July 2009 Archives

IT only took a quick glance at Aston Villa's Spanish defender Carlos Cuellar sporting a beard this week to know that there was hair apparent.

But I can't help wondering if Cuellar, Villa's unofficial tour guide here in Andalucia, is the heir apparent when it comes to replacing the irreplaceable and becoming Martin Laursen's successor.

SPEAKING of central defenders may I bid a fond farewell to Zat Knight who left the Villa camp on Friday to join up with new club Bolton on tour in Holland.

Ever since his arrival at Villa Park was shrouded in controversy after spending the morning of his signing in a police cell, Knight has been made a scapegoat.

It's true that the lanky Brummie is prone to the odd costly lapse in concentration, but the criticism of Knight is often unfair and completely over the top.

IT was the Peace Cup but Emile Heskey was in the wars as Villa put the pain in Spain during a miserable night in Malaga for Martin O'Neill's men.

The claret and blue battering ram was carried off on a stretcher seven minutes into Villa's first match in the pre-season tournament at La Rosaleda.

Heskey looked to be in big trouble when he clashed heads with Malaga defender Weligton challenging for a high ball.