As I watched England qualify for the World Cup through a shimmering haze of alcohol, it had me thinking about the age-old club-vs-country debate that fans always have.
Whilst I pride myself as someone who is happy of his English (and Irish and Spanish) heritage, the national team isn’t something I can get overly worked up about. Perhaps it is the almost endless disappointment we’ve suffered at their hands – barring Italia 1990 – but I’ve practically given up.
Some might find this strange, especially when Aston Villa have hardly been trailblazers in the “success” category, but there’s a certain, perhaps self-imposed, restraint when I watch our beloved team in claret and blue.
However, perhaps because of the fierce nationalism that burns in many of us, England always feels more infuriating. Maybe it is that pride, maybe the fact that matches are few and far between, but there’s a certain incendiary feeling that only England can give an Englishman. I mean, sure, I may well be one of the louder fans screaming at the referee in an expletive laden explosion of emotion whilst sitting in the Doug Ellis Witton Lane stand but, for the most part, I know what I’m getting with Villa.
Such a statement may well sound almost ambivalent, as though I have grown to accept mediocrity for Villa, that I have become a sheep to an owner who seems to have less-than-ambitious expectations for the club. In my eyes, it isn’t that, but rather a case of self-protection – there are only so many times a person can open himself up to hurt and maintain expectations.
What do I mean? Well there’s a certain logic about expectations, or rather reality, when it comes to predicting the future. Just as if a person owned a racehorse who was constantly awful at running, so I imagine you’d stop betting money that said horse would win all their races.
Perhaps that isn’t the best analogy – what with Villa being an endlessly evolving concept rather than a singular entity – but the concept is there, even if the Stella (Artois) has addled my brain and had me writing an article at almost 4am instead.
Getting back to the club vs. country debate, I was discussing the whole concept with my brother and father earlier this week. I said that I’d rather Villa win the European Cup than England win the World Cup if I had to pick one.
My brother, in response, suggested that it was “wrong” to favour Villa over England, that I should respond with an equal preference to both teams’ success, even if both successes seem equally distant in their possible achievement.
My Dad, as usual, was mostly silent on the issue, though I know he gets as equally wound up about England games as I do. Against Villa, Dad is very much past-the-point-of-caring, which isn’t to suggest that he doesn’t love our club, but after a lifetime of watching us, I think he’d probably be just as happy to not go as go, apart from the fact it gives him time to spend with me and my brother.
Which, in a sense, explains why we do tend to stick with our allegiances. I’ve seen, via the creation and expansion of Aston Villa Life, that people like that community feel, whether it is experienced drinking beer on the concourse at Villa Park, making and responding to comments on blogs, or just having banter with friends at work/school.
In that sense, I’ve been delighted with what we’ve achieved here – on this site – in terms of keeping it together. People have had their differences – much as could be expected within any group – but it has always stayed in a friendly state.
If I could find a way to take that understanding, perhaps I’d find following the national team more enjoyable, or at least less infuriating, simply because I have gotten to the point where I-couldn’t-care-less about England, despite wishing them every success.
Maybe I should stick to watching Spain because of my ancestry – given they win more frequently and play better football – or perhaps watch like I do with Ireland – with no expectation at all and a pint in my hand.
Whatever happens, I doubt I’ll find myself preferring supporting England over supporting Villa.
The big question is, of course, what do you think? Do you prefer England to Villa, or vice-versa?
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