“We’re an ambitious club. It’s Aston Villa, it’s a massive club and I think sometimes people forget that.” This the opening line of a statement made by club chief executive Paul Faulkner this week. A man who clearly talks the talk. Every year the faithful hear the same tune ringing from Mr. Faulkner’s lips, but does his sense of belief (call it what you will) create optimism among fans that is more often than not unfulfilled?
Please don’t get me wrong, I do admire the bloke for his positive outlook on all things claret and blue, the time and effort he pours into the club and the fact he often interacts with the supporters but I wonder for how much longer can he continue to flog the same verse.
I’ve often been baffled and somewhat dumbfounded by some of the spiel that parts from the very tip of Faulkner’s tongue. On the appointment of Alex McLeish from despised relegated near neighbours Birmingham City last June he claimed that “Alex meets the criteria set out at the beginning of our search.” And then in November, with Villa playing some of the most dire football I’d seen at Villa Park in years he said this, “I believe it’s do-able this year. Europe sits there as a goal.”
The impetus since Randy Lerner’s takeover of the club almost five years ago is quickly grinding to a halt. Very much like a relationship between a man and a woman he began by wooing us with his spending power and lavished us by parting with plenty of his hard earned. Back then fresh faces were rolling through the training ground door on what seemed like a daily basis. But a large portion of those faces have now been and gone – and now we’re stuck in a rut. A routine.
The word ambition is bookmarked as a favourite within Faulkner’s vocabulary folder, and he whipped it out yet again this week. This is all very well and good but the million dollar question is when will this much talked about ambition of the football club be fulfilled?
And that brings me perfectly onto my next point – the young blood. I’m fed up of hearing how bright our fresh new breed are, I’m afraid at this level you either have it or you don’t. How long do you leave it until you declare that a particular player just isn’t good enough? The Fonz, Fabian Delph, Marc Albrighton and Barry Bannan. To name but a few; the jury is still yet to reach a verdict.
In Faulkner’s recent statement he reminisced about the past, but just when will both he and fans alike recognise that the clubs vision of a bright future greatly outweighs that of our proud history. Our history is something that is set in stone whereas our future isn’t.
If this fresh wave of optimism with Lambert’s appointment, promise of investment and a vast improvement on the pitch doesn’t take idealistic shape for whatever reason then I fear for the club. For how much longer can we continue to kid ourselves? Just remember that hope is a dangerous thing.
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