(Davy expects African sides to edge traditional Latin and Continental powers, but fancies England for the Cup. Below he discusses the likely England squad, highlighting what he expects to be the historic contribution of England's black players.)
To be King in Africa, a useful prerequisite is to be a Black Prince.

Click to continue reading...

Ashley Young scored a blinder but was unable to prevent the Hammers from stealing a draw.. There was no fairy tale ending and Aston Villa drew West Ham 2-2 at Upton Park. Click to continue reading...

Rafa interested in exciting winger.

Are Liverpool preparing to splash the readies on Aston Villa's Ashley Young?

It couldn't be sure, irritable readers, but the Mill then thought it might have seen a bloke with what looked like an Aston Villa crest on a bruise-coloured jacket passing a letter containing Enochian script that could have given the impression Martin O'Neill and Rafael Benítez are on the verge of doing business pertaining to Ashley Young.

Click to continue reading...

So, apparently my choice to keep Shay Given wasn't the greatest ever. Who saw Darren Fletcher scoring a brace coming ahead of time? If it had been Rooney scoring more than the one, I'd have been completely good with Given's performance but it wasn't to be. A very interesting weekend though. It would appear that ManYoo will have trouble defending their title. Click to continue reading...

I've deliberately avoided all the post World Cup qualification hooplah. Mostly because the usual questions: "Can we win it this time?" etc, make me want to stab myself in the leg with a pencil. And anyone who uses the phrase "Can England win it? Yes. Will they win it? No." should be reminded that
a) It's not clever or original if a thousand other people have already said it first, and
b) You deserve to be stabbed in the leg with a pencil.

Click to continue reading...

This saturday we get in to the 5th gameweek in Fantasy Premier League. Two really interesting matches this week. Manchester City plays the host for Arsenal, and Tottenham and ManU go against each other in Tottenham's homefield. City - Arsenal will be especially interesting as the team with the least conceded goals ( Man City, 0) and the team that's scored most goals (Arsenal, 11 goals) compete which is more important, to score many goals or to concede little. Click to continue reading...

He looked terrible against Wigan but brilliant against Liverpool.
Go figure.
Is he back to his best?
In a World Cup year you could do much worse than taking a punt on Aston Villa's Ashley Young.
With a price of just 8.3M (down from 8.5M at the start of the season) and favorable fixtures coming up over the next month, this surely would not be a case of "chasing last week's points. Click to continue reading...

"This squad is virtually the same as last season, so I believe it is good enough to mount a title challenge." says Benitez.Did he mean to say that Liverpool did not win the title last season so they have virtually no chance this season too? Liverpool is too dependent on a few main players and will do poorly if they don't perform. Click to continue reading...

The unfortunate downside of modern technology means that any armchair fan can now comment on any team without actually seeing the game. As I type this, I'm listening to Radio 5 and Liverpool "fans" are calling for the head of Benitez. "The worst display I've ever seen from a Liverpool team" shouts one fan who obviously missed the F.

Click to continue reading...

Ashley Young is fast and Lucas is slow

• Aston Villa take on Liverpool at Anfield today [Sky Sports]

• Everton's demise is confusing [Football Corner]

• West Ham's Calum Davenport stabbed in both legs, fighting to avoid amputation [Off the Post]

• Joleon Lescott signs for Man City.

Click to continue reading...

Gallery, images, photos and pictures of The Netherlands match v England Friendly match, August 2009. Includes David Beckham, Gareth Barry, Ashley Young, Charlton Cole, Jermain Defoe, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, Robert Green, Ryan Babel, Rafael van der Vaart, Robin van Perise and Dirk Kuyt images, photos and pictures. Click to continue reading...

Aston Villa Biggest Ins: Stewart Downing should give Ashley Young a run for his money at left midfield once he returns to full fitness. Fabian Delph is an investment for the future in the midfield. Habib Beye will provide cover at the back. ...
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! Click to continue reading...

Who needs wit when you could have a 'y' Poor old Curtis Davies. The Aston Villa defender was caught out being interviewed by Sky Sports News when he realised he didn't yet have a friendly surname-related nickname for new team-mate Stewart Downing. But Curtis soon improvised and christened the winger with a brand new moniker. Click to continue reading...

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has had to fend off approaches for some of his own stars from last season, but the Villans are now starting to pursue some of their own targets. Villa is lining up a £15 million bid for Tottenham's Jermaine Jenas and Alan Hutton in a bid to replace departed midfielder Gareth Barry.

Click to continue reading...

When one of your favorite and most important players is continually linked with another club, all you want them to do is come out and pledge their allegiance to the team and supporters. Unfortunately, sometimes that player really does want to go elsewhere and even though they've tried to keep it hush hush for fear of a backlash from the fans or the club that they are currently with, it gradually sort of just comes out.

Click to continue reading...

Ahoy-hoy. You may have noticed an eerie silence descending over AANP Towers in the last fortnight. Apologies – ‘twas initially intended as no more than a short break for an All-Action Stag Weekend (the impressive casualty list including A&E for the stag, a broken limb, a black eye, two lost phones, one lost wallet and a lost passport).

Click to continue reading...

Ahoy-hoy. You may have noticed an eerie silence descending over AANP Towers in the last fortnight. Apologies – ‘twas initially intended as no more than a short break for an All-Action Stag Weekend (the impressive casualty list including A&E for the stag, a broken limb, a black eye, two lost phones, one lost wallet and a lost passport).

Click to continue reading...

