August 2009 Archives

MARTIN O'Neill edged back in front of Roy Hodgson in the hypothetical battle of the England manager-elects - for this week at least.

But if O'Neill's Villa can continue this novel knack of winning home games, the Villa Park faithful won't want to lose their manager to anybody.

While the FA have installed O'Neill and Hodgson as the favourites to succeed Fabio Capello in the Three Lions hotseat, according to some reports, the Villa manager has experienced a love-hate relationship with his claret-and-blue public in recent weeks.

WITH the distinction of having played just six international minutes for the Three Lions after getting injured on his international debut, has claret and blue new boy Stephen Warnock nicked diminutive defender Nicky Shorey's title as Villa's shortest England player, as well as his place at left-back?

Curtis Davies must shoulder his fair share of the responsibility for Aston Villa's defensive wobbles since the loss of Martin Laursen.

But Davies deserves credit rather than criticism for the way he has soldiered on without complaining about his injury worries so far this season.

The former West Brom skipper is set to put Villa's needs before his own again this afternoon by continuing to play through the pain barrier.

Because of his selfless commitment to the claret and blue cause he now faces the potential prospect of surgery on his dislocated shoulder.

LET'S hope last night's ticket stubs haven't got an expiry date because it could be quite some time before Villa honour their generous offer of free entry to their next European match.

Sadly, like this tie, those vouchers were being carelessly tossed aside at the end rather than put away safely as Villa's continental campaign came crashing down at the first hurdle.

It was a magnanimous gesture to try to make up for Moscow by tempting fans to attend the Europa League play-off with a potential Buy One Get One Free promotion for the group stages.

But, by the final whistle, BOGOF sounded less like an incentive and more like what some members of the increasingly disillusioned Villa Park faithful were shouting towards the field.