'Given...'

Of course; great goalkeeper, great signing; in good form, which is probably just as well, as he'll have a busy night.

'Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Warnock...'

Carlos! Back at right-back, just like the Martin O'Neill days again. Still, Hutton's had an indifferent start and I like Cuellar, even though I prefer him at centre-back. Bit disappointed that James Collins has kept his place again - when is McLeish going to give Ciaran Clark a go?

It was the interview Villa fans had been waiting impatiently for; the first public utterances from owner Randy Lerner since the wind of charge swept through Villa Park around 18 months ago.

Perhaps it hasn't been quite that long since Lerner last gave anything approaching an interview, but it certainly feels that way.

It's been a typically uneventful week at Villa.

Barry Bannan was charged with driving offences following a motorway crash last month, wild rumours of a club takeover, with owner Randy Lerner selling up, popped up on internet forums, Gary Gardener scored a couple of absolute beauties for England's under-21s, and Emile Heskey's partner burnt a roast pork dinner, prompting a visit from the local fire brigade.

I've been forced to ditch the theme of this post, and start all over again. An idea conceived in the days leading up to the Norwich game, an article already half-written. Now it's useless, unfit to publish. And I'm delighted at that.

I had planned to write about how Villa are a side shorn of inspiration, following the summer sale of Ashley Young, a player who - though bafflingly criticised as 'lazy' by some fans - could almost always be relied upon to do something positive with the ball.