Villa v Villa Reserves

Aston Villa reserves aka Bolton Wanderers travel to the West Midlands needing a win to keep their slim hopes of Premier League survival alive. Three old boys will be making the trip to Villa Park.

What can one say about Jlloyd Samuel that hasn`t already been said? He`s a fine, pacy left-back with a subtle appreciation of the game`s finer points. See, it`s easy if you try.

‘He’s a quality full-back and I know he’s one to watch going forwards,’ explains former boss Martin O`Neill. We didn`t realise that Aston Villa`s manager had such a keen sense of humour. It`s ok to watch Samuel as he goes forward, but there`s little need to do anything else as by the time he gets to the half-way line he`s forgotten why he set out in the first place. Then he gives you the ball. Is this unkind? Probably, but like a lot of other rubbish Premier League players Samuel will be crying all the way to the bank. If he can find the bank.

Gavin McCann`s signing wasn`t welcomed by Wanderers fans. The word ‘donkey` seemed to be uttered quite a lot. Yet, on the whole, he`s acquitted himself well. He can break up attacks and get play moving the other way with a simple pass. Anything more complicated and his brain would explode, but fortunately for him, Bolton don`t have anyone who does ‘complicated.`

And so to Gary Cahill. The young defender looks confident and composed. Too much so at times, which may explain why he`s given away penalties against Blackburn and Arsenal, both of which proved significant, and gifted Liverpool two goals. If Nicky Hunt had done that a lynch mob would have been formed. Cahill isn`t the finished product, but he has the potential to be a very good player. Whether that`s with Bolton remains to be seen.

The Whites arrive at Villa Park in a run of wretched form that has seen them take one point from the last twenty-one. Villa aren`t in good shape either and have lost their last three games without scoring, the most embarrassing being a home reverse against Sunderland. Euro qualification is beyond them, which is why they should have agreed to play with nine men as Bolton chairman Phil Gartside requested. The Reebok misfits can`t do it against a team that`s a man short, even with a two goal start, so that would have been the next logical progression. Relegation may be looking likely, but it would have been nice to collect three points from one game, before the end of the season.

Finally, a request. A taxi will arrive at Villa Park tomorrow at around 1 pm. It contains the Bolton fans. Whilst it may be tempting to vandalise the vehicle, we`d appreciate it if you didn`t as the plan is to bundle Jlloyd Samuel into the back and drive him somewhere a long way off. The final destination hasn`t been decided yet, but it`s hoped that the sea will feature at some point.