Old News Alert – Young Lions Didn’t Win The HK Sevens

Knowing that the Aston Villa Academy lads had won some seven-a-side tournament in Hong Kong the last couple of years, I was curious about whether they were defending their title this year. In all honesty, it was something I forgot to check up on.

Worry not, today the OS brought us the sad news that the young lions were beaten by Rangers in the semi-finals of this year’s competition. My curiosity re-ignited, I went in search of more information.

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Say Hello To Andy Marshall

Who?!? Relax, he’s 34, was available on a free and is obviously just filling the third choice goal keeper shirt vacated by Stuart Taylor. He has been signed on a one year contract.

Evidently Elliott Parish hasn’t inspired enough confidence should the two Brads become simultaneously unavailable. Marshall has played for Norwich, Ipswich, Millwall and Coventry.

With all due respect, and in the nicest possible way, I hope we don’t have to see you on the pitch, Andy.

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Get Your iPhone On

Thanks to EPL Talk I stumbled on the fact that Sky Sports News have just released an iPhone app. I was already using ESPN’s Score Center app, which I’ll continue to use as it is more customizable, but from what I’ve seen so far, the more streamlined, football focused app from Sky runs more quickly.

Not sure why we need Jeff Stelling staring at us on every screen, but it’s a pretty cool app. It’s available from the App

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Expectations For The 2009/10 Season – Part One

I’m deliberately using the word ‘expectation’ in place of ‘prediction’. Predicting the result of a single game with all of the possible variables is folly, but we all do it on an “all things being equal” basis. All things most certainly are not equal though. Bookmakers know this, it’s why they offer us the opportunity to wager on our predictions and they make a healthy living. Even a “dead cert” can fail to deliver. Over

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Aston Villa 2009/10 Squad Numbers

This time last year I seem to remember a lot of us fans scouring the squad list announcement for clues and homing in on the vacant number 8 spot. This time it’s Laursen’s number 5, but let’s face it, everyone knows we need to find a top notch replacement for Laursen!

Just as interesting, Stewart Downing takes whatshisface’s old number 6.

And in my best DJ voice:- Marc Albrighton is this week’s highest climber, moving up from 45 to number 12!!

1
Brad

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No Olympics For You

I was just flipping through my Tweets a little earlier and this one from the Birmingham Mail caught my eye:-

Mmmm, that doesn’t sound very good, does it? That sounds very much like the Olympic Organising Committee is kicking Villa Park to the curb for some reason, no? Whatever could be the problem?

Surprise, surprise, the headline doesn’t quite match the story. Second and third paragraphs (which is really where all tabloid articles start, the first paragraph

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Habib Beye Signs

Aston Villa have signed 31 year old French/Senegalise right back Habib Beye from Newcastle Utd on a three year contract.

He’s highly regarded by Newcastle fans in his right back role, but can also fill in at centre back. He’s obviously used to working with James Milner on the right, so shouldn’t have too many problems adapting.

At 31, I’d like to hope that MON plans to use Habib as a utility/squad player, perhaps just seeing us through a season or

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Europa League Draw Live

Aston Villa have been drawn against Rapid Vienna for the Fourth Round Europa League and will play the second leg at Villa Park.

Rapid entered the competition the Second Qualifying Round and have beaten Vllaznia from Albania 8-0 (agg.) & APOP of Cyprus 4-3 (agg. AET). They qualified for the tournament by finishing runner-up to Red Bull Salzburg in last year’s Austrian Bundesliga. 

Before I list the draw in full, I should correct something I said in an earlier post.

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