Yesterday was a pretty sucky day, for certain. Knowing since the beginning of October that our captain and the greatest striker in MLS history, Juan Pablo Angel, wasn’t returning to the New York Red Bulls was a kick in the gut as it was. In my head, I wanted him to stay in the league, but avoid any of our main rivals (which happened!). Instead, he landed in the lap of Bruce Arena, the man responsible from stealing him away Aston Villa all those years ago. So, if he signs with the Galaxy, I know that the wife won’t want to part with those tickets this year.

“Aston Villa can confirm that Martin O’Neill has resigned as manager of the football club with immediate effect,” the club said in a statement.
“Kevin MacDonald, reserve team manager, has assumed the role of caretaker manager and will prepare the team for the opening Premier League game of the season against West Ham on Saturday at Villa Park.” [O'Neill resigns as Aston Villa manager]

Great. We’re definitely effed now. With the loss of our manager so close to the beginning of the season now, Aston Villa have an even MORE insurmountable challenge in front of us.

Wow, Ashley Young is a stud. His counter against Everton just delivered an Aston Villa win right at the death in Goodison Park. I heart you, Ashley Young.

Ashley Young grabbed his second of the game deep in injury time to give Aston Villa a 3-2 win over Everton in an amazing finale to the match at Goodison Park.

Joleon Lescott thought he had won a point for Everton after netting his second of the game in the third minute of added time, but with just 15 seconds remaining, Villa broke to the other end and Young finished coolly to give the visitors all three points.

[Yahoo! UK]

Guess he shook off that calf injury, eh?

This past week, there was a great piece over at KeeperSkool regarding the current goalkeeping situation at Aston Villa. Being a big follower of Villa, I am really quite proud to see two very talented Americans “manning the pipes” in Birmingham, and think its a blessing for the US National Team, even if they did quote Bruce Arena in this article.

We all know that Bruce Arena = ratings!

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