I think most Villans are still in a state of shock that Villa have performed so badly these past few years after welcoming Randy Lerner as a saviour.
Most of us are probably wringing our hands in some kind of despair at the state of the club. The owner, mentally, has effectively already left us and the manager probably realises that he’s not necessarily going to be around when (and if) a new owner takes over. And we don’t know who Paul Lambert will have available as his coaching staff next season.
I have been trying to think back to a similar period at Villa in my experience, and though there were like times in the 1950s, the clearest memory I have is of the middle-60s, when the seasons 1964-65 through to 1966-67 lacked proper investment, and trepidation ruled Aston. “What’s going to happen next?”, was the typical thought. And we found out in 1967: it was relegation that happened. A quick return did not look likely and it took another 18 months before a new ownership turned up – and then only after enormous pressure from the fans.
Those sad circumstances cause me to go further down Memory Lane for awhile. I recall the better moments – of Tony Hateley’s thundering headers, and the silky touches of Phil Woosnam, who was the Villa’s ‘schemer’ since 1962. And the injury-littered career of Alan Deakin – a fine player, whose subjugation of Denis Law once caused the Scot to be ordered off the field after his mean retaliation. And the memory of youngster Bobby Park who once broke a collar bone in a match and was so keen to continue playing (in the days before substitutes) that he came back on to the field of play wearing a sling to carry his injured arm!
And there was dear old ‘Slogger’ at centre-half, playing his heart out every week, with Charlie Aitken, Mick Wright and Colin Withers (in goal) too often the last line of defence. But Withers was a great shot-stopper – some compared him to the great Gordon Banks.
Having sold sharp-shooting winger Harry Burrows (who allegedly asked for a transfer after not getting his requested extra fiver per week in his wage packet) in 1965 Villa signed an average-priced player by the name of Willie Hamilton who was actually a good midfielder and who cracked a few decent goals. Such was his influence in midfield that Phil Woosnam moved forward to support Hateley and managed to score over 20 goals as a result in 1965-66! But Villa were plagued by injuries and a 16th place finish became the norm at that time. And early in the 1966-67 season Villa lost Woosnam (who retired to start off U.S. league football) and then Hateley to Chelsea. With Deakin and Hamilton absent through injury too often, there was lack of quality to keep Villa up. Enthusiasm alone was not enough.
Yes, the past couple of years have reminded me of the similarities between now and then.
But maybe, even in this current state of semi-chaos without any sense of certainty that a new owner will be installed by August, we should try to look at what we have to look forward to in order to remain sane and to restore an element of positivity!
Yep, believe it or not there is something positive coming up. And it’s almost as though Villa have a new team at their disposal!
It is likely that Benteke (perhaps because of his injury last season) will still be with us. And we’ll also have Okore and Kozak back from injury. Added to this we have the statement made by Lambert this week that “… we’ll look to identify players of proven quality to bring in …”. Well, we have to see what precisely he means by that. It could of course mean a number of Grant Holt clones (!) … but perhaps not, though the departure of Albrighton is a bit disturbing.
On the other hand Grealish seems to have been recognised by the manager as someone who should step forward and claim his place. And perhaps we may see N'Zogbia back.
In short, we might have a team to start the new season that contains some quality. Who would have believed it! Even though there’s probably a good chance that Bertrand might not return, it was observed vs Chelsea last season that Bennett might be settling in. What about this team:
Guzan; Lowton, Vlaar, Okore, Bennett; Westwood, Grealish, Delph; N'Zogbia, Benteke, Gabby. Subs: (gk), Kozak, Clark, Bacuna, Robinson.
Yes, I still have faith in Gabby and I feel a summer’s rest might restore his vitality. He did start 2013-14 very well, as, indeed, he finished well in 2012-13.
But even though I like the sound of Grealish in the middle, the prevailing question will be about whether Villa have enough bite in midfield. Maybe the signing of “players of proven quality” will remove that doubt.
