On the face of things there’s much to be positive about at my beloved Villa Park.
Billionaire new owner – check
Nike making kits as of next season – check
Crowds up – check
Universally respected manager - check
There’s only one thing missing at the moment...points. And the last time I looked…the above list doesn’t keep teams in the Premiership...just ask West Ham.
Unless Villa start winning some games the above list will count for nothing as they will struggle to attract big earners don’t want to play Championship football even if you can afford them...just ask Lucas Neill.
The simple facts are is that Villa have won 2 out of the last 18 and that’s relegation form in anyone’s book…the only positive thing I could take from our game last Sunday was that Liverpool were just as bad as us and they’re in the last 16 of the Champions League and significantly higher than us in the league…maybe we dragged them down to our level.
Now before this descends into the stereotypical Brummie moan-fest I’m very happy with developments off the pitch at Villa Park….very happy indeed. But…I’m also looking ever more nervously at the league table and fearing we may end up involved in a scrap for the last relegation spot with us currently sitting just 3 points above Sheffield United.
Onto O’Neill’s additions to the team...Carew looks like a fantastic piece of business (especially for Baros) but for god’s sake play someone up front with him Martin…..give the fit again Luke Moore a run alongside big John….preferably from this week.
Ashley Young...10 million pounds seems about 7 million worth of wishful thinking at the moment…bags of potential but far from the finished product and a clear sign that as soon as Villa now show interest in a player the price gets hiked.
Stilian Petrov – O’Neills Celtic favourite….apparently undroppable…has shown flashes of what he’s capable of but not sure if it’s my untrained eye but he’s never looked fully fit. If that’s the case…drop him til he is because he’s fast losing the confidence of the Villa faithful.
Sean Maloney….shows promise especially at the price paid but needs a run in the side…maybe at the expense of Gabby Agbonlahor who everyone apart from Mr O’Neill can see is in desperate need of a rest.
Bardsley on loan from Man United looks a solid right back with a strong tackle but he’s not our player and given the last player we bought from Man Utd (Djemba Djemba) was more useful in scrabble than on the pitch I might steer clear on superstition alone.
It’s not quite panic stations yet and a 2 or 3 quick wins could see us safe from harm to allow the speculation to begin as to where Randy’s gonna pump his big bucks…or something like that.
C’mon the Villa!
Billionaire new owner – check
Nike making kits as of next season – check
Crowds up – check
Universally respected manager - check
There’s only one thing missing at the moment...points. And the last time I looked…the above list doesn’t keep teams in the Premiership...just ask West Ham.
Unless Villa start winning some games the above list will count for nothing as they will struggle to attract big earners don’t want to play Championship football even if you can afford them...just ask Lucas Neill.
The simple facts are is that Villa have won 2 out of the last 18 and that’s relegation form in anyone’s book…the only positive thing I could take from our game last Sunday was that Liverpool were just as bad as us and they’re in the last 16 of the Champions League and significantly higher than us in the league…maybe we dragged them down to our level.
Now before this descends into the stereotypical Brummie moan-fest I’m very happy with developments off the pitch at Villa Park….very happy indeed. But…I’m also looking ever more nervously at the league table and fearing we may end up involved in a scrap for the last relegation spot with us currently sitting just 3 points above Sheffield United.
Onto O’Neill’s additions to the team...Carew looks like a fantastic piece of business (especially for Baros) but for god’s sake play someone up front with him Martin…..give the fit again Luke Moore a run alongside big John….preferably from this week.
Ashley Young...10 million pounds seems about 7 million worth of wishful thinking at the moment…bags of potential but far from the finished product and a clear sign that as soon as Villa now show interest in a player the price gets hiked.
Stilian Petrov – O’Neills Celtic favourite….apparently undroppable…has shown flashes of what he’s capable of but not sure if it’s my untrained eye but he’s never looked fully fit. If that’s the case…drop him til he is because he’s fast losing the confidence of the Villa faithful.
Sean Maloney….shows promise especially at the price paid but needs a run in the side…maybe at the expense of Gabby Agbonlahor who everyone apart from Mr O’Neill can see is in desperate need of a rest.
Bardsley on loan from Man United looks a solid right back with a strong tackle but he’s not our player and given the last player we bought from Man Utd (Djemba Djemba) was more useful in scrabble than on the pitch I might steer clear on superstition alone.
It’s not quite panic stations yet and a 2 or 3 quick wins could see us safe from harm to allow the speculation to begin as to where Randy’s gonna pump his big bucks…or something like that.
C’mon the Villa!
