Sat 21st Nov - Turf Moor
By Elliot Ball Last updated: 5th September 2008
Guzan: Excited and relieved
Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan admitted the weight of the world has been lifted off his shoulders after sealing a move to Villa Park.
The American stopper completed his summer switch to Villa from MLS side Club Deportivo Chivas USA for an undisclosed fee, after gaining a work permit.
Guzan is currently on international duty with the USA, but that has not stopped the 23-year-old from looking forward to his time in the Premier League.
"It's still sinking in that I have finally joined Aston Villa," Guzan told AVTV Online.
"It'll be great when all my travelling is over and I can get into the normal routine of training every day with the guys, having lunch and being part of the squad.
"I remember getting the phone call from the manager, telling me that my permit had been accepted, I was able to come over for a little bit, then I had to fly back out to America to prepare for the Olympics.
"Just being with the guys was fantastic. I can't wait until I get into it full-time.
"I was so excited when I found out my permit had been granted. I couldn't believe it for a while, probably because there had been a little doubt that it would be accepted.
"When it went through, I was so relieved and I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders. To know that I can now make an impact for Villa tremendously exciting."

Burnley 1-1 Aston Villa - Thompson
Burnley 1-1 Aston Villa - Coyle
Warnock on England
Aston Villa 5-1 Bolton - Nicholas
Aston Villa 5-1 Bolton - O'Neill
West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa - O'Neill
West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa - Zola
Injury woes worry O'Neill
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Aston Villa vs Tottenham |
| Tuesday 1st December | |
| Carling Cup | |
| 19:45 | Portsmouth vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Hull |
| Saturday 12th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Aston Villa |
| Tuesday 15th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Sunderland vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 19th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Stoke |
| Sunday 27th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa |
| Tuesday 29th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Liverpool |
| Saturday 9th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Aston Villa |
| Sunday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Aston Villa vs West Ham |
| Wednesday 27th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal |
| Saturday 30th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Aston Villa |
| Wednesday 10th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 20th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Burnley |
| Saturday 27th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Aston Villa |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Burnley 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 1 Bolton | |
| Wednesday 4th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Tuesday 27th October | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 24th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 17th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 1 Chelsea | |
| Monday 5th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 1 Man City | |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Wednesday 23rd September | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Cardiff | |
| Saturday 19th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Sunday 13th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 0 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 30th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 0 Fulham | |
| Thursday 27th August | |
| Europa League Qualifying | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 1 Rapid Vienna | |
| Monday 24th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 1 - 3 Aston Villa | |
| Thursday 20th August | |
| Europa League Qualifying | |
| Rapid Vienna 1 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 0 - 2 Wigan | |
| Saturday 8th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Fiorentina | |
| Tuesday 4th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Oxford Utd 2 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 2nd August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Juventus 0 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Arsenal | 12 | 25 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 13 | 25 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 13 | 22 |
| 6 | Manchester City | 12 | 21 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 13 | 20 |
Pictures from Saturday's action where Liverpool draw with Man City and Arsenal lose away.
Bristol City fan Hannah Shine was strutting her as the Soccerette in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Preston North End fan Hazel Fox was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill was delighted to see Stewart Downing make his debut for the club.
Chelsea continued their relentless march at the top of the table as Arsenal lost to Sunderland and Manchester City held Liverpool.
Martin O'Neill felt Aston Villa were good value for their 1-1 draw away at Burnley on Saturday.
Aston Villa left it late before securing a 1-1 draw against Burnley at fortress Turf Moor on Saturday.
Milan Jovanovic's agent has played down speculation that the Serbia star could be on the move in January.