Aston Villa Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

spiderdan

What are peoples opinions on signing Heskey?? Reports suggest MON will have 18m to buy a striker in Jan. I just cant see him being what we need atm, it seems more and more likely to happen- I really cant see Liverpool signing him. It wouldn't fill me full of optimism.

We're also linked with Valencia who with his pace would be a good player to have but isn't he a winger?? Not really what we need. The other possible three will be Doyle, Santa C, and M Owen. With Doyle and Owen the two most realistic, although I cant see Reading selling Doyle when they're 3rd in the Championship. Any other ideas? Zaki perhaps?

shoutman

I wouldn't mind signing heskey, once its not for more then 3 or four million, I have no proplem with signing more then one striker.

Doodee

but his stats are terrible.

IIRC he scored 12 times in 80 games or something.

Not exactly what the team needs right now.

I think we should petition to get Podolski. He could be the new Klinsmann

Savman

Hmm....I don't see what Heskey can add now other than a bit off hard work and off the ball grafting. We already have a few of those. If we do get a striker in, I think we'll begin to see the best of Agbonlahor when he's not getting double marked in a lone striker role :rolleyes:

If I'm honest, I've no idea who Villa need now and who's even remotely available. Santa Cruz would be nice, but you know Ince will fight to keep him because selling him effectively condems Blackburn's fate.

We have Petrov in Centre Mid who gives that bit of class we were always lacking, Barry when he feels like playing well and lately Sidwell who I think will be a great box-to-box player for us when he gets the own goal/costly error demons out of his head.

invincibleirish

I think its easy to see how Heskey could work well with Gabby, his contract is up so at most he'll cost is a few million, also if MON picked up Valencia and/or Zaki i'd be delighted, cant see that happening though.

The Fonz looks like he is definitely getting game time tomorrow night:

http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_4583975,00.html

Heskey/Carew are perfect role models (on the pitch anyway) for Nathan to learn his trade in the next few years.

Helix

heskey is a mule, a useless good for nothing mule

spiderdan

While I don't fancy seeing Heskey in a Villa shirt simply coz he hates scoring goals, he's defo not a mule- Capello doesn't think so. He's one of the main reasons behind England's recent good form, and Zaki's good form is down to him too. Don't think Gabby would benefit from him plus he's far to similar to Carew

shoutman

Difference between Heskey and Carew is that Heskey is a work horse, Heskey is like a better, slightly bigger, version of the Hare.

Obviously I would prefere someone better at scoring goals, but I'd prefere Heskey to no one.

Bounty Hunter

Aston Villa are set to unleash their latest academy prospect in striker Nathan Delfouneso, with manager Martin O'Neill convinced he has the talent to make a major impact.

The likes of frontmen Darius Vassell - now with Manchester City - and Gabriel Agbonlahor have come through the ranks at Bodymoor Heath and both have gone on to play for England.

Now 17-year-old forward Delfouneso, who is still eligible for the Villa youth team, is set to play a key role in Thursday's UEFA Cup tie against Zilina at Villa Park.

The absence of the injured John Carew and the likelihood of Agbonlahor being rested have opened the door for Delfouneso, who could partner Marlon Harewood with Villa needing a point to guarantee their place in the last 32 in the new year.

O'Neill said: "It will be exciting for us to see Nathan in action. I want to see what he is capable of doing.

"He has got an awful lot of natural ability. Obviously, the last thing you want to do is go and build someone up for the sake of it.

"But there is a lot of excitement about him and the way he plays. He is a genuine threat.

"He can go past players and is getting stronger and even in the last year I have seen a big difference in him.

"He already trains with the first team for 85% of the time so I don't think he will be overawed on Thursday.

"But, even if he doesn't get a kick in this game, I've got a lot of confidence in him for the future."

O'Neill is set to make several changes from the side which has challenged for a place in the top four of the Barclays Premier League in the opening third of the season.

In addition to Delfouneso, the likes of keeper Brad Guzan, Harewood and Moustapha Salifou are poised to start against the Slovakian side.

But O'Neill is still determined that his team make sure of finishing in the top two of their group and thus guarantee the second leg will be staged at Villa Park when the competition reverts to a knockout basis.

He said: "There is a big incentive to make sure we come in that top two. It is in our own hands.

"We need a point and the top two positions are worth pursuing.

"But, if you had said when we started out in July in the Intertoto Cup that we would now be on the verge of making the last 32, then we would have taken it.

"I will be making changes, but then the players who came into the side when we won away to Slavia Prague a few weeks ago did brilliantly for us."

O'Neill is hoping Carew will be back in action sooner rather than later following his back problem after seeing a specialist on Monday.

The Norway international is set to undertake a course of specialist treatment in the hope of curing the problem, which flared up after the single-goal win in Prague.

