I can’t blame the manager for how he handled the Stephen Ireland and Charles N’Zogbia situations. With Ireland, Alex McLeish alluded to the fact that his alleged injury prevented him from closing down opponents. Whether he was actually injured or not is open for interpretation. Ireland has never been the embodiment of durability. The manager’s quote could very well have been a veiled shot at the player. He told the world that he was benched for not closing down his man for the first goal, but gives him an out. There’s no reason to air out a player in public if it’s not going to help the team in the long run. Given Ireland’s temperament it’s not difficult to imagine him mentally checking out on the team like he did last year.

As for N’Zogbia, I didn’t hate bringing on Heskey. During the match I tweeted that Heskey should be brought on. After Newcastle’s second goal the team reverted to hoofing the ball up the field. It is low percentage football but if there ever is a time to go route one it’s when you’re chasing the game late. In that case it made some sense to bring on Heskey. I would’ve taken off Warnock myself, but the move was still defendable. That N’Zogbia was unhappy doesn’t bother me. No player should be happy about being subbed. Let’s hope both start this weekend and enjoy their football after a Villa win as they are two players who will play a huge role in any success the club hopes to enjoy any time soon.

Speaking of starting, there are two players who started for the reserves who should start this weekend: Eric Lichaj and Gary Gardner. It was refreshing to see Lichaj play left back where he will be pushing for Warnock’s place. As I have alluded to previously, he has played the position for Leeds on loan and for the United States. By all accounts he acquitted himself well against Fulham’s reserves. Hopefully he proved to the manager he can play the position and is given a run.

Last week Gary Gardner made an instant impact off the bench. Minimally he should be ahead of Barry Bannan on the depth chart. He has nothing left to prove playing with the reserves or youth team. When he is on the pitch he brings an energy this team lacks all to often. I’d love to see him paired with Bannan, with Ciaran Clark playing in defense. Realistically I’d like to see him play with Petrov.

In general, the time has come to play the kids. Matt Kendrick wrote a superb column in the Birmingham Mail stating that the time has come to blow up this team. The kids need to be given a chance to play so the manager can evaluate whether they are good enough to play for the next Aston Villa team that will mount a credible charge up the table and in the cups. We can’t afford to sell another England international for a paltry £5m or bury another young international on the bench, passing on buying him for a small sum, and then having to play a center half out of position in his spot.

There is nothing to gain by continuing to send out Collins, Warnock, Cuellar, and even Petrov when they will likely be gone by the time the team is rebuilt. These players aren’t even helping the club get results in the short run. If the manager is trying to field his strongest team in an effort to curry favor by winning in the short run it is horribly misguided. Villa fans are intelligent enough to realize this group of players is taking us nowhere and would rather watch the young players with a hopeful eye toward the future. Give the fans hope for the future and we will be patient.

I’d rather finish 15th and have the kids get needed experience in the league and show improvement than keep running out Martin O’Neill’s leftovers and finish ninth again.

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