Martin O’Neill hasn’t taken kindly to the apparent booing of some fans in the local derby v Wolves. Must admit although there were rumbles, I didn’t think there was a major noise from the naysayers, what were other people’s impression who were there?
I’m sure MON didn’t take kindly to the cheers for Luke Young and Nathan Delfouneso when they were running to the Holte End and looked that they might be being brought on. He also looked away when the song from the Holte was ‘we want Delfouneso’ but most managers would react the same, managers by their very nature have to have a big ego surely? Not the sort of job I’d like, everything rests on him and he does at times seem an ‘island’ and is obviously – as is his right, it is his job – seemingly very stubborn!
MON told the press:
‘The opening 20-odd minutes was as good a display as we have produced in recent times. It was scintillating stuff and you would have got long odds on us being booed off at half-time. But that’s the nature of things. I suppose a Carling Cup final appearance, the semi-finals of the FA Cup and battling for a top-four place in the league is maybe what is expected to happen here every year.’
Adding, ‘Does it upset me? I expect it. It is more the nature of the game nowadays than ever before. I don’t think it is just an Aston Villa thing, but not every single side has reached a cup final, a semi-final and with nine games to go is in the hunt for the top four.’
My only question is what about the many more thousands of fans who turn up week in and week out and don’t boo? It is hard to take when these quotes come up again almost suggesting that it is all or most fans booing. It totally isn’t. Half time whistle blew and by me no one booed, all I did was shout ‘come on you Villa boys’ not that isn’t a negative is it?! (I say that as I’m in ear shot as I sit right by the bench).
I don’t like booing BUT at least the fans who are vocal either way are there at the ground, paying their hard earned money and taking their time to show their passion for the club. If that passion sometimes overflows into a negative vibe or frustration …. so what?
If any manager is looking for constant thanks from fans for a job they are VERY well paid for then surely they are on a hiding to nothing? The flipside, if any fan thinks their team is going to win every game and not at times disappoint, they are also on a hiding to nothing but depression!
Must admit, I can’t see why we can’t all settle down and just enjoy the run in to the end of the season, maybe we’ll end up with the FA Cup and/or 4th place? If not, then the debates as to if what we do achieve is good enough can start?
Funny old game but boy do we love it?!
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