Aston Villa Archive

World Cup Over, Look Ahead, The Fonz

World Cup Over, Look Ahead, The Fonz

Another chapter ends in the history of the Fifa World Cup with Spain being crowned the champions of the world.  Reflecting back on the game brings a few thoughts to mind on the flow of the match.  It was a bit a yawn fest for the majority of the match with little things to entice me to yell at my television or scream for joy.  Robben provided two great opportunities for myself to yell with his breakaway’s that he failed to produce on.  Spain had several opportunities as well but overall I enjoyed watching the third place game more than the final itself.  A Heart breaker for the Dutch and I wish it had gone to the dreaded penalty shootout for one reason.  Based on the performance of both teams I feel the game would have done justice to go there and allow the teams to battle it out.  My hat off to Spain and Iniesta though as they did what was needed in the end to get the job done.

So what do we look back and find most memorable about this World Cup?  The early exits of teams such as France and Italy?  The surprising run of teams such as Ghana and Uruguay?  The controversial calls (or no calls) for several goals?  The newest installment of the hand of God?  The final doused in yellow and no not the glow of the world cup but of course the yellow card frenzy.  In the end I look back as another nail biting, unexpected and exciting world cup. It led to cheers, it led to tears but most of all it led to the world coming together to watch the beautiful game.

Another Chapter Begins…

Now all of our attention can be turned towards Aston Villa and what is too happen over the next couple months.  Transfer talk is nearly a boiling point with many big names being linked to not only Aston Villa but many other clubs as well.  The biggest story line surrounding the club right now has to be that of the fate of James Milner. 

Is he staying, is he going no one is really too sure just yet.  The deal that seems most likely to happen is that of the offer by surplus cash Manchester City.  15 million pound, Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha is the deal that’s has surfaced most recently on the matter.  A move which can perhaps do some good to the club and help strengthen the squad. 

We pick up some cash to help in the transfer market plus whatever we get from a few others sales.  We pick up a quality attacking MF in Ireland (something we have all been shouting for) and we pick up a defender who has talent and shows promise though he has a few injury problems (though it seems that comes with many players these days).  We sell a few other players pick up cash and we could have upwards of 30 million pound to play with.  With that who knows what the possibilities are?  Of course now the talk has come up over Klaas Jan Huntelaar joining the Premier league from AC Milan and Villa has been linked to the move.  186 Goals in 290 appearances is something that can’t be ignored and Klaas wants first team football which I think puts Manchester City out of the race as they are already too loaded up.  Of course other top clubs such as Spurs can offer Champions League Football.  We will see where things end up of course as only now with the end of the World Cup will the transfers begin to come in. 

Continuing Growth

The European U-19’s are about to being now and this has brought into light a very promising young talent Villa have.  Of course I speak of Nathan Delfouneso.  Although I don’t like the idea of him missing the training camp and some preseason matches the international competition is important for his development as well.  With his continuing development I do hope to see him on the pitch this season several times and putting in goals for the first team.  He has been able to produce on the Academy team and shown great pace and drive when been in action.  Fans cry for a talent striker to be brought to the club.  Well perhaps we have bred our own quality striker in the Fonz.

Final Thoughts

It is time to focus on the Claret and Blue and wait for the transfers to start.  Who knows despite all the talk perhaps Milner will still be dawning AVFC on his jersey at kick off this season.  Stranger things happened…Heskey at the World Cup?

Pre-Season begins, Robbie Keane and James Milner

Pre-Season begins, Robbie Keane and James Milner

The team reported back to Pre-season for the 2010/11 season and this is Martin O’Neill’s fifth season in charge, and although some might not still believe in him and what he’s capable of – he at least deserves this season to show what he aimed for himself when he first took the job.

He stated he had a five year plan to take Villa to the next level, and that means bringing silverware of some type to Villa Park or breaking the top four.

Although we may have finished 6th in the last few seasons, we have improved season upon season with last season’s trips to Wembley and not to forget the fact we got more points that we did in previous season’s.

The one problem Martin O’Neill has is there are so many other clubs with money that are improving all the time, and as he said sometimes you need to spend big money just to stand still.

I on the other hand believe that if we can buy a 20+ goal striker and maybe even a midfielder in the mould of Patrick Vieira in his hay day then I believe we will give plenty of teams trouble this season.

The likes of James Milner, Gabby Agbonlahor and Ashley Young will only improve this season and that will only benefit our club.

Robbie Keane

You may or may not of heard already but there is very strong rumours that Irish International Robbie Keane has been spotted around Bodymoor Heath this week.

