MON Not Happy With Fans Cheering Gabby Off

Martin O’Neill was far from impressed with the Villa crowd who cheered when Gabby was brought off today.

I’m not 100% sure what the cheering was for. Was it against the player? He has been shocking recently to be fair and maybe if the manager had a thought he’d have looked to rest him and try to (shock horror) actually change things about a little? No? Silly me!

Or was the cheering just the crowd happy that a tactical change was being made? I am not sure, I don’t have the answers to these things, I think that was more understandable than the stupid booing at the end of the game. Villa WILL lose games, we have before, we never used to boo, so why have we started now?

Baffling, then again so was the game and the substitutions so all in all, not a great day for anyone it would seem.

MON said about the substitution:

‘Gabby has been fantastic for this football club and I am very disappointed with what happened when he was substituted. Ever since I have known him, two-and-a-half years ago, he has been brilliant. He is going through a period where his confidence is low but I have got to tell you that is no way to treat him after what he has done here.’

‘I can put up with many other things but that was uncalled for and people have short memories. I’ve always said if you pay your money you can do what you want but that sort of thing doesn’t help anybody.’

Does putting him in the firing line all the time when he is so low on confidence not add to the players problems, is it always JUST the fans who are at fault at Villa? Seems so.

Think I’m struggling with the modern game and the boo boy stuff though, that has never been my idea of being a Villa fan and God knows people of my age group and above have lived through enough lean years!

One worry is it is never a good sign when the manager starts criticising the fans, the club recently I thought was pulling together but he’s had a bit of a pop a few times. Sometimes a look inward is also needed, need I mention the treatment of fans – both at home and who went – over the CSKA Moscow farce?

Maybe we can all lift our spirits for the next game, easy 3 points at Anfield… COME ON VILLA!