Slipperduke
The Camden Cad
The Premier League table has an eerily familiar look, doesn't it? In amongst the excitement of Liverpool's emphatic victory at Old Trafford and the discovery of stardust in the boots of Andrey Arshavin, this was the weekend when Aston Villa finally dipped out of the top four. There can't be many neutral observers who haven't warmed to the pace and determination of Martin O'Neill's exciting young side, which is why it's so sad to see that a significant section of their own fans have turned on them.
Boos rang out at Villa Park at the end of Sunday's defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, a thoroughly unfair response to an exhausted team hitting the wall in a campaign that began in July. Worse still was the ironic applause that greeted the withdrawal of Gabriel Agbonlahor. The youngster has dipped noticeably of late, with just one goal in his last 12 league games, but he's still one of the most exciting of the English prospects. Those supporters who leapt to their feet, gleefully celebrating his substitution should have a little think about how they'd react if he decided to leave in the summer. After this show of 'support', you could hardly blame him.
Villa haven't fallen away because of Agbonlahor, or any other player. They've been felled, as many expected, because of a lack of squad depth. Martin O'Neill has used just 24 players this season, the first in Premier League history to allow 18 man matchday squads. By contrast, Manchester United have named 33, Chelsea 32, Liverpool, who sagged noticeably as the fixtures came thick and fast through the winter, just 27 and Arsenal, 30. The back four that was breached twice by Spurs at the weekend consisted of a midfielder at right-back, a right back at left-back, another one at centre back and Zat Knight. No wonder Brad Friedel has lost his hair.
Villa fans, and it's not all of them, just a vocal section, have no right to react in this way. O'Neill inherited a squad who only narrowly avoided relegation in 2006. With the generous support of the dignified and discreet Randy Lerner, he has set down the foundations for the future of the club, finishing 11th in his first season, 6th in his second and now pushing all the way for the top four in only his third year. Another wave of young talent is waiting in the shadows, including the excellent Brad Guzan and the exciting Nathan Delfouneso. Middlesbrough, who appointed Gareth Southgate three years ago, would kill for this kind of progress, or indeed for any kind of progress.
Football fans have always been impatient for success, but there is a fine line between having high expectations and making self-destructive demands. There's nothing wrong with having a moan. The problem comes when the people concerned actually listen. Ask the Charlton fans who wanted Alan Curbishley to quit because he couldn't deliver European football. They'll be playing Southend in League One next year. The Newcastle fans who chanted 'Robson Out' at the board of directors after their UEFA Cup exit to Marseille. They ended up with Graeme Souness.
Those Aston Villa supporters who think that there is something unacceptable about a valiant attempt to reach the Champions League, or that the fading efforts of a tired youngster are worth jeering, need to reassess their own contribution to the cause. The Premier League has a nasty habit of dealing out reality checks to the ungrateful.
Boos rang out at Villa Park at the end of Sunday's defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, a thoroughly unfair response to an exhausted team hitting the wall in a campaign that began in July. Worse still was the ironic applause that greeted the withdrawal of Gabriel Agbonlahor. The youngster has dipped noticeably of late, with just one goal in his last 12 league games, but he's still one of the most exciting of the English prospects. Those supporters who leapt to their feet, gleefully celebrating his substitution should have a little think about how they'd react if he decided to leave in the summer. After this show of 'support', you could hardly blame him.
Villa haven't fallen away because of Agbonlahor, or any other player. They've been felled, as many expected, because of a lack of squad depth. Martin O'Neill has used just 24 players this season, the first in Premier League history to allow 18 man matchday squads. By contrast, Manchester United have named 33, Chelsea 32, Liverpool, who sagged noticeably as the fixtures came thick and fast through the winter, just 27 and Arsenal, 30. The back four that was breached twice by Spurs at the weekend consisted of a midfielder at right-back, a right back at left-back, another one at centre back and Zat Knight. No wonder Brad Friedel has lost his hair.
Villa fans, and it's not all of them, just a vocal section, have no right to react in this way. O'Neill inherited a squad who only narrowly avoided relegation in 2006. With the generous support of the dignified and discreet Randy Lerner, he has set down the foundations for the future of the club, finishing 11th in his first season, 6th in his second and now pushing all the way for the top four in only his third year. Another wave of young talent is waiting in the shadows, including the excellent Brad Guzan and the exciting Nathan Delfouneso. Middlesbrough, who appointed Gareth Southgate three years ago, would kill for this kind of progress, or indeed for any kind of progress.
Football fans have always been impatient for success, but there is a fine line between having high expectations and making self-destructive demands. There's nothing wrong with having a moan. The problem comes when the people concerned actually listen. Ask the Charlton fans who wanted Alan Curbishley to quit because he couldn't deliver European football. They'll be playing Southend in League One next year. The Newcastle fans who chanted 'Robson Out' at the board of directors after their UEFA Cup exit to Marseille. They ended up with Graeme Souness.
Those Aston Villa supporters who think that there is something unacceptable about a valiant attempt to reach the Champions League, or that the fading efforts of a tired youngster are worth jeering, need to reassess their own contribution to the cause. The Premier League has a nasty habit of dealing out reality checks to the ungrateful.