January 2009 Archives

IT'S almost time for that cheeky looking chap on Sky Sports News to start waffling on about making late check calls to Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson as he lets the cameras pan down on his three mobile phones.

Yes ladies and gentleman we are almost there again... transfer deadline night (or in this case, afternoon).

After 5pm Monday that's it folks.

One or two in, one or two out... that's my prediction with three days and an hour to go.

In: one or two from Sturridge, Johnson and Richards at Manchester City.

Out: Nicky Shorey or Marlon Harewood, or both, to whom I know not. And care even less so.

Martin O'Neill will do well to get two players in. I think he will be pretty ecstatic at one.

Shorey I think is the more likely to leave. Harewood may have to wait until the summer.

Then it will be a matter of getting out as quickly as he can because by which time Villa's striking options may well include Michael Owen and Peter Crouch, the latter dependant on precisely which direction John Carew finds his career going come the end of the season.

It's great to see that Carew is in the squad for tomorrow's game against Wigan.

He will be on the bench at best, but it would be great to see him for five or ten minutes at the end.

Easily one of Villa's most influential players from August through to October, but the side haven't missed him one bit... well, I lie. They'd have beaten Fulham at home because Carew wouldn't have missed all the chances that came Villa's way that afternoon.

Wigan at home is a tough one to call.

Villa will play Emile Heskey and Gabby Agbonlahor up front and that will make for an open game.

The difficulty there is that Wigan have players to benefit from that too. Anyone who saw new signing Hugo Rodallega's impressive debut against Liverpool as a substitute in midweek will know that Wigan feel they have come out of the Emile Heskey saga with full value, lust like Martin O'Neill clearly does.

Thankfully Antonio Valencia is sidelined.

And they also have Amr Zakim, a player whom Martin O'Neill clearly believes could be an interesting player in the top division. We're going back a couple of months here, but it was interesting to see Wes Saunders - the man credited with taking Zaki to Wigan, up at Bodymoor Heath.

I have no idea on what sort of business. Perhaps as he is also Matt Elliot's brother-in-law he was getting a shirt signed by Martin O'Neill?

Interesting times for Villa. Another win tomorrow and they'll be joint-top of the pile.

Incredible. Absolutely incredible.

Although I notice that Mark Lawrenson has tipped Villa for a win on the BBC web-site and his tips never help!

Villa have not registered five Premier League victories in succession since defeating Crystal Palace (h), Everton (a), West Ham (h), Coventry (a) and Southampton (a) between 14 March and 18 April 1998.

But this Villa side are a far, far better side than John Gregory's ever was- even with Carew, Ashley Young and Martin Laursen on the sidelines.

On another matter my cheque has already been posted to the Aston Villa Former Players' Association.

Not that I ever played for Villa, of course.

But I'm chuffed to have been asked to have become an Associate Member.

Neil Rioch and Karl Court are taking the best Former Players' Association in the country to another level altogether.

And I am proud to become a very small, insignificant part in an ever-expanding association that has not only served the interests of the former players so well but has also raised £4 million for charitable causes.

The lies down at Portsmouth?

Well, probably the call I got from a hotel receptionist at 9.58pm - whilst the game was in its dying stages and played infront of a right racket- to say "sorry" because my room that had been booked months in advance was no longer available because of "water damage" that they had only just detected.

What he meant to say was: 'we've double booked your room'. But he went for the water damage.

I should have called his bluff and taken the room anyway.

The statistics at Portsmouth? The night was jammed packed full of 'em.

Oh the irony of spending an hour sat next to a very friendly Turkish lady, who actually had a swollen ankle - not that that bit is important, just thought it added extra detail.

There I was, minding my own business on a train between London Waterloo and Guildford. She sat down - long, black, curly flowing hair and a cream coat (more detail) and mentioned being a statistician by trade, though for a drugs company and not a football club.

Villa might one day soon be needing her services, such is the rate at which they are chucking out new figures.

I might need to take a calculator to games, along with all these history books and my laptop if Villa continue to win matches with such regularity.

Between February and April 1897 Villa beat Bury, Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Bolton and Preston at the end of one season and then beat Notts County at the start of the next.