Of course every season we here rumours of this type so don’t read to much into this but let’s just think about it for a second.

Robbie Keane maybe 30 years old but they say that a forward reaches his prime between the ages of 28 – 32 and he has averaged a goal every two and half games.

James Milner

The talk is that Man City are to offer Villa £24million for Milner, once again but will refuse to budge to Villa’s £30million asking price which should and could see James Milner continue to be a Aston Villa player again next season.

M’Bami, Ben Arfa and Nicky Shorey

M’Bami, Ben Arfa and Nicky Shorey

Now the World Cup is over for England although the transfer rumours aren’t quite back into overdrive, they are starting to pick up with Villa today being linked with two players, with another rumoured to be on his way out.

Modeste M’Bami is a Cameroon international and is available on a free transfer and it’s no secret that Villa have at least made contact with the midfielder because he has been making a lot of noises.

He told Sky Sports: “I’ve been in contact with many clubs, Villa are a very good team but nothing’s official. I’m not going to talk about anything.”

I’m not going to big this player up or put him down because if I’m quite honest I don’t have a clue who he is or what he’s about. What I do know about his is what his wikipedia page tells me.

He’s a 27 year old Midfielder who’s just finished a season in Spain with Almeria after playing 27 times for them. Before that he had three years with Marsaille and six years with PSG in France. He has also represented Cameroon no less that 28 times.

Hatam Ben Arfa

The Mirror are today stating that Villa will look to Ben Arfa of Marsaille if they do lose James Milner this summer to Manchester City.

This is a player I know had a big reputation as a teen and was expected to produce big things but the talk about him has died down over the past few years.

A bid of around £12million is believe to be enough to prize him away from France. He has been capped 7 times by France despite being of a Tunisian descent and is described as a talented player but does tend to be criticized by his lack of discipline.

The last sentence suggests to me that this won’t happen as Martin O’Neill will only bring in players who will be yes men and do as there told. He doesn’t like players challenging him which Ben Arfa could well do if the French press are to be believed.

Nicky Shorey

We all know he will be leaving Villa Park this season but the question is where to? Billy Davies is today making noises stating that he would love to make Shorey a permanent fixture at Notts Forest after having a loan spell there next season.

Parker, Barnetta and Eduardo

Parker, Barnetta and Eduardo

With the World Cup over for our country once again after the national disgrase they called the England football team lay down and died against the Germans the rumours are back in full force.

Despite West Ham declaring that all there players have a price except Scott Parker apparently we are ready to test there resolve by making a £10 million bid for the England International.

Parker, in my opinion is a fantastic player and one I wish we took full advantage of when he left Chelsea but I think the greedy Hammers owners will demand to much for a player reaching the later years of his career.

Tranquillo Barnetta

Tranquillo Barnetta is a Switzerland international who played a big part in the Switz World Cup Campaign even though they were sent packing in the group stages.

I don’t know a lot about the midfielder except that he’s 25 years old and that he helped Bayer Levukusen to a fantastic early season run last season – courtesy of Wikipedia of course.

Apparently we will make a £4million offer for the player, which does sound like the kind of cash Martin O’Neill likes to splash around but he doesn’t have the British pedigree that he tends to go for.

Eduardo

Now we was linked with Eduardo earlier in the summer and over the past few days the rumour has come back from nowhere with Talksport announcing it yesterday.

There is no doubt he is a quality player but I’m pretty sure a lot was made about songs sung about him at the Emirates by Villa fans when he broke his leg which would make me question why he would have any interest in signing for Villa at all?

Never the less despite him not regaining the form he had before his injury I still think he could be a fantastic player with a new club and a fresh start so I would welcome the move.

West Ham at home first up for Villa.

West Ham at home first up for Villa.

The Premier League fixtures have been released this morning and first up for Villa will be West Ham United at Villa Park on August 14th.

Our first away trip will be to newly promoted Newcastle United on the 21st of that month.

Our first derby match of the season will be at Wolves on the 25th September and we will host Birmingham City at Villa Park on October 30th.

The last game of the season will be Liverpool at home while we travel to the Emirates for the final away of the season.

Other big fixtures worth knowing are:

November 13: Man Utd (H)
November 27: Arsenal (H)
December 4: Liverpool (A)
December 11: WBA (H)
January 1: Chelsea (A)
January 15: Birmingham (A)
February 1: Man Utd (A)
March 19: Wolves (H)
April 30: WBA (A)

To view the fixtures in full click here.