One signed, a new target and injuries begin to stack up

January 7, 2009 by Martin Banks
Filed under: Aston Villa, Injury News, Transfer News 

01What are the goings on at Villa Park on the day the footballing world was informed that Randy Lerner is the 15th richest football club owner in England (2 of the top ten own QPR) and that Jermain Defoe returned to Tottenham, making it his second stint at Spurs, his second stint under Redknapp and costing them increased wages and £6m difference in transfer fees, just one year after selling him for £9m.

First the bad news; Gareth Barry has a groin strain which may keep him out of the Baggies game and beyond. It kept him out at the weekend and Villa are currently awaiting the results of scans to reveal the extent of the damage. Groin strains can be a real bitch, I pulled mine four years ago and its never healed, but then I doubt Bazza will be using the NHS’s Russells Hall Hospital up Dudley to sort his!

Luke Young also has a question mark over his head after missing the FA Cup game with a minor hamstring problem. Whilst not as instrumental as Barry, Young has started to put in some good performances for us and with Cuellar, Laursen and Bouma all out too, its not good news at the back.

On to the good news (if it’s true), Arsenio Halfuid has been reported by Sky Sports to have signed with us and is joining up with the youth academy initially. The official Villa site has yet to confirm it so keep checking there today before getting too over excited. He is a young Dutch defender who at just 17 is already causing a stir. Whether he lives up to his potential is naturally yet to be seen, but why not take a chance? It turned out worth the risk with Ashley Young.

Also on the incoming, we are reported to be tabling a bid for Roberto Canella, in the region of £10m. Canella is an exciting 20 years young Spanish left back, so if its a true rumour we can probably see Nicky Shorey leave the club this month, after failing to settle in the team. Bouma will be back in a few weeks and Luke Young is getting the position most the time anyway. It would seem more necessary for MON to seek out a right back or, even more so, a striker.

Finally, Marlon Harewood will surely be leaving in the next week or two, with Middlesbrough now joining the long list of interested teams.


Comments

2 Comments on One signed, a new target and injuries begin to stack up

  1. Scolari a Sack Favorite, Beckham Tops Footballers’ Rich List, An Apology to Tottenham, and more on Wed, 7th Jan 2009 20:13

    2. [...] Villa missed out on Defoe, but they have apparently signed a young Dutch defender named Arsenio Halfuid. I wonder if his parents were big Arsenio Hall [...]

  2. Kutch Craft » Blog Archive » Scolari a Sack Favorite, Beckham Tops Footballers’ Rich List, An Apology to Tottenham, and more on Thu, 8th Jan 2009 8:49

    3. [...] Villa missed out on Defoe, but they have apparently signed a young Dutch defender named Arsenio Halfuid. I wonder if his parents were big Arsenio Hall [...]

Tell me what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!