Latest news with #VillaPark
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Grealish has options ahead of Manchester City exit
Jack Grealish has held talks about his future at Manchester City, following a season in which he has struggled for game time. Despite winning trophies under manager Pep Guardiola, he has struggled to match the performances that made him a star at Villa Park. His current situation has alerted several clubs across Europe. Grealish's ability to play as a winger or attacking midfielder makes him an enticing option. Here are five clubs that could benefit from signing the England international this summer. The Gunners have been linked with several wide players in recent transfer windows. Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have been inconsistent this season, prompting Arsenal to look for new left-wingers. Grealish could thrive in Arsenal's system. A fresh start under manager Mikel Arteta could help him rediscover his top form next season. Napoli wanted to sign Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United in January but failed to do so. They could now turn to Grealish, who offers creativity, pace and experience. He fits the style of football that Serie A demands from wide players. Newcastle could look at Grealish if they lose Anthony Gordon this summer. The club will play in the Champions League next season. Manager Eddie Howe values players with Premier League experience and versatility. Grealish would be a strong addition on and off the pitch. Spurs need to build on their recent Europa League success. The team will return to the Champions League next season. Richarlison's form has been inconsistent, and Heung-min Son is getting older. Grealish could bring balance and creativity to their attack. The La Liga club wants to add a new winger this summer. They have been linked with Luis Diaz and Marcus Rashford in recent weeks. If those moves fail, Grealish could be a smart option. His winning experience would benefit Hansi Flick's side.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ozzy Osbourne reveals personal crisis amid health woes ahead of his final UK show as Black Sabbath frontman
Ozzy Osbourne has revealed a secret personal crisis ahead of what has been billed as his final ever show this summer. The legendary rocker, 76, will take to the stage on July 5, as he reunites with Black Sabbath in his native Birmingham at Villa Park for his Back to the Beginning show. It will be the first time Ozzy has performed since late 2018 and following his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease. With just weeks to go until the show, Ozzy has opened up on his self-confidence battle and stage fright. Speaking on SiriusXM's podcast Ozzy Speak s, he said: 'My head's crazy. ADHD - I have that badly. I will have done the show and died a death before I even started my exercises. So I try and put it on the back burner. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'I'm not going up there saying "It's going to be great. I'm really confident." 'In my head I will have died on my ass. I remember being in f***ing Vegas one time being in the dressing room going, "I'm going to play. I'm going to die." He continued: 'And I talked myself into blowing the gig. It was only two f***ing songs. Sharon goes, 'just don't think about it.' I obsess about a f***ing bird c***ping on my show. 'But all I can say is I'm giving 120 percent. If my God wants me to do the show. I'll do it. Sometimes if I start obsessing on the time, I'll be insane by Friday. So I'm just taking it one day at a time.' The singer is also unsure about whether to perform while standing up, or sitting down following a series of spinal operations. Black Sabbath pioneered heavy metal music in the early 1970s with hits such as War Pigs, Paranoid and Iron Man. Since their last gig together in 2005, Black Sabbath has played in partial reunions but never in their original line-up. Ahead of the gig, Ozzy is in strict training, which even sees his blood pressure being taken 15 times a day. He explained: 'I have got this trainer guy who helps people get back to normal. t's hard going, but he's convinced that he can pull it off for me. I'm giving it everything I've got. 'It's endurance. The first thing that goes when you're laid up is your stamina. 'I am having my blood pressure taken 15 times a day.. I've got this f***ing device on my finger. 'It's a monitor to say how my heart rate is. Earlier this month, Ozzy vowed to go ahead with the show, telling The Guardian: 'I'll be there, and I'll do the best I can. So all I can do is turn up.' It comes as Tool front man Maynard James Keenan previously cast doubt on whether Ozzy would make it on stage. He said of the gigs, which his band are also playing: 'I'm cautious about saying, 'Yeah! All in, he's gonna do it'. I don't know what kind of modern miracles we'll come up with to get him on stage to do the songs, but this is gonna be a challenge for them. 'So, I'm honoured to be a part of it, but I'm kinda preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best.' Ozzy's wife Sharon Osbourne revealed how the legend was struggling to walk earlier this year as his Parkinson's progresses. She told The Sun: 'He's very happy to be coming back and very emotional about this. Parkinson's is a progressive disease. 'It's not something you can stabilise. It affects different parts of the body and it's affected his legs. But his voice is as good as it's ever been.' Ozzy was diagnosed with a mild form of Parkinson's disease in 2003, however he only went public with the condition in 2020. However, he has said that his biggest struggles are due to a fall which he suffered in 2019 which caused metal rods in his back to dislodge. The rods had been put there following a quad bike accident at his Buckinghamshire home in 2003. Ozzy has been open about his past addictions to drink and drugs at the height of his career. He previously reflected on his Madhouse Chronicles podcast: 'I've been doing a lot of reflection while I've been laid up, and all my drinking partners, I've realised they're all f***ing dead. 'I should have been dead before loads of them. Why am I the last man standing? Sometimes I look in the mirror and go, 'Why the f*k did you make it?'