Wigan plot retaliation in the transfer market for Heskey swoop – Villa vs Wigan preview
Filed under: Aston Villa, Injury News, Match Previews, Transfer News
Just a few days ago the grapevine claimed that Charles N’Zogbia was in talks with Martin O’Neill, but if he ever was, it seems they didn’t come to any agreement as Wigan now look set to sign him, despite the initial rumours being all Villa or Arsenal not Wigan.
The left winger is known to be a bit of a handful off the pitch and this week it blew out of all proportion when him and his manager had a big-fat-petulant-tiff in public. N’Zogbia didn’t take being called N’Somnia on the chin, instead he threw a great big strop and vowed never to play for Newcastle again whilst Kinnear runs the show.
Wigan now look to be agreeing a deal for the Zog before the transfer window closes, from right under our noses. Most Villa fans will say “They’re welcome to him” and whilst I agree, with Routledge out the door, a spare winger would’ve come in handy (today for instance).
Defence the key
Micah Richards link, transfer talk and injury news
Sky Sports News are today claiming that Villa are looking into a bid for Micah Richards. It’s not on their website yet, but it’s on the Latest News round-up.
Richards stormed onto the scene at a very young age for a defender, getting into the Man City team and then the England team. He then got injured and was out for a while and, since his return, has failed to recapture the form that made him so successful. Whether his lack of good form is caused by the unrest at City or whether he has ‘lost it’ remains to be seen.
MON is reknowned for getting the best out of players and Richards is also a versatile defender who can play full back or centre back, so the deal makes logical sense. The sudden out-of-the-blue-ness of the rumour, however, makes me a little sceptical of there being any actual truth in it.
N’Somnia… Zogbia… Charlie… errr…. you know the guy I mean… Thingymajig
Five points clear of Arsenal and twice as likely to win the league
Villa were yesterday moved to level odds with Arsenal to win the Premier League this season.
Now they have been moved to twice as likely.
Villa’s odds are now 33/1 and Arsenal’s have fell from 40/1 to 66/1, after a Villa victory and a late-scraped draw for the Gunners saw us move 5 points clear of them in the top four. Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at Wigan and Chelsea’s 2-0 home win over Middlesbrough means they are both a solitary point ahead of us, and Man Utd are 3 points ahead with a game in hand.
Whether we can keep the pace till Read more
N’Zogbia spends the evening on O’Neill’s sofa
Newcastle’s French winger Charles N’Zogbia didn’t travel to Manchester to face the moneybags side tonight… and why?
Because he was busy talking contracts with Martin O’Neill.
While his team were losing to City, the Zog was sitting where many wish it had been Michael Owen instead, sipping Lerner’s scotch and agreeing a deal to move to the Mighty Villans. It’s believed he has ambitions to get the seat next to Shorey on the bench.
How do I know this? Because I’m looking through their window right now… no, I’m not really. This is all just speculation and elaboration really. But I have heard a rumour that N’Zogbia is in the Midlands, discussing a move with Villa. Whether it’s true, I’m not totally sure but I’ll keep you informed as soon as I know more.
The mark of Champions
Emile Heskey isn’t reknowned for his goal scoring, so no-one was overly expectant that he’d get his Villa tally going in the first game for us. But he did. And he did it with style.
Villa, yet again, didn’t play like a team who are on a 10 game unbeaten run, but again we got the win. It’s said that to play averagely and keep winning is the mark of champions and it looks like the bookies are taking the idea a little more seriously as they switch us to the same odds to win the league as Arsenal (40-1).
Performance
Last night’s Read more
Match Preview: Portsmouth Vs Aston Villa
A full midweek fixture list is always something to salivate over, it makes it all the sweeter when you fancy your chances in the match and I can’t see anything other than a Villa victory in this one.
Portsmouth have been in quite frankly shocking form of late. They beat Bristol City in the third round of the FA Cup but then went down 2-0 against Swansea at the weekend – and at Fratton Park. Tony Adams has definitely not made Fratton Park the fortress it was under Harry’s leadership and his South-coast side are slipping ever closer to the relegation places. I watched them against Bolton just before Christmas and they were truely woeful that day, Bolton absolutely battered them and if the Wanderers can do it the Villa can probably do it with a lot more style.
Villa vs Portsmouth starting line-up
Quick post with the team for tonight’s game against Pompey. As expected, new boy Emile Heskey is in the starting line-up and we have reverted to the 4-4-2 formation that we were using often before Carew’s injury.
Three changes have been made for this game:
- Luke Young comes back from suspension in a straight swap with Nicky Shorey for the left back spot.
- Emile Heskey replaces Steve Sidwell in the formation change from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2.
- Nigel Reo Coker doesn’t make the team and Craig Gardner fills James Milner’s role and Milner fills Ashley Young’s role on the left side of midfield.
So Barry Read more
£12m of Randy’s money is spent for him as Villa prepare to face Portsmouth
Filed under: Aston Villa, Match Previews, Transfer News
The focus returns tonight to Villa’s main aim, when we take on Portsmouth in the Premier League. Our boys go into the game down at Fratton Park unbeaten in 10 league games and on the back of 5 away wins on the bounce.
We are currently 20 points ahead of Pompey, who are just 3 points off the bottom, despite being 12th, as the bottom half of the table remains closer than ever. Even Hull, who are 9th, are far from clear of the dogfight in this crazy season.
A win is important for us, to maintain the lead we have over Arsenal and Everton, who face each other tomorrrow night at Goodison Park. Every result in that game has it’s benefits to us, in our attempts to stay above them both.
Emile debut
Emile Heskey will almost definitely Read more
Juicy transfer gossip
Considering we spent over 3 weeks to make our first big signing, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Emile Heskey was the extent of Villa’s spending in this transfer window, but would you be right?
The last few days are always a hub of activity and, with over £100m already spent, this is shaping up to be more of the same. With the rumours that are flying around, it seems that Martin O’Neill treats signings like I used to treat my English Literature homework; leave it to the very last minute.
FA Cup fourth round draw
Villa have been drawn out of the hat to face Read more
This football lark is a funny old game
The FA Cup is a very strange beast. It really is a true reflection of what a funny old game football is. Mathematical equations have no place in football, it doesn’t work that way. I remember as a kid asking my dad how it was possible that we beat Everton, Everton beat Man Utd but Man Utd beat us. It didn’t make sense. Where’s the logic in that?
My dad explained it all with the wise words of a great man:
“It’s a funny old game” Jimmy Greaves
-
Categories
-
Archives
-
Links
-
Meta
-
Sponsors
