Martin Laursen Signs

Martin Laursen Signs New Contract

This was better than a new signing for me.

With Olly Mellberg seemingly destined for pastures new, it was vital we kept Laursen especially as we're finally seeing what he's capable of now - at both ends of the field. Any goalscoring centre-half is worth his weight but when he's a great defender anyway he has to be held onto!

I remember one of his rare appearances last season away at Watford - he was immense and won everything in the air. He's always had the talent and now, touching lots of wood, the injuries are behind him, we'll see a top-class talent in the Villa back line.

Hopefully there will be more goals from set-plays on Monday night at Anfield. Thanks to Sultana Sports it was not only moved from Saturday but now I won't even see it on TV. I'll never subscribe to that station, ever.

Kevin Keegan Signs New Contract

I've got nothing against Newcastle personally.

Any team, Chairman and manager trying to break the monotony of the "big 4" is fine by me. I think, like everyone else the tag of "best and most loyal fans" is the thing that really grates with people.

I've been to St James Park for a top-flight League game with 20,000 people there so lets just explode the myth shall we? Newcastle are a big-supported club now - not a big club. The difference couldn't be any wider as they've won nothing.

I happen to think they've gone backwards by appointing Keegan. They clearly wanted others and couldn't get them so they turned to the next best thing that will keep the Geordies happy. Much like Graham Taylor at Villa, I think Keegan will find working with these prima-donna footballers this time around alot harder.

I do hope though that they make some progress to the top four, but obviously behind Aston Villa. A front four of Man U, Arsenal, Villa and Newcastle will be fine by me.

New Taekwondo Tattoo

Snippets.....

Happy Birthday Hatemanu

The young man was 22 on January 10th. (Wish I was 22 again!)

Like most of us he's not been very well recently, everyone seems to have a virus or infection of some description.

Anyway, despite a very, very busy time for me over the last week apologies for missing the day - glad you had a good one and we'll make it up with a few drinkies very soon. At least I'm not like the Old Spanner who forgets completely!

The Floods

It was like deja-vu on Friday.

Sat at work, the rain pouring all day - the drivers starting to tell us how bad it was getting. Going out at lunch and seeing it for myself - then the customers updating us during the afternoon as to where was flooding and what roads had been closed.

Checking on the internet and seeing places just 10 miles away covered in a foot of snow. It was getting very worrying. Around 4pm it really started to batter it down and we feared the worst.

I didn't leave until 5.45pm and was dreading it - fortunately although the weather was terrible I was home in 15 minutes!

Villa 3 Reading 1

More more interesting than playing the "oh so mighty" Reds every year in the FA Cup.

This was a good win, allowing for the fact Reading are struggling defensively. A really positive three points and 2 more goals for Big John Carew as well. If we can keep hanging around that top seven we're not going to be far away from the UEFA Cup spots when it counts at the end.

I'm still concerned by the Mellberg & Laursen situation. It would appear Olly may well be off to Juventus - if he is then good luck to him, I wish him nothing but the best as he's been an excellent servant to this club and we've seen his best years without a doubt. A shame he's going to go just as things really look bright.

I'd certainly offer Laursen something - he needs to remeber he's been well paid for 2 seasons of doing nothing while injured and should respect that. I've always thought he was a class act at centre half and he's proving that fully this season - plus these goals from set plays are invaluable.

We can't afford to lose both. The idea of Zat Knight and Curtis Davies really doesn't appeal to me.

Ennui

What a fantastic word. In my ignorance I'd never come across it before but thanks to Mr Blog-Editor himself I'm now more educated in the world!

"A feeling of utter weariness and discontent resulting from satiety or lack of interest; boredom: The endless lecture produced an unbearable ennui".

Three Korean Symbols

Had my second tattoo today. Three small Korean symbols which make up the word "Taekwondo" on my right shoulder blade.

Definitely more painful than the one I had on my arm although the symbols were slightly thicker and needed some shading, thus more pain! It probably only took about half an hour and once again Stu did a great job. We nattered along through most of it along with the lady tattooist across from me who was extremely friendly - it made the whole thing much easier!

UFC 79 / Villa Lose

UFC 79 - Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

I'd been looking forward to this one for ages, especially for the Liddell/Silva and Hughes/St Pierre fights. Instead, a heated rivalry took my attention, more so because there was no "after fight making up" and just for once in mixed martial arts, no respect was shown at all!

So, the first match pitted long-time rivals Melvin Guillard and Rich Clementi and the fight did not last long, as Clementi secured a rear naked choke that forces Guillard to tap. Fighters usually call truce once the fight was over, but not this one. After the fight, the two are still jarring at each other, Clementi accused his oppenent of talking shit and not backing it up.



The second fight is between Lyoto Machida and Sokoudjou, notorious for his victories over two top 5 ranked LHWs in the world, both under 2 minutes. This fight has become Machida’s breakout party, as he dominated in every aspect of the fight, and even winning in spectacular fashion via Arm triangle choke.

Then a big one! Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva. Heading into the fight, both fighters were on losing streaks, which means one of them was going to win.

It looked initially that Liddell seemed a little scared to get hit. Despite winning the fight via unanimous decision, he really didn't go after Silva as much as he could, but he still got the job done. He was blazing at times, especially in the second round and even took Silva down twice but backed off near the end, almost running down the clock.

Silva almost looked as though he were in shock after realizing he actually lost the fight to Liddell. I was able to catch Silva's training schedule on SpikeTV. No wonder he goes by the moniker "The Axe Murderer" Silva works out with a snorkel on so he can't breathe through his nose.

Obviously, neither fighter brought his A game, but someone had to prevail.

Last but not least, it’s the battle between GSP and Hughes for the UFC interim welterweight title, a title unable to be defended by Matt Serra who has a back injury. Right from the start, GSP showed utter domination of Hughes, and he even beats him at his own game, wrestling.



Eventually, Hughes succumbed to a flawlessly executed series of submission transitions. What started as a kimura and a possible triangle choke attempt then transitioned into an armbar that saw Hughes verbally submitting, and once again, GSP tasted UFC gold.

Afterwards during the interview with Joe Rogan, Hughes seemed to be suggesting that may be it for him as he was so well beaten.

It certainly was one of the best cards the UFC has offered for some time, and no doubt this will be remembered for a long time.

Villa Out In Round Three Again

It may be unpopular, I don't care - this was boring. It was boring from the minute the teams were drawn together yet again.

This isn't the magic of the FA Cup. That belongs to teams like Chasetown, Havant & Waterlooville and so on. Why BBC seemed so determined to cover it was beyond me - it was probably the dullest game of the round and from our point of view just another reminder of the gap that still exists.

I don't think United particularly deserved to win at all, but I spent most of the game wondering when one error by a Villa player would cost us.

When the ball was played up to Gabby and Ashley their defenders were always tight and gave them nothing, yet when United played it forward we seemed intent on giving them a three yard gap and thus room to play.

I wasn't even gutted - just bored by the whole thing. Despite how well we've done over Christmas, I knew we'd lose - it's just that mindset we seem to have. Here we are again, beaten by United.

I'm much more looking forward to seeing how we get on against Blackburn and Newcastle at Villa Park. The top four is desperately boring, protected by referees, constantly dribbled over by Sky and BBC - It's desperately dull. I think I know how fans who don't follow Rangers or Celtic have felt for the last 20 years in the SPL.

Same time next year for the Cup draw again? Aston Villa...will play.....