Bouma to announce retirement?
There is a big rumour circulating around the press and the internet that Wilfred Bouma is to announce his retirement from the game.
Bouma’s problems started way back in July 2008 when he caught his stoods in the Villa Park pitch in a Intertoto game against Odense. It was first thought to be a horrific leg break but it was soon revealed that it was just a dislocation and he would return to action before Christmas of that year. However, the injury took far longer.
Because of his importance to the club, despite the injury Bouma signed a 2 year extension to his contract with a option of a third year in the September of that year.
March 2nd 2009, sore the return of the Dutch man to reserve team action and helped the side to a 4-3 victory over a Chelsea side that included Michael Essien. However, in April he experienced more injury problems and had to undergo surgery because bone fragments had broken away from his ankle.
September 2009 the club revealed after 14 months of injury hell the star would return to first team full training. But again Wilfred had another slip up when he stubbed his toe in training.
January 2010 Bouma made another comeback after eighteen months of absense and played a full 90 minutes for the reserve side on the 1st February. But Bouma has yet to make a comeback to the first team.
The Former Holland international is now approaching his 32nd birthday and is a huge favourite with the Aston Villa faithful.
As I said the announcement is due to be released in the next day or two so Bouma can say a final goodbye on the final game of the season against Blackburn on Sunday – much like that of Martin Laursen last season.
Regardless Wilfred Bouma was one of my favourite Villa players and I wish him all the best and thank him for his time at Villa Park and it’s a real shame that he wasn’t able to play much more for Villa.
Reo-Coker Returns
Nigel Reo-Coker returns to action tonight for the Aston Villa reserves as they take on Arsenal Reserves.
Reo-Coker has been missing for three months with an ankle injury, and will join Wilfred Bouma in the side.
The Reserve side can go one step closer to winning the league tonight if they beat Arsenal. They will go five points clear, with only Fulham having a chance if they can win their games in hand.
The likes of Nathan Delfouneso, Andreas Weimann, Marc Albrighton and skipper Ciaran Clark are also primed for action in the clash at Villa Park.
The squad is the following:
VILLA: Andy Marshall, Johnathan Hogg, Wilfred Bouma, Ciaran Clark, Stephen O’Halloran, Marc Albrighton, Nigel Reo-Coker, Moustapha Salifou, Dominik Hofbauer, Andreas Weimann, Nathan Delfouneso. Substitutes: Harry Forrester, David Bevan, James Collins, Matthew Roome, Daniel Bradley.
You can keep up to date on the game with AVTV or by the live text service on the official website.
Davis and Bouma continue there comeback
Last night Curtis Davis and Wilfred Bouma continued their comeback to first team football in a reserve match which sore us thrash Wolves 3-0.
The game was probably much closer than the score line suggests but the important part was for Davis, and Bouma to come through unscathered.
James Collins (2) and Harry Forrester got the goals for the away side as the Villa Reserves continue their good form this season.
The reserves are currently sitting pretty at the top of the table as they aim to retain their title.
Moustapha Salifou also featured in this game, his first game since the incident with the Togo national side in the Africa Nations last month.
It was a good result for Villa, as Wolves had a very strong side out.
VILLA: Bevan; Lichaj, Bouma, Clark, Davies; Salifou, Osbourne, Hogg; Weimann, Collins, Hofbauer. Substitutes: Forrester, Roome, Carruthers, Simmonds, Roberts.
WOLVES: Hennessey; Halford, Stearman, Elokobi, Friend; Surman, Castillo, Milijas, Mujangi; Maierhofer, Vokes. Substitutes: McCarey, Dunleavy, Hemmings, Spray.
Preview: Tottenham v Aston Villa
Villa head down to North London today to take on Spurs in the 5.30pm kick off at White Hart Lane. For all those who don’t already know, the game is live on ESPN.
The race for the top four is really starting to hot up now with four teams all chasing the forth spot, and in Spurs and Villa, two of them take on eachother today.
The two sides met earlier on in the season and it ended up as a 2-2 draw at Villa Park.
Spurs boast a impressive home form this season which includes clean sheets in each of there last six home fixtures while Villa have won three of there last four games on the road.
Tottenham have Eidur Gudjohnson, Younes Kaboul and Kyle Walker all in the squad and could play some part in the fixture. David Bentley will continue in the starting line up at the expense of injured Aarron Lennon, while Luka Modric is looking for force is way back into the starting eleven.
Villa will welcome back John Carew who has missed the last four games with a knee injury, and he should start on the bench. Stiliyan Petrov is also likely to start despite a Achilles injury.
Stephen Warnock is the only real doubt as he is still struggling with a shin injury. Wilfred Bouma played 90 minutes in mid-week, but still doesn’t find himself on the bench as Martin O’Neill doesnt want him to rush back.
Going to be a good game with two sides who are very good at the back of late and also enjoy attacking football. This is a game that Villa must win if they want to really push for a top four spot and could climb above Spurs with a win this evening.
SKYBET Odds: Tottenham 11/10, Aston Villa 5/2, Draw 12/5
Avillafan.com Prediction: Draw.
Bouma & Davis step up there comeback.
Wilfred Bouma and Curtis Davis last night stepped up there comeback to first team action by both completing 90 minutes for the Reserve side in a 3-1 victory over Chelsea at Villa Park.
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.
