Walsall v Aston Villa as it was tweeted...

Christian Benitez dies: RIP Chucho

We are stunned and upset to hear of the death of Christian "Chucho" Benitez at the tender age of just 27.

The Ecuador international  spent an eventful 2009-10 season on loan at St Andrew's making 36 appearances for the Blues and scoring four goals.

Despite his lack of goals, Benitez did contribute to Birmingham's successful season with his link-up play and physical presence.

Before his illness, he had been linked with a return to the Premier League with either Tottenham or Swansea.

Can't believe Christian Benitez aka chucho has died had the pleasure to play with him he was a top bloke. My thoughts go out to his family

— Craig Gardner (@CraigGards8) July 29, 2013

Rip chucho pic.twitter.com/QFaIVgpMJE

— Craig Gardner (@CraigGards8) July 29, 2013

URGENTE: Lamentamos confirmar la muerte del delantero ecuatoriano Christian 'Chucho' Benítez (Noticia en desarrollo) pic.twitter.com/qfmDq417zE
— ElComerciodeEcuador (@elcomerciocom) July 29, 2013

RIP Christian 'Chucho' Benitez. Forever in our hearts. #BCFC http://t.co/A9mhqMYEYi

— Birmingham City FC (@BcfcDotCom) July 29, 2013

The thoughts of all at Birmingham City Football Club are with the friends and family of Chucho following this very sad news. #RIP

— Birmingham City FC (@BcfcDotCom) July 29, 2013

The club will be looking to mark the passing of Chucho at St. Andrew's ahead of this Saturday's fixture against Watford. #BCFC #RIP

— Birmingham City FC (@BcfcDotCom) July 29, 2013

Newport County v Aston Villa as it was tweeted...

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Crewe Alexandra v Aston Villa as it was tweeted...

New squad numbers toll death knell for N'Zogbia's Villa career

Aston Villa have confirmed the squad numbers for the new season, with the injured Charles N'Zogbia losing his coveted Number 10 and getting a squad number that puts him firmly in the "Bomb Squad".

Andi Weimann is the beneficiary of this, while Benteke will continue in the Number 20 shirt, allowing new face Nicklas Helenius to take on the responsibility of the iconic Number 9.  Darren Bent reverts back to 39, though his move shouldn't be far off now. He is surrounded in the 30s by several other members of the "Bomb Squad" and by Matt Lowton who wears No. 34 by choice.

Gutted to lose my No 9 shirt. Unfortunately one of those things I have to deal with. KTF

— Darren Bent (@DarrenBent) July 24, 2013

Stan Petrov's Number 19 shirt gets a single season retirement while the Number 13 shirt comes out of retirement for new keeper Jed Steer, while it's no surprise that Brad Guzan snaffles the Number 1 shirt.. With no Andy Marshall this season, we were expecting that Benji Siegrist would have got a squad number but he's not on the list released today.

1 Brad Guzan
2 Nathan Baker
3 Joe Bennett
4 Ron Vlaar
5 Jores Okore
6 Ciaran Clark
7 Leandro Bacuna
8 Karim El Ahmadi
9 Nicklas Helenius
10 Andreas Weimann
11 Gabby Agbonlahor
12 Marc Albrighton
13 Jed Steer
14 Antonio Luna
15 Ashley Westwood
16 Fabian Delph
17 Chris Herd
18 Yacouba Sylla
19 Not Available
20 Christian Benteke
21 Jordan Bowery
22 Gary Gardner
24 Aleksandar Tonev
25 Samir Carruthers
34 Matt Lowton
35 Shay Given
36 Charles N'Zogbia
37 Enda Stevens
38 Nathan Delfouneso
39 Darren Bent
40 Stephen Ireland
41 Alan Hutton
42 Barry Bannan

Luton Town v Aston Villa as it was tweeted...

Minions: Soccer

Wycombe Wanderers v Aston Villa as it was tweeted...

