Villa’s role of scruffy underdog to City’s expensive shiatsu could suit us nicely!

Football FanCast columnist Ian Woodcock is hoping that Villa will go out and silence their critics next season.

In my limited experience of life getting up at 4am is generally never a good thing. For me being woken any time before nine is likely to lead to a very bad response. Insomnia aside there can be very little reason for an unemployed student to be awake at such an ungodly hour so naturally it was taking someone else, namely my girlfriend, to the airport that was my raison d'etre. However, my less that pleasant mood was soon alleviated in unlikely circumstances. At my girlfriend's insistence I turned on the television (what she was hoping was on at four am I really don't know) and began flicking through the channels when something caught my eye. A mere flash of claret on a green carpet (that sounds like a passage from a murder mystery) was enough for me.

UEFA Cup classics on Channel Five might not often throw up anything bordering on a classic and Aston Villa's narrow victory over Ajax can hardly be described as a barn stormer. I remember the game well, not surprising really; it was less than ten months ago. Now though watching the game back and recalling the euphoria I felt as the final whistle went I can't help but think; was that as good as things were going to get?

Oddly enough that victory preceded our amazing run of form during the winter so I guess in a way I've already contradicted myself, but bare with me. For starters just look at the two people on the score sheet; Martin Laursen and Gareth Barry. Our two players with real European pedigree and talent were a real cut above that night. Now Laursen is retired and Barry has moved onto a team with real Champions League ambitions, but not Liverpool as we had all assumed even then, Manchester City. Larsen's injury and eventual retirement was tantamount to making Andy Murray play with a tennis racket from Tesco. He'd still be alright but it wouldn't be the same. As for Barry's departure well… Let's just say there have been facebook groups, poster campaigns and about a million column inches dedicated to the subject.

However, what our longest serving player's choice of club did underline is truly worrying. In his mind and indeed the mind of many other people Manchester City are now seen as the better bet for breaking into the top four. Back when we defeated Ajax it was us who were seen as the most likely team to do the unthinkable. We had a great owner, a charismatic manager and young English players complemented by solid foreign imports. The future was bright-the future was Claret and Blue.  Now many pundits aren't even backing us to finish in a Europa league position. Back in October we couldn't remember the last time we'd had it this good, now we're worried about how bad it might get.

With Laursen retired and Barry moved on there are concerns that the team that starred that night and indeed right through until March could be pulled apart. Rumours abound that Ashley Young is wanted by Barcelona, Chelsea, and AC Milan etc etc. Though his end of season form was somewhat patchy (to be fair the rest of the team were shocking) his loss would be a major body blow. Capello might not like him too much but he is one of few players who genuinely makes you stand up when he takes the ball (just ask Tony Hibbert, who took an absolute roasting.) Of course if you believed everything you read in the papers the summer would be a very confusing time indeed and I don't think Young will leave. However, after everything that's happened over the last few months I'm just planning on sticking my head in the sand until September the first and praying for the best.

I hope that I am wildly inaccurate (it wouldn't be a first) and that Villa go out and prove everyone wrong next season. We still have the makeup of a very good team and if we can hold on to our remaining best players (which does includes John Carew, Martin) and strengthen in the right areas (everywhere) then we could yet have more great European (Eurapon?) nights. Who knows the role of scruffy underdog to Manchester City's moneybags shiatsu could suit us quite nicely. One thing we don't need is fans on forums saying that if the squad isn't improved over the summer to try and keep us competing with the big boys then they won't be going to matches this season. As I may have mentioned several dozen times before; David O'Leary. ‘Nuff said.

On the March by Joe Jennings

Football FanCast writer Joe Jennings follows the remarkable march of David Moyes' Royal Blue Army from Macclesfield to Wembley.

Traditionalists argue that the magic of the FA Cup has gone, and that the lack of respect shown to the competition has ruined its reputation as the best domestic cup in world-football. On the March shows exactly why the magic is still alive.

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