This is one of those no-win wins. Premier League teams are supposed to beat League One sides, no matter the circumstances. Sort of the whole point of the league structure. Whether it’s a preseason friendly or a cup tie, there’s no excuse for not coming out on top. Unless you lose. Then there are always excuses.
Even so, that doesn’t mean that coming out with a win is actually a foregone conclusion, especially given what some supporters are thinking of Villa. And it’s a lot better than the alternative. So McLeish got the first win of his tenure heading Birmingham’s true football royalty, Darren Bent scored twice, and Emile Heskey raised his hand and proclaimed “I’m not dead, yet.”
I’m glad Bent seems to just score goals. That’s important for a striker. I don’t know how I feel about Heskey popping up to confuse things.
Now, I’ll confess, I didn’t see the game. Saw some highlights, but even so, I can’t pretend to know how we actually looked. McLeish said some nice things, the official site said some nice things, and the other outlets dutifully reported the facts.
You can watch the match on AVTV today, as I understand. I don’t subscribe, and I don’t know whether you have to to watch it, but I’m guessing you probably do, so you can all make up your minds about that.
Frem went, and had this to say: “The football we played was very good at times. On the deck, into space, mainly to Ireland’s feet when he was on.” Which doesn’t sound bad.
Stephen Ireland left with a tight hamstring. Since he’s likely run more in the last week than he has in the past year, that’s probably not surprising, and it’s good to hear he’s moving enough to nearly hurt himself.
Beyond that, I’ll have to ask anyone else who was there to tell the rest of us what you thought.
Oh, one thing I’d like to know: Apparently McLeish took to the pitch to applaud the 4000-odd Villans in attendance and was ignored. If this is true, it doesn’t sound very nice to me. Man sticks out his hand, you generally shake it. Unless he’s been shagging your missus or some such. However, I tend to think being ignored is better than being booed, if only just.
Zogga Saga
Barring some dramatic turn of events, this one seems increasingly destined to put us all to sleep. Unless, of course, N’Zogbia actually goes on strike, which could be entertaining insofar as someone doing nothing can be entertaining. Do we worry about the character of a player forcing a move?
It’s a silly question, I admit, and I think the situation is a bit unique insofar as we’re led to believe N’Zogbia was promised he could leave if a £9m valuation was met. Which, coincidentally, is what we offered. While I’m on record as saying I don’t think Lerner would let £1m stand in the way of McLeish signing a player he really wants, and for which we have an obvious need, it seems that this is taking on more symbolic proportions.
Which is another way of saying that it seems Lerner isn’t very happy that after Dave Whelan’s little media manipulations regarding a certain Roberto Martinez he’s trying to start a bidding war over a player he’s conceded would be leaving. It seems that perhaps Villa do have more class than Mr. Whelan and Wigan Athletic. And that Lerner thought he’d earned a little more consideration from the way Villa handled their Martinez enquiry. Perhaps I’m reading too much into it.
But to buck you up, if reports are to be believed Aiden McGeady is back on the radar, as you know by now. It’s also being reported Villa will keep trying to work the N’Zogbia deal during their Asia trip.
I’d make some things up if I had any good ideas, but I don’t, so I’m off for a bit of leftover souvlaki…if the girlfriend hasn’t beat me to it.
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