MON is praying the international break doesn’t do as much damage as the Dubai one did?

March 31, 2009 by Martin Banks
Filed under: Aston Villa 

Not too long ago, still a very fresh (sour) memory in all Villa fans’ minds, is the trip to Dubai that Villa made in order to correct the sliding path we had embarked upon. The intention was to get the team out of the Midlands and try to refocus their minds on the task at hand. We had been knocked out of the FA Cup and UEFA Cup and our league form had gone from winning constantly to 2 losses and a bitterly received draw.

The plan failed.

Villa came back and lost at home to Tottenham and then got thrashed 5-0 at Anfield. Hardly the re-establishment of a push for Champions League.

Sure, even the greatest teams lose from time to time, and they also go on bad streaks, but to lose as many as we have recently and then to get thumped so heavily, does make me wonder if we’re better off finishing 5th and trying to give UEFA a REAL push next season. We treated it with a little disdain this season, sensing that a greater achievement was in our reach, but maybe we should try to grow slower. After all, many a team has tried to grow too fast and seen the following season be one of misery, instead of continued growth (ie Everton and Tottenham).

Back to the point though, the international break is now half way through and come the weekend, the Premier League battle recommences. Villa may still be gunning for 4th, but really our goal needs to be in the short term first and that is to get back to playing well. Even if we don’t get anything at United, to play well will mean a lot to our confidence.

But if we go out and get hammered again then I think it’ll hurt the confidence so bad that 6th will be our best hope!


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