NY Villans Update - Premiership Week 33

Last weekends game wasn't dull was it? Has the blinding 3-3 draw at home to Everton done enough to reverse the downward spiral Villa has been experiencing in recent months? It bloody better have. Next up another home game this time it's Gianfranco Zola's Aston Villa tribute band West Ham United coming to town. I had written the financially troubled Hammers off as relegation fodder earlier this season but Zola has done an outstanding job getting them up to 7th place and in strong contention for a place in Europe. Our last game against West Ham was in December as far as I remember it was a poor match and we barely scrapped it thanks to an own goal. Feels like a long time since we actually had some luck in a match. Some injury concerns for Agbonlahor who is suffering from hamstring problems and will probably miss this one, maybe more. I'd love to see Delfouseno getting a start in his place but O'Neill may well opt for Heskey instead or an outside bet on Sidwell coming in for a 4-5-1. Either way there's no way he can drop Carew who has been banging them in for fun recently unfortunately not at the same rate our defence has been leaking them. This one is Live on Setanta Sports at 10 am Eastern with coverage starting a half an hour earlier for those of you who enjoy really crap coverage.

Last calls for the Newcastle game, anyone who needs tickets please tell us now or it will be too late and good luck to those going hope you have a great time.

After the game our travelling fans will be attending a dinner where the worlds Supporters club's will be honouring their player of the season, votes must be in by Monday this is a collective decision so please let us know your choice before then, simply email us the name of the player whom you think is worthy of the title, so get a vote in. My choice since I can't choose Wilfred Bouma is Petrov for consistency, so there, unless somebody else votes Petrov is currently the front runner by 1 vote to nil, lets hear them lads. If there is a tie then Isiah Osbourne will automatically be selected as our player of the season so there better not be a tie.

In other news as many people predicted Martin Laursen will not be back playing before the end of the season following more knee trouble, still no word on Bouma who had a minor setback. Both Ashley Young and Gabby Agbonlahor are in contention for the PFA Young Player of the Year Award against stiff competition from Man City's Stephen Ireland who in my opinion should walk it. Last time we won the award was Garry Shaw in 1981 following a win for Andy Gray 4 years before.

I would have an update on the Fantasy Football standings but my wife continues to be kicking my arse so I'm now officially retired from said activity.

Finally here's some pictures from today's training at Bodymoor that appear on the club site, the players look to be in good spirits for a change: http://www.avfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~1629565,00.html

On the radar more info in the next few mail blasts: Supporters Shield Tournament at Giants Stadium, NYVillans Annual General Meeting, NYVillans Annual General Pissup, group trip to see the Red Bulls, NYVillans T-Shirts, Bob being positive, Heskey scoring a goal, Mike Riley admitting he is a Man Utd supporter.

NY Villans Update - Premiership Week 32

Villa vs Everton is a remarkable fixture, two of footballs historic giants playing for the 187th time. The very first clash resulted in a 2-1 win for Villa. In this the most played fixture in football, it was against Everton that we lost for the very first time in the football league 0-2 at Anfield (originally Everton's stadium until the Liverpool FC rose from the sewer) and the record between the clubs is equally remarkable. Villa have beaten Everton 71 times, Everton have beaten Villa 70 times with 46 draws. There is a one game difference between the clubs over a period of 113 years in our favour but old history aside recent fixtures between both clubs have been equally remarkable. Many will consider our 2-3 comeback victory at Goodison Park in December with Ashley Young's last minute stunner as our moment of the season but it may be the later FA Cup fixture that has proven to be the more significant.

After a fantastic run of results stretching over 15 games a somewhat disinterested Villa team stepped out at home to face Everton in the FA Cup. At this point in the season we were commanding a Champions League spot and the FA Cup no longer seemed that worthwhile 90 minutes later our run of form had ended in a Three one defeat and one of the poorest performances all season. From there it was downhill played 9, drawn 2 and lost 7. Did we upset the gods of football by barely turning up for the oldest competition in the sport? Perhaps the players heads dropped during that match and haven't lifted since? Here we stand 2 months later and not a win, can the Grand old fixture of League Football be the place where our fortunes change once again? Easter Sunday 9am Live on Setanta Sports Xtra, note the Xtra as opposed to the regular Setanta channel that will be showing the delayed Broadcast at 12:30 EST some Setanta subscriptions don't include Xtra so be sure to check before you make plans. Despite the Holiday, beers will of course be flowing at Nevada's and I full expect John and Toni to be bringing a Dental travesty's worth of Cadbury chocolate to the bar (they had bloody better).

Quickly jumping to other news, last Weekends game was painfully akin to a sharp kick in the nuts while been burned alive and the FA yesterday had the cheek to charge Martin O'Neill with misconduct after giving the officials abuse. The same officials that bent over backwards to ensure Man United got maximum points, at times you wonder why we still follow this charade that is the Premier League, personally I'm still holding out for Zombie McGregor to rise from his grave and dish out ice cold justice.

We beat the Blues on Tuesday!!!! It was a friendly behind closed doors featuring our subs Knight, Sidwell, Reo-Coker, etc. Delfounseo scored the only goal to seal it. Despite the game meaning nothing we might as well enjoy the fact that proper order is being observed between the two clubs.

Looking ahead at fixtures we will actually be having a Saturday 10am live game against West Ham on Setanta next week, a novelty in this age of games being played at everytime but the traditional 3pm GMT Saturday slot.

Finally congrats to Chicago Villans Scott and Vicky on a newborn baby!