Villa blogger Dave Bytheway mulls over the UEFA Cup, thanks his lucky stars he booked his flight early and has a bone to pick with Fabio Capello ahead of the international break.

A good European experience this week for Villa and exciting times ahead, for players and fans.

After watching the UEFA Cup draw live on Tuesday, it was a great feeling being drawn in the same competition as the likes of AC Milan, Galatasaray and other giants of the game.

To end up in a group of three former European Champions is exciting. There isn’t much time before our mouthwatering game against Ajax, but the players shouldn’t really need too much motivation for that one!

The next game against Slavia Prague on November 6 also promises to be just as entertaining. It was announced on Wednesday, just 24 hours after the draw, that all flights to Prague had almost sold out for the days around the game.

I was lucky in booking mine about three minutes after the fixture was announced, so a European night away is something to look forward to.

Also in the group are German table toppers Hamburg, now coached former Albion star Martin Jol. Given the situation at Spurs at the moment, sacking him is proving costly.

The group is completed with Slovakian side Zilina, who themselves are no pushovers. They have won their domestic four times and finished runners up twice – all in the last seven years.

Back to blighty, on Sunday we went to Chelsea, with the comments from the home players showing how easy the game was for them.

Losing Carew so early was a massive blow for us, as against a team of Chelsea’s calibre playing under strength will never be fruitful. It was proved by the result, which without Brad Freidel could have been trebled.

Into the international break, where AGAIN Capello has overlooked Ashley Young. What has this kid got to do to show Capello how good he is?

To leave him out is an insult, to pick Middlesbrough’s Stewart Downing ahead of him is laughable. Add to that, the Belarus game will be tough, so they will have to be at the top of their game.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Up the Villa!