Six successive away wins. Statistics.
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Ron Saunders' side would have only had 44 points at this stage in their golden year of 1980/81 had they been granted three points for a win. Not the 47 that Martin O'Neill's side now possess.

Few teams have managed six away wins on the spin in the history of the game.

Only eight times have teams managed it in the Premier League - three times by Chelsea, twice by Manchester United, and once apiece by Liverpool, Portsmouth and Arsenal.

Chelsea got eight on the spin in 2008/09, Portsmouth six in 2007/08, Chelsea nine in 2004/05 and they rattled off another six in 2003/04.

In 2001/02 Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United rattled off six straight away wins and United managed six in 1999/00.

In the decades preceding the Premiership six straight away wins had only been achieved on seven occasions: Liverpool managed six in 1981-82, Arsenal managed six in 1977-78, Tottenham romped to eight in 1960-61, West Brom recorded a straight six in 1953-54, Burnley managed six in 1919/20, Everton got six in 1908/09 and Preston got six in 1891/92.

Hope you are following all of this?

That is a mighty fine select group that Villa have joined.

The question now is can Villa go one better?

Blackburn stopped Villa making it a magic seven on the road 112 years ago. And by a quirk of fate they have a chance of doing likewise again at Ewood Park in 10 days.

Portsmouth was just another win on the road. God, this is getting monotonous.

And it is getting ridiculous.

And tonight, seeing Liverpool and Arsenal dropping more points. Surely Villa can't be in a title race, can they?!!!!

32ND and last out of the bag last time around, 14th out of 16th this.

And you've got to feel sorry for Villa because the latest FA Cup draw is another stinker.

Last time out it could have been a local 'derby' (of sorts) with Coventry or a little trek to quaint Kidderminster.

It ended up being a 320 mile round trip to Kent.

This time around and with four balls left in the velvet bag and it was a choice between a tasty derby with Albion..... or taking on Arsenal, or Liverpool or Everton on home or away soil.

And it ended up being a trip to Merseyside.

This for a club who have been asked to play Manchester United four times in 2002/4/7/8 in the past seven seasons.

I can see the quotes from Martin O'Neill now: "The first thing you look for in the draw is a home tie," he would have said had he been asked, "A trip to Goodison Park or Anfield is never easy - both are going great in the Premier League, but we will go into the game with confidence on the back of our splendid recent form..."

Then he would probably have added: "but we have a lot of football to be played beforehand and a lot can happen in this game very quickly."

In truth the game won't phaze Villa. Not after what happened at Goodison not long back, and neither too at Anfield after last season's 2-2 draw when Marlon Harewood gave their back four the fright of their lives for the last 24 minutes.

Only an away game at Manchester United or Chelsea would really have made Martin O'Neill's men cringe.

Away games bring out the best in them in any case. Unbeaten in seven matches since at Newcastle on November 3rd, that's on English soil.

You'd still say that Liverpool would be favourites to edge out Everton in the replay on February 4th - the same night that Villa will be in action again against Doncaster.

Stoke, Fulham and West Ham have already managed goalless draws at Anfield this season.

Everton have shown that Liverpool are far from invincible with two 1-1 draws over the past fortnight.

Even Hull managed a draw at Anfield.

But having had so many tough draws since reaching Wembley in might have been nice to get a Watford, Derby, Coventry, Forest or a Swansea.

The only delighted punter on hearing Villa were away in Merseyside would have been veteran hack Rob Bishop.

Villa's programme editor is already working around the clock trying to force out a programme for the Doncaster replay.

A fifth round tie at Villa Park might have turned those grey hairs white.

"What ice-cream do you want?," says the fella in the white apron, driving the van which plays funny nursery rhymes out loud in the streets.

The ten year-old replies: "I'll have strawberry.... no vanilla.... no chocolate..."

So can someone please tell Chares N'Zogbia to make his mind up?

Two weeks ago it was Arsenal. Now it's Villa he wants to join.

I bet Newcastle will be chuffed to bits with his latest outburst.

Last time Joe Kinnear got into a tizzie when the player had admitted that his agent was hawking him around the Premier League.

Now he says Newcastle are pricing him out of a move with Villa, supposedly, waiting in the wings.

