The delusions of granduer at Villa Park needs to be replaced
with realism
It was not the result necessarily which mattered, it was the
fact that Martin O’Neill decided to leave the majority of the first at home in
order to rest for the Premier league game against Stoke. The consequences of
this decision were seen the rest of the season. The following game Villa were
winning 2-0 against Stoke in the 90th minute. O’Neill’s decision to rest
players for the league appeared vindicated. And then Stoke scored twice.
Since then Villa went on a run of four losses, against Man
City, Spurs, Liverpool and that famous game where Macheda put himself on the
map with a 3-2 loss to United. Three draws followed and only two more wins came
that season. It was a capitulation of Keegan proportions and effectively set
the future for Villa.
Martin O’Neill was brought in by Doug Ellis as a farewell
gift to the fans, his appointment certainly galvanised the Villa Park faithful
who had become rather subdued under O’Leary. A brand of high tempo counter
attack football got not just Villa fans purring and the side looked like
potential dark horses for the top four.
O’Neill had one crack at it the following season, another 6th
place finish meant Europa League and losses in the League Cup final and FA cup
semi final meant no silverware again. It was the end of the project and the end
of O’Neill’s reign.
Randy Lerner invested £100 million in transfer fees under
O’Neill and paid high wages to many players who perhaps did not warrant such
high earnings. He recouped only £20 million in O’Neill’s reign meaning a loss
of over £80 million with no silverware or Champions League football to show for
it. His project had ultimately failed and perhaps his reluctance to bank roll
another season under O’Neill or his realisation that the need to balance the
books was a necessity led to the departure of O’Neill.
The unfortunate truth
With that brief piece of history the aim of this article is
to show that Villa are not a big club and that those who believe that Villa
should be fighting for Champions League football are delusional. We had a
chance in that 08/09 season, yet it was destroyed by poor management and a lack
of transfer activity and ambition. That team has been gradually broken up
and what is left is nothing like a team which could only ever achieve
sixth place anyway.
Villa have a great history of success, one of only four
English sides to win the European Cup is a great achievement. They are showered
with domestic success in leagues and cups and when considering a team’s
history, they are certainly up there.
However, it is important to realise that history is just
that and what is key is the present day. In all honesty, being realisitic,
Aston Villa are a mid table side who are certainly good enough to stay in the
league yet are not good enough to move any higher.
The unfortunate truth is that just four years ago sides like
Man City and Spurs were regarded as our equals, now they are much better then
Villa. Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool although having mixed seasons still have
more money and are much more attractive clubs for players than a team in the
midlands. Below these sides Villa are one of many. This is the unfortunate
truth.
High ambition, delusion of grandeur
Many Villa fans believe that if Spurs are up there then we
should be too. In 2009 I would not have argued with that, however Spurs have
done a great job of buying good young players with potential and developing
them into top level players; Bale, Modric and Lennon are good examples of their
policy. What is the key, and the biggest difference between Villa is that these
players are still there now.
Villa’s young players like Young, Downing and Milner have
all moved on, making profit on each one sure, but with no real replacements to
fill the void. N’Zogbia has not impressed and is certainly no replacement for
both Young and Downing.
Villa also have many good youngsters; Albrighton, Delfounso,
Gardner, Bannan and Clark. Yet are these players of the level required to take
Villa to the top four? No. This is not a criticism of them or the club. What
this article is trying to stress is that these players are a reflection of the
club.
Since Lerner and Co. have been given licence to choose the
manager the decisions have not been of the benefit to the team and instead they
strike at a certain level of admission that the initial hope of taking Villa to
the top four was not as possible as they once believed.
The point is, Villa fans have complained all year about the
appointment of McLeish, they have protested and booed and have made Villa a
horrible and lifeless place to be a fan. The players have admitted the
atmosphere has affected them and results have shown that the negativity at
Villa Park has had a negative effect. Villa rank 14th in the league at home
this year and 9th away, this is a sign of worry yet should not be a surprise if
you attend games at home.
The fans have been quick to blame the manager for the poor
performances this season, yet we have conceded less goals this season and have
the same points. If the plan with McLeish is long term, which it appears
to be, then I don’t believe building a strong foundation from defence is a bad
decision. Even though a comparison with Man City is rather ludicrous, Mancini
made sure his side was defensively solid before he looked to let them play more
expansive football. Under Houilier the team was too open and ultimately porous
and if it wasn’t for Bent being supplied by Young and Downing then the team
would have been close to relegation.
Who wants the job?
It is hilarious to outsiders yet embarrassing for fans when
Villa fans talk of new managers; they make outlandish predictions and hold out
hope that a Champions League manager would want to come to Villa. Those who
lusted for O’Neill back or for those big name managers in the game like
Rijkaard need to understand that this is not the same team as before.
The truth is that McLeish inherited a group of players which
lacked the ability to break the top eight yet alone top four. He came in
knowing he would have limited funds and would be required to slash the wage
bill. He has been subjected to abuse all year and yet has not faltered in his
belief in the job. Managers like Martinez and even perhaps Benitez rejected
that this job as it was not appealing, limited money and an ageing, demotivated
side did fill these men with appetite.
Fans need to realise that Villa is not regarded as a big
club anymore, esteemed with history sure, but it is not a big player in the
world today. We are like the British Empire, small in size, yet used to be very
successful. And like the country now, we continue to lust over the old times,
believing we are still a big player in the affairs of the world.
