The situation that Aston Villa faces today is one, in my opinion, that the club has been mechanically rolling towards since the start of the season, though no-one could predict the kind of player losses that have occurred since the start of the New Year, particularly that in respect of Petrov.
But from the outset, I was not at all happy with the midfield setup. I just could not see how it's lack of strength would work, and I said then that the owner had left Villa short in that department in the process of pulling in his investment. I felt that Delph and Ireland had a lot to prove, and the consequence is that Delph has gone back to plying his trade in the lower division - perhaps temporarily. Ireland has managed to make some impression but still not, I feel, to the degree that might have been expected. I still question why Makoun was allowed to be put out on loan so easily, and did we have to put up with Alan Hutton when the reliable Luke Young had been available?
And to replace Ash and Downing we were given the mercurial talent that is M. N'Zogbia.
To that player cocktail we add the tactics of the greatly experienced and sought-after manager by the name of Alex McLeish; his winning tactics have been marvellous to behold. His wins against Walsall, Blackburn and Wigan were wonderful, and we were at one stage at sixth place in the Premier League to prove it. And, surely, the smash-and-grab win at Chelsea indicated that the club had turned the corner for the season, regardless of the internal problems that were occurring at Stamford Bridge - which now seem to be rectified.
There will be many that will say that Aston Villa's injury list is no fault of Alex McLeish, and I would certainly not suggest that Petrov's very sad illness can be laid at McLeish's door. However, as to the rest, I believe that negativity breeds negativity; why was it that Birmingham City suffered in the injury department last year? Yes, I feel that the Knight Errant's injunction to his players to win at all costs by the method of preventing the opposition scoring may actually be causing the players to be under extra stress and therefore more able to succumb to injury.
The idea that the injuries are caused by a manager with a jinx should be consigned back to where it came from - the Middle Ages.
Football, when played positively, breeds positivity; why play otherwise? It keeps the players and the fans happy for starters. Why risk diminishing attendances? Why not keep the owner happy as well while you're about it, Alex? Mmmmm, perhaps he is happy; perhaps any form of interim state is OK by him!
Now, I hadn't intended to use the 'r' word ... indeed, until this week I felt that Villa would avoid the drop. There were too many bad teams below us, weren't there? Well, they're now all winning, apart from sad Wolves. Just another 2 or 3 matches and Villa might easily be caught by the others.
And I thought the club's acquisition in 2006 had been a good thing. I was sure it would take us onwards and upwards. But I'm human - I erred in my judgment. I do hope (and pray) that my current assessment also proves to be in error.
.
But from the outset, I was not at all happy with the midfield setup. I just could not see how it's lack of strength would work, and I said then that the owner had left Villa short in that department in the process of pulling in his investment. I felt that Delph and Ireland had a lot to prove, and the consequence is that Delph has gone back to plying his trade in the lower division - perhaps temporarily. Ireland has managed to make some impression but still not, I feel, to the degree that might have been expected. I still question why Makoun was allowed to be put out on loan so easily, and did we have to put up with Alan Hutton when the reliable Luke Young had been available?
And to replace Ash and Downing we were given the mercurial talent that is M. N'Zogbia.
To that player cocktail we add the tactics of the greatly experienced and sought-after manager by the name of Alex McLeish; his winning tactics have been marvellous to behold. His wins against Walsall, Blackburn and Wigan were wonderful, and we were at one stage at sixth place in the Premier League to prove it. And, surely, the smash-and-grab win at Chelsea indicated that the club had turned the corner for the season, regardless of the internal problems that were occurring at Stamford Bridge - which now seem to be rectified.
There will be many that will say that Aston Villa's injury list is no fault of Alex McLeish, and I would certainly not suggest that Petrov's very sad illness can be laid at McLeish's door. However, as to the rest, I believe that negativity breeds negativity; why was it that Birmingham City suffered in the injury department last year? Yes, I feel that the Knight Errant's injunction to his players to win at all costs by the method of preventing the opposition scoring may actually be causing the players to be under extra stress and therefore more able to succumb to injury.
The idea that the injuries are caused by a manager with a jinx should be consigned back to where it came from - the Middle Ages.
Football, when played positively, breeds positivity; why play otherwise? It keeps the players and the fans happy for starters. Why risk diminishing attendances? Why not keep the owner happy as well while you're about it, Alex? Mmmmm, perhaps he is happy; perhaps any form of interim state is OK by him!
Now, I hadn't intended to use the 'r' word ... indeed, until this week I felt that Villa would avoid the drop. There were too many bad teams below us, weren't there? Well, they're now all winning, apart from sad Wolves. Just another 2 or 3 matches and Villa might easily be caught by the others.
And I thought the club's acquisition in 2006 had been a good thing. I was sure it would take us onwards and upwards. But I'm human - I erred in my judgment. I do hope (and pray) that my current assessment also proves to be in error.
.
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