After losing in what was the last minute of the game, it’s quite normal to feel down – a sucker punch in the 92nd minute is not really what anyone wants.
Part of that is the psychological investment we make in the team as fans. We, perhaps foolishly, believe something is going to change, or that we are going to get a win. That isn’t because of some sense of delusion, or being a “positive/possie” as social media labels those with the view, it is a more basic reason.
It’s because the other option is oblivion.
We can go through the reasoning on why we should do this or that different, on why we really should have spent money in January, on why Randy Lerner is destroying the club with austerity, or any other situation affecting the club. In fact, we obviously do – and will – given this a site dedicated to the club.
But, as fans, things end up polarised because there are two options we can take – to continue to hope for improvement or to turn into what social media would tag “negative/neggo”.
At least that is what Twitter would have you believe – that the fans are split, as though the two sides are so far from each other that there is no middle ground, when the reality is that they aren’t. We’re emotional creatures, and when we get beaten in the last minute, we’re going to feel frustrated.
It is no different to how I feel when I am at games. Yes, when I’m writing articles for the site or the Express & Star, I like to think that I take an objective view, and that my thoughts are balanced. However, if you see me at a game, I’m just as prone to be jumping out of my seat screaming at the players because I expect more than mediocrity.
Of course, what I think in the grand scheme of things is irrelevant to the board – all they are interested in is whether I keep paying them money to attend games. If I do, great. If I don’t, the club wouldn’t give two hoots what I do or don’t do.
Why? I’m just a fan.
That sentence, in itself, is likely to provoke discussion, especially from the older fans, because the idea that we are “just” fans indicates we can’t do anything, and likely will prompt stories of times when the fans have taken to the streets to protest.
But the truth is that how I feel is unlikely to worry or concern many of the players. You could see against Newcastle that despite their “young and hungry” tag, many of them were not exactly stretching themselves or busting a gut.
Some get frustrated because of the wages that are paid, stating that earning tens of thousands a week means that we should so more from them. Me? I actually think money is irrelevant as earning more money just means there is more money to be spent, and doesn’t reflect a real value proposition when compared with the jobs you or I do.
What irks me is the lack of pride in the job. Yes, football is a sport, but footballers are hired to do a task. For me, pride in how you perform is a basic in how you conduct yourself at work – you do your best, whether you are earning £500 a week or £500k.
However, the issue of motivating someone when they can fail and still earn tens of thousands a week is hard. Paul Lambert could lay into the team and tell them that it isn’t good enough, but the reality is that very few of the squad are actually bothered that it is Aston Villa specifically paying their wage. Offer the same wage to most of the squad at a club in a similar position, and it wouldn’t make a difference – they are just employees.
Which, when it comes down to it, is the source of all of the anger. To me and you, this is a club, and these players should be proud of wearing our colours. To the players, this is a job, and one that pays pretty well whether they are at Villa Park, Craven Cottage, Selhurst Park or the Stadium of Light.
So, as we reel from a last minute sucker punch, there’s likely a lot of anger in the air. The truth, however, is that we likely just have to “go again” because an implosion of team spirit is likely to do nothing besides accelerate our fall towards the trap door.
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