Well, Aaron has covered the big stories of the day. If you haven't seen his write-ups on the Given and N'Zogbia rumors, be sure to check them out. Aside from that, there isn't too much going on, but I don't want to send you to the weekend without some links. I mean, what kind of a British Open weekend would it be without links?
Apparently Stephen Warnock has been impressing Alex McLeish in training, and we should expect to see more of the player many of us forgot. The renewed chance comes from what the official site refers to as McLeish's "clean slate policy." Again, it's hard to find fault in this. There is no harm in seeing if the players we have could contribute and thus save money for buying bigger needs.
In the face of all of the rubbish talk from Liverpool fans that Stewart Downing is a waste and won't help their team, it's good to see one Anfield denizen who appreciate their new winger. Jamie Carragher is quite excited to have someone on their left side to provide service, according to LFC Online.
You might recall Ian Holloway and Blackpool getting in some trouble last season for playing a "weakened side" against Aston Villa. We must say that with a grain of salt, as only a late-game header from James Collins saved Villa from an embarrassing draw. Well, the rules that resulted in the fine will be loosened this year, as the Premier League will apparently leave it to managers to decide what their best options are. What a novel concept.
FInally, Mat Kendrick takes an interesting look at what Aston Villa are at this point in their history. It's worth a read.
That's it for the week. There are rumors right now that Shay Given is at Bodymoor Heath for a physical, but nothing from reliable sources. Should anything happen, you can be sure that we will have it for you. Until then, enjoy your Friday and your weekend!
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