. 'I should have been dead a thousand times. I've had my stomach pumped God knows how many times.' WHAT IS PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? What is Parkinson's disease? Parkinson's disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years, according to the NHS website. What are the symptoms? The NHS says there are three major symptoms, including tremors or shaking, slowness of movement and muscle stiffness. Other symptoms include problems with balance, loss of smell, nerve pain, excessive sweating and dizziness. Some people can also experience lack of sleep, excessive production of saliva and problems swallowing, causing malnutrition and dehydration. What are the early signs? Symptoms can start gradually, sometimes beginning with a barely noticeable tremor in just one part of the body. In the early stages, people may show little or no expression, and their arms may not swing when they walk. Speech can also become soft or slurred, with the condition worsening over time. What are the causes? Some scientists believe a combination of genetic and environmental factors are the cause of Parkinson's disease. It occurs after a person experiences loss of nerve cells in a part of their brain. However, it is not known why the loss of nerve cells associated with the condition takes place but research is ongoing to identify potential causes. Scientists say genetics factor can increase a person's risk of developing the disease, and can therefore run in families. Other factors attributed to causing the condition include environmental problems such as pollution, though such links are inconclusive, the NHS says. How is it diagnosed? No tests can conclusively show if a person has the disease, but doctors can make a diagnosis based on symptoms, medical history and a physical examination. A specialist will ask the person to write or draw, walk or speak to check for any common signs of the condition. They may even check for difficulty making facial expressions and slowness of limb movement. How many people are affected? Around 145,000 people live with Parkinson's disease in the UK, according to the charity Parkinson's UK. What happens if someone is diagnosed? According to the charity, it is a legal requirement to contact the DVLA, as a diagnosed person will need to have a medical or driving assessment. The organisation also advises people to contact any insurance providers and find out about financial support available. People are also encouraged to partake in more exercise. Can it be treated? Although there is no cure, a number of treatments are available to help reduce the symptoms. The main remedies include medication, exercise, therapy and surgery, which can help people in different ways. What medication is available and what are the side effects? Medication can be helpful in improving the main symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as shaking and movement problems. There are three main types which are commonly used, levodopa, dopamine agonist or a MAO-B inhibitor. Each can affect people in different ways. The drugs do have some side effects, including impulsive and compulsive behaviour, hallucinations, sleep issues and blood pressure changes. What therapy is available? There are several therapies available to those with Parkinson's through the NHS. Among them are physiotherapy to reduce muscle stiffness, occupational therapy to help with completing day-to-day tasks and speech and language coaching. Does this change the way you live? Most people's life expectancy will not change a great deal, though more advanced symptoms can lead to increased disability and poor health. It can also cause some cognitive issues and changes to mood and mental health. Those with Parkinson's are encouraged to exercise more often, with scientists saying 2.5 hours of exercise a week is enough to slow the progression of symptoms.
New York Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Aston Villa's 2024-25 reviewed: Beating Bayern, the Wembley fail and a half-time spat that backfired
Another season of Unai Emery at Aston Villa and another year of securing European football. Villa have completed the set. Conference League in the first season, Champions League in the second — maybe ahead of schedule — and Europa League in the third. This final one may bring slightly less pleasure, given it does not align with Emery's desire for incremental progress, and it came from missing out on the Champions League due to goal difference and a controversial refereeing decision. Advertisement But football is rarely straightforward and, regardless, Villa are consistently qualifying for Europe. Here The Athletic dissects an unforgettable 2024-25 season, when Villa trod new ground but suffered familiar disappointments… The Champions League nights. The Tifos. The lights. The fireworks. The sheer noise. The Holte End. All of it majestic. Villa's return to Europe's premier competition delivered some of the most prestigious and ear-splitting matches in recent club history, creating memories for supporters, family members and friends, just as Villa's past European campaigns had. Right, don't head straight for the comments because I know what you'll say: 'No, the Bayern Munich game.' And you would be well within your rights to say that. But patience, please. The game of the season was the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park. Villa were 5-2 down on aggregate at half-time and so very nearly came back to produce one of the most utterly thrilling back-from-the-brink wins in Champions League history. Emery's very own La Remontada. John McGinn lit the fuse and was a man possessed: head down, scurrying and smashing anything and anyone in sight. Marcus Rashford blew in like a hurricane for a quarter of an hour and PSG, the wonderful, mercurial team, were battered. A Youri Tielemans header, an Ezri Konsa flick or a Marco Asensio one-on-one could have been the difference. Alas, PSG clung on, helped by the referee limiting stoppage time to three minutes. That night was the most remarkable collective effort from Emery's side and maybe the best isolated half in a generation. Remember early season Jhon Duran? Yeah, we'll never forget him, even if Villa's goal-of-the-season shortlist does not include any of his efforts. His 'oh well, I'm just gonna smash this' thunderbolt to complete a comeback against Everton was quintessential Duran. BREAKING: Jhon Duran's incredible strike against Everton is the Guinness Goal of the Month for September 🚀 — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 11, 2024 The win against Bayern wrote a new chapter in Villa's history. The whole evening was fitting. Villa's first home Champions League tie and a 1-0 win, the same score as the 1982 European Cup final. Duran's dink — a goal endlessly replayed and with the Titanic soundtrack over the top — imprinted into minds. Advertisement And Villa Park has rarely experience the level of noise that greeted the full-time whistle. Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-final. How utterly passive and dismal Villa were in letting a monumental opportunity to win silverware slip away. 'VAR is not a tool to protect or to be under any ego, any system or any individual,' Unai Emery wrote in his programme notes following Duran's unfortunate Boxing Day sending-off against Newcastle United. 'VAR cannot be overused to break the spirit of the game.' Hear, hear. I've done some shape-shifting here. This could easily fall under the 'Did that really happen?' category. But for crowbarring purposes, it has to be Tyrone Mings deciding to pick up the ball inside his box at Club Brugge. Mings' handball turned out to be decisive in a 1-0 defeat and Emery, speaking in a hurried post-match press conference, partially blamed his team's loss on the incident. 'It's completely strange,' he said. 'It is the biggest mistake we've made in my career as a coach.' Club Brugge are awarded a penalty after Tyrone Mings picks the ball up inside his own area 😳 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 6, 2024 Everyone in a wifi-less press box and with no replays available had little idea what had just happened, with the dismay continuing for the rest of the game. The whole episode was frankly bizarre. Palace are turning into Villa's bogey-team and have left haunting, if somewhat funny, memories. Away at Selhurst Park, halfway through a dire display that would result in a 4-1 defeat, deputy goalkeeper Robin Olsen was told to warm up. So Olsen started catching crosses from the wings. Unbeknownst to him, however, there was a problem. He was in the way of Palace's half-time entertainment, comprising a group of young children shooting into the goal. The stadium presenter asked the 'keeper to step to one side, but the Sweden international declined. Advertisement 'We shall not be moved,' sang the away end. Home supporters retaliated with boos. Less than an hour later, that same sound followed Olsen as he trudged down the tunnel, having shipped three goals. The whole thing was so odd, exacerbated by the silliness of Villa on the night, that it seems quite funny in hindsight. PSG's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the first leg in Paris and Palace's Adam Wharton at Wembley. Both dominant. Emery has overseen some cautiously bodged performances this season — Club Brugge, Monaco, Ipswich Town (twice) and Crystal Palace (four times) — while, mirroring the team, producing some masterminded victories. It was always going to be difficult to qualify for the Champions League again, but he has largely handled the increased expectations well and navigated tricky spells. Villa's end-of-season form was exceptional but ultimately they were left with too much to do after six wins in 21 league matches between September and February. Still, a third straight season in Europe is some going. A sub-par first half of the league campaign will be forgotten about in years to come, with the nights against Bayern Munich and PSG the overriding recollections. So for that reason, he gets an eight out of 10. Who goes and who stays. Lots of business and invariably underpinned by Villa being mindful of PSR. 'Do you remember when former president of business operations Chris Heck charged £92 for a ticket against Brighton & Hove Albion?'
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
What is your Villa moment of the season?
When do you know you belong somewhere?The Champions League fixture list confirmed Villa were not imagining it - the first win, in the chocolate-box scenery of Bern, seemed almost too easy. Was this all for real? Villa had made it to this level all right, but now they needed to really a little over 10 minutes to go in their second game, against Bayern Munich, it happened. It was all the more sensational because only one man, Jhon Duran himself, could possibly have known what was going to happen. And yet, even he could not have realised as he ran on to Pau Torres' pass, how his life was about to change. With Manuel Neuer – Manuel Neuer! – advancing towards him, barely taking a glance at the target, Duran hooked the ball around a defender, over Neuer, into the North Stand Park exploded. Duran, now instantly famous all over Europe, stood as if modelling for his own statue while his team fell around him. As it happened, it took a moment of utter football fantasy to make Aston Villa's Champions League status feel like Villa's end-of-season awards, John McGinn won the prize for goal of the season. "I feel a bit of a fraud to be honest, because that's not the best goal of the season," he said when handed the award."I just want to thank Jhon Duran for going..."Tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Your Aston Villa player of the season
We asked you to select your Aston Villa player of the season from the four candidates chosen by our fan with the poll now closed, we can reveal the winner is... Youri Tielemans!Here's what David Michael from My Old Man Said, external said about him: After taking almost half a season to start a league game last season, the Belgium midfielder has been Villa's only ever-present starter this time around.A revelation under Unai Emery, he is now very much the heartbeat of the team. His deeper role limits headline stats, but his influence has been essential for the final poll breakdown
