Right ... I Assume The Only Way Is Now Up!

A new season is nigh, and having this year passed 140 years of existence the Villa (surely!) will now proceed to resurrect itself and again become a force to make the 150th anniversary a time of true celebration. They say that Management by Objectives is a worthwhile approach, and it strikes me that a target of the 150th anniversary to be 'back there' is a realistic objective given where the club is right now.

But the events of the past few weeks - particularly the affair of the Lions Clubs - seem to me to indicate that the club's management has been trying to enforce a code of conduct amongst the supporters which amounts to "gentrification" as one ESPN blogger has put it, and it has been met with some resistance. But in this age of deep austerity measures and difficulty in keeping body and soul together for those of this world who are the traditional footie followers, the will to initiate a deep protest seems to have evaporated. Despite the fact that responsibility for the state of the affairs on the pitch in this past three years lies with the owner and his management, there has been an on-going tone of denial from that corner: they have at times inferred that it is the fans that are at fault. And though Paul Faulkner has gone, the club's management seem to continue to believe that by tightening the rules concerning supporters' behaviour they are going to win the support of the fans.

Furthermore, it is clear that the management believe that it is the Lions' Clubs responsibility to generate more fans to the Villa cause. The situation is unbelievable, yet the crucial factor is this: performances and results on the pitch is the main issue that will help to modify the fans' attitudes and also to bring in new supporters. It is this issue which is surely the most important, or else what is Aston Villa about? The club exists for football, not for the careers of the club's management! Traditionally, it has been mainly a combination of the quality of play and individual heroes that has fed the fans' enthusiasm, and in recent years there has been a significant lack of both apart from the upsurge of Benteke and, perhaps, Vlaar, both of whom have been absent from the field for significant periods leaving behind a team of (mainly) mediocrity for the fans to watch.

So, my message to the Villa management would be to get their fingers out and stop concentrating on hospitality and telling people what to do, and provide what the fans come to watch - which is entertainment on the pitch. In fact, the summer's events seem to indicate that there has been an attempt to rectify that not unimportant issue by dismantling the 'bomb squad' and by bringing in two former England internationals. But this has been done on the cheap and the proof of the pudding can only be in the eating.

Despite all, I am in the glass-half-full camp of believing that there is sufficient talent in the Villa squad for us to see some progress being made this year and towards a plan for 2024. The availability of Gardner and Grealish can only add to the positivity of the presence of Benteke and (we hope) N'Zogbia - and maybe the defence will be better too.

But the delivery of Villa's performances is also a management issue, and the underlining question is "Has Lambert worked out how to improve Villa's home form?". 

These appear to be the main targets for this season:

1. A mid-table finish.
2. Inspiring runs in the cups.
3. Much-improved results at home.
4. The development of Grealish and Gardner.
5. The sale of Aston Villa to a good buyer.

Go Villa ... GO!

For a nutshell read up on Villa's history   please click here.

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