We follow them so you don’t have to

Above is a revealing snapshot into the life of a top footballer. Having mentioned the magnificent breakfast cereal Weetabix via his Twitter account, the good people at said product sent Darren Bent an entire box full. Because on 65k a week, it’s not as if he could afford his own. At this point, we’d like to add that thespoiler loves all breakfast cereals, indeed all foods, in fact all products ever made.

Meanwhile, no such luxury for James Collins, who spent last night watching ITV2 with his wife. Just after the conclusion of ‘Peter Andre: The Next Chapter’, Collins tweeted:

thinks Peter Andre is a top geeza!!

But the next programme was not to this televisual conniosseur’s liking. And who can blame him? At 10pm last night, ITV united two oxygen thieves in the same slot, by showing ‘Fearne and Peaches Geldof.’ Sadly, thespoiler was too busy chewing it’s own arm off to watch, but the promo we received promised, ‘Fearne gains exclusive access to the controversial Peaches Geldof - presenter, journalist, designer, party girl and daughter of Bob Geldof. In this extraordinary and revealing encounter, Fearne follows Peaches to discover the truth behind the headlines.’

Collins’ verdict was more succint:

Peaches Geldofa……….what a c*nt!!

American + goalkeeper = dull

Fresh from the greatest night of his career, American penalty wall Brad Guzan, must have been in a buoyant mood when he turned on his computer . But what would he say - would we get a description of a jubilant Villa dressing room? A brief exposition of his penalty saving secrets perhaps? Or how it feels to be on the sports pages of every newspaper in the country?

What’s that Brad?

on to the next one…

Ah, ok.

Hurry up, Phil - the taxi’s outside

The resignation of Paul Duffen as Hull City Chairman, and the imminent arrival of Adam Pearson at the club can only mean one thing. Hull fans, get behind the sofa - David O’Leary is on his way.

Pearson was the Commercial Director of Leeds United during O’Leary’s time there, but managed to get out in 2001 before it all went a little bankrupt. The two have since remained firm friends, and Villa fans will recall a 3rd Round FA Cup tie back in 2006 (when O’Leary’s Villa won 1-0 at the KC,) in which the Irish scoundrel spent much of the game waving and winking at the Hull chairman. Post-match O’Leary added:

“I always look out for Hull’s results because I know Adam Pearson, the chairman here, very well from our days together at Leeds and really like him.”

Hull fans - are you ready to be told you have a young side and not to expect too much. Leave us your thoughts below…

This wasn’t easy…

Plymouth Argyle 3 Aston Villa 5
6/2/1961

A full eight weeks after this fixture was first played, Aston Villa finally booked their place in the quarter finals of the inaugural League Cup, scoring five times against their lower league opposition. Villa of course were the competition’s first winners, beating Rotherham United in the final.
The first attempt had ended 3-3 at Villa Park, whilst the first replay at Home Park ended goalless. Thespoiler happily admits it pines for the days of the endless replay, a terrific addition to the cold, winter nights. Police - make it happen!

Coventry City 5 Nottingham Forest 4
28/11/90

Having won the previous two installments of the League Cup, Forest arrived at Highfield Road confident of protecting a 22 match unbeaten run in the competition. Terry Butcher’s Coventry were doing what Coventry always did back then - they were just outside the relegation zone.
Forest had beaten Cov in the 1990 Littlewoods Cup semi, and the Sky Blues came out looking keen to take revenge. Very keen in fact. A Kevin Gallacher hat-trick and a goal from Steve Livingstone (watch out for a dreadful blooper from Stuart Pearce in the build up,) put them 4-0 up after just 35 minutes.
Half-time arrived with the score incredibly at 4-3, after two from Nigel Clough and a scrappy Gary Crosby goal put Forest within distance of forcing a replay. Garry Parker soon made it 4-4 after the break, with a typical Parker screamer. Yet it was to be Coventry who had the last laugh as Livingstone scored again, 25 minutes from time.
Post-match, Brian Clough was as quotable as ever, remarking:

“Fingers crossed, I’m still in work. But blow me, after that defensive performance, our chairman would have every right to think about giving me the sack.”

