What I would like everyone to consider is the beginning of Aston Villa as a club. A founding member of modern football in England. The foresight of the four founding fathers, plus William MacGregor, laid the foundation for Villa and also the Football League. Villa was very successful, as all of you know.
But as time went by that success became more and more rare. The last FA cup in 1957, European Champion in 1982 and the league cup in 1996, Now that is 17 years long since anything worthwhile has showed up in the trophy case.
So, what has happened? Was Villa just lucky those past years? Were they the most astute team in the land? Was the rest of the league just a bunch of teams thrown together? A combination of all of the above is my guess. Villa have had horrendous times as well. Falling out of Division One must have had fans in tears for months. And Third Division? Black arm bands all around.
Villa is a founding member of the Premier League and is one of the few who have stayed there since its inception in 1992. That is some achievement. They have had some European success in those years by finishing 6th 3 times not that long ago. They also have had a few close calls with the Championship; twice just recently if my memory is correct.
They’ve been amongst the best many times and they have stunk up the league more than a few times as well. What was a seemingly well oiled machine over a century ago slowly slid in performance. But did they? I think the rest of the league slowly caught up. More talent, better tactics, better fitness, and better coaching created a very competitive atmosphere. Villa more than likely gained worthy opponents and were surpassed by quite a few.
Every team has gone through hell in these leagues and a lot of them have paid the price of relegation. Every team has looked for the magic lantern to give it a rub. But it meant nothing if other teams found a better lantern. Villa, it seems, and this might shock some of you, has found a better lantern 21 times and continues to be a Premier League team. I agree that that lantern has lost some of its shine lately.
We use history to proclaim Villa’s greatness and place in football royalty. The second biggest population next to London, the best fan base, the best of the best-except it doesn’t seem that the team can live up to it’s name anymore. But why should it—or in reality, can it?
The past needs to be viewed as it was, whether it was great, mediocre, or grim. But that’s it. It doesn’t belong in any conversation regarding this year’s team. If anything, the yardstick to use is the season before this year’s season.
Too many things are out of Villa’s control—19 of them exactly—and every one of them rubbing their magic lantern. Players to some extent are also out of Villa’s control. They carry a lot of weight with their talent and can seemingly pick and choose a team to play on.
Now back to my first paragraph. Consider the beginning of Aston Villa Football Club. To me the beginning was June 2012. Yeah, that guy Lambert. The past is past. June 2012 forward is the beginning. And will be until a new manager comes in. New ideas, new financial structure, young players wanting to prove themselves, old players phased out along with all their baggage and a set of different tactics within a system. Villa stepped away from the norm of spending and chasing experienced players. Willing to take a chance with league survival. All in one year (and survived).
This season, Villa bought more players with potential and promoted players from within. Shed players no longer needed. And the best thing was the emergence of performance from players before Lambert.
When you say Villa are mediocre or not worthy, who exactly are you comparing them to? There is always going to be a top team. Is it them? Do you think in your hearts that Villa will always be a loose wheel in the league destined to scrape along at the bottom?
Every fan of every team 7th and down fear relegation. I think Villa’s plan is workable and will pay dividends. There have been too many successes the last 14 months not to think otherwise.
Give this new beginning a chance. And remember, the past is just that: past.
The Author
