Welsh Players Christmas-New Year matches 2010-11 (Premier League, Part 1)

I’m never going to catch up on all the matches that have taken place (or not) so I’ll just do a quick overview of all the Welsh (and nearly Welsh) players.

Arsenal
Aaron Ramsey made his long-awaited return to non-reserve football when he came off the bench for loan club Nottingham Forest. A number of Forest’s matches were cancelled due to the snow but Aaron managed four appearances, including two starts. Forest were hoping to extend Aaron’s loan but Arsene Wenger understandably said no.
(all matches with Nottingham Forest)
Palace H 3-0 (bench, on 74)
Derby H 5-2 (starts, off 60)
Barnsley A 2-2 (bench, on 54)

Sanchez Watt is still on loan at Leeds United so I’ll talk about him later.

Aston Villa
James Collins has got himself into a few spots of bother on and off the field but he has managed to keep his place in the team. Along with practically every other footballer whose name the media knows, there have been rumours about him leaving his club in the transfer window.
Spurs H 1-2 (played all)
Man C A 4-0 (played all)
Chelsea A 3-3 (Y foul 22, played all)
Sunderland H 0-1 (Y foul 45+2, played all)

Elliot Parish hasn’t been near the first team as far as I’m aware. Even when reserve keeper Brad Guzan was absent, Villa stuck some other guy on the benc. But hopefully that will dissuade the England lower level sides from picking him and then Wales can nip in.

Blackburn Rovers
Jason Brown has returned from Leyton Orient, ending his second loan spell of the season. Leeds United and Leyton Orient should have given him a clue about whether he really wants first-team football or not. Jason played no matches over the Christmas period due to the cancellation of Orient’s games and what can only be ignorance (or that’s what I tell myself) on the part of new manager Steve Kean.

Blackpool
Neal Eardley didn’t start the season at the forefront of Ian Holloway’s mind (and maybe that was no bad thing the forefront of Ian Holloway’s mind is probably a scary place) but now he’s starting every match and providing assists (although he didn’t get any over Christmas).
Sunderland A 0-2 (played all)
Man City A 1-0 (played all)
Birmingham H 1-2 (played all)

David Vaughan has gone about his duties rather more quietly than Neal and if you’re not physically watching or listening to the match, it’s difficult to know if he’s doing anything at all. But according to fans and manager, he most certainly is. David’s contract ends this summer and Ian Holloway wants to keep him – but only if he’ll stop arguing and sign a new contract. If he won’t sign, it might be better to let him go now and get a bit of money for him. It’s not like Blackpool are in dire relegation straits after all. There’s nothing dire about Blackpool.
Sunderland A 0-2 (played all)
Man City A 1-0 (played all)
Birmingham H 1-2 (played all)

Rob Edwards had a period of not being in the matchday squad but it turned out he was injured and over the past month, he has been on the bench every time. Maybe that’s not where he most wants to be but as long as you’re on the bench, at least you have a chance of playing.
Sunderland A 0-2 (bench)
Man City A 1-0 (bench)
Birmingham H 1-2 (bench)
Bolton Wanderers
Sam Ricketts got himself back into the first team and has pretty much stayed there. He did get dropped for one match but Bolton Wanderers soon saw sense and brought him on as a substitute.
Sunderland A 1-0 (played all)
WBA H 2-0 (bench, on 64)
Chelsea A 1-0 (played all)
Liverpool A 2-1 (played all)
Wigan H 1-1 (played all)

Chelsea
Rhys Taylor is still on loan at Crewe Alexandra from ‘struggling Chelsea’. He has the option of moving to another club in this transfer window but if he does want to go, he’s been keeping it quiet.

Fulham
Simon Davies said his ongoing foot injury would prevent him from playing regularly for Fulham but it looks as though he’s underestimated himself. But the really good news is that he hasn’t said a definite no in response to Gary Speed’s attempt to recall him to the Wales squad so I kind of feel vaguely hopeful some of the time.
Simon has four assists from his last four games, as well as a brilliant goal.
West Ham H 1-3 (A1 11, played all)
Stoke A 0-2 (played all)
Spurs A 1-0 (played all)
WBA H 3-0 (starts, G1 45+1, A2 56, A3 65, off 82)

Manchester City
Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy remains on loan at Cardiff City for the season although there are reports of plans to steal him away from his childhood club.

FA Cup Results 6th November 2010 (Part 2)

Colchester United 4-3 Bradford City
Bradford have been on a great run after a poor start to the season and they came very close to giving League One promotion hopefuls Colchester a bit of a shock.
Lee Beevers and Lloyd James were unused substitutes for Colchester.
Bradford are so good, Jason Price just can’t get a start. He was a 58th-minute substitute.

Dagenham & Redbridge 1-1 Leyton Orient
These East London teams are now set to meet four times this season after their FA Cup tie went to a replay.
Dag & Red keeper Tony Roberts, who is possibly still slightly troubled with his ankle injury, was on the bench.

Darlington 2-1 Bristol Rovers
It hasn’t been a good year for Bristol Rovers in the Cups. The League One side was thrashed 6-1 by League Two team Oxford United in the Carling Cup and now they have lost to Darlington, who haven’t exactly been lighting up the Blue Square Premier.
Byron Anthony played in defence for Bristol Rovers while Ben Swallow and Eliot Richards both made substitute appearances.

Dartford 1-1 Port Vale
Blue Square South strugglers Dartford managed to force a replay against Port Vale, who aren’t exactly struggling in League Two.
Lewis Haldane made his long-awaited return to League Two football when he came off Port Vale’s bench after half-time. Gareth Owen also played for Port Vale.

Fleetwood Town 1-1 Walsall
Walsall haven’t had a great season but perhaps it’s just got even worse after the League One side failed to knock the Conference North side out of the FA Cup. They will get another chance though.
Sean Geddes wasn’t in Walsall’s squad for the sixth consecutive game.

Forest Green Rovers 0-3 Northampton Town
Northampton are pretty good at these Cups. They found Forest Green even less trouble than Liverpool.
Mike Fowler played 85 minutes for Forest Green. Curtis McDonald was on the bench.
Paul Walker was on the bench for Northampton.

Europa League Fixtures 19th August 2010

Rapid Vienna v Aston Villa
James Collins is in Villa’s squad to face Rapid Vienna but that’s the Irish one, not the Welsh one. The Welsh James Collins is still out with a calf injury and is one of a number of senior players who won’t play. Elliot Parish, eligible to play for Wales but one of those who would rather play for England, is also in the squad.

Celtic v FC Utrecht
Joe Ledley is in Celtic’s squad to face FC Utrecht in the first leg of their play-off against