August 2008 Archives

James Milner has completed his move on a four year contract.

Kevin Keegan says it was his decision alone to sell the 22 year-old- but I'm not so sure.

What a terrific piece of business for Villa and it gives them an incredible boost before Sunday's big game.

Picking Villa's starting eleven last season was simple.

Now I couldn't tell you who will drop out of the midfield- Nigel Reo-Coker, who was given the ignimony of playing at right-back last night when Craig Gardner was excelling in the middle of the pitch- or Stiliyan Petrov?

All of a sudden you start to question where Steve Sidwell will fit in.

Eight summer signings, including Curtis Davies, or seven without. All in the space of about five or six weeks and at a cost of between £35million and £45million, or thereabouts.

Finally Villa have a right winger and a a set of full-backs. I can't remember when they last had such a glut.

Martin O'Neill must feel like he's been handed a golden ticket at Cadbury's and been told to help himself.

Just need that striker now. And I understand things are already in motion with three days and a few hours still to go.

I think the three main centre-backs (Davies, Laursen, Cuellar) will alternate all season with so many domestic cup and European games ahead.

Speaking of Europe, a trip to Bulgaria it is then......Litex Lovech- currently top of the Bulgarian league after winning two and drawing the other of their opening three games.

The ties will take place on September 18- an away trip just three days before the noon kick-off at Albion- and October 2 at Villa Park.

It's a good draw for Villa and should see them nicely through to the four game Group Stages which will keep them busy until mid-December.

Litex has twice been Bulgarian champion and three times the Bulgarian Cup winners and play in a tiny 7,000 seater stadium.

Villa will have to up their game from last night when Moustapha Salifou and Gardner were the only players to really stake a claim for a first team shirt.

Perhaps it was the total lack of alcohol available in the stadium due to UEFA rules. Ouch! Don't get me started on European guidelines. They'll be telling me next that the hot dogs have to be of a certain curvature.

I did manage a pint of cider. In the Holte Hotel no less. The General walked past at one point. Didn't realise he was pushing five foot tall.

Back to the game and wasn't Marlon Harewood atrocious?! What has happened to him infront of goal over the summer?

As for the team it was always going to be a matter of simply making sure they got through into the UEFA CUP first round draw with the performance secondary.

Just ask Manchester City supporters how they are feeling today!

It was pleasing afterwards to see Gareth Barry address the press in the mixed zone. He didn't say anything controversial, but the mere factor of opening his mouth three days before this huge game suggests he wants to let bygones be bygones with Martin O'Neill.

Barry has even been speaking today about the trip to Bulgaria.

So from a totally frustrating summer of little transfer action and a hige cloud hanging over the club with the Liverpool saga, the mood has now lifted immeasurably.

A first home win over Liverpool in ten years on Sunday and despite the defeat in the Potteries all the talk will be on Villa potentially overhauling Benitez' side into the top four.

Steven Gerrard won't be playing- so who knows? I've tipped Villa in today's paper.

Would just be great to see Villa get that striker in. I've given up on Marlon!

By the way, Villa's unnofficlal travel club at Premier Ents have already started taking bookings for a one night trip costing between £270 and £300 from Luton- but be warned, prices are likely to creep up as the games get closer.

Contact them on 01543- 426 426.

SO Gareth Barry is staying for one more season.

Or is he?

Pardon me for being just a little sceptical but when I asked the manager about the issue yesterday morning he revealed no such promises from Barry and seemed to suggest the matter would remain up-in-the-air until midnight on Monday.

And yet today, there in black and white, is the promise of a season at Villa for Barry from his agent.

Alex Black, has released a statement saying: "Gareth made a decision to stay two weeks ago and informed Aston Villa of his intentions.

"During this time discussions have taken place to decide the best way forward for all parties.

"Any talks regarding a potential new contract and Aston Villa will not be taking place until the end of the season.

"Gareth wants to concentrate on playing to the best of his ability this season, we hope this draws a line under the matter."

So what does this mean?

Well, you can either take it at face value that despite Martin O'Neill saying that talks would take place about a whole manner of issues after the deadline closes that no such talks will now take place.

You can read it that Barry will assess his future in 12 months and may well sign a new deal at Villa Park then.

Or you can read it as a sort of ultimatum that Barry has no intention of signing and that he will try to buy out his contract using the Webster Ruling at the end of the season- a move that would cost him about £2.5million and would cost Villa about £15million on his current transfer value.

It has been a messy summer indeed for Barry.

But give him credit, he played in Iceland and his performance against Manchester City was superb.