Ahoy-hoy. You may have noticed an eerie silence descending over AANP Towers in the last fortnight. Apologies – ‘twas initially intended as no more than a short break for an All-Action Stag Weekend (the impressive casualty list including A&E for the stag, a broken limb, a black eye, two lost phones, one lost wallet and a lost passport).

Click to continue reading...

My goodness it's an arid, barren football landscape at this time of year. Admittedly there is the Confederations Cup (what the devil is that strange buzzing noise at all the South African stadia?), and the Under-21s are doing a sterling job for Queen and country, but once again at White Hart Lane the week has been characterised by the ethereal presence of rumours rather than any concrete developments.

Click to continue reading...

My goodness it's an arid, barren football landscape at this time of year. Admittedly there is the Confederations Cup (what the devil is that strange buzzing noise at all the South African stadia?), and the Under-21s are doing a sterling job for Queen and country, but once again at White Hart Lane the week has been characterised by the ethereal presence of rumours rather than any concrete developments.

Click to continue reading...

My goodness it's an arid, barren football landscape at this time of year. Admittedly there is the Confederations Cup (what the devil is that strange buzzing noise at all the South African stadia?), and the Under-21s are doing a sterling job for Queen and country, but once again at White Hart Lane the week has been characterised by the ethereal presence of rumours rather than any concrete developments.

Click to continue reading...

Barcelona are ready to launch a £25m bid for Aston Villa winger Ashley Young. The European champions tracked the exciting 23-year-old all last season. And now they are ready to test Villa's resolve with a concrete bid. Barca have decided to avoid competing with Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United for Franck Ribery, and are believed to have [. Click to continue reading...

So now Ashley Young is demanding that Aston Villa add to the team? Just who the hell is Ashley Young anyway? He wins a few caps for the English national team and now is in the position to demand that Villa have to sign players to satisfy him or else he wants to be sold to another club? This is not a team-oriented player and if I were Martin O'Neill I would seriously consider selling him if I could get a good offer. Click to continue reading...

Aston Villa will need to make a couple of stellar signings to match Ashley Young's ambition and avoid losing their most ­valuable asset this summer. The England international is concerned at the club's direction in the wake of Martin Laursen's retirement and Gareth Barry's decision to join Manchester City, and unless ­Martin O'Neill can recruit [. Click to continue reading...

Sir Alex lines up Ronaldo replacement #17!

The Rumour

Manchester United are being linked with Aston Villa winger Ashley Young.

The Mirror says the 23-year-old is known to be unsettled at Villa Park following the sale of the club's prize asset Gareth Barry.

Chelsea are keen on his services as are Manchester United

The Source: (Daily Mirror as reported on Tribalfootball.

Click to continue reading...

Will it be enough to get the deal done?

The Rumour

Tottenham are hoping to steal a march as both Chelsea and Man United duel over primary big-money targets such as Franck Ribery and David Villa.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is willing to send Jermaine Jenas and David Bentley to Villa Park in exchange for Young.

Click to continue reading...

Manchester City's acquisition of Gareth Barry and Real Madrid's record bid for Cristiano Ronaldo has kicked off another summer of big spending, lets look at the other Premier League stars who might be changing clubs before next season kicks off. Ashley Young (Aston Villa Chelsea) Probably the most consistent player in Aston Villa's push [. Click to continue reading...

The summer transfer market is now open. You know what that means, don't you?

Links with nearly every star under the sun (c. Kaka). Yes, wonderful links to wonderful players; links which are promptly denied or deleted with extreme force. Some of these rumors, mind you, have substance ...

Click to continue reading...

Just because a player was once brilliant on the pitch doesn't mean he'll be brilliant off it in the front offices. See: Zinedine Zidane. "Kaka has already signed for Real. I would be happy if he were to take my number, the No 5, I would not be jealous." Oops. Kind of moots that whole 'Monday decision', [. Click to continue reading...

Pick up yours today If like Ashley Young you dream of being swept off your feet by a tall, dark, handsome man with a penchant for lap-dancing clubs, the key to your success is to provide an easy tap-in for John Carew. Much like the one Young gave Carew against Hull City last night. [...]

Click to continue reading...

As we near the end of what has been and still is an exciting season in the EPL, the various gongs and awards are being given out. As usual, they create plenty of controversy, particularly in the case of Ryan Giggs, who was named Footballer of the Year despite only starting 12 league games this season.

Click to continue reading...

Another week passes us by, as the current season in the strongest football league in the world is slowly drawing to a close. Some clubs have done well, while others will feel that they still have time to push forward and achieve their objectives.

Aston Villa are yet to record a win since beating Blackburn during the first week of February, since they drew away to Bolton.

Click to continue reading...

Ryan Giggs and Ashley Young walk away with trophies Given that I had already had a lengthy rant on this subject, I was going to try and let the PFA Awards go without too much comment. But the sight of Ryan Giggs and Ashley Young holding trophies has proven too much. As I have previously said, Giggs [. Click to continue reading...

If today's PFA Player of the Year shortlist shows us anything, announcing the player of the year with almost 6 weeks of the season left looks a stupid decision. With only Steven Gerrard not from Manchester United on the six player shortlist, it just shows how quickly things in football can change.

Click to continue reading...

It's Manchester United who dominate this years shortlist for the PFA player of the year award. Nemanja Vidic, Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand, Cristiano Ronaldo and Edwin van der Sar have all been put forward, along with Liverpool Captain Steven Gerrard. Vidic is strong favourite to claim the award, despite a drop in form of late; he's helped by the fact the voting took place a few weeks ago. Click to continue reading...