A free Saturday... unless you live in Dubai

Firstly, it was with sadness that we heard of the passing of Harry Parkes at the age of 89.

Rarely will a club lose four such mighty stalwarts, legends.. whatever you want to call them, as Johnny Dixon, aged 85, Vic Crowe, 76, and Paul Birch, aged just 45 in such a short space of time.

I wonder if Parkes will be afforded a minute's silence against Tottenham, or applause? I think, as always, the family decide.

It's been a strange football-free weekend for supporters and writers of everything claret and blue.

I've had to resort to cutting the grass in the back garden after an edict from she who knows best (where was the snow last night, just when I needed it!)

I didn't bother with the first televised game in the FA Cup.

But I gather ITV managed to catch both Chelsea goals in their stroll at Coventry, so well done to them.

There's a heap of football elsewhere. Some tasty games in the Championship. And a shock north of the border.

But apart from Sunderland's home game against Tottenham - which had some bearing on Villa because of this coming Sunday - there's nothing in the Premier League.

And after watching two games a week for God only knows how long (apologies for the blasphemy), that's more than a little odd.

I suppose we'd better you used to free Saturdays at Villa.

Ten games left over the next two-and-a-half months. The next four fixtures are penned in for Sundays, although the trip to Manchester United could yet revert to the Saturday.

I spent most of this Saturday afternoon listening to the cricket where England were doing their best to level the series against the Windies on a pudding of a track.

I was in Dubai the last time Villa were out there. It was in the David O'Leary era but at least they did have a match to contend with back then against Al Nasr.

There was little point in going out this time to see Martin O'Neill put them through their paces on the golf course.

Let's hope a couple of days rest can rejuvenate an ailing season.

I remember Martin O'Neill making a point at the very start of this season about the InterToto Cup and how it could sap energies later on in the campaign.

He had been in conversation with his trusted sidekick, the very Geordie doctor Roddy McDonald who had been with Newcastle when they were involved in a run to the latter stages of the UEFA Cup until 15 March 2007.

McDonald's point was that Europe took its toll throughout a miserable domestic season.

Newcastle had qualified through the InterToto against Lillestrom.

They progressed through to a last 16 place against AZ Alkmaar and were 3-0 up in the first leg after 23 minutes and 4-1 up after 38 minutes, only to eventually succumb in the second leg in Holland on away goals.

That European march had seen some memorable performances: Fenerbahce, Palermo and Celta Vigo were beaten and Eintracht Frankfurt drawn with in Germany before a three month break to February where Waregem were dispensed with over two legs.

But whilst all this was going on in Europe, Newcastle's form in the Premier League was woeful despite all the hope following the high profile summer acquisitions of Damien Duff and Obafemi Martins.

By the time they had qualified for the last 32 of the UEFA Cup, Newcastle were in the relegation places with just three wins from their opening 14 matches.

Around that time a section of Newcastle supporters staged a protest after 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United, many calling for the resignation of chairman Freddy Shepherd as well as other members of the board.

But the time Newcastle were dumped out of Europe Glenn Roeder's side had improved to sit in 11th spot but still well short of their pre-season ambitions. And by the end of May they had slipped back to 13th with a paltry 43 points - five clear of the drop.

Roeder resigned to be replaced by Sam Allardyce. But the decline was to continue.

With those sorts of statistics it makes you wonder why the fuss in the fist place about sending 'Martin's Minnows', or 'O'Neill's Nippers' to Russia.

Despite all the doom and gloom of no wins in six, including two miserable cup exits, Villa still sit fourth in the table after 45 matches in all competitions, three points clear of Arsenal and few could have dreamt of such a position when, on the 15th November, Villa travelled to Arsenal without John Carew and after being beaten by Newcastle and Middlesbrough.

As for the 300 who travelled to Moscow?

Their big day at the Holte Suite has been penned in for Tuesday April 7th when manager Martin O'Neill will be thanking them in person for a tremendous show of support in Russia.

It is hoped that the season does not fall away over the next few weeks to such an extent that more free lunches are called for.

I'm all for a sliding scale of reward for supporters: travel to Moscow for a reserve game - free posh nosh and free drink on the club; FA Cup exit before last eight: fish and chips on way home, home defeat to Leicester: free bag of peanuts and a pint in pub of Curtis Davies' choice, home draw against Stoke after being 2-0 up after 88 minutes: free psychiatric support and mind-numbing drugs for remaining three months of season.