"The clubs that are interested in me remain the same, but it's tough because they (Newcastle) are asking for a ridiculous sum of money," he is quoted as saying.

"Arsenal and Aston Villa are top teams in the English league, so I'd be happy to join them. I don't have a priority. Both are good clubs, but I have a little preference for Aston Villa.

"They have been improving as a team in the last few years, which proves that they can do well. Aston Villa's manager is a good coach according to my friends I think he could make me better."

Just a fortnight ago his agents were talking with Tottenham and Villa, he told L'Equipe.

He added: "Personally, I have a little preference for the Gunners but, whatever happens, they are three great and ambitious clubs. It's very flattering to see them interested in me."

Two weeks ago I was told by the Villa press office that Martin O'Neill had said there was "nothing in it" with regards to N'Zogbia, so we dropped the story as quickly as a baby might drop a hot coal.

But the story just doesn't seem to want to go away.

I've no doubt Villa have an interest. And young Charles has made it clear that he certainly has a desire to move to the midlands.

But if the fee is as outlandish as he claims, and we are in a market where Craig Bellamy can move for £14 million so that is likely to be the case, then Charles will have to stay at St James' Park, picking up his £25,000 a week until the summer of 2012.

Poor chap.

"There are still around 2,000 tickets remaining for Pompey's Premier League clash with Aston Villa at Fratton Park on Tuesday, kick-off 8pm. The majority of the available seats are in the Apollo Stand (Milton end)," said the Portsmouth web-site on Monday afternoon.

I'm sorry, but has Villa fever not stretched down to the south coast?

Fratton Park, may I point out, can only hold 20,688 supporters.

So that means an attendance of somewhere in the region of 18,500 is expected, with Villa supplying 1,380 of them, which was their initial allocation.

The game is live on you know where, but even so...

Call yourselves a Premier League club?

Without Sacha Gaydamak's money Pompey would not be anywhere near the top flight - despite what the national press in their cosy love-in with Harry Redknapp might want you to think.

Gaydamak - so a recent national newspaper report suggested- is thought to want in the region of £40million for Portsmouth but the club is also believed to have debts and committed costs of around £50m.

Makes you realise what a good deal Randy Lerner got when he shelled out approximately £64 million to get Aston Villa- with no debt and complete with all its city centre land.

And yet Doug Ellis' critics three years ago were oh so vocal about him pricing buyers out of the market.

The Milton End, changing the subject, was formerly the only roofless stand in the Premier League and is shared between home and away supporters.

I take it that means that Portsmouth folk simply don't want to sit close to their Birmingham counterparts. They'd rather sit at the other end next to that fan with the annoying bell.

VILLA can go joint-top of the Premier League tomorrow night.

(I say "can" because that rests on an Albion side without six defenders beating Manchester United's albeit reserves).

You'd think Villa would be jumping through hoops behind the scenes, shouting from the roof-tops about their best season - points-wise - ever at this stage (22 games).

They are averaging two points a game, with exactly the same record as the title winning side of 1981 (having scored a few less and let in a few more).

But no, there is no "whooping for joy", no back-slapping. And that's fine.

Luke Young today is the first person to admit that the words "title" and "Villa" can be used in the same sentence.

There is a danger, as for as Martin O'Neill is concerned, that his players would lose focus and if they start believing some of the hype.

He will carry on drilling the message into them that they are the best team on the planet within the confines of the dressing room. But as far as the message out to us all from within goes: "We are a million miles away".

All clever man management.

Which brings me to the substance of this article.

Apparently O'Neill has asked for a tightening up on the number of player interviews given to all sections of the media.

That's his decision and one I am loathe to quibble with it as he gives my paper more than enough of his own time.

But are the sponsors happy with that? Is Randy Lerner? Shouldn't they be aiming to knock Arsenal, Chelsea, United and Liverpool off the back pages? Shouldn't they want a bit more of the Radio 5Live, Talksport pie?

Over the last two years things have undoubtedly improved so far as the rest of the media are concerned. That's because Claire Huggins in the press office will do her upmost to meet player requests from the papers, radio and TV. Before then they'd go no chance unless they wanted to stand in the car park for hours on end like I did back in the late 1990s.

