November 2008 Archives

ASTON Villa should include 'Birmingham' in the club's name to boost international recognition of the city.

That is the bizarre wish of city council leader Mike Whitby.

He feels that the suburban-sounding Villa does not do justice to Britain's second city.

He is urging a name change, possibly to 'Aston Villa Birmingham', and plans to raise the matter with club chairman Randy Lerner.

Councillor Whitby claimed the new identity would help fans to understand where Villa play football and better promote the global brand of Birmingham. But the move is bound to infuriate fans of both Villa and Birmingham City.

Coun Whitby believes that while the team is famous across the world, it is difficult to tell from the name Aston Villa where the club is based.

He's contrasted the Villa "identity crisis" with Manchester United, where supporters are left in no doubt about the Manchester connection.

Coun Whitby said: "Aston Villa is one of Birmingham's great institutions and is an international brand that the city is proud of.

VILLA will go third on Saturday if they beat Fulham. "Jurassic Park!" as Alan Partridge might say.

Martin O'Neill can therefore say what he likes.

He could tell you that pasta grows on trees, that his favourite Bond was George Lazenby and that he disliked Ziggy Stardust but had an affection for Bowie's other creation, Aladdin Sane.

He could be just as whimsical on other matters, that he likes tea but not with sugar, with a biscuit but never with a custard cream, and that his particular gripe with Jethro Tull was that mainstays of the group - Messrs Anderson, Barre, Evan, Hammond and Barlow - lasted only until the end of 1975.

Martin O'Neill is adamant that the Football Association's Respect the Ref campaign still has his total support despite his angry condemnation of referee Peter Foy.

The Aston Villa manager was incensed by the Merseyside official's failure to take any action against Nemanja Vidic during Saturday's 0-0 draw with Manchester United.

Television replays clearly showed the Serbian defender tugging the shirt of Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor in the 57th minute of the Premier League match at Villa Park.

Wayne Rooney was guilty of a glaring miss at Villa Park as Manchester United missed the chance to close the gap on Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea and Liverpool.

Martin O'Neill's side ended their 14-match losing sequence against the Red Devils but the visitors could have cut the deficit on the pacesetters to six points after the leading two were both held earlier in the day.

Fit-again Rooney squandered United's best chance when he fired over the bar from close range in the second half.