One of Europe's most prized transfer targets could very well be headed to Tottenham this summer.

Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard reportedly has a deal in place to join Spurs during the next transfer window, according to France Football. The report stipulates that the two clubs will still need to come to a transfer agreement, meaning that the move is far from official but is nevertheless along in the process.

There is naturally talk of Newcastle maybe qualifying for the European Champions League this season, and that's because we are just one point away from joining Chelsea in 4th place. Jonas Gutierrez challenges Alan Hutton on Sunday But in reality we would still be in fifth place because our goal difference of +5 is inferior to the other top side like Chelsea +15, Arsenal +12 and Liverpool only +7, clubs who will also [.

There is naturally talk of Newcastle maybe qualifying for the European Champions League this season, and that's because we are just one point away from joining Chelsea in 4th place. Jonas Gutierrez challenges Alan Hutton on Sunday But in reality we would still be in fifth place because our goal difference of +5 is inferior to the other top side like Chelsea +15, Arsenal +12 and Liverpool only +7, clubs who will also [.

One of the least edifying spectacles in modern football is that of managers attempting to deflect criticism for a defeat by making spurious attacks on the opponents who beat them.

I like to think of myself as a connoisseur of this phenomenon, having watched our own otherwise distinguished coach, a certain Mr Arsène Wenger, pull the very same trick on numerous occasions.

One of the least edifying spectacles in modern football is that of managers attempting to deflect criticism for a defeat by making spurious attacks on the opponents who beat them.

I like to think of myself as a connoisseur of this phenomenon, having watched our own otherwise distinguished coach, a certain Mr Arsène Wenger, pull the very same trick on numerous occasions.

It was widely thought that after regaining his fitness following hip surgery American and Aston Villa fullback Eric Lichaj would head on loan to Leeds United, where he enjoyed overall success in his first stretch with consistent first-team minutes while on loan there last year.

When was the last time you heard the words "Wenger must buy" followed by any of the following: Jagielka, Cahill, Samba, Hangeland?

It seems only weeks ago that were as many headlines linking us with other clubs' defenders as there are stars in the sky or skeletons in John Terry's closet.

Now.

Isn't it funny how different people see different things? I know opposing managers will see one incident in very different ways. For one it was a penalty, for the other his defender just got a touch of the ball.

But I'm genuinely curious as to how Alex McLeish thinks Arsenal players 'conned' Alan Hutton into getting sent off the other night.

Aston Villa 1 – 2 Arsenal Match Report

1st half observations from a bad stream

The first 45 minutes were pretty different from what I expected. Aston Villa did not close us down frantically and allowed Arsenal plenty of space. Especially Gervinho and Theo saw plenty of the ball, as Villa sat deep in the beginning, allowing our wingers to attack them from the sides.

By Alan Duffy

Aston Villa 1-2 Arsenal - Premier League 21st December 2011

Wiry wingman Marc Albrighton netted the 20,000 goal in Premier League history but it was an under-par visiting Arsenal side that took home all three points in a tough, tense pre-Christmas encounter.

Goals:
Bellamy 11'
Skrtel 15'
Winning with ease when not on top form is far more fun than frustrating draws or defeats when dominant. Still, if not for converting the first two corners within 15 minutes, Liverpool could well be ruing more missed chances and more effort rebounding off wider-than-normal goal posts.

They obviously can't be bothered, so neither can I. It was a positive line-up, but Utd never needed to get out of 1st gear. McLeish must be giving out his instructions in Russian or something because he's managed to make some very capable players look like they haven't the first clue what they're doing.

The game went ahead amidst many calls for its postponement following the tragic news of Gary Speed's death. The result doesn't seem that important in the scheme of things right now, but it's probably a point that will prove invaluable at the end of the season.
Following a heart warming and entirely spontaneous round of applause in place of the planned minute of silence, the first half didn't provide any shocks.