But recent away games have thrown up just one player, James Milner, who spoke to the entire media (nationals, TV, locals) following that win at Sunderland. One player: Zat Knight, did likewise at Doncaster.

Two players: Milner and Gareth Barry spoke to the club's own TV station after Sunderland. A third, Brad Friedel, did so at Bodymoor Heath on the Monday whilst Milner did a combined local paper and local radio interview on Thursday.

Two players: Steve Sidwell and Knight spoke to the club's TV station on Saturday.

I haven't the foggiest how the rest of the week will pan out, although I do know that we are not permitted, as yet, to speak to John Carew, Martin Laursen or Wilfred Bouma. Those requests have been flatly denied.

I do find this player unavailability thing slightly worrying, not that it will really impact on my job at all. This is not a selfish outcry. More an appeal for reason at a time when Villa might just be shooting themselves in the foot.

This latest "clamping down" all corresponds with a colleague of mine who just happened to be ticked off by the club over what was seen as a negative match report from the recent win at Sunderland.

I think the gist was that the reporter had the audacity to suggest that Villa had got lucky with one or two key refereeing decisions.

I think Match of the Day showed that the officials got the equalising goal and the sending off right, and the two hand-ball shouts - however "luck" probably did have a part to play when Gabby Agbonlahor was fouled (and somehow ended up on his shoulders after being kicked in the face).

Former referee Jeff Winter had this to say on his web-site:

"The foul on Agbonlahor was just outside the box, so no penalty should have been given."

Another national journalist on this patch, who I have a deal of respect for, has recently been ticked off over a comment on an internet blog where he suggested that the Villa manager has two sides to his personality - charming and witty on one hand, and perhaps moody on the other.

I would have thought every person on the planet had many sides, if you got to know them well enough? (Or two sides if you have Schizophrenia). Anyway, I am surprised the well-written piece was worthy even of mention.

O'Neill has enjoyed a very healthy relationship with the local press pretty much since the day he walked through the door in August 2006.

He has chosen to look after the Birmingham Mail.

There have been moments when the relationship between O'Neill and the local media, I mean myself, has been less than smooth. And of course my reporting of one aspect of the Gareth Barry situation did not please him.

But that was quickly behind us. And he probably now fills 50- 75 per cent of my written work.

O'Neill does much less interviewing with me immediately after matches than he once did.

But once a week, almost without fail, either on the telephone or in his office, he will give me 20 minutes to half an hour of his time when a range of topics can be covered.

Gone are the days when a Premier League manager can be contacted on the telephone every morning at 9am without fail. But compared to some clubs, and compared to past Villa managers, well one at least, who was ignorant to the demands of the local press, it is a system that has worked.

The manager will more often than not see me on a Tuesday which means you will quite often get an injury update on a Tuesday afternoon in later editions of our paper, or perhaps on a Wednesday if the club haven't decided to do their own thing and release the injury news on a Tuesday evening on the web - which again is their prerogative.

"It's a give and take" relationship, as one club official told me last week. Relationships between clubs and papers can be strained at times, particularly with the onset of their own TV stations and web-sites which demand an audience.

But papers undoubtedly do serve as a valuable tool for clubs. That's why we are still contacted from time to time when the club wants to sell extra tickets, or for example when a club wants to promote a flag day as you will soon see when Villa play against CSKA Moscow.

The only interviews I can remember from current players which have caused offence with O'Neill have been those from Thomas Sorensen where he questioned the wisdom of the arrival of Scott Carson whilst away on international duty with Denmark.

The other was Patrik Berger's assertion that Gareth Barry would be crazy not to sign for Liverpool, which was said to a large collection of reporters at Villa Park directly following the home defeat to Wigan which led to his non-appearance at the final game of the season at West Ham.

That's two interviews - one done by the Danish press- that have caused offence to the manager.

So in these heady times where all sorts of media organisations are trying to jump on the bandwagon having realised that Aston Villa do exist, I do not think it remiss to urge the club not to forget the local media.

I do not think that two, three or even four players a week is asking for the earth at a time when information out of the club is like getting blood from a stone.

