Aston Villa Blog

Aston Villa hopefull of Porto to come to Villa Park!

strihsllabtoof — Fri, 30 May 2008 06:09:06 +0000

F.C Porto are hopefully set to follow in the footsteps of the Italian giants inter Milan and come to Villa Park in a pre season friendly. This is being arranged to reward the home fans of there great support and also thank them for putting in the best home attendances in 25 years.

It will be a welcome taster hopefully for the future as villa look to break in to the top 4.

Come in number 1…

andrewtaylor — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:26:05 +0000

Villa again continue to be linked with a host of goalkeepers after the departure of Thomas Sorenson and the loan deal of Scott Carson coming to an end.

American keeper Brad Guzan who agreed a Â£2m pound deal in January seems to remain a target as does former Villa youth keeper Boaz Myhill, now at Hull City and nearing becoming a Premiership keeper.

Carson is still being linked, however the Gareth Barry to Liverpool transfer saga will not be earning Marin O’Neill any favours from the Anfield club.

The one man not being linked to Villa is Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

The 31 year old Finland international is out of contract this summer and is at an age when it considered goalkeeper’s are reaching their peak. He has played 345 times for Bolton, helping them qualify for Europe under Sam Allardyce.

He would be the one I would like to see at Villa Park with Guzan becoming number 2.

However if Villa want to sign Guzan, they should try to do it soon, as a good goalkeeping display at Wembley next week for USA will increase his stock value ten-fold.

Villa closing in on Sidwell

andrewtaylor — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:16:33 +0000

Aston Villa are thought to be close to completing their first signing of the summer. Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell is said to be prepared to take a 50% wage reduction to move to the Midlands.

Sidwell only joined the Blues last summer from Reading, but has struggled to command a starting place in an already star packed Chelsea midfield.

A fee of around Â£4.5 should net the former Reading star which would still give Chelsea profit on last summer’s Bosman signing.

Further evidence of the transfer escalated tonight as Sidwell was left out of the Chelsea 18 for the Champions League final in Moscow.

Source: Birminghammail.net

Should Gareth Barry stay or go?

strihsllabtoof — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:47:05 +0000

I have been talking to alot of aston villa fans about Gareth Barry and as the seasons over now this is the BIG topiic for all fans and newspapers.

on the STAY side: he has been here since he was 17 years old and we have developed him into the star he is now. when Gareth Barry wanted to play for England who got him it? Aston Villa. did he have to move to a big club?NO!!! So what I’m am saying to you is if Barry wants champions league football Aston Villa can give it to you if you stay. So at least see out your 2 year contract.

on the go side:It’s hard to say as I’m a Villa fan but if you think that you have not got the time to wait then good luck to you Gareth Barry.

Henry to Villa?

andrewtaylor — Sun, 18 May 2008 11:08:55 +0000

The News of the World are reporting that Villa could be lining up an approach for Barcelona forward Thierry Henry.

They also state that he could be joining David Beckham in the MLS.

Source: News of the World

Ashley Young - Player of the month (Apr ‘08)

andrewtaylor — Sun, 11 May 2008 11:31:12 +0000

Ashley Young has been named as the Barclays Premier League player of the month for April.

He is the second recipient of the award for Aston Villa this season after Gabriel Agbonlahor picked up the acolade in November.

Young helped Villa to an impressive10 points out of 12 for April, a run which saw the side net 17 goals.

Young scored twice in the derby victory over Birmingham having netted in the 6-0 win over Derby the week prior.

The manager’s prize went to Avram Grant of Chelsea.

West Ham v’s Aston Villa preview

andrewtaylor — Sun, 11 May 2008 11:26:42 +0000

Villa extend Bouma deal

andrewtaylor — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:48:44 +0000

Aston Villa today took up a year extension on Holland defender Wilfred Bouma’s contract.

The defender has been an ever present this season and has scored one goal, in the 4-1 victory over Newcastle United.

At the end of next season, it is believed Villa will offer Bouma a 2/3 year deal to remain at the club.

Manager Martin O’Neill is quoted as saying:

“We are at least taking up the one-year option and want to extend that by at least another year,” he said.

“We are in discussions and will be having more talks at the end of the season”.

The defender was signed by David O’Leary from PSV Eindhoven in 2005.

Source: Birmingham Mail

Berger out at Villa

andrewtaylor — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:43:13 +0000

Patrick Berger has been told he will now feature again for Aston Villa after his comments regarding Gareth Barry’s future.

Berger was seen to be encouraging Barry to move to Liverpool inÂ the summer.

This did not go down well with boss Martin O’Neill and Berger will now not be included in the 16 to face West Ham on Sunday.

O’Neill and Berger had a previous dispute in December 2006 when Berger refused to play for the Villa reserve side. This led to him moving on loan to Stoke City.

Carew hopefull Barry will stay

andrewtaylor — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:17:21 +0000

Norwegian striker John Carew still believes Gareth Barry has an important role to play in Villa’s future despite his inevitable signing for Liverpool.

Speaking in the Birmingham Mail, the Villa striker added:

“I think Gareth will stay here, hopefully. I haven’t given it that much thought, but Villa is in his heart.

“I haven’t spoken to him. But I feel he will stay and hopefully we can offer him the platform. I just hope he stays.”

It is clear that Barry is a well respected player amongst his team-mates. It will be a real sign of Villa’s ambition whether he stays or not.

A new deal will show his ever growing loyalty to the club and it will give Villa a real buzz ahead of next season.

John Carew was speaking to the Birmingham Mail. Birminghammail.net