It is Wednesday, middle of the week, two days until the weekend. The word Wednesday is the day is between Tuesday and Thursday. The name comes from the Middle English Wednes dei, which is from Old English language Wēdnes dæg, meaning the day of the English god Woden who was a god of the Anglo-Saxons in England until about the 7th century.

Sorry about that, I'm getting desperate for content and seeing as our club isn't doing anything in the transfer window, which is open folks, I wanted to do something useful and knowledge is power and all I've got for you is some really weak link to Royston Drenthe.

In fact, I'm not really sure I should be discussing it but with the only other news, without any quotes, that Villa are not in talks with Bentley, then we might as well explore it further, just so we don't have to talk about Bentley any more.

Drenthe joined Read Madrid on the same day as Wesley Sneijder and is 22 years old. He plays at left back or left midfield but his debut for Real Madrid was in centre midfield. Seems like he can cover a lot of positions and is young. Could there be something in this?

I fancy Martin O'Neill is interested and that O'Neill is going to deploy him as a right sided striker in a three pronged attack.

I'm just having fun, don't shoot me. So, have I ever told you where the word Thursday comes from?

Comments (40)

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mikey18 said:

... good player, would signal MoN maybe looking abroad if theres any truth in it

Comment 1, made on June 17, 2009 at 9.49 am

Michael said:

... tell us about the meaniorigins of Thursday tommorrow to fill up another post

Comment 2, made on June 17, 2009 at 9.49 am

rob h said:

... royson, had a good u21 championship a few years back and done f##k all since. But would be willing to give the boy a chance. If only it were true.

Comment 3, made on June 17, 2009 at 9.52 am

Billy7 said:

... you only had to wait till 10 and posted about the fixture list! It was leaked yesterday apparantley, Wigan at home 1st game??

Comment 4, made on June 17, 2009 at 9.55 am

Michael said:

... do you think he leaves his xmas shopping till christmas eve? lol

Comment 5, made on June 17, 2009 at 9.57 am

Simon said:

... Damian Wasn't it something to do with the God THOR?

Comment 6, made on June 17, 2009 at 10.01 am

sean jones said:

... Villa v Wigan 1st game of the season, wooo start the season off with a win yeahhhh baby.

Comment 7, made on June 17, 2009 at 10.02 am

Simon said:

... With regards to Drenthe, the guy has to come to Villa and with a name like Royston will easilly fit in with the local community

Comment 8, made on June 17, 2009 at 10.03 am

Steve Sims said:

... Said it before and I'll repeat it again - I think signing new players is not only important to show other quality players that could join us that we are serious, but also to show the type of players we want to keep that we are serious. Young, Carew etc. I get nervous that if we're not seen to be moving forwards with top players then our best players will be tempted by outside offers.

Comment 9, made on June 17, 2009 at 10.05 am

runtingz said:

... one thing i would say about drenthe is that he has the energy and aggression suitable for the prem and think he could yet develop into a top player

Comment 10, made on June 17, 2009 at 10.09 am

Matt said:

... Ah well, another no news day. Royston isnt all that, he's had a shocking run in the side and been booed by his own fans. Is this what we're reduced to? Still waiting and waiting and waiting......

Comment 11, made on June 17, 2009 at 10.09 am

Matt said:

... Wigan 1st game, lets see what Martinez has got.

Comment 12, made on June 17, 2009 at 10.11 am

jk92923 said:

... Drenthe - would love him at Villa. very energetic player. could give us a good lift. although, i think the press is just linking a club who are looking for a left back with a club letting a left back go...... i say it every year - "i will not read the gossip", but i'm worse than my woman with her Heat magazine......!

Comment 13, made on June 17, 2009 at 10.17 am

clarkamus said:

... im all for drenthe if it is true he kinda fits the bill as a long time replacement for bouma and a immediate replacement for woefull nicky shorey oneil did have intrest before he went to madrid and could get jim for a snip of the price sound ideal to me

Comment 14, made on June 17, 2009 at 10.22 am

Rovilla said:

... would love drenthe. Can beat players, loads of energy, versatile and can fill the set piece void left by barry. We were linked with him around the time he signed for madrid. Him and young would tear it up down the left UTV!!!

