|
Deep In my Heart ...
Aston Villa vs Middlesbrough, 2nd October 2005, Villa Park
James Keen
Boro travel to Villa Park, fresh from UEFA Cup action, and with a little bit of their dented pride restored. The nil all draw away to Xanthi was enough to see Boro through and so for the second season running we will see the Boro in the UEFA Cup group stage.
Some fans will take heart from the fact that our only victory in the whole of last season after a European Cup game came against the Villains. But we should really just concentrate at the current state of things.
Boro have had a bit of a torrid couple of weeks, a 1-1 draw against the hard working Wigan and a 2-0 defeat against the Mackems was enough to bring the doubters and the judases out of the closet. And so a game away at Villa isn't really what we need right now.
Villa have been one of the Premierships underachievers over the past few seasons, setting their targets way too high and never quite reaching them. Sadly though, many of their fans are still content with their achievements. And this is something that differentiates Boro fans from Villa fans. Villa understand their place in the league, if it wasn't for them some other poor soul would have to finish tenth every season. But for Boro fans tenth is failure.
And why? Because we expect things to happen too quickly, last season we built on our minor success sufficiently enough to ensure we get into Europe. And this is the level we should be happy with for the time being. If we start looking at the Champions league too soon we'll end up with egg on our faces like the Blue half of Merseyside did in this season's competition.
Boro have been poor, we have played below par. But we should see where we are and be pleased. Its early days yet, and still plenty of time to turn things around. And the best way to do that is not to get rid of the manager, its not to slate the team, it's by allowing the manager time, giving the new players a chance to settle, and by lending your voices to the team.
As fans we will often question whether we should carry on supporting our team, and those times are times like now. But these are the times you should swallow your pride, hold your head up high and sing your heart out. I'm sure the travelling army going to Villa will do so, but it's the fans at home that need to do it as well. We've been renowned for having some of the countries best supporters, let's try and remember why.
Aston Villa will play with confidence against Boro, the 2-1 defeat against Chelsea was no disgrace by any means, but they will still be slightly buoyed by their excellent second half against Wycombe, coming from 3-1 down to win 8-3. It was only Wycombe, but to score 7 in a half is excellent.
Milan Baros will return to the side as well, a man who sees himself as a hero. Sadly, as of yet he's never shown me any sign of being a class player. And so Villa's main threat will come from the lively Juan Pable Angel and Geordie reject Milner.
Angel has taken a lot of criticism in his time at Villa, but has often been isolated as a lone striker. But with the arrival of Baros and the mighty rat boy himself (Kevin Philips) he should find himself a little less lonely. Let's hope David O'Leary decides to revert to his old style.
Villa also have a solid backline, or at least two good centre halves in Mellberg and Bouma. Sadly for them, Useless De La Cruz and Jay Lloyd Samuel are still regular features of the villa squad.
Boro should see a return to the forward line for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, probably alongside Yakubu. Although this partnership never quite hit it off against Liverpool on the opening day, it seems the most likely strategy for Steve McClaren. This may disappoint many Boro fans, a lot of whom feel that Massimo has earned his starting place. But after the European adventure on Thursday I think Mass will be rested again.
It will be pleasing to see Chris Riggott in the backline, should he get the nod over Bates. Riggott is a man who has impressed me greatly since his arrival at the club. In spite of the fact that he looks like he should be a head boy at Eton and playing the Wall game with Harry and Wills, he has developed into a strong and agile centre back, looking more and more like his mentor Gareth Southgate every game.
Boro's main concern will come with the midfield selection. With only George Boateng churning out the type of performance we have become accustomed to. Ray Parlour, Fabio Rochemback, Doriva, James Morrison and, when he's played, Gaizka Mendieta have all been a little off colour. And there is our main problem, your defenders win you championships, your strikers win you games, but without a midfield you just get beat. And ours has been non existent for a little while.
I'm sure Steve will have one or two ideas, and have every confidence that we will go to Villa Park with a determination to win, and with a desire to pay back the fans for last weeks humbling at the hands of our neighbours.
If I led with my head this week I'd say a 1-1 draw was on the cards, but if I let my heart put my bets on I'd be going for a solid 2-0 victory.
Probable Teams:
Aston Villa: Sorenson, Mellberg, Bouma, Hughes, Ridgewell, Milner, Davis, Barry, Berger, Angel, Baros
Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Xavier, Queudrue, Riggott, Southgate, Boateng, Rochemback, Parlour, Johnson, Hasselbaink, Yakubu
Form
Aston Villa DWLDWL
Middlesbrough LWWDLD
BACK TO VILLA PROGRAMME INDEX |
|
|
|