The former Lyon player has started only two of Villa's last nine games, although he is still joint leading scorer this season with seven goals.

O'Neill said: "John saw a specialist on Monday and the course of action we are taking is a treatment thing plus a bit of rest and then we will see how he is in a couple of weeks' time.

"We are hoping he won't need surgery. It is always a possibility if things don't work out but, at the moment, we think the course of action we are taking is the right thing to do.

"I am not sure exactly how long he will be out, but it is not one of those situations where we are going to be rushed into doing something."

Full-back Nicky Shorey had been set to return to the side after being axed for the previous three games, but he is suffering from a bout of flu and was sent home on Wednesday

invincibleirish

Helix wrote: »

heskey is a mule, a useless good for nothing mule

But thats the point: Heskey does the donkey work, and thoroughbred Agbonlahor scores the goals. If that doesnt work bring on the Stallion Carew?

Bounty Hunter

Bounty Hunter wrote: »

we didnt need 5 midfielders but they are our best 11 available atm and the Hare and The Fonz are not good enough IMO and seemingly in MON's oppinion atm.

Prove me wrong lads:pac:

Helix

invincibleirish wrote: »

But thats the point: Heskey does the donkey work, and thoroughbred Agbonlahor scores the goals. If that doesnt work bring on the Stallion Carew?

we dont need someone to do donkey work, we need someone to score goals

Helix

Bounty Hunter wrote: »

we didnt need 5 midfielders but they are our best 11 available atm and the Hare and The Fonz are not good enough IMO and seemingly in MON's oppinion atm.

the fonz is, the hare isnt

mons just taking it exceptionally cautiously with delfouneso, a bit more cautiously than id like anyway, but hes definitely gonna feature a fair bit in the second half of the season. hes got potential very very very good for the record (if hes let play his own game, which he mightnt be), far more potential than gabby

shoutman

What makes you so certain that Fonz is ready for premiership football?

Bounty Hunter

The heskey rumour/link which seems so constant atm that some people seem to think its a forgone conclusion really does not make sense to me.

Why would Heskey want to Join Villa?

Sounds like a stupid question but if Emile wants to keep his England place where he as you put it does Capellos donkeywork for Rooney then surely he would need guaranteed first team football, and IMO having to fight for his place against Carew wouldent fit the bill for the man currently plying his trade for wigan. The former Lyon player has started only two of Villa's last nine games, although he is still joint leading scorer this season with seven goals.

Heskey IMO will just see out his contract while seing if Wigan survive if not he moves to someone at wigans level, if so he will sign a big new contract that he will negotiate by suggesting other teams in the prem wanna sign him.

Bounty Hunter

Helix wrote: »

the fonz is, the hare isnt

mons just taking it exceptionally cautiously with delfouneso, a bit more cautiously than id like anyway, but hes definitely gonna feature a fair bit in the second half of the season. hes got potential very very very good for the record (if hes let play his own game, which he mightnt be), far more potential than gabby

I was actually asking The Fonz and the Hare to prove me wrong but whatever. Harewood to start and The Fonz to def play a part vs Ziilna from the most recent MON quotes ive sseen.

spiderdan

its great to see him get a chance, he'll be 18 in Feb, over 6 ft tall don't think getting a run out in the premiership will be too much for him, he's plenty of players around who have been in similar positions, Gabby, Milner. I guess we'll just wait n see

spiderdan

another young player I'd like to see get a chance is Zoltan Stieber, anyone any info on his progress, I've heard he's a great prospect

Helix

shoutman wrote: »

What makes you so certain that Fonz is ready for premiership football?

i didnt say he was ready, i said i thought he should be used a bit more, and that hes got huge potential. he needs to start getting minutes under his belt, even 5 minutes in the odd league game if thats what it takes to start integrating him. he'll never be ready until he gets that

invincibleirish

THE GUARDIAN wrote: »

Martin O'Neill is expected to step up his attempts to sign Emile Heskey next month, after it emerged that John Carew may require surgery on a troublesome back problem. The Aston Villa manager has been keen to strengthen his attacking options for some time and the prospect of being without Carew for an extended period, together with Wigan's willingness to consider offers for Heskey, has propelled the England international to the top of O'Neill's January wishlist.

Kevin Doyle has also been on O'Neill's radar but, with the Republic of Ireland international recently signing a new contract and keen to help Reading win promotion, Heskey represents a more viable option. Villa will face considerable competition for the 30-year-old, who has resurrected his England career since leaving Birmingham City two years ago, but O'Neill's relationship with Heskey - he provided the forward with the opportunity to break through during his time in charge at Leicester - could be crucial.

