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| Aston Villa The Villans |
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 11-11-2007, 12:39 AM | #61 (permalink) | ||
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 |
A string of Premier League clubs are tracking Paraguayan forward Nelson Cuevas, skysports.com reports. The 27-year-old is coming out-of-contract at Club America of Mexico and he is lining up a free transfer to England when the transfer window opens in January. Portsmouth's Harry Redknapp has already expressed an interest and during a recent visit to Britain Cuevas is believed to have held talks with Pompey. Derby, Aston Villa and Blackburn are amongst those understood to be interested. Cuevas' international team-mate Roque Santa Cruz has shone at Blackburn since moving from Bayern Munich in the summer and he is believed to have encouraged his club to make a move for his fellow countryman. Cuevas, who would qualify for a work permit to play in the Premier League, is set to consider his options over the next month with a view to a move in January. | ||
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| 11-11-2007, 12:41 AM | #62 (permalink) |
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Villa to pay record £10M for Liverpool's Carson Aston Villa are set to pay a Premiership record £10 million for Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson. Villa have already paid £1.75m to cover his temporary stay and have been told they can keep him by parting with a further £8.25m. Impressed with his contribution so far, Martin O'Neill is expected to meet Carson, who has given up on trying to dislodge Pepe Reina at Anfield, in the next few weeks to discuss a long-term contract. The Villa manager may have to move swiftly, though, after it emerged that other clubs are also monitoring the 22-year old's availability. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is known to be an admirer, but Benitez confirmed Villa were in pole position by saying: "They have first option to buy him." The fee would eclipse the British record £9m Sunderland paid Hearts for Scotland's Craig Gordon. |
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| 11-11-2007, 12:42 AM | #63 (permalink) |
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Carson keen to settle at Villa for "5-10 years" Scott Carson is close to completing a permanent move from Liverpool to Aston Villa after a successful loan period with the midlands club. The England number three confirmed a deal has been agreed which could allow him to make the full-time switch to Villa Park. The former Leeds player said: "What I want now is to be settled for the next five to 10 years. I've been out on loan a lot over the last couple of seasons. "It is not easy when you keep moving up and down the country. It would be nice to settle at a club that I like and where the fans like me. "I've settled in well at Aston Villa over the past few months. Everyone at the club has welcomed me and that has been a big help. "I think the clubs have agreed something where, if everyone is happy, my move could be made permanent and it is something I would welcome. I would prefer to establish myself as a number one at Villa. "I don't feel I've done a great deal wrong so far and, if I feel I should have done better, I will be the first person to admit it. I'm not one for coming up with excuses." Villa boss Martin O'Neill is delighted with the progress made by Carson, who has replaced Thomas Sorensen as his first choice keeper. He said: "Scott he has done very well. I've been very pleased with him. He is improving as a keeper. "He is very young but he has got a terrific attitude and wants to improve." |
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| 11-11-2007, 12:48 AM | #64 (permalink) |
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Birmingham's Palacios wants derby appearance Birmingham City midfielder Wilson Palacios, whose brother, Edwin Rene, has been kidnapped in Honduras, says that he wants to play against Aston Villa before he returns home. "He comes into the equation, that's for sure," Steve Bruce, the manager, said. |
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| 11-11-2007, 12:48 AM | #65 (permalink) |
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Villa defender Laursen delighted for Birmingham's Ridgewell Aston Villa defender Martin Laursen is delighted to see former teammate Liam Ridgewell doing so well at derby rivals Birmingham City. "He is a good player," Laursen said. "I was a bit surprised to see he was now captain because he is completely new and so young, but obviously he is a leader, a good defender and very dangerous. He has a good eye for goal. To go somewhere else in the Premiership and play was the best thing for him." |
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| 11-11-2007, 10:16 AM | #67 (permalink) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soccer Forums Rookie Offline Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 20,159 vCash: 23720747 Rep Points: 1487 |
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| 11-11-2007, 12:20 PM | #69 (permalink) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 |
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| 11-11-2007, 10:29 PM | #71 (permalink) |