Comment 15, made on June 17, 2009 at 10.28 am

Tim Wood said:

... I personally wouldn't blame any of our players (best or otherwise) for wanting to leave Villa at the moment, in fact if they did want to leave it would show some ambition and fight. The biggest problem with having such a small squad is not the injuries or the suspensions but the lack of competition for places. Look what happened to big JC when Heskey arrived. Suddenly there was someone fighting for his spot and JC responded by banging in the goals. Players like Young, Gabby, and Davies all started to look too comfortable and lazy towards the end of the season (don't blame it on tierdness they are well paid proffessionals and should be fit enough to play every game). My point is this, without competition for places the club will, and has started to stagnate. If our best players are truly as talented as we make them out to be and have any ambition at all then they will want to move somewhere where they get that competition for places so that they can be pushed week in week out to play at there best. They are just not getting this at Villa at the moment, if Ashley was to have two or three consecutive bad games do you think MON would drop him? Of course not, his place in the staring line-up is virtually gauranteed. If we don't start bringing in a number of decent players to provide competition in all positions we are either going to be left with a team of comfortable payers with no ambition or a squad that will be even thinner than last season as players move on to get that competition. Unfortunately, I think Judas saw what was happening and got out when he could (that and the big pay check of course). I know its early days and MON is still on holiday (which he is completely entitled to) but surely he has already discussed his transfer ambitions/targets with Randy and the club should be putting the feelers out and lining things up for when MON returns. If this is not the case then we are in big big trouble for next season. I already have big doubts that Ashley will be a Villa player next season. If Chelsea, Man U or one of the big european clubs came in with a stupid offer (>£25m) for him then we RL and MON would find it very hard to turn down. Answer this honestly, if you were Ashley Young and you had the option to go and play for a Champions League team with some of the best players in the world earning 2 maybe 3 times what you are earning now, what would you do?? We need quality signings now to show that the club has ambition and is not happy with mediocraty!!

Comment 16, made on June 17, 2009 at 10.42 am

Jackie Henderson said:

... Thursday's too bleedin' obvious, named for the mighty Thor, should be Martin Laursen day really

Comment 17, made on June 17, 2009 at 10.44 am

Steve Sims said:

... What Timmy said.

Comment 18, made on June 17, 2009 at 11.07 am

RayK said:

... Royston Drenthe is definitely a quality player and he's definitely a player MON has looked at before - but i'd be amazed if it happens. At the moment I'd be amazed if we signed any player though.

Comment 19, made on June 17, 2009 at 11.11 am

Badbobby said:

... Told you guys. Mon has to go. "in Mon we trust" is no more. He is not gonna buy anybody, he will need to sell before buying. This guy is f**king thick! He must leave now or our season is ruined.

Comment 20, made on June 17, 2009 at 11.14 am

Tim Hillman said:

... I really rate Drenthe, I have followed him since he shone at the U21's a few years back. He signed for Real Madrid and has struggled to compete for his place. I think the problem was that they tried to play him in to many poisitions. He is young and short on confidence, sounds a perfect MON signing. He was quality for Holland in the u21's and was better than Babel at Liverpool so definitely has a bit about him.

Comment 21, made on June 17, 2009 at 11.44 am

RayK said:

... I'm going to argue against previous posts I've put on here but it is still a little bit early for us to expect 4-5 players in. Sidwell was our first signing last summer and I don't think we signed him until mid-July and Cuellar, Young and Shorey didn't arrive until early August. There again it was the Euro's last Summer and I'm sure that was an excuse given last year. We will sign players, it just will be later than everyone is expecting (ie July rather than June) but I doub't whether they'll be the players everyone wants.

Comment 22, made on June 17, 2009 at 11.44 am

Steve Sims said:

... Not what Bobby said.

Comment 23, made on June 17, 2009 at 12.27 pm

DavidC said:

... Drenthe - was linked to us before he went to Madrid. Since going to Madrid he has absolutely stunk the house out. Should we be going for him? Nope. Attitude problems too apparently. Steer clear.