The Villa manager, who is notoriously reticent in discussing transfer targets, would not confirm or deny his interest in signing Heskey at a press conference ahead of tonight's Uefa Cup tie against MSK Zilina, although he did claim that the player's contractual situation means that Wigan will be powerless when it comes to deciding his future. "I would think generally that a player who has got six months left on a contract is in the driving seat. It's as simple as that," said O'Neill.

"We've got a couple of people, Gareth [Barry] and Stilian Petrov, who have 18 months left to run on their contracts - that's why people are maybe looking to see what we will do [with them]. But anybody with six months left to run, it really wouldn't matter what the club say. You can't force anything. I understand what Dave Whelan [the Wigan chairman] is saying. No one wants a quality player to run his course if you can avoid it. [But] are we looking to strengthen our side? Absolutely."

With Carew sidelined and Marlon Harewood - who will make a rare start tonight as O'Neill uses Villa's commanding position at the top of Group F to rotate - regarded as a squad player, signing a proven striker is a priority. Carew visited a specialist on Monday to assess his back problem and it is unclear when he will return.

"We're giving him treatment and a bit of rest and we'll see how he is in a couple of weeks' time," added O'Neill. "We're hoping that he won't need surgery - it's always a possibility if things don't materialise - but at this minute we feel this course of action is the right thing to do

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/dec/04/astonvilla-premierleague

Nevermind Heskey, Stan has 18 months left on his contract as does enfant terrible Gareth Barry, if MON convinces GB to sign a new contract i shall truly be gobsmacked.

JPA

VILLA: Guzan; Reo-Coker, Cuellar, Knight, L Young; Gardner, Salifou, Osbourne, A Young, Delfouneso, Harewood. Subs: Friedel, Laursen, Barry, Milner, Agbonlahor, Petrov, Clark.

MSK Zilina: Pernis, Pecalka, Vornacka, Strba, Leitner, Adauto, Pekarik, Jez, Styvar, Piacek, Sourek. Subs: Seman, Tesak, Karoglan, Rilke, Belak, Poliacek, Vladavic.


Delfouneso gets his chance and I have no idea what to expect.

So are Zilina any good? Any dangermen in the team?

spiderdan

any links for streaming?

redout

spiderdan wrote: »

any links for streaming?

http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=25400&part=sports

spiderdan

nice one, working on

http://sportsonlaptops.blogspot.com/

too-

0-2 WTF!!

spiderdan

Go on the Fonz!!

Villain

match thread: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055434091

shoutman

YAHOO! Knock out stages of the UEFA cup, this is what dreams are made of lads.

JPA

That result was ****.

[insert overreaction]

One Cold Hand

Pretty shit result, but at least we're through.

mayordenis

I reckon MON won't be too phased by the result, you're through and gave some game time to some player's who needed it.
good night all in all.

artanevilla

Poor defending by Zat Knight, cost us two goals.

One Cold Hand

mayordenis wrote: »

I reckon MON won't be too phased by the result, you're through and gave some game time to some player's who needed it.
good night all in all.

Yeah but I'm sure he wants to qualify as high in the group as possible. Makes for an easier draw in the next round (in theory). Zilina should have been beaten, even by the players we put out.

Savman

Gonna have to watch the highlights whenever they surface on avfc, but all reports I've read would indicate that we may have reached the end of the road for Messrs Knight, Harewood and Osbourne.

Absolutely delira for Nathan.

mayordenis

One Cold Hand wrote: »

Yeah but I'm sure he wants to qualify as high in the group as possible. Makes for an easier draw in the next round (in theory). Zilina should have been beaten, even by the players we put out.

absolutely, but villa full strenght shouldn't really fear anyone in the uefa cup imo.

One Cold Hand

mayordenis wrote: »

absolutely, but villa full strenght shouldn't really fear anyone in the uefa cup imo.

Pfft, AC Milan! Who are they?!?

Ah yeah I know what you mean tho.

One Cold Hand

Very brief highlights here.

Terrible defending for the two goals we gave away. Ridiculous by knight for the first one, seems to duck below the ball for some reason!

On the other hand, cracking goal by the Fonz!

Helix

all things considered, i thought the fonz was ****in great tonight

death1234567

One Cold Hand wrote: »

Pfft, AC Milan! Who are they?!?

Ah yeah I know what you mean tho.

AC are over rated. They're just a bunch of pensioners living off their reputation. They were very lucky to get a 2-2 with Pompey and Villa are waaay better than them.

There are no teams in the UEFA cup that we should fear. Only problem is that it'll be some bunch of jokers from the Artic circle that will end up knocking us out.

wynters

Yeah the Fonz looks sharp alright!...and willing. Some good running out of him! Good attitude.

In other news, Villa fans are offically the most intelligent in the Premiership!

http://fantasy.premierleague.com/M/stats.mc?stat=bestfave

shoutman

Interesting fact,

12 of the 16 goals we have conceded in the league have been conceded in the last fifteen minutes of either half.

