I'll prove you wrong

considering we have the mighty Juve conquering Arsenal in DOL wants to prove us wrong. Good luck - I hope he does!
O'Leary promise on Offical Villa Website

Shrewd Deadly

Player of the season would have to be James Milner in my opinion. One of the only players to bring exciting football back to villa park and has even got the Trinity Road stand excited on occasions (as anyone who has ever sat there would know, it is a rare thing). Surely his performances have warrented deadly pulling the required £4m from his back pocket and shipping it Newcastle Utd's way. Even Milner has said that he is settled at Villa Park, so we should go for it. I cannot believe that we are so cash strapped that we cannot afford players, when the list of the most profitable clubs in the world came out late last year, Villa was 20th on that list. Perhaps this is because we only now spend money as a last resort, when all other resources have been exhausted, and therefore...

My question is: Is deadly doug preparing us for the drop, so we aren't in such a situation that we cannot bounce back immediately? Perhaps he observed the catasrophic fall from grace that Leeds Utd had a few years ago, and is taking measures to ensure that we can bounce back straight away. Certainly we are flirting with relegation this year, as we have now manoeuvred ourselves to 17th in the league, and although we are 10 points clear, we are by no means safe.

If this is true, fair play to Doug Ellis. He has taken stick from alot of fans in the past, and I will admit to wanting a new chairman, but he has been a good servant to the villa. He says he is waiting for the right deal to come along, and see if the new financers can provide a 'War Chest' for which the manager (note I don't say O'Leary) will be able to purchase the right players to move the club forward.

On another point, young player of the season is Steven Davis. Just a shame that there isn't another award because it would be a shame for luke moore to not have his services recognised this year. All 3 (Milner, Davis and Moore) have been our shining lights this year.

Up the Villa

Vote for Villa's player of the year

For the priveledge it will cost you a quid but I recommend Davis or Moore.
Player of the year vote on Offical Villa Website

Although Djemba-Djemba is the strong favourite

Baros has a release clause ...

Not suprising but the Villa have put out a statement on the website that Baros has a release clause in his contract:
Baros contract article on Offical Villa Website

I don't think anyone doubted that if Baros had a good world cup he'd be out the door. I think we should congratulate O'Leary if this is the case as (unless the release clause is less than what we paid for him (derrrrr)) as with shirt sales and all the press that came with Baros, and a good oppurtunity to sell him for more than we paid for him means we should be making a good profit, which means that the cash can then be reinjected into the team!

Sometimes I worry about our fans

I'm not going to deny that I signed a petition to get rid of O'Leary - But I am a little disappointed with the conduct of a small bunch of fans. It seems that those fans in the Holte End that put up the banner "We're not fickle, we just don't like you" were speaking from a personal point of view, and were not representing the fans as a whole.

I remember from Championship Manager "Due to increasing supporter unrest Dave Jones has been sacked from his job as manager of Wolves" I think it would be ashame that just a handful of people have done this what I can see is a nice guy.

Just to back up my reasoning for signing the petition - Doncaster Rovers! I was hurt plus my boss is a Rovers fan :( and we were humiliated. I don't think O'leary fits in - but I do like him!

Dire Straits

Another must win premiership fixture looms, and with it comes an injury list as long as the gap between Villa and being crowned European Champions.

Defense is again the problem and we head into the 6 pointer with Portsmouth with only 1 recognised centre-back, Liam Ridgewell.

Missing/ Doubtful defenders include:

• Bouma - crocked
• Hughes - Late fitness test
• Laursen - do i need to say anything
• Cahill - Late fitness test
• Mellberg - Suspended
• Delaney - Hamstring/ In a mood

Missing/ Doubtlful midfielders

• McCann - Suspended
• Gardner - Injured (Although I might be wrong)

Missing/ Doubtful Strikers

• Moore - Late fitness test

Fingers crossed on saturday, we've only won 3 games at home this season, but we are playing portsmouth who haven't won in 7 games. Who knows.

Form book says 1-1, reckon it depends on whether Sorenson has had his Weetabix in the morning, he's the only defensive player to cover himself with glory this year. (Although, Hughes has done well too)