Comment 24, made on June 17, 2009 at 12.53 pm

Tom Smith said:

... BadBobby your entitled to your own opinions, but MON has to stay 16th to 6th in 3 years is a great emprovement, i think well see some new faces within the next few weeks (hopefully). wigan first game should be a winning start =] UTV

Comment 25, made on June 17, 2009 at 1.18 pm

Scrumpy said:

... I think the comments from MON about Jimmy Milner and his price tag are encouraging. It reads to me like MON is justifying what some at the time said was too high a price (shades of the 9M for Young too), but his hopefully a signal that he knows his targets and is prepared to pay what some may think is a little over the odds nat the time, if he believes in the long run that price will be more than justified. Id bet money on our transfer record of 12M being broken this summer by one player. I think we spent 48M last summer. Well I wouldn't be surprised if MON has been given 30M+ and can also use the Judas money to give net spending of 40M+ And that gives three or possibly four quality signings with one maybe two exceeding Jimmy's price tag. I hope I'm right. And if I am, to celebrate, maybe we could all get together with a big rope and help BadBobby pull his head out of his arse and f**k off back to SmallHeath.

Comment 26, made on June 17, 2009 at 1.19 pm

Fitzy_7 said:

... nice to see were still being linked with one or two different players every day with nothing ever coming of it... im officialy sick of rumours,however i do quite like this one i'll just wait for a few hours and wait till mon comes out and denies it

Comment 27, made on June 17, 2009 at 2.05 pm

jamie1308 said:

... i think the first area MON should be looking at is the defence. in particular the centre. we leaked goals at the end of last season and Laursen was our rock at the back and was a threat from set plays also. he will be missed more than barry in my opinion who for me had a very average season. we need huge investment this transfer market otherwise i fear we will become a midtable rather than a european chasing team. Randy, get your wallet out son.....

Comment 28, made on June 17, 2009 at 3.00 pm

GG said:

... ah yes, Thor, the Mighty God of Thunder...waltzes around with a bloody great hammer - he'd be a great signing for Villa

Comment 29, made on June 17, 2009 at 3.29 pm

Kiwivillan said:

... Drenthe and Wheater in the back four and we'd concede more goals than last season

Comment 30, made on June 17, 2009 at 3.58 pm

jason the ace said:

... Drenthe is only 5.5ft which could be a problem but look at wrighty. and a quote from a spanish paper said about the way he plays, that he was that disorganised that he would prob but his boots in the fridge. should fit in quite well.

Comment 31, made on June 17, 2009 at 4.43 pm

Daniel Wilson said:

... In a quote about the new fixture list being revealed MON has stated that he feels like the season only ended last week. That'll be why we haven't been in for anyone yet then!!

Comment 32, made on June 17, 2009 at 5.20 pm

truevillan said:

... come on martin, no bids in for defour, he wants to come to us, steal a lead and get in first! unfortunately i think we will sit back, wait for someone else to set the price and then miss out! i f.... hate villa transfer window since MON, its all hype and no substance, every exciting signing is quickly dismissed and we will end up scrapping for shit! every day that goes by without ashley young stating he is happy and will remain with us worries me, hope he is on his hols! f**kin arry redknapp and his under hand ways has probably booked into the same hotel!

Comment 33, made on June 17, 2009 at 7.01 pm

Connor said:

... Drenthe would be quality....I actually don't really care, MON just needs to make a signing before our young talent want to leave

Comment 34, made on June 17, 2009 at 7.43 pm

Jeremiah Wood said:

... The latest news says we put a bid of 4.5 million Euros for Drenthe. So we'll see what happens.

Comment 35, made on June 17, 2009 at 8.28 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