"News to me" was the text I received at 6.30pm on Thursday when I approached a club official after hearing Emile Heskey, was signing.

My reply should also have been three words: "Give and take".

IF you ever hear someone say: "That's the last thing they wanted" when referring to a replay in the FA Cup, go up to them, ruffle their hair, pinch their cheeks, tweak their nose and toss away their satchels, uttering the words: "Back to School on Monday".

Its a well worn cliche that is gobbledegook and poppycock.

Just make sure whatever happens that you are in the hat for the draw.

Playing two games a week isn't a problem when teams are winning games. It is only when you are losing that fixture congestion can hammer a season.

Granted Villa have been playing competitive matches now since mid-July, but they can handle two games a week.

Fair play to Martin O'Neill. That's twice in two games he has fielded pretty much a full strength side in the FA Cup. With Luke and Ashley Young suspended and Martin Laursen injured there was nothing else he could have done today.

Villa now play at Portsmouth on Tuesday, a game which has taken a fresh twist in view of Pompey's home defeat to Swansea. Another defeat and Tony Adams' position will surely come under scrutiny.

Then it's Wigan at home... Doncaster in the replay (we believe on the Wednesday) and then Blackburn on the Saturday.

That's not a schedule to strike fear into the hearts of grown athletes.

As for Villa today? Well, it was a really poor first half performance followed by a strong second half where they could easily have nicked it.

Rovers were very neat and tidy in possession but lacked anything in the final third (where have I heard that description of a football side before, Albion fans).

They hit the woodwork but could easily have been behind earlier when Neil Sullivan saved superbly from Gabby Agbonlahor from close range.

Gabby had shot wide in the opening minutes. Had that gone in, it could have been a landslide.

Second half was much, much better. Agbonlahor and Steve Sidwell missed really great chances, sitters almost - Gabby after Sidwell had sent him racing through the middle but he hit the crossbar, then Sidwell in somehow heading wide when unmarked at the far post.

Sullivan saved well from Agbonlahor again at close range and from substitute Craig Gardner whose 20 yard drive was too hot to hold at the first attempt.

Rovers hit the woodwork again with a wonderful free-kick but did nothing in open play.

So it is back to Villa Park where Villa will be overwhelming favourites to progress, although it appears that Emile Heskey may not be available again due to his registratiion missing the deadline.

Poor Doncaster. Just as their corportate clients were enjoying the spoils of a fine draw, maybe an hour or so after the final whistle, the fire alarms went off and the stadium had to be evacuated.

HERE we are arriving in sunny Doncaster. Me and Mat (he tells me one 't' and not two) - your Birmingham Post, Mercury and Mail team for today.

We're feeling good. No injuries to speak of, although Mat has a bruised finger nail which could impede writing later on.

Dozens and dozens of Villa supporters are outside the local Beefeater pub enjoying a pre-match pint.

A race meeting is on just down the road. Perhaps we should have gone there instead?

That's not because an FA Cup fourth round tie isn't one to savour.

Of course it is. Villa have not been at the last 32 stage for quite some time - twice since the Wembley Final of 2000 isn't what records are made of.

No, it has more to do with comments by Sir Alex Ferguson which have appeared in the morning papers.

Ferguson appears to think that Manchester United are bigger than the oldest competition in the book.

So why should thousands of Villa fans have made the 83 mile trek to Doncaster? If it means little to Fergie, then does it mean much at all to Martin O'Neill.

Of course it does. O'Neill fielded eight-elevenths of a full team at Gillingham in the last round, and I would assume it would be six or seven elevenths this afternoon because of the Portsmouth game on Tuesday.

But Ferguson's comments about the possibility of playing extra-time after an initial 90 minutes to escape the rigour of replays, make my blood boil.

This from the manager of a club disgracefully allowed by the FA not to take part some years back.

The Manchester United boss, so the story goes, discovered a 128-year-old law that means replays can be avoided - and apparently tried to invoke it for today's fourth-round clash against Spurs.

Fergie argued: "It is in the articles of the Association that both teams can apply to have the game decided first time.

"The criticism would be we are not adhering to the principles and spirit of the FA Cup.

"But why have the FA got it in there? It is their problem. We will investigate it."

