It’s been a long time since I’ve been buzzing for a game. I go, I think I always will. I tell myself ‘it is what I do’ during the most dour of times, or when I am at my most unwell. But I do often question my sanity when doing ‘what I do’ attending such awful, boring matches.
I liked Bruce, but it was just too dull. After years of dullsville from the likes of Lambert, I have just grown bored of being bored.
It is definitely in the blood this old football thing, like a bug! I can’t not go, quite often I can’t stand going, but next match, I’m there again – so are many of you.
But today? I can’t wait to be down there, a full Villa Park, a little treat coming at the start of the game I’m told, and a manager who will get the Villa straight away.
I have a very strong feeling that Dean Smith will concentrate more on what Villa do, rather than what the opposition might do. Something I’ve waited for for years. We bottled it v Fulham at Wembley, like we had so many other games before it. Why? They concentrated on containing Fulham in training before the game. They should have focussed on giving Fulham problems. Smith will do the latter, I’m sure of it.
I am usually pushing for a new manager to meet the fans, talk to the dyed in the wool, get some knowledge of the club from those who know. This time though, no need. He is one of us. I know it’s not the be-all and end-all but it is nice. I think his appointment has shown the direction the new owners really do want to take us. I knew they were keen on building the academy because they talked about it when they met some of us (FCG) and arrested the decline that the hapless Xia had allowed to set in there. Smith will also want to nurture the young talent and bring them through. I would suspect that is a large part of why he got the job.
As said, he gets us. He will know exactly what needs doing because he’s just like the rest of us, he has watched a magnificent club being woefully mismanaged on and off the pitch. It does hark back to the time that John Gregory returned to Villa Park as manager (having been assistant to he who walks on water, Brian Little). It was a breath of fresh air and he shot us up the league. He understood us, we understood him.
Come on Dean, you can do the same.
And come on all of us fans, let’s give him the support, the time and some patience to get this right.
As long as he wins today of course.
Oh and I think it is great that he’s welcomed John Terry into the fold. He’s got his own sidekick with him as well, obviously, but he wants young and ambitious coaches. THAT is the sign of a strong manager, not worried about bringing in big names or being usurped. Things are looking good.
UTV
