We're Trying Without Wings

Ok, firstly apologies for the title/memories of appalling music - I had to find a snappy title. Secondly for the literary inaccuracy... we aren't literally ( (c) J. Redknapp) without wing(er)s, but sometimes it feels like we're playing with dead weights on the wing... anyway I digress.

Now, it’s not been an amazing start to the season… we could have done a lot better, but we could have done a lot worse. That discussion is not for this day. The key issue at the club right now, for me, is the lack of impact from the wing.

Last season was very promising for Albrighton, and with the departures of the entire (bar him) wing contingent, now was the season for him to really come to the fore and establish his place in the team – and unfortunately for him, and for us, he hasn’t.

 In fact whilst it looked last season like Barry Bannan’s Villa career may be slipping away and Albrighton’s taking off, there has been a dramatic reversal. All of a sudden, Barry is the magic man, and Albrighton’s introductions (as heard by myself against Newcastle and QPR, as well as 20 minutes into the game v Bolton) are being greeted with groans. And their respective performances on the pitch this season reflect this, with QPR for example, Albrighton’s contributions were giving away a silly free-kick, not squaring a ball across to the advancing Weimann for a good attempt on goal (Instead going for personal glory, failing spectacularly at that), and getting Armand Traore sent off.  Although to be fair he ddn’t have that many minutes on the pitch. Bannan’s was a sprightly performance with delightful passing, the touch of a magician at times, confidence on the ball, testing the keeper, and naturally, netting the penalty which gave Villa the lead.

Albrighton needs to snap out of the slump he’s in – it’s counter-productive for the club and for him. This is a task for Albrighton, McLeish, the staff and his teammates. Albrighton must be flowing with confidence again, like he was when he burst in last season. It is the worst possible timing for both wingers to be so short of form and confidence when Villa desperately need them to replace Young and Downing. This has also reflected on Bent, who  although has had a groin strain and not been 100%, he has had limited supply from said wingers, as well as not being up to standard this season. So Charles, Marc, please snap out of it. Get into training early every week and just practice practice practice. Get yourselves into the right frame of mind, get smiles on faces, and for McGrath’s sake repay some of the fans who placed their faith in you with some very good, positive play (and maybe a few goals/assists) vs. Wigan. Should you both play.

On that note, Barry Bannan has been declared Villa’s Player of the Month, and richly deserved. Gabby Agbonlahor and Shay Given are the only two players for me who have been better than Bannan this season. Maybe Dunne as well.

Certainly things are not doom and gloom, but three points really really really is necessary this weekend, so PLEASE you Villa boys – go out there, put in a tremendous performance, win by a comfortable margin, and above all, give yourselves confidence before we head off to the Etihad Stadium/Eastlands/City of Manchester Stadium/whatever the hell it’s called, because we’re going to need to show our teeth when we play Man City. I want passion in that game. I want no fear from us whatsoever. I want the Man City players glancing uncomfortably at our players. I want Sergio Agüero saying “Richard Dunne!? FUCK THAT! I’m not going on the pitch! You can’t make me Roberto! What!? No! Look at him! I’m not going! Raarrgh!”. Above all, I don’t want a repeat of the shambles last year up there.

Anyway, Wigan first. Let’s break the habit of a lifetime and actually beat the mothers at home. Come on you lions! UTV.

Overreaction much? Keep the Faith.

Well I'm not going to lie, football fans are a weird bunch. Myself very much included. We watch 22 highly-paid men not related to us in any way charge round a field kicking a piece of polyurethane and poly vinylchloride at two sets of posts for fun, and can argue 'til the cows come home of the various results, standings and games to come.

But that's why football is so great. Some people are enthusiastic about every signing, managerial appointment and board change, and some are always underwhelmed. But one thing I have noticed is how much some people can overreact. Earlier today Roberto Martínez reaffirmed his commitment to Wigan Athletic and thus closing the door on rumours he would be the new Villa boss. (Which by the way, I am very impressed with the loyalty shown by Martínez, even if Mr. Whelan may have pressured him into doing so by his public remarks.)

This, however, has been taken to mean "Martínez has turned down the offered Villa job." He hasn't, he has not and was not offered the job. Cue hysteria from Villa fans and more specifically other team's fans who claim that "Villa have sunk lower" from this news, like Martínez was the last decent choice. He was certainly a candidate, and a decent one, but by no means was he necessarily Randy Lerner's top choice. Or the best name left for us to get.

Just who is Randy's man?

I fully trust in our chairman to make the correct appointment, even if it takes another week or two. Rushing into an appointment is often an unwise decision, and one I'd rather avoid, especially considering our last season of turmoil. I'm sure that the board have a list of managers who I would be very happy with ready to be interviewed or indeed keen to take over.

Either way, we can do nothing but sit back and watch. But whoever we appoint, I will back them and give them time, even if I don't personally like them or rate them. I don't like Andrés Iniesta personally but I would give my left kidney to see him playing for Villa now. I don't rate a lot of players, but if they came to Villa I wouldn't write them off straight away.

The correct managerial choice will be made, I'm sure of it.

In Randy We Trust. Keep the Faith.

Martínez, is it?

As you may or may not know, you probably do, Aston Villa are in the search for a new manager. Gérard Houllier has left the club, and the Villa board are going through the  options, but behind the scenes without letting the media know every last detail, so a certain Sports reporting news channel/website keep desperately announcing that "x is set to become manager of Villa" without any kind of proof, because they've got nothing off the club, so they're throwing their toys out of the pram.

Onto our latest rumour, one seemingly carrying a bit of weight behind it, considering the Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has allowed Martínez to hold talks with Villa.

Roberto Martínez Montoliu, Wigan Athletic manager.

 Now this is a story that has seemingly firmly divided the Villa support, I have heard the words "inexperienced", "too much too soon", and "unambitious" said, but I'm of the belief with the right backing he could do very well here. He motivates his players well, is friendly towards the media, fans and his own players, has had a good relationship with the chairman at both his previous posts, and likes to play football, he has passion, hunger and energy. Obviously this may be yet another smokescreen, and it may not be Martínez who is the new Villa manager... but if it is, I for one shall not be disappointed with that decision. He's got a lot to offer in my opinion.

Which kind of brings me onto my second point.

You cannot please everyone. If Villa went and pulled an elephant out of the hat by signing the dazzling young manager of Porto, André Villas-Boas, some, albeit very few, would be unhappy. But some Villa fans will never be happy with appointments as Villa were once the best team in the whole of Europe, and plenty saw that and feel it gives us a god-gven right to play at the top table again. Well, we don't. Those days are past and in the past they'll probably remain. We may never win the league again, that I'm afraid is relative to how footall is now - only those with huge financial backing will win the league. We can still play to the best of our abilities, and try and win as much as we can, but I cannot understand the attitude that "so and so isn't good enough for us" because as much as I'd like top class managers to want to come to Villa, they don't want to, nor are they likely to.

These are days in football with little patience, little loyalty, and lots of money. Our club has the first two but not really the third. We need to lose this quite vain opinion we're one of the Premier sides around. We are in the eyes of others, probably the 8th best side in England, despite our proud history. We do not need delusions of grandeur of our club. I am immensely proud to be a Villa fan despite all the kerfuffle over the past year - but even so. The sooner we realise the Hughes', Benítez', Coyle's, Moyes' and Martínez' of this world are the kind of managers that are our level now, the better. It doesn't mean we can't dream of these top class managers being at Villa Park, but we need to be less upset about going for a manager like Mr. Martínez.

VTID.