Vital Villa Summer Interview: Mike Field
Mike Field steps up for the Vital Villa members interviews.
Q: When did you become a Villa fan and why?
Too long ago to remember now, you know I’ve turned 30 right? All my addled brain remembers was it was back in the days of God, Platty, Daley and GT. Family were split between Blues and Villa, and thankfully I came out on the right side.
Q: The season just gone, good bad or ugly? What did you think of it?
Good, bad and ugly to be honest. I haven’t exactly been quiet about my thoughts on all things Monny so I won’t repeat them all here, but whilst there was plenty for me to moan about, our consolidation as a Top 6 team can’t be sniffed at. I’m not as sure as other people are that we’ve actually progressed, we haven’t fell back overall. Short of right back, last season did see us progress in terms of becoming a more difficult team to beat but the cost of that seemed to be our forward play and our ability to really finish teams off – or at the very least be properly entertaining as opposed to dragging out bore draws.
Hopefully next season we’ll get the both worlds, and turn 3 or 4 of those bore draws (or better still those draws we snatched from the jaws of victory) and pick up those extra points to bounce us two places higher.
Q: Best and worst moment of last season?
Ignoring the obvious of the semi and final as both the best and the worst of the season, purely from an entertainment, edge of your seat feeling it has to be the 6-4 Blackburn match for me. Way too many similarities to the Tranmere clash as those years ago of not being quite sure what would happen next. Nothing like a good rollercoaster of a match to get the juices flowing. Worst moment by the same token would have to be the Chelsea 7. Not sure so much it’s the scoreline that hurt it was just the abject capitulation, heads down and no clue what to do next that sticks with me. I can’t think of many games where we’ve choked to that level.
Q: James Milner… is he off do you think? If so, what price (realistically) should Villa hold out for? If off to Man City, which – if any – of their players would you want in exchange?
If he wants to go, he’ll go. The feeling you get at the moment is that he’s had his head turned and he wants the greener grass of City’s council stadium to ply his trade on, and that he’s simply being respectful to Villa and the fans by allowing it to play out correctly. I’d be very surprised if he’s lining up in claret and blue next season, and I’d gladly take £25m in return as long as it was spent on securing the services of a proper midfield playmaker and striker.
As for swops, Bellamy, Ireland, Tevez and Adebayor seem fair to me.
Q: What signings (type of player or specific name/s if you wish) would you like to see Villa buy this summer?
We aren’t that far from being the finished article I don’t think, with some sensible rotation and tactics I don’t see why we couldn’t have cracked Top 4 last season to be honest. It looks like we’ll need yet another rightback, we clearly need some creativity in midfield to allow us a Plan B when the religious ‘counter attack let Ash cross it’ just doesn’t work. We also clearly need a striker because when you are looking for a goal to get back into the match, Heskey is not the answer.
I don’t imagine we’ll see many signings over the coming months, so if we can at least get a proper striker and some creativity I’ll be happy.
Q: Where do you stand on Martin O’Neill (I don’t mean literally, that would be assault) ?
Not the best question for me really, shall we move on…he’s here for next season at least you would assume, so that’s that.
Q: Your opinion of Randy and the board?
Still don’t see where they have put a foot wrong or not lived up to the promises they made, we can debate their stance on the manager – as most of us have, at length, on the forums – but other than that they are continuing to move us forward, growing the brand, and running us properly. Can’t ask for much more really, and O’Neill has clearly been backed and will rightly succeed or fail on his own decisions and not from any contraints from above.
Q: Favourite current player and favourite all time player/s
Tricky one, has to be Collins or Milner for the most obvious of reasons. All time clearly has to be God, nobody else close, well maybe Sid.
Q: Do you expect progress next season, difficult to answer before the transfer window closes I know?
Expect progress every season, and even pre signings I’d expect the squad to improve in themselves for next season. Downing will have a proper run of it (now having finally had a rest) so we should see plenty more from him, we all know the effort Gabby has put in in previous season breaks so I’d expect him to be doing the same again now to iron out more niggles in his game and the fringe youth will be effectively a year older and wiser so hopefully we’ll see more of them next season as well.
New signings would be the icing on the cake, well I can dream.
Q: Right, lets lower the tone… which celebrity would you most like to bang and which (male I would think) celeb would you most like to thump!?!
I couldn’t possibly lower the tone, I have a reputation of sorts to protect.
With thanks to Mike Field
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Other summer interviews:
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Previous interviews: Click Here
