Downing joins Villa

Aston Villa have completed the signing of England international Stewart Downing from relegated club, Middlesbrough.

The deal is worth £12million and for a four year period.

Downing is currently sidelined due to a foot surgery after a tackle on the last game of the season against Villa took him out until October. Despite not being able to start the season, Martin O'Neil decided to sign the player anyway.

Villa's official website read :

Villa have completed the signing of England international Stewart Downing.

The four-year deal was finalised after the left-sided star agreed terms and passed a medical.

Downing becomes Martin O'Neill's first summer signing and adds more quality to the manager's claret and blue squad.

Downing has been left a big admirer of O'Neil and said :

As soon as I spoke to the manager at the training ground, I wanted to play for Villa and I wanted to play for him.

He has great ambition and wants to build a good squad to take the club forward. I want to be part of that.

As an outsider looking in, it was obvious that Villa were a club on the up. You can see a chairman and manager who want to build great things.

They have done that over the past few seasons, particularly by finishing sixth last time around, which was great.

But once you get here and see the stadium, the training ground, the people behind the scenes and the manager with his ambition and hopes for the future, it's even better than you realised.

Downing has also reiterated his intention to play for England next year in South Africa which is what has forced him to move away from the club he has always supported and would always support.

With this deal done, do you think it makes way for Ashley Young to look for newer pastures? Manchester United anyone?

Chelsea bring in reserve keeper

Chelsea have signed Middlesbrough's goalkeeper Ross Turnbull on a free transfer.

The 24 year old was without a contract at the end of June as Middlesbrough, who were relegated to the Championship at the end of the season decided not to renew his deal.

There was interest from other clubs as well but Chelsea were always the front runners and now they've made the deal official.

The shot stopper would be Chelsea's second option after Peter Cech and Hillario.

Chelsea's squad in the goalkeeping area had dwindled after Carlo Cudicini moved to Spurs at the end of last season.

Newcastle 3 - 1 Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough traveled to the North-East to face Newcastle. Both of them who are involved in the relegation battle. Middlesbrough,Newcastle and West Brom all sit on 31 points so any points accumulated by either of the teams would surely be a great boost to their confidence and help their cause for survival.

Middlesbrough went up as early as the 3rd minute through an unlucky own goal to concede for Habib Beye.The ball fell in his path as he ran forward after a save by Steve Harper which was shot from a close range by Tuncay. Middlesbrough 1-0.

Viduka rattled the bar after a few minutes and the rebound fell to Steve Taylor who could only blaze his shot over the goal.

However he made amends in the 9th minute courtesy a great header which wasn't well marked by the Middlesbrough defence.However Nolan has been accused of taking a Middlesbrough defender off but wasn't spotted by the referee.Newcastle 1-1 Middlesbrough.

Middlesbrough's Emnes rued a decent chance to put his team ahead as he did the hard part to get past the Newcastle defence but only to see his shot go wide.

The teams entered the tunnel with the scoreline reading 1-1.

Middlesbrough were the more attacking of the sides coming into the second half.

The first real chance of the second half came Gary O'Neil's way whose shot from the edge of the area was well punched by Steve Harper.

Shearer then made a very crucial and huge change with Martins coming on for Owen.This paid dividends for the magpies as the Nigerian scored within a minute of coming on in the 71st minute.His scuffed shot saw the back of the net.However,There were appeals of fouls by Gareth Southgate and TV footage showed a Nolan offside before the ball fell to Obafemi.2-1 to Newcastle.

Newcastle ensured the win through a Nolan cross which fell to Loverkrands in the box who gave no chance to Brad Jones in the 86th minute. 3-1 to Newcastle.

The dominance for Newcastle continued in the 88th minute as Middlesbrough pressed forward and left gaps at the back.However Andy Caroll who came on for Mark Viduka couldn't capitalise as Jones came forward to block his effort.

The win puts Newcastle on 34points on equal points with Hull City and 2 points behind Sunderland.Newcastle climb out of the relegation zone only on goal difference though.On the other hand,Middlesbrough need to bring something out of their next two games against Aston Villa and West Ham.

Middlesbrough sink deeper into trouble

Bolton thumped Middlesbrough 4-1 at The Reebok stadium leaving them in further relegation problems.Middlesbrough are now five points adrift of safety and are second bottom in the league table.

Bolton started the scoring through Kevin Davies.The English striker got his 12th goal of the season in the 7th minute only for their lead to be canceled by Gary O'Neil in the 37th minute.

Bolton got the second just before half time through Gary Cahill to go into half time break at 2-1.

The home side ensured victory with late strikes in the 78th and 84th minute through Matt Taylor after woeful defending left Gareth Southgate fuming from the dugout and thereafter from Ricardo Gardner who controlled a cross field pass beautifully to add the fourth.

Win puts Bolton in a relatively comfortable position and Middlesbrough need a miracle to avoid relegation with both Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers winning their games.

Middlesbrough fined for bad behaviour

Middlesbrough have been fined 6000 pounds for their inability to control players.

The fine was handed out after Middlesbrough's Didier Digard was sent off in their January 17 clash with West Brom at the Hawthorns.

The referee in charge Mark Halsey was harassed by the Middlesbrough players after the ejection of the Frenchman.

