When Randy Lerner announced in a statement a few weeks ago that James Milner will be going nowhere I was a very happy man but the more papers and press I read and hear about the more I think it’s going to be one hell of a long summer and the Gareth Barry transfer saga comes to mind.

Let’s be honest if rumours are true Man City are joined by Chelsea and Man United in the hunt for Milner and he won’t be a Aston Villa player next season.

And the fact is James Milner is away at the moment with the England camp, and all three sides I mentioned above are all represented well in this camp so there’s no doubt they are talking about the situation with Jimmy.

What also seem’s to be coming out of the floorboards is rumours that City also want Ashley Young at the same time as Milner. Now I mentioned this a few weeks ago and I stated I wouldn’t mind losing Young but at the same time when will it stop if we just roll over and die and allow these player’s to leave one after another?

Why didn’t Villa just tie Milner down on a long term deal before he left for the World Cup? And then all this speculation could of been avoided.

Come on Villa – If we want to be a big football club, lets start acting like one!

Liverpool have had a absolute terrible season, and with the manager refusing to commit himself to the club despite just signing a long term deal and the ownership of the club in the air it’s no wonder they want a manager who can bring stab-ability.

And in my opinion there are two options for this and that’s Martin O’Neill and David Moyes and I don’t think Moyes is brave enough to move across Stanley Park after so long with the Blue side of Mersyside.

Randy Lerner has already said Martin will be at Villa Park next season and he has today come out in the press again stating that he wouldn’t allow O’Neill to move to Liverpool so that is that.

James Milner

According to a lot of the press Milner is already on his way out of Villa Park but unless he says he want’s to leave I don’t think he will be leaving as Villa wont sell him – after all we don’t need to.

Apparently Man City and Chelsea will do battle for his signature and will sign him for around £24million. Let’s face it this isn’t the first James Milner rumour and It wont be the last – It’s what comes with top quality players.

The season as become a season of ‘oh so nearly, but not nearly enough’.

A absolute scorcher from Conor Cliffard won the cup for Chelsea last night in a game where if we are honest they played us of the field and deserved the victory.

Just like the first leg, Villa took the lead against the run of play when Kofi Poyser headed past Chelsea keeper Sam Walker.

Chelsea simply turned up the pressure and if they didn’t win this game they would of kicked themselves.

The Blues were soon back on level terms midway through the second half thanks to Marko Mitrovic, and then late on that strike from Cliffard, that was worthy of winning any Cup Final.

Hopefully the lads will now go away and enjoy there summer holidays before coming back rejuvenated and ready to go again, and even force there ways into the first team.

Daniel Devine gave Villa the lead after just 19 minutes against the run of play when Richard Blythe swung over a corner and Devine’s header looped over Sam Walker in the Chelsea goal.

However, just after the hour mark Chelsea equalised when Jeffery Bruma fired home a free kick from 25 yards out.

The two sides will now do battle again at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening.

Much as been made of this, however i put it down to the way the tickets have been sold. The ticket office sell them in certain allocations and although it worked well for the final, it didnt work as well for the Semi Final because there simply wasnt enough time to allow it to happen this way.

Never the less, we will be there tomorrow and one thing is for sure, I can’t see us losing by seven this time – well I hope not anyway.

So i will be heading for Wembley on the train, first thing in the morning, so Im not sure when I will next update the blog but lets all take a glass and raise it wishing all the lads all the luck in the world tomorrow.

Ashley Young

Apparently Ashley Young is wanted by… wait for it… non other than European champions Barcelona. Any truth in this? I can’t see it to be honest. Although he might of hit a bit of form of late, he’s nowhere near in the quality for Barcelona so I wouldn’t take much notice to this story.

Randy Lerner

Randy Lerner has been speaking to The Independent as has stated that despite what fans think he does have a long term plan to make Aston Villa a very successful football club and business.

However, he did state though, as a football fan of Aston Villa he wants instant success.

It’s not very often we get to hear from the owner but its nice to see him come out and talk about the club. Puts a few rumours to bed to. So here is to a long successful future under the American.

