As some of you may know, my contrarian tendencies sometimes see me doing odd things like ‘defending’ Alex McLeish, and earning me some backhanded propagandist props.
And so far, apart from substitutions I sometimes consider rather odd, I’ve not had much bad to say about Paul Lambert. As the January window is just about to slam shut and Villans drift toward the apathy of resignation, it’s fair to ask if I’ve been sufficiently critical.
One thing I will say, is that I think I’ve perhaps beaten a lot of people to the apathy of resignation. Certainly I lose my head and let my hopes rise despite myself from time to time, but I’m never that surprised when they’re dashed. It’s a function of age. Of too much sport and disappointment. Of the corrupting effect of commercialization and television revenue.
So I haven’t really been able muster too much outrage yet. Chagrin, sadness, hope, optimism, depression, frustration, disbelief…I’ve gone through all that, but haven’t really been outraged.
Risks were taken, I approved of the approach and the man given the reins. Right now it looks 50/50 at best that Villa scrape through. I know others are much more pessimistic. Or realistic. But a coin toss seems to sum up my feelings.
I do have limits, though, because however removed and ‘objective’ I try to be, I can’t always stay there. I do get pulled back in.
For example, I really thought Villa would be doing some sort of business to help shore things up. Players that seem to perhaps offer what Villa are in need of aren’t coming in the door, but are making moves.
With Richard Dunne and Stephen Warnock coming off the books at season’s end (or sooner, depending on loans) and Hutton at least being out on loan again apparently, I’d thought the imperatives of the moment would pretty clearly indicate we could take on some extra wages for a few months. And that we needed to.
Whether the decision is Lerner’s or Lambert’s…well, one would imagine it’s Lerner’s call whether to sanction reinforcements. But I don’t know to what extent Lambert’s own ego might be involved. I would think that the two players we all seem to agree are vital can be had. You would have to think they’re in reach.
You would have to think that staying up trumps a line in the sand, especially since we’re not talking about administration or anything of the like.
So, Messirs Lerner and Faulkner…anyone at the club who is reading, or even sticking their heads above the parapets.
Maybe it’s too late, and the window is already shut for all practical purposes. But if it’s not, we need a bit of steel and strength. Some steadiness. You have to know this.
I know you’ve got names you could still turn to. Maybe you’re being held to ransom. Maybe you don’t think the players are good enough value to make the deals palatable, or even sensible. I don’t know.
I do know that while we can theoretically stay up with what we’ve got, it’s going to take a bit of a minor miracle. Certainly a remarkable turnaround. And that’s why January is the window of desperation, and why it’s as important if not more so than the Darren Bent window.
Can we tighten up the set pieces? Can we get someone who offers strength, athleticism, and some experience/leadership in the middle? Could be the same player helping with both.
Can’t you find anyone that would improve our combativeness and points from winning positions?
I’m available, and I can put in some nasty fouls if I manage to catch up to anyone. I can make it easy, £2k a week, plus a housing allowance. Or I’ll sleep at Bodymoor. God knows I could use the extra conditioning.
We’re not asking you to mortgage the club’s future, or drain your own personal fortune. At least I don’t think we are.
We just need one or two players. We’re seeing Newcastle come in tonight, and we’re wondering whether they’ve just decisively moved and secured their future the way we should have. If their moves come off, everyone is going to be asking whether we’ve been penny wise and pound foolish this window. And not asking very nicely.
Anyway. You’ve got a couple days left.
For the team? Just go out there and do something about staying up. You’ve got to put a death grip on the kinds of games where the wins have eluded you. Don’t go down for being afraid of going down. Don’t be timid. Just get out there, get in their faces quick and mix it up. If you’re aggressive and on the front foot you can’t switch off.
Don’t think. Don’t watch. Just work for each other and play.
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