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?

The star who has been in fantastic form was voted Players Player of the Year, Goal of the Season for his strike against Sunderland and the Terrace Trophy which is voted for by the Lions Network.

Terrace Trophy – James Milner

As reported last night on our Facebook page Richard Dunne picked up the Supporters Player of the Season and again it’s no real surprise after his fantastic performances at the heart of the Villa back line.

Supporters Player of the Year – James Milner

Players and Supporters Young Player of the Year went to Nathan Delfouneso for the second season running, while Former Player of the Year went to Former European Cup winning full back Colin Gibson.

The thing is, I have a different outlook on next season and I firmly believe for the first time in years that Villa are about to release a few youth players on the Premier League next season who have success running through there bodies and this will help our already strong squad.

I know what your thinking already, we have heard all this before but this time I think the class of 2010 has much more prospect than many before, let me explain.

Both the Youth and Reserve set-ups have had very good season’s yet again, with the Youth in the Fa Youth Cup Final against Chelsea and the Reserves only losing on penalties to the Manchester United Reserve side yesterday.

We have players like Ciaran Clarke, Barry Bannan, Marc Albrighton and Nathan Delfouneso just to name a few coming through. All have experience of first team football, and all have had the taste for success. Let’s not forget these players were involved in the Peace Cup success last summer that involved strong Juventus and Real Madrid sides.

Fabian Delph is another, once fit again, he started to really settle in the Premier League this season, after all who can forget his performance against Manchester United this season and I believe he could really make a impact on our side.

Ciaran Clarke made his debut against Fulham this season in a 2-0 win and he very nearly got on the score sheet aswell. BBC’s Garth Crooks named the defender in his team of the week that week. He has captained the reserve side this season and he looks to have a real good head on his shoulders.

Nathan Delfouneso has made a real impact when he’s featured in the first team this season, and has already become a real fans favourite with most. He looks to be a very intelligent lad and he also scored the winning goal at Fratten Park this season in a 2-1 victory.

Barry Bannan has had a very good season on loan at Blackpool and even helped them to make the play-offs in the Championship this season.

You see there’s always promise about players in the Youth setup but as I already said I firmly believe these will take there chance when it is given and they will make a very good impact which could be worth million’s to the football club.

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.

Delfouneso will get his first opportunity to represent his country at this level after being promoted from the U-19 setup.

Stuart Pearce stated: “We just felt that Nathan has got a great commodity in his pace. I’ve seen him play for the Under-19s and he can also play out wide as well as down the middle”

Nathan Delfouneso’s profile seems to be getting bigger and bigger as this season progresses.

His name has been around for the past 2-3 seasons now, and weve all heard about him breaking youth and reserve scoring records but so did Luke Moore and Darrius Vassell and look where they both are now.

The 18 year old has represented England at U-16, U-17 and U-19 levels scoring a combined total of 18 goals in 32 appearances.

Delfouneso, wears the number 14 shirt, something he was given in 2008 when he signed his first professional contract and a French Magazine claimed it was due for the strikers admiration for then Arsenal striker Thierry Henry.

He then became the youngest player to represent Aston Villa in europe at the age of 17 years and 195 days when he came of the bench in a Uefa Cup second round match against FH Hafnarfjörður of Iceland.

Nathan went on to make his first first team start on the 4th January 2009, in a FA Cup tie against Gillingham in which Villa won 2-1. He soon scored his first professional goal against Doncaster Rovers, also in the FA Cup that same season.

A lot is expected of this young lad, and a lot of people forget that hes still only 18. At the end of last season he was voted both Aston Villa Players Young Player of the Season and Fans Player of the Season.

The 2009-10 season as sore him score his fifth and sixth goals for the club against Blackburn and Brighton, once again both in the FA Cup.

Nathan Delfouneso, is a player who in my opinion will make a massive impact in the future on the Premier League and with the big English contingent at the club already, there is no reason why one day he can’t be representing his national side at the highest level.

I hear you ask why he wont be just another Luke Moore, well the reason i say this is because he isnt just being thrown into the big time. Martin O’Neill use’s him sporadically and won’t rush him into anything hes not ready for.

The 6,000 travelling Brighton fans treated the game as if it was there very own cup final and sung from start to finish and were always behind there side.

Villa took the lead early on when Marc Albrighton broke free, crossed the ball into the area only for Nathan Delfouneso to open the scoring.

However, Brighton were soon level when Tommy Elphick stunned the home crowd by pulling the Seaguls level.

Normal serviced resumed in the second half when Ashley Young headed home from a Stewart Downing cross, and it was soon three when Fabian Delph scored what proved to be the winning goal.

Nicky Forster grabbed a late injury time consolation goal for Brighton.

Villa will be happy this game is over and done with and will look for another home tie against a lower league side in the next round. Derby anyone?

It was never going to be a preview of Tuesday night’s League Cup Semi Final when both sides made so many changes.

Villa took the lead after just 12 minutes when Ashley Young swung a cross in from the left, which met the head of young Nathan Delfouneso who headed it past Jason Brown in the Blackburn goal.

Despite all the Villa pressure Blackburn were awarded a penalty on the half hour mark when Nigel Reo-Coker brought down Steven Reid. Former Blues player David Dunn hit the ball to Brad Guzan’s left only to see Guzan parry it wide.

Villa soon made it two however. Ashley Young swings in a free-kick from the left wing and Carlos Cuellar heads the ball into the bottom right hand corner.

El-Hadje Diouf was sent off just before half time after a awful challenge on his Senegal teammate Habib Beye.

Blackburn pulled one back in the second half when Morton Gamst Pedersen crossed the ball into the Villa area and Nikola Kalinic put it into the Villa net.

In a game that never really got going, Villa secured themselves into the fourth round when John Carew made it 3-1 from the penalty spot on the 90th minute.

Villa will take this and would most like a lower division side at Villa Park in the next round, but knowing Villa’s look we will be going to Old Trafford very soon.