The result of the prosecution case against Dalian Atkinson's main police assailant seems to have gone the right way, but it has taken so long to get there - and what a sad story it is.
Having spent an hour or two with Dalian at the Villa archives back in 2009, it is hard to believe that only 7 years later he met his end in the way he did, and clearly in a very sad state of mind. That was not my impression of the man in 2009, still possessing all the attributes of an athlete with strong muscles. As he left me I went to slap him on the back but my hand virtually rebounded! Such a nice fellow too, and, indeed, what a fine footballer he was when it mattered.
I was astounded when I heard of his death, the reminder of which this week put a little cloud over football for me.
Nevertheless, I tuned in to watch Jack's re-appearance in an England shirt, and enthused over his play in the first half. But was it my imagination or were one or two England players not wanting to pass to him? I got the impression that Sterling was such a culprit, but maybe I'm wrong. However, although Sterling scores the odd important goal, he is one player I otherwise find little to enthuse over.
But Saka and Jack showed on occasion how our England team needs to play with energy rather than the dour and well-coached passing routines we have witnessed in most of the 3 games played in the group stage.
What I find so extraordinary is that we were told decades ago how the FA was schooling our youngsters to produce England teams to be proud of, only to be subjected to mainly boring football of late. "Win by all means" is, I suppose, the mantra.
Perhaps I am being unkind, and now we're out of the group stage we'll see something that is more like what we'd like to see. Germany is next up, on Tuesday, and when it comes to playing us they very dearly hate to lose. Let us pray we find the Saka-Jack energy to run them off the park!
Back to the Villa and we already have two signings under our belt, but for me it's the free one - Ashley Young - that I find more intriguing. He seems to have done a good job at Inter in the 15 months or so he was there, so maybe there's good life still there in the 35-year-old.
I sign off recalling Ashley's superb last minute winner at Everton some 12 years ago. More please!
UTV!
