to bring him onto the pitch and not Carew/Heskey on 70 minutes depending only on who happened to start. Quotes: Delboy Dreaming Of A Wembley Appearance

Vote for James Milner for most improved player of the season in the PL: Click Here

Thorpyuk on the battle for 4th between Villa, Spurs, Liverpool and Manchester City. Full article: Villa's Battle For 4th - Update 6

FA Cup semi final screenings at Villa Park: Click Here

Villa reserves 1-1 Arsenal Reserves stats: Click Here

By Paul Brown.. Paul Merson still looks back at the last time Villa faced Chelsea at Wembley with deep disappointment at the team's negative tactics - but believes the current side will be going all-out for the win this time around. Full article: www.avfc.co.uk

Vital Villa member and all round good chap revdpete... yeah, a real reverend to keep me in check! - has a little prayer for us on our road to Wembley progress this weekend: A Villa Prayer - Our Father who are at Wembley!

Promised I'd highlight this (not from me) All, I just wanted to point you in the direction of an ebay auction I have set up to sell a signed Villa shirt. I'm running the London Marathon on the 25th April and as a way of raising some funds I'm selling this shirt. It's got a compliments slip signed by John Robertson to authenticate it. My Granddad used to work at Forest when John was there and he kindly donated it to me to sell. I myself am a Forest fan, but have had an affection for Villa since O'Neill and Robertson took over. I wish you guys could get that 4th spot!!! Anyway please take a look and make bid - the link is http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ Thanks for your time - good luck for the rest of the season. Chris

Thought for the day: A man walked into an Irish blacksmith's workshop and asked, 'Have you ever shooed a horse' The smith replied, 'No but I once told a donkey to bugger off'

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