Arsenal 2 Manchester United 6
28/11/90

Having taken part in a 21 man brawl a month earlier, the tie of the round between Arsenal and Manchester United, promised a real treat. And we weren’t disappointed.
On the greatest ever night of League Cup action (Villa and Middlesbrough also shared five goals in a thriller), a new star was born at Highbury. 19 yr old Lee Sharpe’s hat-trick (including a sublime first) and goals from Blackmore, Hughes and the awesome Danny Wallace (after a wonderful touch from Sharpe,) served notice of the type of football United would spend the next 18 years playing. Within 20 months, they were Champions.
Arsenal would go on to win the league that season, conceding just 18 all season and losing just one under the raised arms of George Graham, yet having disposed of Liverpool in the previous round, United now accounted for the other best team in the land, in the days when the League Cup was still a competition for first XIs.
As well as a breakthrough for Sharpe, that evening’s ITV highlights also proved a breakthrough for Clive Tyldesley, at that time a third choice commentator behind Brian Moore and Alan Parry. But the dramatic nature of events at Highbury meant the nation stayed up to hear Clive call the goals. He too never looked back, and his slight Utd bias to this day perhaps dates back to this match.
United lost in the final that season, whilst Sharpe later revealed in his book that Fergie still gave him the hairdryer treatment in training the next day, for giving an unauthorised post-match interview to the newspapers.

More informative than being told Peter Crouch has a good touch for such a big man

1. All hail Thomas Vermalen:
Let’s not bother actually. He may have scored four goals already, but Arsenal have never conceded more than eleven goals in their first nine Premier League goals. Until now - they’ve shipped thirteen this season already.

2. Referees favour Manchester United:
Which would be why they are the only club in the league to have received more than one red card this season.

3. Aston Villa are such a threat on the break.
Only a threat to those sitting behind the goal. Villa have had the least shots on target of any Premier League club this season.

Wonder no longer

In today’s feel-good story of the year, it emerges that Gabriel Agbonlahor has finally been reunited with his mother after a twenty year absence. More revelatory in the Sun’s article however, is the news that the Villa frontman’s father is in fact an eminent scientist, none other than allergist Dr Samson Agbonlahor (BSc,MSc,PhD,CEng,MIM,MICorr.)

A reminder that the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree can be found below:

The weekend’s football on your plasma

With all the important European leagues now in full swing, the weekend offers a fabulous few hours viewing for those who don’t want to watch the X Factor exploit the tragic death of a young man. Here are the highlights:

England:
If you’re still dripping from the Machester derby last month, the U18s battle it out on MUTV 10:45 Saturday morning. Once wide awake, watch Aston Villa beat Chelsea on Sky Sports 1 (12:30), whilst at 5:30, the same channel screens Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle United, a Premiership match in all but quality.
Sunday’s Sky offering sees the first top-flight East Lancs derby for forty years followed by Wigan Athletic vs Manchester City, a match Mark Hughes’ men lost at a similar time last season. This time, they will expect to do better. £150m better in fact.

Scotland:
Its St Johnstone vs Rangers on ESPN at midday Saturday. Rangers will win. Go and spend the time doing something else.

Germany:
The biggest match of the weekend is in the Bundesliga, where the top two clash in the Nordbank Arena. 5:30 Saturday on ESPN to watch the last two unbeaten clubs in the Bundesliga.
Sunday’s match may be slightly less easy on the eye, as Borussia Dortmund host Bochum (ESPN 4:30).

Italy:
ESPN are bringing us three decent matches from Serie A this weekend, starting at 7:45 on Saturday with Genoa vs Inter Milan. The two highest-scoring sides in the league should be well worth watching.
The day of rest is unlikely to be too restful for whoever presents the Italian football on ESPN. At 2pm, Lazio meet early league leaders Sampdoria, and at 7:45, struggling Milan will probably continue to struggle at San Siro against Roma.

Spain:
Three matches from la Liga too. The game of the weekend in Spain sees Valencia host Barcelona at 9pm Saturday night on Sky Sports 2.
Sunday’s double bill sees Athletic Bilbao face Sporting Gijon at 6pm, followed immediately by Osasuna vs Atletico Madrid, both on Sky Sports 1.

Russia:
With one third of all clubs in the Russian Premier League hailing from Moscow, you never have to wait too long for a Moscovite derby. On Sunday morning, ESPN at 11 is the place to be for Spartak vs Locomotiv.

 “Look at me. I used to be a manager.”

‘Moving on.’ Be it from a job, a relationship, or the death of a loved one, psychologists around the globe earn their corn by encouraging clients to put the past to bed, and move on to a fresh challenge.

In unrelated news, a good friend of thespoiler recently spotted former Aston Villa boss John Charles Gregory having dinner at the Palm Beach casino, (in London’s Mayfair for those who live outside the M25.) Coincidentally, he also spied a vehicle parked outside the swanky venue, with the number plate ‘V1LLA.’ Back to the couch Mr Gregory.