Shane Long went on air after West Brom's victory this week to say "I didn't receive any apology over the [Alan Hutton] tackle." To me this is disgraceful. Shane Long has been out for a month. And after that particular ...
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THFC1882 presents Rob's guest report on last nights action:

Tottenham Hotspur team: Friedel; Walker, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Modric (Sandro, 89), Parker, Bale; Van der Vaart (Defoe, 69); Adebayor

Goals: Spurs Adebayor 14, 40.

Emmanuel Adebayor helped himself to a first half brace, but should have had at least a hat-trick during a game that Tottenham barely had to break a sweat to dominate. In fairness, such was the gulf in quality, we should consider ourselves fortunate to have left with the score only 2-0.

There were rumours before kick off that Alex McLeish intended to field Alan Hutton as a right midfielder and Carlos Cuellar behind him at right back to deal with the threat of Gareth Bale and that's what he did.

The Aston Villa online forums are a darkened picture of despair at the upcoming match against us. Hutton is getting some abuse for being useless and the Villa fans reckon that if Bale can make Maicon look crap, Hutton is going to look worse than a Sunday leaguer. They reckon we should expect at least one penalty from Hutton gifted most likely against Bale.

By Alan Duffy

West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Bolton Wanderers Premier League 19th November 2011

Ireland striker Shane Long made a surprise comeback from injury to net the winning goal in an entertaining game at The Hawthorns.

THFC1882 present another guest blog. It's Rob again with his preview of Monday nights return to action

Monday 21st November 2011, White Hart Lane. 8pm Kick off Live on Sky Sports 1HD & 1

Another International break is over and we can get back to the important domestic business once again.

Chris Herd's performances have rightly earned him quite a few headlines in the last couple of weeks. Initially for the wrong reason, but lately for the right ones.

Alex McLeish has said that he's "a manager's dream; the best trainer at the club".

He will train the way he plays on Saturday by giving it absolutely everything.

By Alan Duffy

Aston Villa 3-2 Norwich City Premier League 5th November 2011

A good old-fashioned five-goal thriller unfolded at Villa Park on Saturday, with the home side coming out on top courtesy of their in-form forward line.

It was so nearly a vital three points for Alex McLeish away from home thanks to goals from Stiliyan Petrov and what should have been a late winner from Richard Dunne to cancel out Conor Wickham's first half leveller.
Unfortunately, the familiar sight of a late goal coming from a set piece returned when 5'7″ Stéphane Sessègnon helped himself to a free header with one minute of normal time left on the clock.

The Premier League had no shortage of talking points this weekend but the only place to start is at Old Trafford. In spite of a formidable recent record against City, United came unstuck in an unprecedented manner. City were so clinical in attack with Silva and Balotelli particularly awesome.

Rep of Ireland and West Brom striker Shane Long faces a lenghthy spell on the treatment table following this disgraceful tackle from Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton which went unpunished from the officials.

You might not have been alive that last time West Brom left Villa Park with three points: it was May 11th 1979. In fairness, we've only played in the same league 12 seasons since then, which reduces the chances of losing somewhat, but then we also didn't have to endure Phil Dowd refereeing.

Breaking with his normal routine of announcing his team the day before the game, Craig Levein has just announced the Scotland team for this evening's match.
Given that we knew Kenny Miller was out and that Darren Fletcher looked likely to play, you get absolutely no prize if you had already guessed this starting XI:
McGregor, Hutton, Caldwell, Berra, Bardsley, Fletcher, Bannan, Morrison, Adam, Naismith, Mackail-Smith
4-5-1?

Carlos Cuellar got on the pitch last night for the first time since his knee operation in May, playing 45 minutes in the reserves' 1-0 win over Chelsea Callum Robinson with the goal and says that he's feeling good.
That's great news for a very popular player, but what happens from here remains to be seen.

By Alan Duffy

Aston Villa 2-0 Wigan Athletic Premier League 1st October 2011

Fleet-footed attacker Gabriel Agbonlahor must surely be in line for a recall to the England squad after another superb and speedy performance on Saturday.

