The Aston Villa Courier
Squad8 Oct 2040
Peter Murphy keeps Aston Villa in it on his own
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 9 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
Squad8 Oct 2040
14 seasons of Johan Manzambi
337 appearances across 14 seasons in these colours. Careers like that are not built any more, and Aston Villa know what they have.
Squad8 Oct 2040
Boubacar Kamara in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Aston Villa this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad8 Oct 2040
Johan Manzambi signs a new deal
“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Johan Manzambi commits to Aston Villa for another 2 years.
Market8 Oct 2040
Seve Patrick is on his way
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Aston Villa is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
Match6 Oct 2040
Benjamin Mitchell sends Aston Villa past Birmingham
It finished 2‑1, and it was Benjamin Mitchell’s afternoon: on the scoresheet when it mattered, and the reason the points belong to Aston Villa.
The terraces8 Oct 2040
Aston Villa supporters have found a favourite in Peter Murphy
There is a particular warmth a ground reserves for a 23-year-old it feels ownership of. Peter Murphy has it now, and everything he does for the rest of his time here will be measured against the goodwill he was handed for free.
Market8 Oct 2040
The Samuel Iling-Junior story refuses to die
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Samuel Iling-Junior signs something — a contract at Aston Villa or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
Player ratings8 Oct 2040
Benjamin Mitchell runs at them all day
Successful dribbles: 10. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.
In brief
- Market Benjamin Mitchell leaves for nothing
- Market Peter Howard leaves for nothing
- Boardroom Aston Villa keep producing them