Villa Are Positively Re-Building

Had a few nice positive article comments recently, so to counter balance those that are despairing, I thought I’d pick just three as a reminder, Villa are moving forward and in a ‘good place’ right now, headed by some very good people.

Gordonsleftboot said: Back in the 1960’s when we got rid of the Smith regime and as Herbert made his first appearance, we spent Sunday mornings cleaning the terraces and washing hoardings in preparation for the new season.

The excitement was that we had just signed Chico Hamilton and Pat McMahon. Those were the days before the internet and endless chatter that has ensued. Football was relegated to Saturdays to Wednesdays and not thought about too much in between. There is too much endless chatter these days without enough games to generate constant news to support it.

Enjoy the moment – who else remembers the third division and Vic Crowe? Complaining now? – get real.

These are the good times and they are getting better. Randy & Co. are doing a great job – enjoy the ride. Without them we could be heading for more years of oblivion. Now we have hope – and an improving team. 3 players in an England squad? Who can ever remember that before? Plus a load of under 21s. Who can remember that before?

Voiceoftheholte you buy your season tickets because you love the Villa. That means some good times and some bad times. Also a lot of very indifferent times. I am a little disappointed that we haven’t got a right back, but I am happy that we have a nucleus of great English talent, many of it home grown. I would like to have seen SWP join as our right winger but I am happier that we have Ashley Young on the left. He is going to be one of our biggest stars of recent years. We paid £8m and this could go to £9.65 if all the clauses are met. However this will be seen as a bargain as soon as he makes the England left hand side role his own. And he will.

Some fans wanted Spuds fourth choice striker. I am happy giving a centre forward who has played at the highest level (Champions League final) and two home grown lads + Harewood the opportunity to prove if they have what it takes. If they do, Luke and Gabi are potentially worth over £10m each. If they don’t then it is M’ONs job to make improvements. It will take time to repair the wreck of a club that M’ON and Randy took on.

But it is happening. Not to everybody’s liking, But it is happening. I personally agree with the general view that we should have bought before selling, But M’ON has earned the right to do it his way. Like everybody in every job, he will make mistakes, but for some reason some Villa ‘fans’ think that the best way to support something is to criticise it. Very strange. I thought the idea of a ‘supporter’ was to support. If he fails, then like every other manager he faces tough questions. But we have played three games, with some tough ones coming up.

It will be next season before the it should really start to develop. But to moan before that is uncalled for. I always thought people are judged on results. How about enjoying how the season goes and then passing judgement? It seems to me that to many fickle supporters look for an excuse to moan. The famous banner in the previous managers (can’t remember his name) last season was wrong. Many of our fans are fickle. We are Aston Villa. Not the Aston Villa of 25 and 30 years ago. The Aston Villa whose standing in the game has been eroded by years of mismanagement. Unfortunately we are now only Aston Villa in the same way as West Ham are only West Ham and Everton are only Everton and Spuds are only Spuds. Clubs who have been giants in the game but who are now having to play catch up again. Unless you have Abramovich money (and we don’t) it is impossible to turn years of neglect around in a couple of seasons. But it is starting to turn. Unfortunately media pressure and impatience means the less well educated believe we should have it now. Sorry to burst your bubble. Go back to watching Big Brother and leave the football supporting to those who are actually supporters, whether we have got a right back or not.


And Jon.H added:

I have supported Villa all my life and feel more optimistic about the club now than at any time since 1980/1.

We have threatened a revival a number of times since then, under Big Ron, Little and to a lesser extent Gregory but I feel the current regime are the real deal and MON is the best manager we could possibly wish for.

I totally agree with Voice’s first post above, it sums up perfectly where we are and what we are building towards. MON had a right back in mind, presumably Boswinga, and couldn’t get him so held fire until January when he will try again, but in the meantime he has covered the centre back positions to allow Olly to move to right back where he plays for Sweden.

I don’t see too much wrong with this as a short term measure. we are building, we have a pro-active board who put their money where their mouth is, a top manager. In my opinion a substantially improved (in quality terms) squad, marked improvements to the infrastructure of the club and facilities. All this has been achieved in the first year of ownership. If anybody expected any more, you need to get real. No club is guaranteed success but we are giving ourselves far more chance to be successful than at any time in our recent history.

See you at Villa Park this afternoon?