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 e-villa

 Editorials
 

 

O’Leary milked the applause, perhaps in the knowledge of how quickly his fortunes could turn sour. The Holtenders can be the most unforgiving of souls and will be if their prayers go un-answered.

 

The Times 25-08-03

 

 

"The past few seasons have been disappointing for the Villa Park faithful as they have watched their team slowly slide from top-half obscurity to
bottom-half obscurity"

 

Southampton Matchday Programme

22-03-03

 

 

"For the first time exasperated Villa Park regulars could remember, it was the manager on the receiving end. Ron Atkinson, Brian Little and John Gregory all had their lows but it had never come to this. "We want Taylor out, we want Taylor out."

 

23-10-02

 

 

"Taylor, like Gregory before him, has had money to spend, unfortunately it has been spent un-wisely on lowly talent"

 

avsv last season

 

 

e-villa  Mid-Season Report
Well what a difference a few weeks make. At the beginning of December I had begun to write this report only to see Villa's fortunes take a turn for the better and me a re-think, perhaps.

So lets look at the facts. At the start of the season I pointed to a number of issues that needed to be addressed. Namely moral. David O'Leary had inherited a dis-jointed unhappy team with very little self respect and self belief. His immediate action was to throw the gauntlet down. Now every player in the squad had a chance to prove himself. His first eleven would be Villa's first eleven.

The significance of that decision highlighted what many thought was a travesty. The exclusion of our most expensive asset one Juan Pablo Angel. I had had many a long debate with friends over what exactly the situation was last season over this issue. This season however has answered all those questions. JPA has been superb for us this season. I could quite easily quantify that remark on his goal scoring record alone however those of us who have had the privilege to watch him this season would have to agree that there is much more to it than that. His work rate, attitude and sheer tenacity has seen him become a media starlet within the game. The only black cloud on the horizon is the speculation over his future. These should end now and if the board have learnt anything over the last couple of seasons they will get his signature on a new contract quickly.

DOL's record with the youngsters at Leeds is well documented. Could he bring on the youngsters here? Well apart from Peter Whittingham ,who has figured most of the season and looked impressive most of the time, he has been slow to introduce them only including Stefan Moore who has had some limited Premiership experience and a few substitute appearances of Liam Ridgewell. I believe he has been wise and I hope will continue to nurture the youth" If there good enough they'll play"

At this point in time we are sitting mid-table with a impressive cluster of results of late. We are in a League cup semi-final with every chance of reaching Cardiff. If we can finish the season with some silverware, maybe with a European place and a mid-table finish I believe that to be progress, however with such a tightly packed league table a few bad results and suddenly the relegation vultures will again begin to hover over Villa Park.    

Editorial by Colin Badham

Wake-up call for thrifty Villa

Half of the Aston Villa supporters had left before the final whistle yet the boos and jeers at the end still left an impression.

Whether or not they leave an impression on Doug Ellis remains to be seen. The Aston Villa chairman, almost hidden under his tweed fishing hat, took the brunt of the scorn that was circulating Villa Park on Saturday. How little things change here.

The 2-0 defeat to Middlesbrough might justifiably be put down to an isolated poor performance - it was certainly out of character given the improvement this season - but it highlighted the lack of depth in the Villa squad.

If one club needs to spend money on new players, it is Villa. If one manager needs fresh faces, it is David O'Leary. If one chairman needs a new chequebook, it is Ellis.

However, when the transfer window re-opens on January 1, Villa are likely to be no more active than a hermit's mobile telephone on New Year's Eve.

All it will take is two or three long-term injuries to significant players and this team will be fighting against relegation and well on the road to fixtures against the likes of Rotherham United and Gillingham in the Nationwide League.

Relegation is the ultimate swear word but O'Leary, the most real-istic man at Villa Park, might have to get used to hearing it more often.

 

e-villa  Pre-Season Preview

 Well here we ago again a new season a new beginning. Can Villa put the nightmare of last season behind them.

Graham Taylor promised us entertaining football, progress towards Europe and harmony, Remember the "We're all singing from the same hymn sheet" quote. What we got was dire football, a relegation battle and players revolting left right and centre.

In step David O'Leary. His past record at Leeds seemingly very good. What he inherited at Leeds, however was a unified youthful and talented side ,yes, he went on to great success which was greatly due to himself, but has he bitten off more than he can chew this time?

Villa has a very good squad of players, a good mix of youth with experience. Last season they underachieved. Some would say it was naive tactics, that the best eleven wasn't played, that too much in fighting undermined the team. The truth of the matter was they were all correct. Add in some dubious forays into the transfer market and that just about summed up the season.

O'Leary's task is huge. He has set off on the right foot. He has torn up GT's team sheets. From now on anyone has a chance to make the first eleven. This season Villa will start with conceivably its best eleven. He has instilled a new sense of optimism, assembled a new backroom team. The final piece in the jigsaw is for the board to share in the same vision.

This is where the fault lines are. David O'Leary has pointed to areas of the squad that need strengthening. We are not asking for Villa to break the bank, but last season must serve as a lesson in complacency. In order to succeed and remain in the top flight requires investment. In O'Leary we have a manager that has made wise decisions in the past. His hands must not be tied behind his back.

A Mid-table finish would have been inconceivable a few years ago. This season, this would seem like progress, and all we can probably hope for providing David gets the backing.

Editorial by Colin Badham

 

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