Having watched Aston Villa Football club through the 1980’s, 1990’s and 2000’s, I can safely say, they are now at their lowest ebb in my personal experience of supporting the club. I’ve seen them relegated before, but despite a slow start the following season in the old Division Two (I’m still peeved off by these league name changes), by this stage Graham Taylor was starting to turn fortunes around.
The situation is pretty dire, although at least I’ve seen some good times, unlike younger Villa fans, who have my sympathy.
With RDM now out the door, here’s a five reasons to be cheerful as Villa fans…
Back to the Golf Course for RDM
How long do you give a manager? One that has to put a new team together. Well, considering over £50 million was spent putting that team together and on paper it should waltz into the play-off places at least without much hassle, then not long.
One league win in 11 games is probably enough evidence to swing the axe. It’s only Championship level after all.
Di Matteo has never managed to reach two full seasons at any club, there’s a trend there. So the positive is at least Tony Xia didn’t dwell on his mistake or give RDM more time to simply try and safe face.
There’s barely a quarter of the season gone and the play-offs aren’t out of reach, so it’s onwards and upwards for Villa. Meanwhile, RDM can get back to the golf course.
We’ll Always Have Rotherham
I’ll repeat that stat again… Robert Di Matteo managed only ONE win during his time managing Aston Villa FC. One win in the bloody Championship! Surely he’s in long-term managerial retirement now.
That win was the 3-0 home win against bottom of the table Rotherham. How many of us left Villa Park that day thinking the season had finally got underway? For that brief moment, we can be thankful (times have been that hard).
Bizarrely, RDM leaves Villa with an unbeaten managerial record at Villa Park. I still have hopes to go the entire season unbeaten at Villa Park.
Away Support
Clocking in at 5,400, Villa’s away following at Preston was the biggest travelling support of the weekend. Considering Villa haven’t won an away game in over year, Villa fans are either mad or devoted…or a mix of the two. It’s about time that the club began paying them back with entertainment, goals and wins.
Villa Academy Graduate Performances
At times during the Preston game, former Villa youth team players Daniel Johnson and Callum Robinson combined together to embarrass the costly assembled new team Villa of Di Matteo. Something’s not right with that.
While there is the odd ex-Villa academy star in the Premier League, the Championship is increasingly full of Villa’s cast offs.
Since this is the level we can consistently produce for, the likes of Green and Hepburn-Murphy should perhaps get more of a chance this season to freshen things up and provide options for the first team?
Giving them a head start in the Championship may set them up for better things in the league above…if we get back there.
Local Brew
Yep, I’ve run out of any proper bright rays of Villa sunshine for you, because in reality it’s pretty mirky at the moment. However, if you’re attending the Brighton away game, you will be able to drink a local Midlands beer before the game and at half-time.
Certainly it’ll be an upgrade on the normal watered down pi** served at games. And thanks to MOMS proposal to the club, Villa supporters will get to choose which one.
If you’re going to the game, make sure you vote in the following poll to have your say:
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RDM’s gone?
there’s one big difference between now & the last time Villa had to get themselves promoted from the lower Leagues & that is International breaks which are a recent invention , & have taken their toll on the Villa squad , with players returning injured/unfit !