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Barry happy at Villa Park Aston Villa's England international midfielder Gareth Barry says he is happy at Villa Park. The 26-year-old had been linked with a surprise move to Chelsea during the January transfer window. However, the long-serving Villa ace says the reports were nothing to do with him and that he is hoping to remain at the club for the foreseeable future. "Certainly (the reports) weren't from my side, trying to push a move away from Villa Park," he told Sky Sports. "I'm obviously very happy here and I want to be part of a club that is going to try and win things. "I want to be part of what Martin O'Neill and Randy Lerner are trying to do and that's push this club forward." |
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| 11-11-2007, 10:30 PM | #72 (permalink) |
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Birmingham boss Bruce angry after penalty shouts ignored Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce is convinced ref Steve Bennett ignored two clear penalty claims for his side after their 2-1 derby defeat to Aston Villa. Bennett had incurred the wrath of Villa boss Martin O'Neill earlier in the season when he sent him from the dug-out during the home clash with Fulham. Now he angered the other side of the Second City with Bruce convinced spot-kicks should have been awarded against Zat Knight - for handball - and Martin Laursen, for bringing down Daniel De Ridder who was booked for allegedly diving. In the end an 87th-minute header from Gabriel Agbonlahor settled the game in Villa's favour after Blues substitute Mikael Forssell had cancelled out an own goal from former Villa defender Liam Ridgewell. Bruce said: "What is the point of speaking to the referee? "I was adamant at the time the first one is handball by Zat Knight. We've all seen it except Mr Bennett. "For the second one he has got to be convinced De Ridder is diving. "De Ridder has said at half-time that he was caught by Laursen. I've seen it again and he has been caught. It is a blatant penalty. "As usual with Mr Bennett, especially with us anyway, we never seem to get those decisions and he has made two howlers. Big decisions in a derby like that are crucial. "If we get two penalties, we are in the driving seat. "For me they are two blatant penalties but whether Mr Keith Hackett (referees' supremo) does anything about it, I am not so sure. "If Mr Bennett has genuinely got them wrong, so be it. But refs are professionals and you expect them to get big decisions right like that. "He got them wrong and it has cost us. I hope he comes out and says that." Blues recovered from Ridgewell's own goal and it needed a goal-line clearance from Agbonlahor to prevent the Blues skipper making amends before he scored the winning goal at the other end of the pitch. Bruce said: "We had to recover from the own goal and Villa were then in the ascendancy. "We didn't stop the cross as well as we should have and Liam did not anticipate it as well as he should have - and it ended up in the back of the net. "That rocked us for 20-25 minutes. We couldn't wait to get to half-time and try something different, which we did, and that worked better for us and we looked a threat up front. "A draw would have been a fair result. I thought Liam's header was in, that it was going to be his day, but it just shows what a fine edge it is between victory and defeat. "It was a cracking derby and we have been harshly treated." |
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| 11-11-2007, 10:32 PM | #73 (permalink) | ||||||
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Agbonlahor gives Villa derby bragging rights Written by: AFP
Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell gave his old club the lead with a first half own goal at St Andrews before Mikael Forssell came off the bench to level for the hosts. But Agbonlahor was rewarded for a dynamic display when he glanced in Ashley Young's cross with three minutes left to clinch Villa's first away win since April. It was fitting that Agbonlahor, who was born in Birmingham, should have the final word as Villa won this grudge match for the third successive time. Defeat was cruel on the Blues, who slipped to their fifth defeat in six matches despite matching Martin O'Neill's side for long periods. "I've had a few good moments in my career but this is one of the best," Agbonlahor said. "It's not just the goal. I live quite close to the area and support the club so the win means a lot to my family and friends." O'Neill added: "I didn't enjoy much of the game. I knew it was going to be see-saw. It could have gone either way but Gabby is having a fantastic time at the moment." Birmingham boss Steve Bruce was furious with referee Steve Bennett's refusal to give his side two penalties. "I thought they were both penalties at the time. In a big game we were harshly done by again. As usual with Mr Bennett we didn't get anything. He's got them wrong and I hope he comes out and says that." Villa won both meetings when the clubs last locked horns two seasons ago and Bruce described the defeat at Villa Park, which effectively sealed his side's relegation, as one of the worst moments of his career. So it was no surprise that Birmingham started with the fire of a team desperate for revenge. Birmingham's players and fans were screaming for a penalty when Cameron Jerome's flick appeared to strike Zat Knight's hand moments later, but Bennett waved played on. Villa managed to soak up the pressure and broke out to take the lead in the 10th minute thanks to a gift from an old team-mate. Stiliyan Petrov whipped over a low cross from the right flank and Ridgewell, unsighted as the ball flew past Johan Djourou, reacted too late as it deflected off his knee and into the net. Ridgewell spent six years with Villa before moving across the city in pre-season. Villa's fans were quick to rub salt into the wound by chanting "there's only one Liam