After the abuse I took from some Sunderland fans a couple of weeks ago for my tongue-in-cheek “Fascist Mackems” comment, I was delighted to see the beauty that is the Beast smash them. The big Belgian grabbed the headlines, but we need to also appreciate what is going on around the rest of the team and the club. The building blocks are being put in place, not on the sand of Martin O’Neill’s era, but on a solid footing. The foundations of any team game: spirit, work ethic, and direction.
The players and fans are once again engaging. The club is starting to find its soul after years of mercenaries bleeding us dry. We have, at last, started to assemble a group of players who want to do well for Villa and themselves. These two things are not mutually exclusive.
I’ve been toying with this idea for an article for a few weeks, but haven’t quite been able to put my finger on the catalyst. Every time I approach the subject, I find myself giving praise and concentrating on a single area.
First, my thoughts turned to the fact we now have a squad that are young and are playing for their futures and careers; the team spirit that they have carried through and was always very prominent in the youth teams at Villa, which is rubbing off on the majority of the players within the squad. Perhaps this is why Bent, Ireland, and Dunne have been ostracised from the squad.
A few days later, looking at it again, my mind turned to the much-criticised Lerner. This, after all, is his directive. Growing a club and the foundation of sustainability, complimenting transfer investments with a core of youth product coming through from the academy – it was his decision to go down this painful route: a short, sharp cull. People will say this was due to penny pinching. Others will say it was a stroke of genius. We will truly see once the remaining few cash cows have been removed and Lambert has room to maneuver within the squad for wages.
I came back to it in hope that I could write something up for last week, but gave up and opted for a poke at the FA, because I then looked at Lambert’s influence in sticking with the youth, bringing in players who showed potential and also desire. A desire to learn, improve and step up. Players with something to prove. Sure, not all of them have worked out on the field, but I don’t think any of us can fault the character of the players brought in. This adds to the squad, none of this “Big I Am” that Collins, et al, brought to the squad. You’re players; I’m the manager. You perform; I’ll pick you. Don’t, and you’re dropped.
Thinking about this exposed how much was wrong with the club and the culture that was bought in to by everyone when Lerner first arrived. Money cures all evils; spend now, think later. Few people had any problem with this wave of cash flooding in to Villa Park. Expectations where high; building was quick, expensive, and with very little plan and realisation of what the future may hold.
The analogy of green shoots has never been truer: a combination of things (by chance or by design) has started a growth; the roots will reach deeper, while the tip starts to reach for the sky. The thing is, we don’t want to be a sunflower again, shooting up, reaching for the sky, but then dying away. We want to be the mighty oak of the Midlands, again. While progress may be slow, we will always have something to fall back on.
This is the right path we are on. It doesn’t matter how we found it; what matters is that we’re now travelling along it.
Benteke may be a bit early for where we’re at, and I have no doubt we will lose him at some point. But the positive news is he will stay when we stay up. This can surely work to sway Weimann and the other players who are now looking to negotiate. They are ambitious people, but they also seem to be humble enough to see that their progression will not be hindered. and possibly enhanced by staying at Villa for now.
The key will be to remain steadfast, hold our nerves, and most importantly keep backing the club, managers and players. Look how Benteke has connected with the fans – it works both ways. They may not love the club like we do, but the support will always be a factor.
Look at the bigger picture of Villa, and it is coming along very nicely. Those looking from the outside making assumptions are making grave underestimations of the club – which brings me back to DiCanio, who was guilty of this himself by talking down a Villa side with arrogant comments about coming to Villa Park. So, to him, all I can say is: PAOLO WHATS THE SCORE… PAOLO, PAOLO WHATS THE SCORE…!
The smile has not been wiped off my face yet 🙂
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