FANTASY FOOTBALL TIPS

As Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish faces a meagre 13% approval rating from his own fans on Bantr is it worth posing the question to Alex McLeish, Randy Lerner and Roberto Martinez – do you regret your decision 8 months ago when Villa were searching for a new boss?

For Martinez, the decision to turn down the Villa role was a surprising one, as he nobly decided to repay the faith that Wigan owner Dave Whelan had shown in him by signing a new contact. However those looking on from the outside could see that such a move was masochistic at best.

In the second half, when Alex McLeish made a change, pretty much all the away fans at Wigan today sung as one. The song was a simple one but the message was clear as day directed to Alex McLeish and it went something like this; you don’t know what you’re doing.

The thing is, I’m actually surprised by the result today. I thought we would win by default but I didn’t factor in that McLeish would send his team out to not lose and I didn’t think we’d be so good at that and only that.

There was speculation. Forum posters, in the know and I even wrote a post suggesting there was no smoke without fire and yesterday, Central News told us that the oil nation Qatar is on the verge of announcing a major local investment.

Where to begin? How about with Doug Ellis? Okay, maybe not with Doug Ellis, but he and Randy are very similar and many wanted Ellis gone and the core reason for it was that he didn’t take the risks.

Let me get this out, right away; this post isn’t a form of endorsement and I’m writing that because I didn’t really promote the McLeish Out protests that happened recently. Let me also get this right out of the way; how they plan on going about this, is the right way. To start anyway and that is why I’m posting this today.

I’m also going to be a little critical of Villa Fans United today and Ryan, the guy that set it all up, knows this is coming and I like that. His response to me before I put this up, warning him that I would be critical if I did, was “people can make there own minds up”.

Today is the day. We could start our match in 15th position in the table and if we don’t at the very least get a draw, end the day in fifteenth too. For transparency, I should also write we could end the day in 11th if we beat Manchester City and Sir Alex will be hoping his mate does exactly that.

The odds for the match are below and they really do tell a story. As I write this we are 4/1 and Manchester City are 8/11 and I have to be honest, I thought they would have been worse than that, I might even have a cheeky double on us and Wolves to win today at 11/1 – a nice price you can get here.

Well, the dust has settled and it turns out Stephen Ireland didn’t get subbed for telling the manager something he shouldn’t and there is no unrest in the dressing room. We know this because of all people, Stilyan Petrov, has come out defending him.

So, if the captain comes out defending him, it has to be true. It doesn’t matter that Stephen Ireland told him twice to do one and that Charles N’Zogbia sadly admitted that he was unhappy playing football, for the first time in his career, under this manager. There is nothing wrong and the players are happy.

I’d love to be able to tell you something about the match today that would inspire a feeling of confidence, but I’m not even feeling that pre-match optimism that makes me believe we have a chance, if we do everything right.

I feel, right now, that if we leave Newcastle with anything it will be down to luck and we should be grateful. Not that they are really that much better than us – they just have a manager that sends his team out to win. We could beat them with a proper manager.

Am I happy with the result, no. Am I happy with the overall performance, no. I am however happy with the 2nd half and last ten minutes of the first.

But the result is the result and despite a lot more about us in the second, we still conceded two goals, even if one was a candidate for own goal of the season.

Sometimes it is best to forget so after my next paragraph, I’m going to forget yesterday. I’m not going to start looking for excuses, blame the players or the opposition – we all know where the blame sits, I’m just going to forget. After the next paragraph.

The thing that really got be about yesterday is this: if all you are going to do is sit back, defend and hope to steal something on the counter attack, for the love of all that is holy, make sure you do it right. My point is; the first only works, if the second does. There is no point playing the first way if you can’t successfully deliver the second which is why playing not to lose is the wrong thing to do in this league.

There is a magic associated with the FA Cup and I believe, because it is only ninety minutes of football, that we can win today. The bookies don’t think we will and I’m old enough to know that the chances are slim, but there is a chance and when there is a chance, I become a blind optimist for the few hours leading up to the game.

There might also be a great incentive before the match too as the draw takes place (I think) just before kick off and we might end up with a home tie against Stevenage – early passage into the 6th round and if that happens, you never know, that could be the incentive the players need.

You know this, but I’m writing it again; I’m a football fan first and Aston Villa is my team. I’m getting that out of the way, because I’m reluctantly supporting Cardiff in the final of the League Cup. I am also reluctantly writing that I was happy that Liverpool went through last night.

It isn’t that I dislike Manchester City any less than I dislike Liverpool – it is just so annoying that they’ve gone and bought success and we haven’t. In the case of Liverpool – it is just fun to watch that once great club competing for the League Cup.