Heroes

So, we're in December, we've played fifteen games and we're sitting in fifth place, a point behind Arsenal, three behind Manchester United and we've qualified for the knock out stages of the UEFA Cup.

I wrote a while ago I wasn't going to react like this again, but back in July, if this was offered up as an option, none of us would have turned it down. At the same time none of us would have believed Liverpool would be top of the table though and while we all know that won't last, there is a belief that we can kick on.

You know I love my rumours and these two, while probably pretty high on the bullshit factor are two I'd like to see happen, especially the Antonio Valencia one.

We all know Martin O'Neill likes his wingers and his big man up front and we all know he has a relationship with Emile Heskey, so the ongoing speculation is quite possibly not without some credibility.

It's not the easiest thing, digging up information on a team you had never heard of before the draw for the UEFA Cup was made, but I've done a little digging and what follows it all I could come up with in the 25 seconds I allotted my search.

Right, it's a rumour but I love the rumours and you don't get much better ones than this.

According to the Daily Mirror, the same people that print the Birmingham Mail, Martin O'Neill is going to have £18mn. for one striker in January.

Association Football is the national sport of this country, and as such is an important part of English life. The sport is almost always referred to simply as football, unless you're American.

The Football League was established in 1888 by Aston Villa director William McGregor and was the first professional football league in the world. 

The good news first, we haven't drawn Manchester United. We haven't got any bad news, so the other news is that we've drawn either Gillingham or Stockport County.

It's not opposition that should cause us too many problems, but then again we've done poorly against 'inferior' teams in recent weeks. Gillingham away would certainly please the London-based Villa fans and Stockport is only 75 miles from Villa Park.

Let's get a few things straight from the off. We can't start complaining about Martin O'Neill just because we lost yesterday and not do it when we've won - the dropped points yesterday, that would have seen us move into third is a disgrace, but you can't blame Martin O'Neill now, because of that.

If you think Martin O'Neill is doing a bad job, hasn't bought the right players or anything else - don't just start slagging him off after a result like yesterday. Sure, it makes it clear, but be consistent - slag him off all the time. Please.

If anyone dares say below that 'Fulham got a point at Anfield, so we should be happy', they might as well just piss off now.

We drew, at home, to Fulham. Shit, I could have played one against eleven and got a better result. No disrespect to Fulham, but they're the 12th team in London - we should be doing better.