In McLeish we have a man who looked at the Villa job as an
honour, even when understanding and considering the major risks of taking the
job. He has persevered and has done his job well enough. Those thought we would
be relegated are now proved wrong, we will not be relegated this season.
Yet instead of thanking him for his work he has been
subjected to abuse. This team have come out of turmoil, have lost top players
and yet the manager in place has steadied the ship and ridden out the storm.
Are Villa appealing?
Fans have spoken of getting Lambert or Rodgers from Swansea,
two managers who have shown their credentials this season and for me must be
regarded as the best two young managers in the UK at this time.
However, in my opinion Lambert is too good to manage Villa;
his skills demonstrate the ability to coach Bayern or his old side Dortmund, if
Klopp ever goes. He has credentials of top level management and I would not be
surprised if Ferguson was keeping tabs on this young Scotsman for his future
seat. My point being is that Lambert’s next move will be bigger than
Villa.
As for Rodgers, his style of football is excellent, and it has
been a joy to watch this season. However, his failing at Reading indicated that
his success is dependent on the players he has. His way of playing is similar
to Houillier last season, which was a remedy for disaster. The Swansea team he
inherited were made for this style thanks to Martinez, Villa do not have the
personnel or the time to develop this style and so I do not believe Rodgers and
Villa would be a good mix.
Support the man and the club
You will probably argue that we are where are because of
McLeish. Yet, what would other managers have done with this team? Top four?
Really. If you believe that then you are doing a disservice to the club. We are
only four points off eighth place and so to say that we are underachieving is
ludicrous.
It is the fans who need to ask questions of theirsevles,
imagine if those games at home where negativity was abound and every bad touch
was groaned at was replaced with positivity. Negativity this season cannot have
helped the team. Imagine if support had been like other clubs, proud to be
supporting their team, instead of sitting their reluctant to support anything
be it deemed as support for McLeish.
Is changing the manager a good thing?
Many have wanted a change of manager all season, yet when
you look at the teams who have changed manager have they really benefitted? It
is very difficult to come in to a team in a relegation battle, especially
during or after January. Remember Newcastle, who believed that an
inexperienced manager in Shearer could lead them to survival, they were wrong.
Ian Dowie was brought in at Hull, however, as with his record, he took them
down.
Credit to Sunderland who did their work before Christmas and
that decision was the right one.
Yet at QPR Mark Hughes, a man with no real relegation battle
experience, a man who many Villa fans wanted last season has realised the
pressures and difficulties of keeping up a side like QPR. The Hoops' league
record since he took over reads W1 D2 L5 and unless he can mastermind a
dramatic revival, they're doomed to the Championship.
Another side who decided their man had to go was Wolves,
with the chaos that ensued from there, the lack of a plan for a credible
replacement and perhaps the restricted means offered to a new man, they have
reaped what they sow and are another side deep in the relegation mire.
And what about those great managers in Coyle and Martinez.
The media will have you believe that they play some beautiful football, pass
and move stuff like Barcelona. Yet the reality is they cannot defend and they
lack the leadership required to stay in the league. Are they doing better than
McLeish? No.
They have been squandering at the bottom all year and they
have had longer to build “their” team also. You will say that Bolton and Wigan
aren’t bigger than Villa so of course they should be there, but these managers
have shown they are incapable of improving their sides and relegation is a very
possible thing for both.
It is funny when pundits criticise teams like Stoke when
they are stable in the league and yet commend the team at the bottom for their
style, David Pleat believes Roberto MartÃnez's faith in his system hints at
brighter future for Wigan. Sure it does, in the Championship.
Look at all these clubs, we are not in their situation. The board have stuck by their decision, they have not acted rashly and we have come out of it. If we put some results together we could finish in the top half. It is the constant negativity and pessimism which frustrates me at Villa. Why do we believe we are better than we are? We haven't won the league since 1981, yet fans demand success. It is craziness.
A new dawn
Do not blame McLeish for this season, sure he has made
mistakes yet doesn’t everyone. I look at the fans and wonder if they
really are supportive of this team, because if they are they need to realise
that he will be there next season, that is evident, and so instead of licking
your wounds and being spiteful why not come out and support the team. If our
home record was anything like our away form then perhaps we could have been
higher this year.
Fans will say that he got Blues relegated twice, yet think
what you are saying. Are Blues good enough for the Premiership? No. So it was
always going to be difficult to keep a team like that in the top flight. We
need to realise that we are better than Blues, and so saying we will get
relegated with McLeish is like saying we are the same as Blues. This is not
true. We have not been relegated once in the Premier League and we shall not be
this season.
Do I want Villa to invest millions into the side to
make them a title chasing side? It is hard not to look at City and be jealous,
watching that kind of talent each week must be a joy. However, we do not have
an Arab investor and most likely won’t have one soon. We have a relatively
wealthy yet not silly businessman who has invested money into the side with no
real returns. He realises the gulf between the sides at the top and understands
that the gap between and money needed to bridge it is not possible or
sustainable.
The false beliefs and delusions of grandeur have
hindered progress and enjoyment of this season. Be realistic, O’Neill, that
wonderful manager only ever achieved a sixth place finish, and that was with
high investment. Let us respect and be proud of our history yet now be
realistic about who and what we now are. Perhaps by doing this we can support
the club and allow Villa Park to be an enjoyable place to be again. McLeish now
has a summer to build his team, we must join together and support him in his
plan.
The Whitehouse Address is on Twitter @The_W_Address
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