The international break provides a good opportunity for Aston Villa to assess the season so far, to take a step back and plant a flag. It’s been a whirlwind two months at the club, but things are definitely looking up.
Still, the table doesn’t lie, and the table says “eighth-place.” But Villa’s position comes with an asterisk. For a team that was left high and dry by its manager just days before the start of the season, 10 points from seven matches is decent return. For a team unable to invest in its squad over the summer months, having the same win tally as Arsenal and Manchester United is nothing to scoff at. After all, things could always be worse. Things could be Liverpool-bad.
Even the disappointment of Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Tottenham Hotspur wasn’t a spirit-dampener. To anyone who watched the game, Villa made a real go of it and the points were there for the taking for most of the match. Spurs are a good side, playing with lots of confidence, yet Villa battered them in the opening moments. Pity Emile Heskey was forced to limp off after 36 minutes. The re-born striker has been a real difference-maker since Gerard Houllier’s arrival as manager, and he followed up his recent goalscoring exploits with a superb assist on Marc Albrighton’s goal just after the quarter-hour.
Albrighton, himself, has been a revelation this season. He’s made nine appearances for the club so far, scoring once and adding four assists while providing a new, versatile threat on the wings. Barry Bannan, too, has shown promise. Granted, he hasn’t had the run of matches that fellow 20-year-old Albrighton has had, but he’s looked good when given a chance. Both are reasons to look forward to the future.
Villa have also put in a decent start to the campaign without consistent contributions from Gabriel Agbonlahor and Stephen Ireland.
Agbonlahor, who has struggled with injuries this season, has started just two matches this season and is set to miss another two weeks after undergoing a groin operation on Monday. He’ll also miss out on England’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro next week.
Ireland, meanwhile, suffered a dead leg ahead of a clash with Bolton Wanderers in September and continues to struggle for fitness. He’s also failed to impress in the three matches he’s played for Villa, but you’ve got to think his quality will come through sooner rather than later.
At least an optimist would say so. But after all the club’s been through of late, who wouldn’t want to be an optimist? Especially when things look like they’ve been turned around.
Twitter.com/peterssoccer
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Posted by Zarch on 10/06/2010
That's a fair call Mr Peters. I too was disappointed with the result but not our display. WE were the better team on saturday. If VDV wasn't having a blinder i don't think tottenham would have even drawn level. Bring on chelsea!!! there's some payback to be had!!!
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Posted by bill on 10/08/2010
I LOVE Villa....have been a fan since 86. Went through the drop and all the financial restraints by Ellis. I do believe Houliier may lead Villa into the CL, especially with the recent story about Man City possibly being banned from Europe. However, I am not as rosy as others just yet. It will take time for GH to make this club better. Honestlly, Villa should be at 2w and 5 L's if fans would have looked at the games objectively. Everton completely outplayed us. Bolton should have won the game in the 2nd half because they were MUCH better.This is not GH's fault, of course, but he inherited this squad that has quite a few players on the decline. Petrov, Carew and Dunne (whose poor decisions cost Villa the Spurs game).GH will need time to replace those players while continuing the development of Albrighton and Bannan....yes, 8th place is decent with a manager who bolted at the worst possible time. But Chelsea looms. Don't get too excited unless Villa pulls off the win. GH needs time.
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Kevin Hughes spent the best part of ten years working and writing for the football magazine Match; once (sort of) inspiring David Beckham to copy his shaved-hair look, getting lost in Paris after the 1998 France v Croatia World Cup semi-final and other such nonsense. As Deputy Editor, he launched and established Sport, the London-based free weekly magazine, before moving on to become a consumer magazine publisher, a position he holds today. Introduced to Villa by his father and grandfather, he attended his first ever match at Villa Park as a seven-year-old in 1982… and has suffered almost constant disappointment since. You can follow him on twitter @KevHughesie
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