He may not have had the best of games against Stoke City but who did? Fabio Capello got it totally wrong when he suggested the Liverpool saga had affected his performances. He obviously didn't see him against Odense.

The worry for me remains that the relationship between Barry and O'Neill is bound to have been eroded, as was commented upon by Graham Taylor recently.

And with the agent now saying contract talks are on hold until the end of the season I'm more than a little puzzled as to how that can work out.

Sunday's match promises to be ugly. Very ugly.

Looks like James Milner will be arriving at Villa after all.

His value has shot up from an agreed fee of £4 million in August 2006 when the rug was pulled from under him as he waited at Bodymoor Heath to sign the papers, to around £9million or £10 million now.

Let's hope some quick negotiations can see him making his debut against Liverpool on Sunday.

A midfield of Milner, Reo-Coker, Barry and Young would frighten the very best. And that still leaves Petrov and Sidwell waiting in the wings.

All of a sudden we are seeing competition for places and the chance for Martin O'Neill to swap players around and change systems, if needs be.

A three man central defence, a defensive midfielder and one man up front, one winger or two... the options are now there.

It was a blow to Villa when Roque Santa Cruz signed his new deal at Blackburn as the noises coming out of the club were that Villa were going to push the boat out.

The arrival of a quality goalscorer - and I know that sounds a little daft after the front two's five goals in two games- would lift expectations immeasurably.

Let's also not forget that apart from the 16 potential European games after tomorrow night the club are hoping to progress in the domestic competitions.

I did not think for a minute that Villa would be the sole flag flyers for the region in the Carling Cup without playing a single game, but after last night's results and the exits of Albion, Blues, Wolves and Coventry, that is exactly what has happened.

Despite the defeat to Stoke, which okay did raise some niggling doubts about just how good Villa are, there are still real expections and hopes about this season- more so than at any time in a decade.

ONE song I do not expect was played on the team coach back down the M6 was that 90s ditty by Youssou N'dour and Neneh Cherry.

"It's not a second..Seven seconds away...Just as long as I stay....."

That's how close Villa were to a decent point and an unbeaten start.

The match report would therefore have sounded something like: "Villa showed bags of character in battling back twice to snatch a late point...."

But what we ended up with was an inquest into quite why Villa didn't really show up at Stoke.

You probably had to go back to the defeat at Portsmouth in March or to Fulham in February for an occasion where Villa were quite so listless.

There had been so much expectation heading to the Britannia, but ultimately an inability to head away set-pieces cost Villa dear.

Martin Laursen has rarely endured such a torrid afternoon, Ashley Young was strangely timid in not wanting to take on Andy Griffin, and the front two were lifeless.

The biggest disappointment was probably Brad Friedel. Dominant and confident against Manchester City, Friedel was a jibbering wreck when that last exocet came into the six yard box.

But we should keep things in perspective.

The opening win was not top four, and the first defeat was not bottom three.

This is a new back five- well, a new back three with Laursen partnering Curtis Davies who has returned after many months out.

They will take time to gel. And if Stoke reproduce that show, they'll give most a game.

So where are we? No midweek Carling Cup to look forward to.

No Leicester's, Burnley's or Doncaster's to throw a spanner in the works.

Just a routine European encounter that fails to spark the imagination because Villa more than did their jobs over in Iceland with a comprehensive victory.

And even with half a dozen fringe players thrown into the mix, Villa can't possibly cock this one up.

If the unthinkable were to happen I'll run naked along Broad Street buying a pint in every bar.

Of course the 'unthinkable' does happen occasionally in football.

The best I can remember was a League Cup tie between Watford and Southampton in late 1980, I think.

Laurie McMenemy's Saints walloped Graham Taylor's Watford 4-0 in the first leg at The Dell. Game over.

Not quite. Watford won the second leg 7-1 to progress 7-5 on aggregate.

Me and my school chums spent the morning telling jokes that McMenemy was due to start advertising the drink: "7 Up".

How very droll.

As for tomorrow's game?

Luke Young and Carlos Cuellar, who is back doing a little bit of training but wouldn't be fit in any case, are both ineligible.

I think we are all expecting Craig Gardner, Zat Knight, Nathan Baker, Moustapha Salifou, Marlon Harewood, Nathan Delfouneso, Wayne Routledge and Isiah Osbourne to be given some sort of role, if not a start.

Let's hope there's a few goals and a bit of excitement.

But most of all let's hope there are no injuries and that the players are fresh, ready and focused for the biggest game to come to Villa's shores since Blues were in town (and we all know how they were sent packing).

