Since manager Unai Emery walked through the doors at B6 and replaced a high pitched voiced former player who was obsessed with eyes over tactics, the turnaround at Aston Villa has been nothing short of phenomenal.
Not content with quickly taking us from the depths of a serious relegation risk, we ended Unai’s ‘not a full season in charge’ with form that would otherwise have gained us European qualification. He also did it with the squad who had failed someone who would have been forever known as Tactics Steve, had the loveable nickname not already been taken by Tim. Fans were again working out how to get the best rows in the stadium given all the improvements in our performance levels and results.
To cut a long rollercoaster of a journey short to bring us up to date, we can cycle through European finishes in the domestic Premier League leading to Europa Conference League, Champions League and Europa League adventures and we are here again with even higher hopes and expectations.
With 33 games played in this years English top flight, we were sat in fourth place in the table level on points with Manchester United with a three point gap to Liverpool, and a ten point gap to Chelsea. We are also through to the Semi Final stage of the Europa League with an awaited away first leg clash with Nottingham Forest.
Having dabbled with the top two for a short period of time before injuries ripped us of a midfield, three points against the Craven Cottagers of Fulham on Saturday afternoon would have been the perfect tonic after a slightly emotional game against Sunderland.
So quite typically, and very promptly, Villa fell to a first half goal that was enough to separate the sides come the full time whistle. We never do anything easily or simply after all, and this should never be forgotten when remembering the boys from Villa Park are, and always will be, a medical emergency in the waiting.
Villans are reacting exactly how you would expect them to this weekend, but from Monday we ‘pick ourselves up and go again’ by ‘pulling our socks up’ and ‘dusting ourselves down’ because it has to be remembered that this was written in the stars. A superb Sunderland showing where the players went for a 10 minute Balti with the first half of a European Final next up on the cards was always going to see the mother of all no shows against Fulham sadly, and it should not be a surprise with the injuries and how we have again overperformed.
But we are still comfortably in the Champions League places with four games remaining in the season and an eight point gap to Brighton and Hove Albion (maybe seven depending on Brentford’s later result), however, those who wish for a quiet life will forever rue Ollie and Tammy’s missed efforts.
It would be very surprising if our bouncy little Fox in the dug out does not ensure that there is a far better reaction on Thursday evening, and then maybe we can turn attentions back to helping to relegate Tottenham Hotspur as we reunite with Johan Lange.
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