VILLA’S VITAL START
Adam Virgo explains why it’s imperative Villa get off to a flier
FOOTBALL fans are very fair. No matter how wretched you’ve been, you always get a clean slate when the new season starts. Unfortunately for the players at Aston Villa, some slates are cleaner than others.
We all saw the banners at Villa Park last season. The jeers, the anger, the chants of ‘You’re not fit to wear the shirt’.
As the losses piled up and the surrender set in, the bond between players and fans was completely shattered. Pictures of them partying after defeats hardly helped matters, either.
You look at Gabby Agbonlahor. He was supposed to be the captain and he eventually lost his place because he wasn’t fit enough. That kind of thing really annoys supporters.
Bubble
So, while the slate will be clean, patience is fragile. That’s why the first two home games against Huddersfield and Rotherham are vital.
Win both and, all of a sudden, last season is forgotten. Everybody, players and fans, starts thinking ‘We’ve got a chance here’. Lose those games and all the anger from last season will quickly bubble back to the surface.
Fortunately, I’ve never suffered abuse like that. Bristol Rovers was quite ruthless. I wouldn’t say the fans were against us but, five minutes into a game, any misplaced pass was jeered.
It does hit your confidence and, if Villa’s players can’t get some early momentum going, they may struggle.
I saw Ian Holloway speaking the other day and he argued that Aston Villa are bad enough to get relegated again. For me, though, that’s a ludicrous statement.
Yes, they have plenty of problems. It wasn’t just performances. They didn’t have any characters, they lacked managerial stability. Recruitment, governance, media relations – everything was wrong.
One or two star names could still leave. Opponents will look at them and smell blood, seeking to prey on vulnerable players who are short on confidence and maybe feel they shouldn’t be at this level.
That’s why this could be a three- or four-year job and, if I had to put a bet on one relegated team staying in the Championship, it would be Villa.
Nevertheless, they’re far too good to go down. They’ve got:
A new owner in Dr Tony Xia, who will hand over some money.
The right manager in Roberto Di Matteo, someone who knows the division and has won promotion before.
Players who can do major damage.
Talent
Rudy Gestede was fantastic at Blackburn in 2014-15 and actually kept Jordan Rhodes out of the side for long periods. In the air, he’s unbeatable.
Jack Grealish has bags of talent. His performances could be the difference between promotion and mediocrity.
Di Matteo also seems to be targeting the right type of player. Tommy Elphick from Bournemouth is a great example. In their situation, character is more important than talent. Tommy, who I know from Brighton, has that in spades.
In that sense, today’s tough-looking opener against Sheffield Wednesday is just what Di Matteo would have wanted.
The last thing he needs is Burton or Rotherham at home, to give a false sense of superiority. At Hillsborough, he will see instantly who has the heart for the scrap. Working that out quickly is vital if he is to repair the ravaged relationship with Villa’s supporters.