Wigan had no answer to the forward's pace, with Agbonlahor scoring one and providing the assist for the second (converted by Darren Bent).

Fabregas' entry into the Tottenham Hotspur Hall of Fame was seconds away from being confirmedBefore the first of last season's North London Derbies, this blog took a little stroll down memory lane and had a little look at the games from the previous season and how they had been previewed and then reviewed on the blogosphere.

An injury time own goal by Richard Dunne cancelled out a second half penalty by Barry Bannan to end yet another game in stalemate, but a win would have been thoroughly undeserved.

The first half is not worth talking about. It was as bad as anything I've seen from Villa in recent years and, let's face it, we've seen some poor stuff lately.

Aston Villa right-back Alan Hutton has hit out at the way Harry Redknapp treated him during his three-year stay at White Hart Lane and described the club as a demoralizing place for many players.

Hutton, who moved to Villa Park this summer, has enjoyed featuring regularly for Alex McLeish's side but ahead of today's visit to QPR, the Scotland international made it a point to criticize his former club.

Dare I suggest that we can concentrate on the league now? No? Didn't think so. Nevertheless, we are out of the Carling Cup thanks to a 2-0 loss at home to Bolton in what, by all accounts, was an utterly dismal performance.

Chris Eagles picked up on a Marc Albrighton mistake to score a screamer from 20 yards.

Stoke sign two 'immature underachievers' plus why Hutton and O'Hara aren't missing Spurs

Until recently, Stoke City's dressing room wall featured a poster with the headline ‘On 29th June 2010 Two Planes Landed In England', complete with contrasting photos of England's failed World Cup squad returning to Heathrow and the coffins of British soldiers from the Afghanistan conflict being repatriated.

There's no getting away from it, that was a poor performance against an Everton side unable (or unwilling) to field a single recognised striker. We might owe a somewhat sheepish nod in the referee's direction, but Petrov and Gabby somehow managed to cancel out Leon Osman's opener and Leighton Baines' second half penalty to grab a hugely valuable point we barely deserved.

Not entirely surprisingly, Hutton was nowhere.Well, technically, we're at their door, what with it being an away game and all. But I digress.
Our zero-points-two-games Premier League campaign gets back underway tomorrow with a visit to the Midlands. Wolves away has held nowt but frustration for us since their readmission to the PL.

By Chris Wright

Just a few photos of Aston Villa showing off their deadline day signings, Alan Hutton and Jermaine Jenas, outside the club's Bodymoor Heath training complex...

Speaking of fresh meat, it was nice of Villa to put out a plate of breaded cold cuts and breaded ham for the gathered journos at the press conference afterwards.

While Kyle Walker has, as many people expected, moved ahead of Vedran Corluka to become Harry Redknapp's first choice right back, the versatility that the Croatian defender provides meant that it was always unlikely that Corluka would move on during the summer transfer window.

In the main, ‘Charlie' is a popular figure with the fans and many were dismayed to see Alan Hutton get a run in the side last season although that dismay was largely down to the Scot's own performances.

Summer transfer window winners and losers: Football Spy Darren Lewis rates each Premier League club's business

Arsenal: LOSERS Are Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun really adequate replacements for Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri? Arsene Wenger left his shopping far too late.

News of Hutton's departure had quickly reached the players4-2-3-1: Friedel; Walker, Dawson, Gallas, Assou Ekotto; Parker/Huddlestone, Modric; Lennon, van der Vaart, Bale; Adebayor. Has a nice ring to it, does it not?
The transfer window didn't so much slam shut as it did gently but firmly close last night and Spurs have been left, once again, to rue a couple of deals that got away.

So the dust has settled on the summer transfer of August 2011 and while it was a busy day at Spurs Lodge, was it a satisfactory one?

Five of our fringe players have left the club, albeit two are on loan with seemingly no future at the Lane and while Harry Redknapp said at the weekend that fresh faces were needed, we only ended up with one – Scott Parker who arrived from West Ham.