If Harry Redknapp thought he was getting stick off the Villa fans, that's nothing to the abuse a certain 'goatee-bearded Spanish waiter' (as one Villa fan described Rafa Benitez to me) has got coming.

Bring it on.

You can scrub Roque Santa Cruz off the wish-list then.

And I just wish I knew what Arsene Wenger was up to yesterday with his comments about Gareth Barry- it appears Martin O'Neill is in the dark too.

Former Bayern Munich striker Santa Cruz has today signed a new long-term contract with Blackburn.

That probably leaves Kevin Doyle in the box seat for a move to Villa, with the rest of Villa's riches therefore heading towards Chelsea for Joe Cole or to Newcastle for James Milner.

A month ago, no a fortnight ago, I'd have laughed at any notion Villa might have in snaring Cole.

It was in the form of a text message to me from a Villa contact two weeks ago today, whilst I was in a pub garden in Derbyshire enjoying a lager and lime (what was I thinking of?!), that told me Villa were after Cole.

I didn't write anything. I needed to double check that one. And I was on a week's holiday- that remains my excuse for leaving the Sunday's to break it.

But Robinho is set to arrive at Stamford Bridge and Cole will soon see his worth diminish in West London.

I'm sure something happened a month or so ago behind the scenes at Villa.

It seemed to coincide with the General's criticism of disgruntled fans for losing faith with the board.

Anyway, whatever happened it suddenly seemed to lead to the club ripping apart the transfer policy and making sure that wages and transfer fees are no longer a problem in bringing in the quality so badly needed if Villa are to challenge the big four.

Not only did Martin O'Neill pay out £2.5million for a 37 year-old, but in came Nicky Shorey and then £5million was paid for Luke Young who was rejected by Villa at half that amount just 12 months ago.

Then, ever so quickly and without fuss, Carlos Cuellar comes through the door at £7.8million followed by new deals for John Carew and Gabby Agbonlahor.

Ashley Young won't be far away either.

And the real spending on these two attacking options is just around the corner.

Villa are spending money hand over fist. I notice the BBC have them down as the biggest net spenders this summer at £30 million- which must include the money for Curtis Davies, which was really last year's spend.

And it's not just on the pitch.

I was lucky enough to be invited to interview Brad Friedel in the new 82 Lounge yesterday.

Breathtaking it was too.

This is the middle floor area of the Trinity Road Stand which once housed the press facilities together with a disused area that was never finished when the stand wasd built.

I hate everything corporate seating stands for. But I can see why clubs have to strive to increase revenue streams.

And Villa's transformation of what was an impressive enough floor anyway into a classy, open-plan 1950s feel, complete with stained glass doors, is stunning.

I have not seen anything like it inside a football club.

There is a temptation to get carried away by a 4-2 home win over a Manchester City team who were badly missing a couple of senior players.

But- and I say this carefully on the eve of a tough local derby- there has not been more euphoria about the start of a new season in my time in covering the club.

The nearest was in the late 1990s under John Gregory when the share launch and NTL funds allowed so much money to be spent on experienced internationals- and later Bosko Balaban- which initially reaped great rewards but ultimately took the club backwards as those players aged and the funding dried up.

Martin O'Neill is not getting carried away. Nor should he. One injury to Ashley Young, John Carew, Martin Laursen or Gareth Barry will highlight just how fragile his squad is.

In our chat last Tuesday morning he was as laid-back and chatty as I've seen him in a long, long time.

Perhaps it was because the words "Gareth" and "Barry" were only mentioned fleetingly for the first time since April.

He still needs a couple of full-backs for cover. A potential 20 extra European games will take their toll.

But the opening weekend saw Portsmouth, Everton and Tottenham all wilt and you get the feeling that if O'Neill can grab those two players he so covets then this could be the greatest of seasons.

As for Wenger and Barry? I have my doubts that Arsenal would go beyond £12million.

Would they chuck Theo Walcott in as a sweetner? Who knows?

I still think there is a twist or two left in the Barry saga.

IF it weren't for the fact Villa were playing Manchester City this weekend, I'd be putting my house on a home win.

But Darius Vassell and co. and waiting in the wings to perhaps give Villa another whiff of the heebie jeebies.

Even with them having been beaten by a bunch of Danish pastries in midweek I'm not overly confident.

City just love coming to Villa Park and they will be smarting from a verbal bashing from Mark Hughes.

But everything points to a big Villa win on the opening day of a new season- and there haven't been too many of those over the years.

