With results going largely the Villa’s way during the midweek relegation fears have subsided and the season has regained its drab feel. Mercifully there are only two matches left.

The handwriting appears to be on the wall for the manager. This must have been what it felt like waiting for Franco to die. Hopefully the end of the McLeish era at Villa Park mirrors the end of fascism in Spain and not the transfer of power in Cuba that has allowed communism to endure.

Speaking of interminable managerial speculation Roy Hodgson should be a solid appointment for England. On talent alone England is a notch or two behind Spain, Germany, The Netherlands, and France. Hodgson’s teams are usually well organized and difficult to play against. England will need this if they are to defeat any of the elite nations any time soon.

The pretender to the England throne brings Tottenham to Villa Park this Sunday. They were impressive against Bolton as they were able to hold on the 4th thanks to goal difference and move a point behind Arsenal for 3rd. Their form before that had been poor and I do expect them to drop points before the end of the season. Perhaps I can’t get my head around the idea that Tottenham and Newcastle are fighting for Champions League football and am just waiting for them to blow it as history might suggest.

Sunday is also McLeish Out day at Villa Park. The passion of fans to spend their hard earned money to print fliers and newspaper ads is admirable but I can’t help but think that all the time and energy could be better spent on other things. That’s just me.

If the game on the pitch is anything like the reverse fixture at White Hart Lane the manager will be serenaded with abuse from the stands. That was the infamous game where Villa played five defenders with Alan Hutton in midfield. Sadly in recent weeks Villa have played six defenders and there is no reason to expect this week to be any different. A fitting end to this most miserable of seasons. This game has 3-0 written all over it.

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