Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies hits back at critics

Jun 6 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

“We were chopping and changing again. You look back to the stage when we were flying and the back four was pretty much the same: me, Martin Laursen, Carlos Cuellar at right back and Luke Young at left-back.

“We have got good personnel playing now, just as we had good personnel playing then.

“It is just about continuation of form and getting used to the way each other plays. That is what helps you through.”

Meanwhile, Austrian teenage forward Toni Vastic has claimed Villa and Blackburn are set to send scouts to watch him this weekend.

The 16-year-old plays for Linzer’s academy, says he would jump at the chance to move to the Premier League.

“Both clubs are really impressive,” he said.

“In England, you can get a chance to prove yourself much earlier

“We have already talked about the possibility of my whole family moving to England.”

n Ciro Ferrara has been appointed the new coach of Juventus.

Ferrara replaced the sacked Claudio Ranieri on an interim basis earlier this month after a poor run of form which threatened the club’s bid for an automatic Champions League berth.

Under Ferrara, Juve beat Siena 3-0 and won 2-0 against Lazio to pip AC Milan in the race to finish second in Serie A.

Ferrara, 42, has now taken up the reins and has signed a two-year deal with the Turin club.