I remember a comfortable win over Southampton three years back.But not much else. In fact that is the only time I've seen Villa win on the opening day as I was not at Newcastle nine years back.

Bolton, Arsenal, Liverpool, twice, Portsmouth and Tottenham have all got a least a share of the spoils.

Villa have struggled first game all the way to my first match covering the club on the Mail-in in August 2000 at Leicester City, a goalless draw.

It's not just my jinx. Villa have enjoyed little success beforehand with Everton, Leicester, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich all holding them in the Premier League era.

But two sweet victories spring from the record books: QPR 4-1 in August 1993 eclipsed by that sensational "you'll never win anything with kids" victory over Manchester United in August 1995.

Three wins in the Prem on opening day- so, you'll forgive me for being a little cautious.

Elsewhere it has been an incredible few weeks for Villa.

Less than three weeks ago there hadn't been a single signing and the pressures were seemingly getting to manager. There was an extraordinary rant aimed at the press during one particular briefing (I was not there but have heard snippets from a dictaphone).

Whilst the board too were feelingthe strain, as seen in some postings from one keyboard friendly ex-Vietnam veteran.

(at this point I should react to some postings on this blog which seem to have missed the point about my remarks about the infamous "£30million" quote. I didn't spin those quotes against the club or the General because I completely disregarded them and never wrote a word in the paper .
Nothing appeared in the Mail until 24 hours later- after all the national papers had had their fill. Our sports editor needed to fill a space due to an Albion story from Chris Lepkowski not having trickled through the electric ethers due to technical problems. We used the story off the wires to fill a space.
I later called the General's remarks "unnecessary" which I stand by and I think the General agreed- didn't he?)

Anyway, back to my point..... it has been a phenemonal few weeks for Villa: Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan, Curtis Davies' return, Nicky Shorey, Luke Young, Carlos Cuellar, John Carew signing for another year (when, of course, the issue will have to be revisited), and today Gabby Agbonlahor signing a new long-term deal for the fourth successive summer- now that's progress for you!!!

Next on the agenda will be Ashley Young and I'm sure that will be done fairly soon.

Then Stiliyan Petrov, another who appears to have grasped the mantle of what the Premier League is all about and who will be looking for some stabilty.

Gareth Barry is still here. And that is remarkable, although judging by Rafa Benitez' comments today that situation is still very much up in the air.

Barry could still go before the end of August, or perhaps he could move in January. Either way Villa do not appear to want to reduce the asking price- even though he is now Cup-tied- and why should they?

If Barry is prepared to knuckle down up to and beyond the end of the transfer window then Villa's squad looks a top six outfit at the very least.

Three weeks ago it looked top 12. All the talk was of Tottenham's spending and Portsmouth's.

Now Everton, particularly, and Pompey and Man City seem to have their work cut-out to stay up with Villa and Spurs in the pursuit of the top four.

A right-sided player and that elusive striker to put the ball away (are you listening Marlon?) are all that are needed. And the signs are that Villa's board are prepared to push the boat out to get them. And if they do, won't that just do a little more to convince the former skipper to give it one last shot?

It's the most eagerly anticipated opening game since John Gregory's summer spend almost a decade ago.

My worry, is that so much is going right for Villa that a pin (of the sky-blue shirted variety) might just be around the corner to burst the bubble.

IF you take away the U-turn on the statement that should never have been issued, and then the messageboard nonesense from someone who should know better it has been the perfect fortnight for Aston Villa.

Martin O'Neill was made to look a little foolish at revealing his delight at Gareth Barry apparently set to stay at the club and then three days later was uttering a complete reversal.

Liverpool, it appears, now have all the time in the world.

Then General Krulak says the club are prepared to pay £30 million for a player and then wonders quite why there was such a fuss in some newspapers whose journalists have been made to search through the internet for their stories, such is the lack of information coming out of the club.

Villa should be bigger than this.

Do you see the Glazers, Tom Hick or George Gillette feeding soundbites through the internet?

Of course not.

But leaving those two errors of judgement aside Villa fans have every right to be content with how events have transpired over the last few days.

First we had Curtis Davies' sudden return from injury a month or so ahead of schedule.

Then we had the arrivals of Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan- one for now and one for tomorrow in the goalkeeping department.

Then today the club are set to beat off fierce competition for Nicky Shorey and Luke Young.

That's the back five sorted and now all Villa need is a right-sided midfielder, a striker and some defensive cover. Easier said than done, but with the season still ten days away the horizon is now much, much brighter.