Would you believe it: Leicester City seem about to grasp the top tier title for the first time in their history. And their once footballing mentors Aston Villa seem about to let go of their grasp on a Premier League place for the first time since the Premier League was instituted. What a remarkable Premiership season when so much has unexpectedly materialised.
Having acquired virtually a brand new squad, Villa were not bonding overly well in the first four games, but their playing record gave no real hint as to what was to come on the 13th day of September having won one, drawn one and lost two matches in the opening sequence. On that ominous 13th day of the month, Villa were matched against Leicester, who themselves were trying to find a level of form that would convince their fans that they would be safe this season after the previous year’s flirtation with relegation.
The Villa fan’s biggest memory from that day will either be the occasion of our Jack’s first-ever league goal, when he went over and threw himself into the arms of his team manager in celebration, or the last few minutes of the game when an average-sized Leicester substitute, desparate to make a name for himself, launched himself into a collision with the strapping Brad Guzan and got laid out for his pains. More importantly for Leicester, however, he (Dyer) had also made contact with the ball to score their winner, having come back from 0-2 down.
The effect of that result has been for all to witness. It propelled Leicester on a run of success that puts them where they are now, and have been for some time, but it also propelled Villa into the first of their two sequences of seven straight league defeats. The Villa manager was gone before the ending of that first sequence. His replacement was also gone before the end of the second sequence.
But surely a Villa fan’s overwhelming topic of conversation when comparing the two teams’ respective records this season must be about one player: Mark Albrighton. There he is, a cast-off from Villa, and arguably the catalyst for the Foxes remarkable recovery last season, making such an impact and seemingly about to collect a major medal. There has been great talk about Vardy and his mammoth goalscoring achievements, but he has needed supporting players to provide the chances, and Albrighton has been one of those two or three major supporting players. Vardy and Albrighton are also the whippet-like players that have provided the remarkable forward drive that distinguishes the Foxes.
The inevitable question is, in a season when the Villa’s team has looked so painfully short of spirit and ability, just how could they have let Albrighton go? It’s strange that everyone talks of the great loss to Villa when Benteke, Delph and even Cleverley moved on during the summer, but in my view Mark Albrighton is another – the d’Artagnan of the Musketeers if you like – whose loss has had such a negative affect on Villa’s status. He was Villa’s winger who carried on Young, Downing and Milner’s ability to whip in dangerous goalmouth centres, a talent that has been so sorely missed at Villa Park these last couple of seasons. Indeed, if Albrighton had been used properly we might not have seen Darren Bent moved on at such a financial loss to the club.
Albrighton is one of a string of players from Villa’s Academy that have moved on to make an impact elsewhere. Players that may never be ‘great’, but whose drive and alert skills have so often made a difference to their team, whoever they have been playing for. I am referring to the likes of Ridgewell, Cahill, Steve Davis, Craig Gardner and (of course) Albrighton. And there may well be others I have missed. In my opinion Ciaran Clark is another who could be on the cusp of leaving but who, if properly managed, could be a more valuable player; his loyalty and determination has never been short.
So, what has the Academy been there for, then? What has been the purpose of going out to purchase players from lower divisions and overseas whose skills and attitude are often inferior? Let alone signings of the ilk of N’Zogbia, Hutton, Richards and Lescott. Reader, does it not seem to you that common sense has largely evaporated from Villa Park in the last fifteen years or so? I suppose if you have a coaching badge that must mean you know more than the regular fan. Doesn’t it?
It would be interesting to hear the opinion of the lad born ‘twixt Birmingham and Leicester, would it not?
Yes, though the owner (in my view) must carry the can for what has transpired these last few years, at a lower level it would seem there have been questionable player decisions made that (also) have had huge and damaging consequences.
No comments:
Post a Comment