Good news, everyone!
Ian Symes - August 29, 2008 @ 1:10 pm
1) We’re through to the first round proper of the UEFA Cup. It was a pretty rubbish second leg, but then we were hardly going to go out all guns blazing three days before the Liverpool game. It started off pretty well, but when FH scored, we just thought “sod it” and switched off the pace. On the plus side, Craig Gardner and Wayne Routledge both did very well, and it was good to see Nathan Delfouneso making an appearance. And it could be worse - we could be Man City.
2) We have been drawn against Litex Lovech of Bulgaria in the first round. My limited research reveals that last season they finished fourth in the league and won the Bulgarian Cup. Obviously, we can’t take anything for granted (John Gregory, take note) but they shouldn’t present us with too much trouble, especially considering we’re away the first leg.
3) WE HAVE SIGNED JAMES MILNER! GET THE FUCK IN! I love Milner. You may recall I included him in my dream team a couple of months ago, where I talked about how “we’d love to have him back”. Well, now we have. He’s been around for so long that it’s easy to forget that he’s still only 22. I can’t wait to see him slot into the team. Milner, Reo-Coker, Barry and Young across the middle, with Sidwell, Petrov, Gardner, Routledge and Osbourne in reserve. Villa with strength in depth? Whatever next?
I can’t remember the last time I was this jealous of a Villa signing, if ever.
For the life of me I can’t see why we didn’t try and get Milner. He’s young, British, talented and what’s more we’re crying out for width. Instead we’ve plumped for a Spaniard who couldn’t cut it at Manchester City.
At least we can now draw a line under the Gareth Barry saga. It’s not been the easiest summer talking about Football with your best mates when your teams are scraping over a player. I’m pretty sure I said back in June that apart of me hoped he would stay at Villa. The circumstances aren’t quite those I had in mind, but still - congratulations and I hope you go on to crack the Top Four. Although not at our expense and after we’ve taken three points of you on Saturday, obviously.