Daniel's Third VP Match

Aston Villa 3 West Ham 0

That was one of the best team performances I've seen in years.

I could try and single out Marc Albrighton for a fantastic display, or maybe Ciaran Clark for popping Carlton Cole into his pocket and looking like he's been in the first-team for years.

Maybe Stuart Downing's best display since arriving, Petrov's urgency, Ashley Young's skill and workrate. Luke Young being rock-like in his rightful position and also getting forward. James Milner's performance which ended with him getting a standing ovation. John Carew who got nothing from an awful referee but still should have scored a couple at least.

We played like a team and we looked happy.



Apart from a spell at the start of the 2nd half (when the thunder and lightning arrived) we dominated West Ham who were lucky to get away with three. It was one of the best and most enjoyable games I've seen in a long time. For the first half alone, Kevin MacDonald should be allowed to continue in this job for the season at least.

The available names for our job fills me with utter dread. The way we played today suggested a very happy camp with him at the helm.



Lucky mascot Daniel was with me too today - that's 3 visits to Villa Park and wins with no goals conceded. He was even happy to brave the swirling rain with me while others ran away - it was a great day and he loved it!

Aston Villa (2)3 West Ham (0)0: Downing, Petrov, Milner - Att: 36,604

UFC 117 Review

UFC 117

F*cking wow - what a card and what an amazing main event fight between Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva. The best I've seen in ages.

Sonnen backed up every inch of what he promised pre-fight and totally dominated Silva on the ground. Not only that but he caught Silva several times during the stand up battle as well - but after four rounds and three minutes of domination, Silva pulled out a submission and stayed the Champion.

Props to Silva for being battered but winning - I have a new hero in Chael Sonnen though - there must be a RE-MATCH!



One of my favourite fighters, Clay Guida, dragged Rafael dos Anjos into the third round, where the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt submitted to an apparent jaw injury. Dos Anjos, cringing in visible pain tapped out. Guida turned the tide in round two, as he secured his first takedown, controlled the last half of the round from top position and neutralized dos Anjos with ground-and-pound. In between rounds, concern over the injury became evident in dos Anjos’ corner.

Another great fight saw Matt Hughes knock down former middleweight Ricardo Almeida with a ringing left hook and then rendered him unconscious with a modified anaconda choke. The end came 3:15 into round one, as Hughes became the first man to submit the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.

Roy Nelson showed huge balls of steel in his fight with Junior dos Santos. Dos Santos scored repeatedly with uppercuts, knees to the head, punches to the body and even a third-round takedown, as he won a unanimous decision from the former International Fight League heavyweight champion. Scores were 30-26, 30-27 and 30-27 for dos Santos, who secured a title shot with his seventh consecutive victory

Some New Ish CD's

Just a few CD'S purchased recently

Avenged Sevenfold - Nightmare




Written in the aftermath of Jimmy "The Rev" dying at the age of 28. Some of their best stuff in my opinion, including a couple of quick nasty tracks befitting a heavier band. "Buried Alive" the best for me.

Mad Caddies - Consensual Selections



Apart from two tracks, Caddies fans will know all of these. Still great though!

The Bluetones - A New Athens



Probably dreaded this the most - loved The Bluetones since "Expecting To Fly" but they've tailed off a bit and the last album was pretty average. I feared more of the same but have been pleasantly surprised and would say this is some of their best work since ETF. Personal fave is "The Culling Song" but there are plenty of strong tracks on here including a hidden instrumental.

Blur



Never got into Blur and only got this for "The Universal" which I really like. However, it's strange how many tracks you end up remembering - like "Charmless Man" and "Coffee & TV". Really good listen.


Hatebreed



Just had to get another shouty, full on kick in the nuts record and this fits the bill! A brilliant instrumental in here too but in the main just loud guitars and lots of shouting!

Milner Gone

Money Grabbing Fuck Bag

He won't be wearing the new Villa shirt!!

Slavia Prague Kit 2010 / 2011

Slavia Prague Kit 2010 / 2011

Italia 1990 World Cup

Gazza's Tears Italia 1990 World Cup

Everyone has a World Cup they associate as being "theirs" - this was mine.

I was 19, following the Villa everywhere and extremely patriotic. For Italia '90 we would meet at the Riverside in Tewkesbury to watch the England games - it became such a popular place that lads from Worcester and Birmingham were heading there!

I remember the terrible stick the press gave Bobby Robson and the team in general and the programme that was on the other night brought back all the memories of that June twenty years ago. Hearing "Nessun Dorma" again just brought it all back.

After the opening two draws we still felt we would qualify easily and had played pretty well against Holland. The Riverside was buzzing for the Egypt match and I remember having "World In Motion" blaring for the boys on the journey over to Tewkesbury.

What followed against Belgium was amazing. We'd met some Nottingham Forest lads who were a good crack but were pretty scathing about Platty coming on as a sub making out he wasnt good enough - when the mental celebrations of his goal had finished we all reminded them of their comments! Afterwards Terry Butcher & Chris Waddle were doing the "lets all have a disco" dance. The feel-good factor was amazing.

Cameroon was hell - Platty scored again and started to get a repuatation - some witch doctor had predicted a 2-1 win for them and when they went ahead we all looked at each other and said "he's gonna be fucking right"!! Luckily Gary Lineker saved the day and we prepared for the German game. People who had just watched the game at home said it was boring - anyone who was watching the games where we were could tell a different story.

A couple of us had even looked into going over for the Germany game but £400 for a day trip was a bit much back then! The Riverside was rammed solid and the game was torturous, everyone knows the rest. We could barely watch as Platty stepped up for his penalty but when he scored the Forest lads were hugging us again - we hoped to return the favour because Stuart Pearce was a sure shot with penalties - but not this time. A few minutes later it was all over, the Forest lads were inconsolable, as were all of us.

A few BMW's were hurt that night.

Paul Gascoigne was a true football genius and down to earth with it. That's why it's so sad to see him as he is now. Bobby Robson stuffed it to the press and ended up a hero - England should have been in the Final and there was a cheating Argentinian who was due 4 years of payback.

Italia 90. Nessun Dorma, Toto Schillachi, Roger Milla, Paul Gascoinge, The Italian Riot Police, Sardinia, Germans, penalties and The Riverside.

When Paul Gascoinge said he never wanted it to end I know how he felt because I didn't either.