Unlike last year, when summer transfer deadline day saw some records broken and millions upon millions of pounds change hands, things were a lot quieter this time around.

But as always, it's just as much about who didn't move as it is about who did move, and there were plenty of misses to go with the hits.

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Thanks to all those who had followed The Flat Back Four on Twitter today. To say that we had a great time chatting and tweet-ing about possible transfer moves would be stretching it a bit. In fact, it was quite the opposite. When the expectation and hype gets built up so much and all we get is a £12m Michael Turner switch from Hull City to Sunderland, then it's time we face the facts and realise that this is as good as it gets in the Barclays Premier League this season. Click to continue reading...

Lots of transfer activity appears to be going on on the final day of the transfer window, with some very interesting deals rumoured to be going ahead...

Probably the most interesting (or surprising) transfer rumour is that Manchester City are trying to sign Tottenham's out of favour midfielder David Bentley.

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Lots of transfer activity appears to be going on on the final day of the transfer window, with some very interesting deals rumoured to be going ahead...

Probably the most interesting (or surprising) transfer rumour is that Manchester City are trying to sign Tottenham's out of favour midfielder David Bentley.

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A move that could help stuttering career.

Sky Sports sources understand Portsmouth are close to signing Aston Villa full-back Nicky Shorey on a season-long loan deal. (Sky Sports)

Things have never quite worked out for Nicky Shorey at Villa Park.

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Martin O'Neill closes in on Rovers man.

Villa can confirm they are in discussions with Blackburn Rovers over the transfer of Stephen Warnock. (Official Aston Villa Website)

This would represent a very decent signing by Martin O'Neil but one wonders if this spells the end of Nicky Shorey's bumpy ride at Villa Park.

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O'Neill looks to add more stability to his back four.

Aston Villa are weighing up a £7million move for Blackburn Rovers defender Stephen Warnock.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill has already splashed out on Stewart Downing and Habib Beye and wants owner Randy Lerner to finance a move for a centre-half and left-back.

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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. ...
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According to Mathew Kendrick at the Birmingham Mail, Aston Villa defender Nicky Shorey is unsure of his future with the club. When asked about his future, Shorey said,

"I haven't got a clue ... Who knows? It is not for me to say. We will have to wait and see what happens .

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It was the 88th minute of the game and Aston Villa were 2 goals up against Stoke City. Nobody saw a comeback coming, probably not even Stoke. But out of the blue the Potters popped up with 2 goals and drew the game. This all took place at Villa Park on Sunday in what turned out [...] Click to continue reading...

Random fact of the day: I share the same birthday (today) as Aston Villa left back Nicky Shorey. We are not the same age (he shares that with my sister). Wikipedia also tells me that we share our birthday with these footballers: Mikko Kavén (Finland), Steve Cherundolo (United States), Sócrates (Brazil), Enzo Scifo (Belgium), Clinton Morrison (England), Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy), and Marta ( Click to continue reading...

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In the Carling Cup Third Round Draw, QPR will play Aston Villa (at Villa!)
Matches will be played the week of September 22.
Could you be tough, depending who Aston Villa actually play on the night: - Aston Villa's Current First Team Squad!
1 Brad Friedel Goalkeeper
2 Luke Young Defender
3 Wilfred Bouma Defender
4 Steve Sidwell Midfielder
5 Martin Laursen Defender
6 Gareth Barry Midfielder
7 Ashley Young Striker
9 Marlon Harewood Striker
10 John Carew Striker
11 Gabriel Agbonlahor Striker
13 Stuart Taylor Goalkeeper
14 Nathan Delfouneso Striker
15 Curtis Davies Defender
16 Zat Knight Defender
17 Moustapha Salifou Striker
18 Wayne Routledge Midfielder
19 Stiliyan Petrov Midfielder
20 Nigel Reo-Coker Midfielder
21 Nicky Shorey Defender
22 Bradley Guzan Goalkeeper
26 Craig Gardner Midfielder
27 Isaiah Osbourne Midfielder
29 Stephen O'Halloran Defender
48 Nathan Baker Defender
Complete Round Three Draw
Arsenal v Sheffield United
Brighton & Hove Albion / Manchester City v Derby County
Burnley v Fulham
Portsmouth v Chelsea
Blackburn Rovers v Everton
Rotherham United v Southampton
Swansea City v Cardiff City
Ipswich Town v Wigan Athletic
Stoke City v Reading
Leeds United v Hartlepool United
Watford v West Ham United
Manchester United v Middlesbrough
Liverpool v Crewe Alexandra
Aston Villa v Queens Park Rangers
Sunderland v Northampton Town
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
- Complete Third Round Draw Click to continue reading...

Martin O'Neill...A Simple Plan
2007/8 Review
When Martin O'Neill joined Aston Villa in August 2006, he had spent most of the previous six years managing in Scotland. However the Premiership had already seen the prototype of O'Neill's Aston Villa in his final year at Leicester. With his last major signing for the Foxes, he bought athletic striker Stan Collymore. Click to continue reading...

Dave Kitson and Nicky Shorey have already flown the Madejski Stadium nest for the Premier League, and Steve Coppell doesn't need any more of his key players doing one out of the exit door in Berkshire. It appears as though he's taken a step nearer to retaining the services of ... Click to continue reading...

