john carew Archive

James Milner, John Carew & Paul Scharner

Stuart

Published: April 20, 2010Tags: Aston Villa, James Milner, john carew, man city, Paul Scharner, United

James Milner, John Carew & Paul Scharner

Manchester City are the latest club to be linked with a summer move for our main man Jimmy Milner.

City’s rivals United have been linked with him on and off in the past month so It was only right that money bags Man City got involved.

I personally don’t think Milners going anywhere, and I fully expect him to sign a new deal in the summer. The reports are stating we want £24 million for our prize asset. Come on, Martin O’Neill wanted £18 million for a much older Gareth Barry. If someone was to take him I think it would set the back closer to the £30 million mark.

Martin O’Neill today stated:

James is still under contract with us and it’s a case of dampening fires that weren’t there in the first place.

We want the best players to stay here at Aston Villa so we can keep the momentum going. But I have kind of accepted it now. If it is not James it will be Ashley Young and if it is not Ashley it might be Richard Dunne and then someone else the following week.

The only way James Milner is going to leave Villa Park is if he openly states he want’s to leave Villa Park and for a man who look’s like he’s enjoying his time in Birmingham I personally can’t see this happening any time soon.

John Carew

John Carew is today being linked with a move to Roy Hodgson’s Fulham.

This one is a weird one because I have a feeling John Carew will be one of the player’s leaving in the Summer. I don’t think he gets on that well with Martin O’Neill and it’s no secret that Martin would rather play with Emile Heskey and Gabriel Agbonlahor.

And when you think about it Fulham is the sort of club that would really love John Carew and not to forget there seem’s to be a bit of a Scandanivian contribute at the club.

Paul Scharner

Paul Scharner has apparently put Villa, Everton and Fulham on red alert after telling Wigan that he won’t be signing a new deal at the end of the season and will be leaving on a bosman free transfer.

He has stated that he want’s to play European football so there’s no reason to stay at the DW Stadium.

I’m not sure what I think of this one if I’m honest. Every time I’ve seen the Austrian play for Wigan he’s made mistakes and hasn’t really stood out as a player. But then again could he provide some much needed back up to the squad – a player who you would be happy to replace one of your first eleven when tiredness intervenes.

Delfouneso wins it for Villa!

Stuart

Published: April 18, 2010Tags: Aston Villa, john carew, nathan delfouneso, Portsmouth, Premier League

Villa could have so easily be wondering how they didn’t win today with the amount of missed chances today, John Carew in particular should of walked away with the match ball.

Portsmouth went into this game with nothing to lose and everything to gain, already relegated and a place in the FA Cup final they were playing for pride, and they didn’t just roll over and die for Villa.

Despite the early pressure from Villa it was Portsmouth who took the lead. Van der Borre twisted inside Stephen Warnock and cuts the ball across goal where it came out to Michael Brown who smashed the ball past Brad Friedel in the Villa goal.

Villa didn’t have to wait long though to get back on level terms, in fact it was only six minutes. Carew beat the offside trap, cut inside David Wilson and smashed the ball past England keeper David James.

Five minutes before the end of the first half Villa were awarded a penalty when Papa Boupa Diop brought down Carew in the box. Carew stepped up only for it to be hit straight down the middle and for James to save it easily.

Villa could and maybe should of have at least two more clear cut penalties. The first was when Gabby Agbonlahor was brought down in the area. Somehow the referee awarded Portsmouth a free-kick to the shock of the whole stadium. And later on Ashley Young was brought down by Anthony Van der Borre, but again the referee said no.

Villa did finally score a winner with eight minutes left to play. Villa take a quick free kick, which meets Emile Heskey’s head and Nathan Delfouneso scores from close range to score his first goal in the Premier League.

This wasn’t as easy as some might of thought it could be but never the less it was an important three points for Villa. It moves them above Liverpool in the table and gives them a four point gap from Everton.

Guzan – “The forgotten man” & Carew to Blues?

Stuart

Published: March 28, 2010Tags: Brad Guzan, john carew

Guzan – “The forgotten man” & Carew to Blues?

When Villa walked out at Wembley last month to take on Manchester United, there was one man who was forgotten and if it wasn’t for him, we would never have been there. Yes, I’m talking about Brad Guzan.

Martin O’Neill is a man, who states that you play well, you keep your place in the side, well if this is the case, surely Guzan as a claim?

Who could forget the heroics the American goalkeeper performed at the Stadium of Light? I was there that night, and just when we thought it was going to be a long night, Brad Guzan had different ideas.

