An old chestnut of mine is the issue of Villa and the FA Cup, a trophy in which Villa reached the semi-final stage three times in the late 1950s (during my mid-teens) and actually won the Cup once in that time. That win was back in 1957 - 54 years ago - and it means that Villa now have only reached two FA Cup finals in EIGHTY-SEVEN years, compared to eight finals in the preceding THIRTY-SEVEN years.
Villa were once known as a great cup team, and though Villa started winning the Football League Cup instead, even that series of successes seems to have dried up. It is now fifteen years since Villa's last win - and Small Heath have just won it for only their second-ever trophy success.
Maintaining an average of 5th or 6th in the Premier League is all very well, but the club now lacks that romance that was once present. At one time you would be thinking, "Oh, another season and perhaps another great cup run" ... but not now.
The matches at Villa Park are now mostly humdrum events with a long stream of disappointing performances against the likes of Man U, Liverpool and Arsenal. When Villa have succeeded against top teams it's usually been because of a tremendous defensive effort and team spirit - fine qualities, but little sign of quality attacking football.
I hate to say it, but Villa is rapidly becoming ordinary; even in the old Third Division days there was more excitement. What a sad thing to say coming up to five years since the current owner took over the club and nearly 30 years since winning the European Cup; the club's pretensions to greatness seem to have disappeared. Villa had the great opportunity to kick ahead after the European Cup win but instead fell behind, and (apart from rare glimpses) have never since really looked like catching up.
The team that Villa put out on Wednesday night really summed up the current situation. It was a declaration of fear. A great club goes out on the pitch with hope, and if defeat with honour is the result, then so be it.
Can I have my old club back please?
.
Villa were once known as a great cup team, and though Villa started winning the Football League Cup instead, even that series of successes seems to have dried up. It is now fifteen years since Villa's last win - and Small Heath have just won it for only their second-ever trophy success.
Maintaining an average of 5th or 6th in the Premier League is all very well, but the club now lacks that romance that was once present. At one time you would be thinking, "Oh, another season and perhaps another great cup run" ... but not now.
The matches at Villa Park are now mostly humdrum events with a long stream of disappointing performances against the likes of Man U, Liverpool and Arsenal. When Villa have succeeded against top teams it's usually been because of a tremendous defensive effort and team spirit - fine qualities, but little sign of quality attacking football.
I hate to say it, but Villa is rapidly becoming ordinary; even in the old Third Division days there was more excitement. What a sad thing to say coming up to five years since the current owner took over the club and nearly 30 years since winning the European Cup; the club's pretensions to greatness seem to have disappeared. Villa had the great opportunity to kick ahead after the European Cup win but instead fell behind, and (apart from rare glimpses) have never since really looked like catching up.
The team that Villa put out on Wednesday night really summed up the current situation. It was a declaration of fear. A great club goes out on the pitch with hope, and if defeat with honour is the result, then so be it.
Can I have my old club back please?
.
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