The FA confirmed the rule exists, but quite obviously as a help for small clubs faced with outlandish transport costs: "This rule is aimed at the preliminary rounds to help teams with geographical distances", said a spokesman.

Villa will play Doncaster at Villa Park on Wednesday week if this afternoon cannot throw up a winner.

If we all took Ferguson's stance then the attendance would be one man and a dog. A competition of such stature deserves more respect.

Bring back immediate replays, that's what I say.

When Villa played Doncaster five times over 16 days in 1955 there were two winners: Doncaster and ultimately the paying public.

INJURIES: Laursen (knee). Where have we seen that before?

One paragraph.

That's all it took. A veryu brief statement on the club's official web-site, barely half-an-hour before an official press conference was due to take place.

Martin Laursen out for eight weeks after knee surgery.

The ramifications for Villa could be huge. A player dogged by knee problems will now have his meniscus "trimmed" - in the words of Martin O'Neill, who also admits he is actually not a surgeon so the precise operation could be different.

Laursen has had a momumental 15 months. Curtis Davies does not look the same player without him.

Out of action until April, so where does that leave Villa?

Probably likely to dip into the market.

If O'Neill really fancied Zat Knight then he would have picked him ahead of Carlos Cuellar at Sunderland.

Knight will come in at Doncaster today and has a chance to stake a claim. Cuellar may play at right back, but Nigel Reo-Coker will have reason to feel aggrieved if he loses that position at Portsmouth.

There are interesting possibilities elsewhere. Micah Richards has lost his way at Manchester City. Matthew Upson would appear to be too pricey at West Ham, but sometimes needs must.

Without Laursen, who along with Ashley Young and Gareth Barry has been one of the star peformers this season, Villa's ability to sustain a top four challenge will be severely tested.

THREE goals this season, four last....

And yikes that last season at St Andrew's: five goals, two of which came at Albion early doors followed by relegation.

A mention of Emile Heskey's name a few weeks ago and grown men in claret and blue scarves would weep.

Even the most optimistic of Villa supporters would likely give you a lukewarm response.

But now the deal has been done I suspect most fans may even be delighted.

It would have been plain crazy for Villa to even contemplate keeping up their ridiculous momentum of two points per game with just Gabby Agbonlahor up front.

The manager had Marlon Harewood and Nathan Delfouneso to fall back on in case of injury, but neither are going to give you 90 minutes.

Harewood can give you 15 at the end of a game, Delfouneso probably a lot more but out wide on the flanks where his pace could fill a gap vacated by Ashley Young in the short term.

John Carew is getting close to a recall but after two-and-a-half months out with related back, thigh and hip problems there will be question marks over his fitness at least in the short term.

Now there's a thing: Heskey and Carew up front together. If that isn't a recipe for direct football then nothing is.

Much has been made of Villa now being a counter-attacking team and nothing else. Last year they were a "dead ball" team. Sticks and stones and all that.

Heskey doesn't get many goals. Apart from a couple of seasons at Liverpool at the start of the decade when he was somewhat prolific.

But you just had to see his performance for England in Croatia when his shoulders looked as broad as a couple of leather armchairs to see what he is capable of.

Wayne Rooney would certainly agree that Heskey is worth his weight in gold. Well, perhaps not all of his weight in gold.

That's not a dig at his 14 stone frame. I was talking more of his lack of goals.

Any team will need a natural finisher. Villa have not had a 20 goal man in the league since Peter Withe.

I think I am right in saying that only Juan Pablo Angel (16) has come close in recent years.

Imagine what Jermain Defoe could have brought to Villa. And imagine what Michael Owen could bring.

Owen is very high on the manger's wanted list although he may well have to wait until the summer.

Talk of a £150,000 wages won't deter Villa. Such sums can be watered down with a multi-million pound signing on fee to get Owen to sit commfortably within the current pay structure.

If Villa do manage to reach the top four then that structure- which currently sees Gareth Barry sitting top on approximately £50,000 a week having won a pay rise last season - will have to be reviewed in any case.

In the meantime, do not rule out a fascinating final week of the current transfer window. I certainly sense that a loan move of some substance may soon be afoot.