Milner, Barry and Young then please!
Most of us are probably wringing our hands in some kind of despair at the state of the club. The owner, mentally, has effectively already left us and the manager probably realises that he’s not necessarily going to be around when (and if) a new owner takes over. And we don’t know who Paul Lambert will have available as his coaching staff next season.
I have been trying to think back to a similar period at Villa in my experience, and though there were like times in the 1950s, the clearest memory I have is of the middle-60s, when the seasons 1964-65 through to 1966-67 lacked proper investment, and trepidation ruled Aston. “What’s going to happen next?”, was the typical thought. And we found out in 1967: it was relegation that happened. A quick return did not look likely and it took another 18 months before a new ownership turned up – and then only after enormous pressure from the fans.
Those sad circumstances cause me to go further down Memory Lane for awhile. I recall the better moments – of Tony Hateley’s thundering headers, and the silky touches of Phil Woosnam, who was the Villa’s ‘schemer’ since 1962. And the injury-littered career of Alan Deakin – a fine player, whose subjugation of Denis Law once caused the Scot to be ordered off the field after his mean retaliation. And the memory of youngster Bobby Park who once broke a collar bone in a match and was so keen to continue playing (in the days before substitutes) that he came back on to the field of play wearing a sling to carry his injured arm!
And there was dear old ‘Slogger’ at centre-half, playing his heart out every week, with Charlie Aitken, Mick Wright and Colin Withers (in goal) too often the last line of defence. But Withers was a great shot-stopper – some compared him to the great Gordon Banks.
Having sold sharp-shooting winger Harry Burrows (who allegedly asked for a transfer after not getting his requested extra fiver per week in his wage packet) in 1965 Villa signed an average-priced player by the name of Willie Hamilton who was actually a good midfielder and who cracked a few decent goals. Such was his influence in midfield that Phil Woosnam moved forward to support Hateley and managed to score over 20 goals as a result in 1965-66! But Villa were plagued by injuries and a 16th place finish became the norm at that time. And early in the 1966-67 season Villa lost Woosnam (who retired to start off U.S. league football) and then Hateley to Chelsea. With Deakin and Hamilton absent through injury too often, there was lack of quality to keep Villa up. Enthusiasm alone was not enough.
Yes, the past couple of years have reminded me of the similarities between now and then.
But maybe, even in this current state of semi-chaos without any sense of certainty that a new owner will be installed by August, we should try to look at what we have to look forward to in order to remain sane and to restore an element of positivity!
Yep, believe it or not there is something positive coming up. And it’s almost as though Villa have a new team at their disposal!
It is likely that Benteke (perhaps because of his injury last season) will still be with us. And we’ll also have Okore and Kozak back from injury. Added to this we have the statement made by Lambert this week that “… we’ll look to identify players of proven quality to bring in …”. Well, we have to see what precisely he means by that. It could of course mean a number of Grant Holt clones (!) … but perhaps not, though the departure of Albrighton is a bit disturbing.
On the other hand Grealish seems to have been recognised by the manager as someone who should step forward and claim his place. And perhaps we may see N'Zogbia back.
In short, we might have a team to start the new season that contains some quality. Who would have believed it! Even though there’s probably a good chance that Bertrand might not return, it was observed vs Chelsea last season that Bennett might be settling in. What about this team:
Guzan; Lowton, Vlaar, Okore, Bennett; Westwood, Grealish, Delph; N'Zogbia, Benteke, Gabby. Subs: (gk), Kozak, Clark, Bacuna, Robinson.
Yes, I still have faith in Gabby and I feel a summer’s rest might restore his vitality. He did start 2013-14 very well, as, indeed, he finished well in 2012-13.
But even though I like the sound of Grealish in the middle, the prevailing question will be about whether Villa have enough bite in midfield. Maybe the signing of “players of proven quality” will remove that doubt.
Milner, Barry and Young then please!
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