Kickin' It: Aston Villa transfer rumours, news, and preview of the week to come

As much as I generally hate international breaks, it was sort of nice to have a weekend off from football. I got so much accomplished on Saturday morning. Like.... well, okay, I slept a lot. But whatever. That's still good, right?

Just The Facts, Please

Form (Last 5, most recent first): W D L L D

Results Last Week: Getting More Sleep FC 3-1 Desire To Watch Football

Upcoming Fixtures:

• First Team:
  at West Bromwich Albion (EPL) - Monday, November 25, 2000 GMT, 1500 Eastern
  Wait, really? I've got to wait until Monday? I SAID THAT A ONE WEEKEND BREAK WAS NICE YOU TWUNTS OF SCHEDULE-MAKING

Tracking Villa's Progress

A look at how Aston Villa are doing compared to corresponding fixtures from last season. For a more full explanation of the corresponding fixtures table, see here.

Last year's trip to WBA ended in a 2-2 draw. That won't be acceptable this time, lads, as a win would give us NEVERENDING CONTROL OF THE ENTIRE MIDLANDS. Or at least prominence over West Brom in the table. They're the same, right?

Injuries

New Injuries Last Week:

• Brad Guzan - Phantom injury that no one knows anything about (hopefully back for WBA)
• Ciaran Clark - foot (Doesn't look serious, but not playing for Ireland during the break. If you ask me, he just didn't want to play for Martin O'Neill)
• Gordon Strachan - brain injury (At least that's what I assume the manager of Scotland has after he said of Alan Hutton, "It's a mystery of football, how he's not getting a game somewhere. Keep Strachan in your thoughts and prayers as he battles this concussion.)

Transfer Rumor Roundup

• Make sure to check out our transfer rumor hub. If there's a new transfer rumor, it will be there.
• Just one noteworthy story this week: Aston Villa keep getting connected with Seattle Sounders and USMNT player Clint Dempsey. The move would be a few-month loan, and I still don't see it happening. But the rumblings in the press are fairly consistent.

Looking Ahead

• The big story this week, ahead of next Monday's match against West Brom, will be whether or not Aston Villa's injured players list will be any shorter for that match.
• In their match against Cardiff last weekend, Villa were missing Gabby Agbonlahor, Fabian Delph, Andi Weimann, Antonio Luna, Joe Bennett and Gary Gardner. Since then, we've seen Brad Guzan and Ciaran Clark be kept out of international matches for injury reasons and Christian Benteke get pulled from a friendly he was participating in early.
• Look at that list. NINE players. You could have a short-handed team with that list. Guzan as the keeper; Luna, Bennett and Clark as the back line; Delph and Gardner in the midfield; and an attack of Gabby, Andi, and Benteke. That's almost a first-choice Aston Villa squad there. Dear god I hope someone gets healthy before they head to West Brom.

Miscellany

Jean Makoun is wonderful and I hate the world | Daily Mail

Jean Makoun scored two goals as Cameroon beat Tunisia 4-1 in the African playoff for a spot in the World Cup. You may remember Jean Makoun as the brilliant player who was ignored by Alex McLeish and Paul Lambert and is A VERY SORE SPOT FOR MANY OF US STILL. /weep

Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale are adorable teddy bears | Dirty Tackle

The Welsh squad trained in teddy bear ear to support charity. There are pictures. They are sort of adorable.

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