Benfica have completed their fourth signing of the summer by agreeing a one-year loan deal for Spanish winger Jose Antonio Reyes. The 24-year-old makes the move from Atletico Madrid, with the Lisbon club also having the option to buy the player at the end of his loan spell. Benfica coach Quique Sanchez Flores continues to [. Click to continue reading...

Aston Villa have agreed a £7.8m fee with Rangers for their highly-rated Spanish defender Carlos Cuellar. Villa invoked an exit clause in the player's contract for that amount after Cuellar, 26, made it known he wanted to play in the English Premier League. "My ambition has always been to play for Spain and I believe that playing in the biggest league in the world will help me realise that," he said.

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Aston Villa

2007-08 RECORD League 6th FA Cup3rd round Carling Cup3rd round
Manager Martin O'Neill. Had a difficult summer, paying £5m for a Chelsea reserve and £2m for a 37-year-old and handling the Gareth Barry situation with less than his customary aplomb. Click to continue reading...

Reading are among the favourites to win next season's Championship, although their hopes of making an immediate return to the Premier League have been seriously dented today. While Steve Coppell was hopeful of keeping hold of one of his star players, the lure of playing in the top flight has proved too much for this [. Click to continue reading...

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill looks to bounce back from the imminent departure of club captain Gareth Barry to Liverpool, by shoring up his defence in a £8.5 million double full-back swoop. Don't forget to check out Online Football Manager! Reports are emerging linking the Villans to Reading's Nicky Shorey and Middlesbrough's . Click to continue reading...

Aston Villa's brigade of young English players looks set to expand with the transfer of Nicky Shorey and Luke Young into the club. Martin O'Neill seems to keen to build success on a group of English talent with players such as Gareth Barry, Nigel Reo-Coker, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashely Young, Curtis Davies and Zat Knight to name but a few. Click to continue reading...

Though Gareth Barry was still waiting for news of any breakthrough on his move to Liverpool yesterday, there is a feeling that the club's American owners are willing to provide the cash needed for his purchase. The Tom Hicks camp appears to be relaxed about the issue – perhaps too relaxed for Liverpool's liking – though Barry will be hoping that next week, rather than this, might deliver the moment he has been waiting for. Click to continue reading...

News today that Reading boss Steve Coppell is expecting Nicky Shorey to leave for a Premier League team next week, after receiving a new bid for the defender. Nicky Shorey - a Premier Club has bid for player Click to continue reading...

Newcastle United are thought to be keen on a loan move for Liverpool's promising full-back, Emiliano Insua.
The Argentine was kept at Anfield for this coming season supposedly under express orders from manager Rafael Benitez, but the Toon are still hopeful of securing his services, if only for a year on loan. Click to continue reading...

By JAMES CLARKAn occasional Pardew's Guardian feature leading up to the August kickoff:1) Is George McCartney's position as West Ham's left back secure? The Northern Irishman (pictured above, top) has been an ever-present name in the starting 11 over the last couple of seasons, and deservedly so. Click to continue reading...

Premiership Talk has gotten hold of the news that Peter Crouch is on the verge of signing for Portsmouth. Earlier in the week Portsmouth had a £9 million bid rejected, but Crouch's strong desire for the move prompted Liverpool to accept a fresh £10 million bid. Rafa Benitez and Liverpool will receive £8 million up front which will help advance the signing of Gareth Barry. Click to continue reading...

Manchester City have entered the race for Liverpool striker Peter Crouch – but the Anfield club will have to lower their £15m valuation for the player.
New manager at Eastlands Mark Hughes is attracted by the England striker's recent European experience ahead of City's Uefa Cup campaign. Click to continue reading...

Portsmouth are reported in the Daily Mirror today, to be ready to bid for Reading left-back Nicky Shorey. Nicky Shorey - are Newcastle still interested? Click to continue reading...

News today that Newcastle want Reading's Nicky Shorey for £3.5M. Nicky Shorey - Newcastle target in the summer? Click to continue reading...

Reading have been suffering a tormenting season in the Premiership and are yet to assure themselves of not dowing down the gutter into the Championship at the end of the season. Their best player this season has been Nicky Shorey and even then he was out of sorts in the early weeks of the season. But [. Click to continue reading...

The jewel in Reading's crown, full back Nicky Shorey, has postponed contract negotiations with the club until the summer prompting speculation that Shorey is waiting to see if Reading get relegated or not. Director of football at Reading Nick Hammond reckons that Shorey will sign eventually, telling the Reading Evening Post: "In all honesty [. Click to continue reading...

Reports in the press are once again linking United with Berbatov, but the bad news is that it's thought any offer for the Spurs striker won't happen until the summer. Fergie has recently gone on record saying that January is problematic and he's hinted that Europe is uppermost in his thoughts and of course the Bulgarian is cup-tied. Click to continue reading...

Reports claim that there could be some activity in the January transfer window with Reading's left-back Nicky Shorey reportedly wanting to join the champions after refusing the offer of a contract extension.
United currently only have one specialist left-back in the form of Patrice Evra who ousted Gabriel Heinze who eventually moved on to Real Madrid after his preferred option of joining Liverpool was blocked by the Reds. Click to continue reading...

With the transfer window set to open, reports are linking United with two left-backs, the latest name to emerge is Branislav Ivanovic (23). the Serbian defender is currently playing for Lokomotiv Moscow, reports claim the fee could be as much as £10m which seems like an awful lot of money for a fullback (we will always make comparisons to Dennis Irwin who cost the club buttons to sign but went to on to become a red legend). Click to continue reading...