Benteke U-Turn, he signs till 2017

Christian Benteke has withdrawn his transfer request, pledged his future to Aston Villa and scribbled his moniker on a contact extension.

The Villa striker has been the subject of fevered speculation linked with Tottenham Hotspur since Villa confirmed that he'd asked to move last week.

The goal-machine must now battle to re-win the hearts of the Villa faithful and regain his place in the first team line-up after successful line-leading performances from Andi Weimann and Nick Helenius on the German tour. His extended break means he'll not be considered for tomorrow's Wycombe clash.

The Beasts of B6 said: "I spoke with the Manager when I returned to training and we had a good talk. I am very happy to be back here in Birmingham and at Aston Villa, and to sign a new contract.

"This is a great Club and it has given me a lot. Now I have to give back to my teammates and the fans who have always been right behind me.

"The end of last season was very good and the lads were very strong. It was not easy but we came through it and the confidence is high. So everyone knows what we have to do now - be better. I need to be better than last year."

Paul Lambert added "It's a huge bonus and I'm sure the supporters are every bit as delighted as me to have him on board and raring to go."

VFL Bochum v Aston Villa as it was tweeted

Enfield Town 0 Aston Villa 2

Villa's second string ran out 2-0 winners at Enfield, thanks to goals from Daniel Johnson and Jerell Sellars as Sid Cowans and new assistant development coach Stan Petrov's charges got the first game of pre-season under their belts in front of a crowd of 402 at The Queen Elizabeth II Stadium.

HT ETFC 0-0 AVFC an entertaining encounter. Team attached pic.twitter.com/I2yMeHn8D6
— The Town (@ETFCOfficial) July 13, 2013

Skipper Johnson opened the scoring at Donkey Lane on 72 minutes, netting a rebound off the post.

73 mins ETFC 0-1 AVFC - Johnson, the best player on the pitch slots home after an effort hits the post.
— The Town (@ETFCOfficial) July 13, 2013

Sellars confirmed the win, coming off the bench to net eight minutes from time, as Cowans ensured that all his squad got a runout.

82 ETFC 0-2 AVFC Sellers with a finish on the turn.
— The Town (@ETFCOfficial) July 13, 2013

You can catch Sid's Young Lions away at Boldmere St Michaels on Wednesday night [ko 7.30pm].

Quality 2-0 win away at Enfield, managed to bag myself a goal🙌
— Jerell Sellars (@RelSellars) July 13, 2013

Beat Enfield 2-0, great to get my 1st 90 mins of the new season, team played nice!! ☺☺
— Jack Grealish (@JackGrealish1) July 13, 2013

SC Paderborn v Aston Villa as it was tweeted...

Okore injury scare as Webb takes a spin to Germany

There are concerns over new defensive signing Jores Okore after Josh Webb revealed on Twitter that he was heading to join up with the first team in Germany.

Webb, who can play at full back or central defence, would seem to have been called up a replacement for Okore, as Paul Lambert is likely to continue his policy of switching the entire team at half time in the German tour games.

On my way to the Airport to meet up with the first team in Germany! ⚽
— Joshua Webb (@_JoshuaWebb) July 11, 2013

The young Danish defender limped off and was replaced by Samir Carruthers in the second half of yesterday's draw with SV Rödinghausen.

It is to be hoped that Webb's call up is just a precaution, as the Villa faithful were hopeful that Jores would be the ingredient that would help plug our leaky defence.

Games moved for the telly.

Four Villa Premier League games have been moved in the first batch of live-on-TV fixtures to be announced.

Our opening match away at Arsenal is unaffected.

The home clash against Liverpool has been moved to 5.30pm on Saturday August 24 to accommodate Sky Sports 1.

We will make our BT Sport live debut at Carrow Road on Saturday September 21 with a 12.45pm kick off.

The Spurs game at Villa Park gets shunted to Sunday October 20 with a 4pm kick-off for Sky, while the Albion game at The Hawthorns moves to Monday November 25 at 8pm, meaning both games against the Baggies are now midweek.

