I’d thought I’d be writing a sort of match preview, but, alas, circumstances deny me that privilege. As with everyone, my best wishes go out to Fabrice Muamba and his family and friends.
I must say, absent that very unfortunate twist of fate, I’d much rather we’d have played the game as scheduled, taken the three points I was expecting, and then got on with the rest of the run-in. I’d been entertaining this rather odd and disorienting vision of back-to-back wins, and I was feeling a bit dizzy. Which wasn’t altogether unpleasant.
But, it’s not to be (and for the record, I don’t agree with the decision)…at least not according to the rather simple parameters of my vision. And who knows, maybe it’s for the best. Extra time off to get ready for Arsenal, and I hope it’s the case that some players are looking forward to having another go at them given the 15-minute catastrophe we visited upon ourselves at the last meeting. Doing the Gunners for our second win on the trot will be more fun.
More realistically, I’ll be looking at small things, such as the fact it will be interesting to see how Collins and Cuellar square up against a much better side now they’ve got a couple games together under their belts. I’m hoping there’s nowhere near the panic we saw last time out. And Darren Bent won’t be around to chase back one time in 500 and concede a penalty in the process.
Things are looking up, now that I think of it.
Of course, we’re also back to that “Where will the goals come from” question that seems to haunt us perpetually. Andreas Weimann, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Stephen Ireland, Charles N’Zogbia? Someone’s got to come good, so it will likely be Petrov with a 40-yarder.
What do I really want? I just want to see the same level of commitment we saw our last time out. It really is the key for this Villa team. They can’t just turn it on. They need to come out and get themselves into the game by pressing and tackling and not thinking too much, just doing the simple things that are prerequisites to winning. Fundamentals, I guess you’d call them.
Stephen Ireland off to New York?
I’ve no idea what to make of reports from Michael Ballack’s agent that Stephen Ireland will be off to the New York Red Bulls, a deal or understanding supposedly having been agreed in October. For me, Stephen Ireland is clearly the most talented player on our roster. And he’s finally been coming into form (also known as deciding he wants to play and use his talent). We need quality, even if he is a bit mental. I want him to stay, if only to increase his value so we get more for him if he does want out. But I’d really like him to stay in the hope he keeps trying to reclaim his place as one of the most gifted midfielders in the EPL. I would imagine we’ll be hearing more specifics soon. He’d be the very rare player to go to MLS who wasn’t looking for a final payday long after he’d passed his peak.
Life Without Villa
I’d said this earlier in the year, it’s been nice when Villa aren’t playing. Indictment? Reprieve? Both? Take your pick…38 league games is a long season when you’re not winning much of anything. It’s long when you’re coming close and falling short (no, Manchester City, I’m not talking to you) despite spending God knows how much. Or sacking managers and still watching your club circling the toilet. And then there’s Blackburn…Interesting, eh?
So, the last weekend was lovely. Temperatures in the 70s (Fahrenheit), blue skies and some skeet shooting with my son, who just turned 17. I’m not a particularly great shooter, because I don’t shoot much, but my son enjoys it, and is a pretty fair shot. So instead of suffering through a Villa game on tenterhooks on a Saturday morning, I was out on the plains of Colorado occasionally blowing clays to pieces…
And enjoying precious time with my son who will soon be leaving the nest to make his mark in the world.
Life is good, and life goes on without Villa. Instead of being at each others’ throats, remember the good things: step back, take a deep breath. Villa will endure. We’ll survive McLeish and whatever other challenges come our way. We’ll endure our allotted spans and hopefully do more and enjoy them. The trick is to pack them full of the things that matter and let go of the rest. I’m still learning, but I’m trying.
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