Middlesbrough have admitted the charge and will be liable to pay 4000 pounds now and 2000 pounds next season subject to any other impeachments of the same rule.

Premiership Roundup - 20/09

SUNDERLAND 2 - 0 MIDDLESBROUGH
Chopra 81'
Chopra 90'

Michael Chopra started off his season in fabulous fashion after troubled personal life over the past few months.He got on the score-sheet twice.First on the 81st minute and then again he confirmed the 3points for The Black Cats.The two goals were the first home goals for Sunderland this season.

The game would have held a different outcome had Stewart Downing converted the second half penalty.As like his previous penalty miss against Stoke,the English player hit the ball over the bar.

Boro started the game without Mido who injured himself during the warm up.His place was taken by Alfonso Alves.

Chopra got the first with a nicely put through ball by Richardson which he put on the keepers left with a defender sliding in.

The second goal arrived on the tip of full time when Malbranque slipped the pass for Chopra to tap in the open goal after it took a wicked deflection.

Liverpool 0 - 0 Stoke City

Liverpool welcomed Stoke City on the back of a fabulous 2-1 win over Manchester United last week and then a 2-1 win away to Marseille in the Champions league.

Liverpool and Steven Gerrard thought they were up to a great start within two minutes when a Gerrard freekick bounced inside the box without taking a touch on the way although their celebration were cut short by the offside flag where probably Kuyt was ruled offside.I don't understand the offside rule! The player is supposed to touch the ball to be flagged offside,right?

Liverpool piled on the pressure throughout the 90minutes but the scoreline read 0-0 when the referee blew the full time whistle.

Despite the 24 shots and 19 corners,Liverpool weren't able to make Sorensen do much with the defense holding Torres and Kuyt back very well. These would be two points dropped for Liverpool and the first clean sheet for Stoke City.

Blackburn Rovers 1 - 0 Fulham
Derbyshire 84'

Blackburn Rovers were riding on a drubbing last week against Arsenal and had conceded 8goals in the past two games.

Paul Ince gave the most impressive display of his managerial career at Blackburn with an extraordinary attacking game against Fulham.

There were plenty moments of brilliance for Rovers who created chance after chance and showed signs of the play that was there when Mark Hughes was the manager.

The goal came in the 84th minute when Santa Cruz's cushion header lay in the path of Derbyshire who volleyed it home with his left foot.

West Ham United 3 - 1 Newcastle United
D.Michele 8' Owen 67'
D.Michele 37'
Ethrington 53'

Newcastle United continued their bad run and slumped to a third consecutive defeat at West Ham.

This was the first game for new boss Zola and the first start for Italian D.Michele. Both got off to a celebratory beginning with Zola and his Hammers grabbing three points and D.Michele getting on the sheet twice.

D.Michele started the scoring with a deflected shot off Taylor which flew over Shay Given's head and into the back of the net.

The second was a reflection of Newcastle's woeful defending and to some extent the skill of D.Michele.After a super save from Given the ball still found D.Michele who after a touch past the defender put the ball in the back of the net,on the near post of Given.

The third arrived in the second half when Newcastle were left exposed as Michele beat the offside trap and made the run towards the box and despite being on the verge of a hattrick he passed the ball towards the running Ethrington who put the ball past the keeper with ease.

Newcastle however managed a consolation goal when Michael Owen continued his impressive form against West Ham by putting a curler round the keeper to get his 4th goal against the Londoners in 2 games.

Certainly warning signs for the Magpies.

Bolton Wanderers 1 - 3 Arsenal
K.Davies 13' Eboue 26'
Bendtner 27'
Denilson 87'

Arsenal went top of the table with Chelsea due to play Manchester United tomorrow and as Liverpool slipped up against Stoke City.

Arsenal haven't had easy time at the Reebok in their previous visits.They have always been their bogey team but today's win was by far the most comfortable wins as compared to their win last season when they had a man sent off and recovered three points in the dying stages.

Bolton showed their set pieces prowess when they took the lead courtesy Kevin Davies who climbed over an Arsenal player to give the home side the lead.

This spurred the Gunners who put on many attacks thereafter.It paid dividends when Arsenal got two goals in a minute.

Arsenal equaled the scoreline when Eboue stroked the ball into the back of the net with suspicion of offside.

The next goal came from Bendtner who slid in from 6 yards out after a neat cross and an opening down the left from Denilson.

Theo Walcott was instrumental for the third goal when he made a lung bursting run from the halfway line to create open space for Adebayor who crossed the ball on the far side of the goal for Denilson to tap into open goal.

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Aston Villa confirm signing of Shorey

Villa swoop for Shorey



He will be joined by Luke Young from Middlesbrough on a three year deal as a deal which looks imminent right now.

He would be Villa's fourth signing of the season.The previous three being Steve Sidwell,Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan.

Shorey who had shone last year for Reading in the Premiership but they had been relegated after a disastrous campaign where they lost many games at the end of the season.

Martin O'Neil had this to say on the signings,

"Strengthening the squad has obviously been in our minds for quite some considerable time."

"We have agreed a fee with Reading for Nicky Shorey - a quality natural left-back who played for England 18 months ago."

Great signings for Villa?Time to say BYE BYE BARRY?