Ridgewell" for several minutes. Birmingham were rocked and could have fallen further behind. Villa forward Agbonlahor shot wide after an incisive surge from Ashley Young before Maik Taylor produced a fine save to keep out John Carew's strike. Bruce's side gradually recovered equilibrium, only to have their sense of injustice stoked when Bennett turned down another penalty claim after Daniel de Ridder tumbled under Martin Laursen's lunge. To compound their misery Bennett booked de Ridder for diving. But derby matches can be the ideal balm to sooth a struggling team's wounds. The pride at stake in local squabbles can drag heroic performances out of previously moribund teams, and Birmingham were rewarded for their tenacity in the 62nd minute. Fabrice Muamba spread a pass out to de Ridder and the Dutch winger picked out Forssell, who buried a powerful header past Scott Carson. Jerome nearly put Birmingham in front moments later. His ferocious strike was heading in until Carson parried it to safety. Nigel Reo-Coker should have put Villa back in front with 20 minutes left. Instead the midfielder, in acres of space, produced a woeful miss as he scooped his shot over from close range. But Ridgewell will want to forget this afternoon in a hurry. His header with five minutes to go was destined to go in until Agbonlahor cleared off the line. Then two minutes later Ridgewell had a key role as Villa stole the points. Young curled in a cross and the Birmingham captain allowed Agbonlahor to get in front of him and glance a header past Taylor. | ||||||
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| 11-13-2007, 11:48 PM | #76 (permalink) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa  Premier League 2007/2008 | Campeonato | Day 14
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| 11-13-2007, 11:54 PM | #77 (permalink) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Matchday 15 ~ Aston Villa vs Arsenal Aston Villa vs Arsenal Premier League 2007/2008 | Campeonato | Day 15
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| 11-15-2007, 12:19 AM | #78 (permalink) |
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Villa boss O'Neill assures Davies Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has assured summer signing Curtis Davies he is banging on the door of a first team call. O'Neill said: "Curtis Davies has come here and he has said himself this is the longest spell he has been out of the first team anywhere in his career. "But I haven't signed him for four or five games, I've signed him for the next x number of years and I want him to be a really big player for Aston Villa which I am sure he can be. "This current spell - although he may not see it like this - will give him some sort of incentive so when he gets into the team, as he will inevitably, that he is in there to stay. "He is pushing for a place. His reserve performances have been excellent and he is improving. "He wasn't best pleased with his performance against Leicester in the Carling Cup but that is not to be held against him forever and a day." |
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| 11-17-2007, 01:20 AM | #79 (permalink) |
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Villa's Barry dismisses Russia conspiracy England midfielder Gareth Barry has dismissed the "conspiracy theories" surrounding Israel's Euro 2008 qualifier with Russia on Saturday. There has been speculation that Russia will have an easy ride in securing the win which would effectively end England's hopes of qualifying for next summer's finals. The Aston Villa skipper said: "You hear all the conspiracy theories but I am sure every team does their best when they get out there on the pitch and it will be no different with Israel. "Of course, when it comes to the Israel-Russia game, there is not much I can do except pray, keep the fingers crossed and hope for the result to go in our favour. "But I was a substitute when we drew 0-0 in Tel Aviv earlier in the group and I know it is a difficult place to go. "On the day, Israel were well organised, proved very tough for us to break down and showed they could be dangerous in attack. "That very experience gives me hope that Russia may also find it hard over there. "It's a case of having your fingers crossed but by no means is everything over. "Then, if the results over the weekend are beneficial to us, we have to make sure we make the most of being given another chance against Croatia next Wednesday." |
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| 11-18-2007, 11:22 PM | #80 (permalink) |
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Villa bid 20M for Liverpool's Carson, Crouch Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill wants to bring Liverpool striker Peter Crouch back to Villa Park. The Independent says Villa are prepared to offer 20 million to sign both Crouch and on-loan goalkeeper Scott Carson in the winter market. Crouch is also a target for Manchester City. |
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| 11-18-2007, 11:23 PM | #81 (permalink) |