... I think it would be a really good idea for everybody to calm down. Apart from Real Madrid (and obviously monsieur Barry flying the nest) has anybody signed anyone yet? As usual there's all sorts of speculation, a few offers going in, but nothing concrete yet. We all know that MON isn't the sort of guy to interrupt his holiday for anything. He is in the Clough mould and does things his way and his way only. I personally think there is no danger of anyone else leaving apart from maybe a few of the fringe guys e.g Harewood, Shorey (who i think showed improvement towards the end of the season and might be worth keeping) and maybe knight (10/10 for effort but maybe just not good enough) Reo Coker might be getting restless but probably has his eye on Gaz's spot and might give it another year. Every season MON's been there we've seen him wait in the transfer market, he will have a list of players to sound out and wouldn't be suprised if Defour, Bentley, Huddlestone, Owen, Jenas, Wheater, Miguel, Drenthe etc are all possibly on it, but nothing will happen till he's back. The Jenas, Hudd, Bentley rumours may also have started as some stupid bid from Spurs in a futile attempt to get Ashley Young. The red tops love testing our nerves over the summer months, but I for one have complete faith in the little Northern Irishman. I am once again very proud to be a villain. He is dignified in the transfer market, has principles he sticks to, is excellent with his players and also has wonderful tactical nouse. He signed Young and Carew, turned Barry into a world beater and also transformed an ageing squad lacking ambition into a young vibrant counter attacking team that is now a regular in europe again and with the right aquisitions can only improve. I'm expecting more from Milner, Gabby, Ashley, Curtis and Sidwell who are all under 26! After a year in the league Cuellar is looking more and more impressive in every game and i think he could be a massive player for us next year. Gareth was always going to go and we have plenty of cover in his position and I think we were so lucky to get what we did out of Laursen. sorry to see him retire and what a player! the reality is if he didn't have his injury problems he would have been an AC milan legend. We move on as we always have and i'm sure martin will bring in the right players at the right price. I admire our buying policy of mainly british based young players and feel this is garunteeing the longevity and constant improvement of the sqaud. We know we have enough quality to mix it with the best in this league, we simply need more of it. i have also been incredibly impressed with our recent youth signing policy, another victory in the reserve league and a good run in the FA youth cup has seen the advent of starlets such as Delfouneso, Clark, Bannan and Albrighton who are sure to be a part of the squad next season. Martin O'Neill knows what it takes to be successful in this league and he also knows what it takes to win trophies. I expect 5 or 6 new acqusitions by kick off in the Wigan game and a good solid season ahead. Things will be tough with spurs strengthening, Man City spending stupid and unknown quantities like West ham, Fulham, Wigan and Sunderland boasting new managers, new owners and plenty of ambition, but no one really knows whats going to happen. I have a funny feeling ourselves and the Toffees will be there or thereabouts by this time next year and now is definitely too early to start panicking. MON is considered, genuine and after all an incredibly good manager with a quality squad at his disposal. Don't you just love football? i know i do.... Just thought i'd mention i'm a newcomer to this blogsite but do enjoy it very much. I work nights and enjoy reading through all these comments while at work. Keep it up guys and up the Villa!

Comment 36, made on June 17, 2009 at 9.26 pm

Andy Scarborough said:

... JPA, welcome to the blog. I have to agree with your analysis of MoN and Villa. This is a period full of expectation, sometimes I have likened this time with unrequited love (in fact aren't we all just jerking off at the moment?). Our slow progress may be frustrating for some of the faithful. I see it as realistic caution after the Leeds experience, RL and MoN don't want us going in that direction. The recent fall in our owner's wealth may further slow our progress, but I do not see it being halted. We are ambitious, we are VILLA!!!

Comment 37, made on June 17, 2009 at 10.50 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

... Thanks for the warm welcome andy. After trawling the net I'm starting to think there may be some truth in this Drenthe thing, after the way MON has gone in the past it seems to be a bit of a tel tale when we're linked with the same players season after season. I think MON knows who he likes and sticks with them. Wouldn't be suprised if we were preparing bids for Drenthe, Bentley, Miguel and Defour. Also noticed that we are being linked with Wheater now, I really like him as a no nonsense CB, anyone agree?

Comment 38, made on June 17, 2009 at 11.36 pm

Andy Scarborough said:

... Wheater could be an improvement on what we have already, but what we really need is a core of journeymen to bolster the squad. It's obvious that we need to target the Prem most of all, but at the same time do ourselves justice in the cups and Europa League. For all that we will need quite a few more players, and as MoN has said this morning that we need to spend to stand still. It's getting to the point that I'm beginning to feel a bit sorry for RL. The only problem with trying to second guess MoN is that it's an impossible mission. None of his rivals can manage it, so how on earth can we mere mortals?

Comment 39, made on June 18, 2009 at 4.13 pm

ryandavillain4life said:

... :p come on you villa boys

Comment 40, made on June 24, 2009 at 12.10 pm

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