Martin O’Neill finally made some changes by dropping Stewart Downing and Carlos Cueller to the bench, with Steve Sidwell and Luke Young replacing them respectively.

It didn’t take long for the Blues to take the lead either. Fifteen minutes to be precise. Flourent Malouda was aloud aches of space as he smashes the ball across goal, and the running in Frank Lampard slides in at the far post to put the home side a goal up.

However, Villa had different ideas and was back on level terms at the half hour mark. Almost a goal identical to Chelsea’s, Ashley Young smashes the ball across the goal for John Carew to tap in and Villa are back on level terms.

Chelsea soon regained their lead just before half time though. Deco was brought down in the box by a silly challenge from James Collins and the penalty was awarded. Frank Lampard stepped up and smashed the ball past Brad Friedel for a fantastic finish.

It didn’t take long for Chelsea to make it three. Deco finds Yuri Zhirkov out on the left wing, centres the ball for Malouda to make it 3-1.

It wasn’t long before it was 4-1 and started to become an easy game for Chelsea. Richard Dunne brings down Yuri Zhirkov in the area and another penalty is awarded. Frank Lampard steps up, and just as you would expect, he scores.

I write this report as I’m watching the game and I really want to turn the game off now as this is getting embarrassing. Chelsea brake again and guess what? They score yet again.

I’m going to be really unprofessional here and not finish the report as I’m fed up, and I can see this being 7-8 or even possibly 9. It’s shocking and embarrassing and let’s is honest, we knew it was coming.

Villa haven’t lost a game in 2010 yet in the Premier League but have only won two of their last six, while Chelsea will want to regain top of the league as they look to build on their five-nil smashing of Portsmouth last weekend.

We also head into this game with a few doubts. Richard Dunne, James Milner, Emile Heskey and Gabby Agbonlahor will all face late fitness tests as they all have Achilles problems.

Martin O’Neill has hinted that there could be changes once again this evening, but he has said this on numerous occasions of late.

Chelsea will welcome back German International Michael Ballack after he recovers from an Achilles injury.

However, Ashley Cole (ankle), Michael Essien (Knee), Ricardo Carvalho (Knee), Jose Bosingwa (Knee) and Branislav Ivanovic (Knee) are all still missing.

After our recent form it’s hard to see us get anything out of this game, and Chelsea have a mission to win the premier league this season.

Avillafan.com Prediction: Draw

Villa joined Portsmouth and Chelsea in the hat and one of Tottenham or Fulham, depending on who wins in the replay at White Hart Lane.

The FA Cup Semi Final Draw:

ASTON VILLA vs Chelsea
Portsmouth v Tottenham/Fulham

Bouma, whos been out of action for around 16 months played his first game since his long term injury problems, while Curtis Davis continued his comeback, after appearing against Brighton in the FA Cup.

Villa took the lead when Andreas Weimann put the ball past Chelsea keeper Rhys Taylor in the seventh minute.

However, the lead didnt last two long as the visitors equalised within three minutes. Kenny Strickland slotted home for Chelsea just inside the penalty area.

Villa got there lead back when Jonathon Hogg crossed the ball into there area, where Curtis Davis headed the ball in the direction of Ciaran Clarke who converted a fantastic overhead kick.

Villa confirmed the victory in the last minute when Hogg was once again involved with the goal. He headed the ball back across the goal from a cross, for Weimann to score his second of the night and give the reserves all three points.

Despite the victory, the spotlight was very much on Bouma, and Davis and they successfully come through there first step back to full fitness.

Home wins over Blackburn and Brighton see us sitting pretty, and surely one of the favourites but we have to remember Chelsea, Man City and Spurs won’t be easy. And then theres Stoke and Birmingham City who are on good runs at the moment.

Here is the draw in full:

Wolves/Crystal Palace v ASTON VILLA
Man City v Stoke City
Derby v Birmingham City
Bolton v Tottenham/ Leeds
Chelsea v Cardiff City
Fulham v Notts COunty
Reading v WBA
Southampton v Portsmouth