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!

Read more “after the jump”

For Guzan, having both a fellow countrymen and someone with Friedel’s experience in goals can only benefit his development. Martin O’Neill can only vouch for Friedel’s command of his goal area as “The Human Wall”, (which he is aptly named) currently ranks as the third best goalkeeper in the Premier League, behind Reina and Cech.

[KeeperSkool]

Evidently this is going to be a popular story this holiday season, as SLAM Sports did a similar article as well yesterday. The most important factor in our development as a soccer nation will be played out between the posts, I firmly stand by this. As our goalkeepers begin to play the game at its highest level by being brought abroad, that intimidation and the necessary composure in big games will develop for them. This is part of the reason that Kasey Keller was such a success for us – even with an intimidated defense and midfield, Keller was used to this level of play from his time in Spain and England.

Guzan will, in time, be a VERY close pick for the top ‘keeper spot with the US National team that Tim Howard currently holds. Both keepers are incredibly athletic, but future exposure to the international style of play in EPL will give them the necessary experience to succeed in that WC spotlight, should he ever get the call as the US #1. Right now, he’s merely meant to learn from one of the best US keepers of all-time (with over 300 Premiership matches to his credit). This is something that Jon Conway will never do…and thank God for that. Too bad that RBNY didn’t leave him unprotected; he’d be more fun to boo than worry that he might “regain” his starting spot next season when his suspension is up.