An Interview With A Villa Fan

1) Villa seem to be peaking at the right time, and look set to qualify for the UEFA Cup, is this a satisfactory return for the season?

Yes, very satisfactory I think. We are now seeing progression after a good few years stagnating. The club has been given a new lease of life and is starting to get back to where it was, challenging all comers. I do think if we'd bought better last summer we'd have possibly pushed Liverpool for 4th spot but hey, lets not be greedy, we are on our uppers, MON has had time to assess the club fully and now has the backing and hopefully the wherewithal to get out there this summer and do some major damage in the transfer window.

2) You had a little sticky spell a few games back, and looked to be throwing away a decent season, like we are now. Did you fear it was going to slip away completely?

Yes, very much feared we'd be looking at around 10th again. A few suspensions, injuries and players going off the boil nearly ruined our season. We are short on numbers so have to rely on those that we have got to be 100% all the time. I guess that is a tough ask. However following disappointing results and more worryingly performances against Sunderland and Middlesbrough, not to mention Fulham away, the team seemed to shake themselves, we've seen no more of the awful long ball that we were resorting to and when Villa play the ball on the ground (as Brian Clough said where God intended the ball to be played!) we are a very difficult team to play against due to the speed we have.

3) Are you disappointed you didn't have a decent crack at either domestic cup?

Yes, the cup exit against Leicester City was the biggest disappointment BUT with a small squad and limited players to select, in hindsight I think it did us a favour and MON has said the same recently. Next season however, I think we HAVE to see an massive improvement and look for a couple of good cup runs.

4) With the right ambition in January, could Villa have finished 4th?

Yes, totally, no doubt about it. Trouble is most top teams won't sell their players in January and certainly not to the competition. I do puzzle why we didn't buy Jermain Defoe and maybe even Diarra, but then I'm not the manager and don't have my job on the line. It is easy for us to pluck names out of a hat!

5) How do you rate Everton's season?

Everton have excelled, I think Moyes is a very decent manager, especially working under the financial limitations that Everton seem to have at the moment. Surely it is only a matter of time before an investor comes along and ploughs some money into you, you are amongst about only 4 clubs who have been and could be again up there with the very best.

6) And Everton as whole?

Well, for years and years I couldn't stand Everton, purely because the first game I ever saw at the age of 7 or 8 was Villa v Everton. We took the lead but you won 2-1. At that age it was so disappointing and obviously it stuck! However I think you are a well run club with decent fans and a good manager, I think I'm getting over my grief now. That said, if you beat us on Sunday I'm sure I could grow my dislike again! lol

7) We look set to be moving from our traditional home for over 100 years, for a cow shed at the back of tesco's in Kirkby. Do you have an opinion on whether this is the right move for the club? (I've heavily weighed the question against the move on purpose, as the club did FOR the move in the 'vote')

Yes, football is losing its soul with these lifeless new grounds which appear to be made from identikit plans. Goodison is a part of the fabric of the league, you guys have a similar long and illustrious history to Villa and I really don't know if Villa moved from where the league was founded, if I could bring myself to move with them.

8) Prediction for Sunday?

Villa win, don't care how the goal/s come about, in off a pigeon would do me. Would love to think it is a free scoring (for Villa!) game but a 0-1 would do just as nicely. Certainly a great game to watch for the fans and neutrals I'm sure, can't wait.

With thanks to JP Fear from Vital Villa.

My answers to the Villa questions: www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk