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Everton manager David Moyes is reportedly the favourite to take up the job at Aston Villa.

The Birmingham-based club are in the hunt for a new manager following the exit of Martin O’Neill on the eve of the season. The Irishman left following a disagreement with owner Randy Lerner, leaving the club to appoint Kevin MacDonald as the caretaker boss while looking for a permanent replacement.

Now The Mirror reports that the Villans see Moyes as the right man the take the club forward, as he has a lot of experience in working with a shoestring budget while at the same time getting the best out of his players.

This also comes in the light of bookmakers slashing odds on the former Preston North End boss to be the next manager at Villa Park, as he is believed to be tired of working at Goodison Park.

The Scot has spent eight years with the Toffees, but has nothing to show for his efforts in keeping the club as competitive as they have been in recent years - even breaking into the top four on one occasion.

Villa have already maintained that they are looking for a manager with prior experience in managing a Premier League club, effectively ruling out several manager who had previously been linked with the job - including USA coach Bob Bradley.

It has been speculated that Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce could be another name being discussed by the upper echelon at Villa.

Jack Collison dreams of emulating Steven Gerrard’s FA Cup final heroics and inspiring West Ham to go one step further than the Upton Park class of 2006.

The Welsh international was an academy player when Alan Pardew’s Hammers tackled Liverpool in a cup final classic at the Millennium Stadium.

Collison and James Tomkins sat together in the stands awe-struck as West Ham went 2-0 up and then reclaimed a 3-2 lead before Gerrard’s wonder strike forced the game into extra-time and penalties.

West Ham lost the shoot-out but Collison understood that day just what the FA Cup means.

And the 21-year-old will draw on those memories this Sunday when West Ham attempt to take their first step on the road to Wembley against Arsenal.

‘We were a bit young but Alan Pardew took me and James Tomkins along to travel with the team and stay at the team hotel. We got the chance to see what it was like,’ Collison recalled. (continue reading…)

Aston Villa will act quickly to stave off a dramatic loss of form by tabling a bid for West Ham midfielder Scott Parker during the Transfer Window.

Villa have lost their last two matches and fell out of the Champions League race with a dreadful post-Christmas run last season.

However, manager Martin O’Neill is desperate to maintain a push for the top four this time - his side are currently fifth - and reports in The Guardian suggest he will attempt to beat Tottenham and Liverpool to Parker’s signature.

The 29-year-old has been valued at £8m by the hard-up Hammers and his natural holding midfield role is something O’Neill needs.

He has been using attacking midfielder Stilian Petrov more defensively while Nigel Reo-Coker - replaced by Parker at Upton Park two years ago - is struggling to hold a regular place down.

History would suggest ex-Charlton and Chelsea man Parker would favour a London move but he did spend two seasons at Newcastle so is not averse to leaving the capital. (continue reading…)

Fernando Torres scored in the 93rd minute to give Liverpool a dramatic late victory over Aston Villa.

The Reds’ season of frustration looked set to continue as Villa produced a spirited display in snowy conditions.

Steven Gerrard went close, Pepe Reina denied Stewart Downing and Gabriel Agbonlahor, and John Carew headed wide.

A draw beckoned but Torres raced on to a ricochet and slotted in, setting a record for reaching 50 league goals for Liverpool in the fewest appearances.

The Spaniard strike provided a pulsating end to a disappointing encounter and Liverpool’s joy at snatching a morale-boosting three points was clear for all to see.
Torres will dominate the headlines having notched 50 goals in 72 Premier League matches, but much of the credit should go to Pepe Reina, who kept his team in contention with a couple of magnificent saves.

He helped Liverpool to only their sixth win from 19 matches in all competitions, which lifts them above Birmingham into seventh, four points behind fourth-placed Tottenham and two adrift of Villa.

Martin O’Neill’s men drop down to sixth having conceded more goals than Manchester City and they are entitled to feel totally deflated by their last-gasp defeat. (continue reading…)