Time Magazine

Savman wrote: »

end of the road for Messrs Knight, Harewood and Osbourne.

Zat's shocking; Harewood's crap and Ozzy is never going to keep Barry, Petrov, NRC or Sidwell out of the team.

Absolutely delira for Nathan.

+1

invincibleirish

Bounty Hunter

as posted in the write off thread

What a Difference a few years makes in Football

In January 2006 David O’Leary told the press how he had to send Eirik Bakke, a loanee from then championship side, Leeds United back to them as we couldn’t even afford to keep him. There was problems, big problems at Villa Park.

They completed the season and narrowly avoided relegation with Gareth Barry and James Milner holding the side together even though they also couldn’t afford to hold onto the latter. Fans weren’t happy, the manager wasn’t happy and clearly chairman Doug Ellis wasn’t happy. It was time for him to step aside, the fans knew it, the players knew it, the manager knew it and more importantly, Doug knew it himself. The club was up for sale and Doug Ellis asked Rothschilds to help out to try and find an investor for the club.

Speculation continued over takeover talks and very quickly the same bunch of players were back in training and clearly not pleased with the lack of activity at Villa Park. A player’s statement was released questioning the board’s penny pinching and cost cutting which left “Deadly” Doug Ellis fuming. The chairman set up a four man panel to investigate recent goings on at Villa Park. this investigation lead to David O’Leary being sacked as Villa manager.

On August 4th 2006, there seemed to be a bit of light at the end of the tunnel for us Villa fans. Martin O’Neill was appointed Villa boss in what was possibly Doug Ellis’ most popular move as Villa chairman ever. Ironically that was his last. Randy Lerner, an American Billionaire agreed to take over the club and this is where the clubs fortunes completely changed.

Randy Lerner, the quiet American, has been an example to other chairmen of how the job should be done since taking the reins. He gives his manager, Martin O’Neil full control of all team affairs and transfers. He has also made huge investment into the club since taking over both on and off the field. An obvious example of which is the big improvements to Villa’s now state of the art Bodymore heath training ground, which now rivals that of any premiership club http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJNrBMwakJI). Mr Lerner has also made sure that Villa unlike many other big premiership clubs is debt free and kept the wage bill at the club under control despite a big influx of new signings.

The 2006-2007 season saw Villa finish 11th, comfortably. They were playing good football and with some very bright prospects for the future, most notably Gabriel Agbonlahor. The following season O’Neill made more improvements to his squad especially in January when John Carew and Ashley young were purchased and Villa finished the season emphatically in 6th place. This position was well deserved and ensured European football returned to Villa Park.

And now looking forward once more to January 09, just over three years on from those dark days, Villa lie a point off 4th place having just beaten Arsenal at The Emirates. They have essentially progresed from their European group, and have a very talented squad that is capable of going far in the next few years. Infact they are the only team that pundits and fans alike see as being able to potentially break the big top four monopoly held by Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal this year, and in doing so earning themselves a champions league birth.
It has been a long road back for former European champions Aston Villa but thus far they have made huge strides towards insuring they are not only the biggest club in England’s second city but one of the biggest in the country. To quote Martin O’Neil “This club won the biggerest prize in European football and its prizes like that we want to be competing for here at Villa Park, and it’s my aim to get the club to that position”

In my honest opinion, Aston Villa are real example of What a difference a few years can make in the fortunes of a premiership club In a positive way in contrast to so many negative ones we here all to often this year. It can give the fans a lot of pride to support such a club when they hear about the Luton’s and Leeds of this world.
__________________

Villain

I'm gonna start a match thread for our big game tomorrow, a result at Everton would be a big boost, A Young is only 50-50 I think.

Bounty Hunter

i know that weve had it all before but i saw this today

News of the World: Aston Villa are poised to sign Henrik Larsson this week. Boss Martin O'Neill met the Swede a few days ago and is scheduled to have further talks over the next 48 hours. The Villa manager expects to complete the deal before Saturday's game against Bolton

JPA

Bounty Hunter wrote: »

i know that weve had it all before but i saw this today

Larsson and Heskey? :mad: Hope not.
If Larsson was a player coach then I suppose it would be ok, with his playing time minimal or just in an emergency.
At the Euros he looked well past it.

Villain

MON Has said rumours about Larrson are total lies

Helix

thanks be to christ

Time Magazine

Our next nine fixtures are:

Bolton (H)
West Ham (A)
Arsenal (H)
Hull (A)
West Brom (H)
Sunderland (A)
Portsmouth (A)
Wigan (H)
Blackburn (A)

Ten-game winning-streak, anyone? :pac:

In all seriousness though, we should be hoping for about 22 points from those 27.

Doodee

anyone know where i might be able to get ticket for the Hamburg game?