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Villa boss O'Neill silent on new England interest Martin O'Neill is refusing to be drawn on speculation linking him with the England job, while Alan Curbishley has already ruled himself out of the running should Steve McClaren be sacked. O'Neill has persistently been linked with the England job in the past and was interviewed prior to McClaren's appointment. Should England indeed qualify for Austria and Switzerland then it seems highly unlikely The FA will sack a manager they were criticised for appointing in the first place, with O'Neill loath to be drawn on the inevitable speculation. "There is no point in speculating on speculation," he told the Daily Star Sunday. "Let's take it one step at a time. That's the way to run with it. "My own view, and I'm not just saying it for the sake of it, is that England's recent performances have been excellent." While O'Neill stopped short of ruling himself out of contention, West Ham boss Curbishley has done just that - confirming there are no get-out clauses in his contract with regards taking other jobs. "When I was at Charlton I had all sorts of clauses in the contract - and that's why I was given permission to talk in the first place," he told the Observer. "But I didn't seek any of those sort of things in this contract. "I'm ruling myself out entirely. This is where I want to be and this is where I want to be successful, so I've got no intention of leaving the club." |
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| 11-18-2007, 11:23 PM | #82 (permalink) |
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Villa's Cahill rules out Sheffield Utd stay Aston Villa defender Gary Cahill has ruled out a permanent deal at Sheffield United. Reports had suggested Bryan Robson would move to sign him permanently when the transfer window opens in January but Cahill insists that he wants to be playing for Villa in the Premier League. He told Villa's official website: "I don't know where that has come from because I haven't spoken to the manager here or the manager back at Villa about that. "There was nothing said at any time that it could become permanent. The manager knocked back my loan the first time and he said that he didn't want me to go. "I've got an apartment in Sheffield and it is comfortable being near people that I know. But I am due back at Villa on December 18. My home and my career still lie in Birmingham." |
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| 11-23-2007, 09:31 PM | #84 (permalink) |
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Villa boss O'Neill rules out England job Aston Villa's Martin O'Neill ruled himself out of the running for the vacant England manager's job on Friday. O'Neill, 55, an early favourite to take over from the sacked Steve McClaren, told a news conference before Saturday's Premier League game at Middlesbrough that he was committed to his club. "I want to do this job and that really should end it (the speculation)," said the former Northern Ireland international, who was interviewed by the FA for the England position last time around. "I am committed here to this job...I actually love the job. "You are talking about a door being shut but it may never have been open in the first place. "This is where I want to do the job and I want to try and do something properly for Aston Villa." |
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| 11-24-2007, 01:50 AM | #85 (permalink) |
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Middlesbrough v Aston Villa The alarm bells must be ringing at the Riverside, with Boro having been unable to win in eight games now. Gareth Southgate is clearly not competent enough to manage a Premiership club and his days are almost certainly numbered in a league where managers are under intense pressure to get results and find success. After guiding England to misery, perhaps it is time for Steve McClaren to take his old job back! Middlesbrough players do not seem to have any commitment or passion this season, so a complete change in personnel during the transfer window is the only way I see Boro staying up. Villa have experienced it all this campaign; wins, losses, bad discipline and shock results. The side are playing a more organised type of game, thanks to the arrival of Martin O’Neill, who is hotly tipped to take the England vacancy. Not only has O’Neill sorted out his sides defensive woes, but he has built a team around some extremely gifted, young strikers, who will deliver success to the Midlands club. One sour note will undoubtedly be the confidence of ‘keeper Scott Carson, who was heavily criticized for his performance for England midweek, which effectively sent the national side crashing out of the Euro’s. Carson must bounce back from a disappointing week and start playing to the kind of level which landed him praise only a couple of weeks ago. Middlesbrough don’t have any hopes, aims or goals this season, so will struggle for the remainder of the season. Basically, the appointment of Southgate as manager was insane and Boro will have to start from scratch if they are to turn their season around. Villa on the other hand, are impressing everyone and will be one of the favourite’s to finish in at least a UEFA Cup spot come the end of the season. Due to the stark contrasts in both managerial quality and team organisation, I feel Villa have enough strength to win this game. Prediction: Home Win |
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| 11-24-2007, 12:40 PM | #87 (permalink) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soccer Forums Rookie Offline Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 20,159 vCash: 23720747 Rep Points: 1487 |
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| 11-24-2007, 12:52 PM | #88 (permalink) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soccer Forums Rookie Offline Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 20,159 vCash: 23720747 Rep Points: 1487 |
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| 11-24-2007, 10:13 PM | #90 (permalink) | ||||||||||||||||
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 |
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14'