The understudy goalkeeper has been talking for the first time to the Sunday Mirror about how he felt devastated at being dropped for the final:

“To make it to the final, and to then get benched and to lose the game was absolutely heartbreaking.

After you help your team get to a final, especially a competition like the League Cup, it was devastating not to play. You always want to be part of the big games and help your team be successful, so to not be involved and then lose was a rough day for everyone.”

I have to say I generally feel for the guy and he does have a very good point.

The Sunday Mirror are also reported today that Birmingham City have their eyes on our on- form striker John Carew.

Carew, who has hit form of late has been told no contract talks will take place until the summer, and this as alerted the scum, as Carew only has 15 months left on his current deal.

Black Cats all but end Villa’s Champions League dream.

Stuart

Published: March 25, 2010Tags: Aston Villa, Frazier Campbell, john carew, Premier League, Sunderland

Black Cats all but end Villa’s Champions League dream.

Walking out of Villa Park last night I felt frustrated and let down. Just like Saturday against Wolves two points were dropped on home soil, and to be honest, if it wasn’t for the FA Cup, I would say our season was over now.

The players didn’t look at their best for the second game running, weather that’s down to tiredness or lack of motivation, for me either way it boils down to Martin O’Neill.

If it was tiredness, then he needs to rotate certain players, and then if he doesn’t feel that players are good enough to come in, then again that’s his own fault as it’s pretty much his own squad so he should have brought better.

Villa dominated play for much of the game without really causing a threat and looking like scoring.

However, Sunderland shocked the home fans when they took the lead after twenty-two minutes. Kieran Richardson created the goal with a perfectly weighted ball which allowed Frazier Campbell to beat the offside trap then go on to beat Brad Friedel in the Villa goal.

It didn’t take long for Villa to bring things back on level terms with possibly the move of the match, and the sort of play we have became used to as Villa fans.

James Milner broke with the ball, and then picked out the run of Ashley Young on the wing, which then in turn sent a beautiful low skidding ball across the box for Norwegian John Carew to pass it past Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

After Saturday I didn’t go into this game expecting a lot to be honest, but deep down hoping that the boys would pull together and get something but it was never to be. I lost a lot of respect for Steve Bruce and his players after they time wasted from the half time whistle as if they were winning and needed the win to stay in the league.

Chelsea is up next and Villa will need to book up their ideas if they are to get anything out of that game.

Villa drop points at home to Wolves

Stuart

Published: March 21, 2010Tags: Aston Villa, James Milner, Jody Craddock, john carew, villa park, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wolves

To say Wolves were unlucky to walk away from Villa Park yesterday would be an understatement.

Martin O’Neill may refuse to comment on John Carew’s first goal stating that some decisions made by the referees have gone against us, but I will admit that the goal was offside and we was outplayed by a side fighting to stay in the League.

It’s very rarely I criticize any of our players or the management but yesterdays result and the way we performed changed my views on a few things.

If Martin doesn’t believe in Nathan Delfouneso then he should have brought in another striker in January. When you are behind and are trying to come back in Emile Heskey, regardless of your opinions on the player – isn’t the kind of forward you want on the pitch.

Not because of the lack of goals he scores, but because of how deep he plays, we needed a fast striker who was going to play on the last man, and both Carew and Heskey don’t do this.

Villa took the lead just after the 15 minute mark when Carew converted an Ashley Young cross, which shouldn’t have counted due to offside.

However, it wasn’t long before the away side hit back. David Jones played the ball into the Villa area, and although Ronald Zubar completely miss-kicked the ball, Jody Craddock made no mistake in putting it past Brad Friedel in the Villa goal.

And Wolves soon doubled there tally. Again David Jones broke into the Villa area, this time releasing to the overlapping Matt Jarvis, and he attacked the ball, only for James Milner to make a last ditch tackle, but the ball went into the Villa net.

The second half it was all Villa, and Martin O’Neill even withdrew Richard Dunne so Villa could go 5 in midfield to match Wolves, and Steve Sidwell also replaced a very below par Stewart Downing.

And then with 8 minutes left to play, Villa finally equalised from Carew. Heskey’s flick found substitute Sidwell, who shot towards goal, and Carew pounced to equalise for Villa.

Villa could of also found themselves going on to win the game when Craddock clearly pushed Milner in the box in extra time, but the referee dubbed Phil Dowd in disguise by the Villa faithful said no.

I fear that this result might have just closed the door on the top four for Villa. If you can’t beat a side like Wolves at home, then you don’t deserve to be in the top four.

Sunderland are next up on Wednesday night at Villa Park and Villa will need all three points if they want any chance of that Champions League spot. A win on Wednesday night will see Villa beat the Mackams three times this season.