Just in case you missed it, the OS have published a touching interview with departing Freddie Bouma where he pays tribute the support he received from the fans and explains that he wanted to take the microphone during his farewell at Villa Park, but feared that emotion would get the better of him.
He also reveals that he’s hoping to play another 3 or 4 years. I haven’t heard any confirmation of his destination yet. There’s been some interest from clubs
If you’re a Villa fan with a holiday in the Algarve booked around the end of July / beginning of August you just lucked out! The club have announced a couple of pre-season friendlies in Portgual as part of the Guadiana Cup; an annual mini-tournament hosted by Benfica.
The format varies, some years four teams have competed, others just three, it’s not unknown for it to feature only two. This summer it looks like it will be three, with Feyenoord
You thought our season was over, didn’t you? Not quite. We’ve been sending some of the young lions over to Hong Kong each summer for at least the last 8 years to participate in the Hong Kong Soccer Sevens tournament and it’s something we’ve had a fair amount of success in.
Earlier today a team that included Nathan Delfouneso, Marc Albrighton and Ciaran Clark won the trophy for a 5th time, beating Glasgow Rangers 3-2 in the final.
Randy Lerner is conducting a press conference, as promised, right at this moment and Twitter is lit up with the owner’s confirmation that Martin O’Neill isn’t going anywhere. Since I never thought he was, this isn’t news to me. However, if you look hard enough there have been one or two interesting nuggets floating around which will emerge during the course of the day.
Randy has insisted that James Milner isn’t going anywhere either. Again, not news to
2009/10 has been good for 20 year old Shane Lowry. We got to see a bit of him during last summer’s Peace Cup tournament and he looked a fine prospect, as many of the youngsters did playing alongside the regular first team players.
He made 3 senior appearances early in the season; coming on as a substitute in both legs of the Europa League tie against Rapid Vienna and also late on in the FA Cup win over Brighton at
Fabio Capello has just named his 30 man provisional squad ahead of the World Cup next month and it’s good news for Stephen Warnock, James Milner and Emile Heskey. Not such good news for Ashley Young, Stewart Downing and Gabby Agbonlahor then.
As you’ll see in an upcoming post on the Actim Index Top 100, Gabby is the highest ranked English striker, above Wayne Rooney, but apparently isn’t good enough for England. Emile Heskey does make the cut, but
Pretty sad news this. After a fair amount of speculation about his future, the club have confirmed what many have long suspected; they will not be extending Freddie Bouma’s contract when it expires in June and he is free to talk to other clubs about a free transfer in the Summer. I assume this is one of those “mutual consent” things.
It’s a massive shame, Freddie’s attitude and skill endured him to us and I think I can speak
While you were watching Tottenham crush City fans’ hopes of Champions League, Aston Villa enjoyed the annual end of season bash for handing out the gongs tonight, here are the winners:-
Former Players Player of the Year Award – Colin Gibson
Goal of the Season – James Milner v Sunderland
Nominations were: –
Ashley Young v West Ham
James Milner v Hull City
James Milner v Sunderland
Gabby Agbonlahor v Fulham
Stan Petrov v Crystal Palace
James Milner v Portsmouth
Gabby Agbonlahor v Man Utd
James Milner v Blackburn
Carlos Cuellar
What a season it’s been. The senior side made it to the Carling Cup final and FA Cup semi-final. The reserves won the southern league title, but lost the play-off final against their northern counterparts, Man Utd, at Old Trafford. And tonight the academy side lost to Chelsea in the second leg of the FA Youth Cup final in front of 12,500 mostly Blues fans at Stamford Bridge.
Close, but no cigar at every level this season.