Despite declining numbers for 3DTV and both the BBC and ESPN abandoning the project, some Villa fans are to be further inconvenienced by the TV people as extra camera points for 3D will obscure the view from their seats.

SV Rödinghausen spielt 1:1 gegen Aston Villa

SV Rodinghausen v Aston Villa as it was tweeted...

Benteke Bombshell: Villa confirm transfer request.

Aston Villa has confirmed tonight that star striker and Belgian international Christian Benteke, a man with THREE YEARS left on his contract, has handed in a transfer request.

Villa's media geezer Brian Doogan confirmed the news in a series of tweets:

In respons 2 reports @bentekechris20 has not traveled 2 Germany with the Club and has made a transfer request, both r accurate ... #avfc
— Brian Doogan (@doogan_brian) July 8, 2013

2/5 ...4 clarity’s sake, however, he had already been given xtra time off until July 18 & was reminded ther r 3yrs remaining on his contract
— Brian Doogan (@doogan_brian) July 8, 2013

3/5 we consider him 2 b a Villa player & xpect he'l b with us for the 2013-14 season. Having received transfer request, we've also informed
— Brian Doogan (@doogan_brian) July 8, 2013

4/6 ..him that shud we receive offer within appropriate timeframe durin preseason that meets valuation we would act upon it. But he'l remain
— Brian Doogan (@doogan_brian) July 8, 2013

5/6 a Villa player should this not happen. Villa manager PL said “While we’re hugely disapointd Christian has put in a transfer request, its
— Brian Doogan (@doogan_brian) July 8, 2013

6/6 important ppl appreciat we'r tryin bild somethin strong&vibrant @AVFCOfficial, something Club demands&stands 4 &we want CB b part f it.”
— Brian Doogan (@doogan_brian) July 8, 2013

This website feels that nobody is bigger than the Villa and if he doesn't want to play for Aston Villa, he should never play for us again.


However, we DO feel it is time time that clubs took a stand against the power players and their parasitic agents think they hold over the game and if Paul Lambert and Randy Lerner decide it's appropriate to deny the request and let the player rot, training with the development squad and missing the World Cup as a consequence, then they have this website's full support.

Aston Villa has always been a pioneering football club. Maybe we should be the first to draw the line in the sand.

We are, however, HUGELY sceptical about the timing of the announcement, coming AFTER season ticket renewal deadline day.

Sharp practice?

New four year deal for Brad Guzan

Brad Guzan has signed a new four deal with Aston Villa.

The club has moved to secure the future of the American shot stopper, just a year after the player had been released, then brought back again.

Paul Lambert showed his faith in the keeper last season by consistently picking him ahead of the vastly experienced Irish keeper Shay Given.

Brad enthused "For me, it's an honour and a privilege to play for Aston Villa Football Club and to commit my future long-term. I'm overjoyed by it.

"To have this opportunity to commit my future, with the plans and the future being what they are going forward, it's tremendously exciting and I know that's not just for me but for everybody, including the fans. This is what Aston Villa Football Club is all about, we're a very connected and very committed group and we want to strive to be the best we can possibly be going forward. What we're building here as a Club, what the manager is building could be very special."

Villa's bid for Kiyotake nipped in the bud

Martin Bader, head honcho of FC Nuremberg has revealed that he has rebuffed a Villa enquiry for stylish Japanese playmaker Hiroshi Kiyotake.

According to the report in Nürnberger Nachrichten, Bader made it clear that Nuremberg have no plans to sell the player, "Such inquiries honour us, but Hiroshi is here to stay."

Any move for Kiyotake would have cost Villa the best part of £8 million, so it would seem that despite signing six new players and securing the cream of the Under 21 squad on new deals, Lambert still has some ammunition in his war chest.

Carruthers, Burke and Drennan all sign new deals

Promising Villa trio Samir Carruthers Graham Burke and Michael Drennan have all signed new deals at the club.