A Villa Thriller

Written on 14th August

Aston Villa supporters are not unused to strange weeks by any stretch of the imagination over the course of their long, illustrious history, but the strangest week since Randy Lerner’s takeover has certainly grabbed the attention of the football world.

Earlier this summer, Villa’s England star James Milner stated he wished to leave the Midlands club, and there were echoes of Gareth Barry’s demanding move to Liverpool, haunting Villa’s faithful fans that once again their club were only a stepping stone between the rest of the Premier League and the infamous ‘big six’; Manchester United and City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and the Merseyside Reds, who finished below Villa last season.

Barry’s switch to the North West’s former European Cup Winners eventually fell through, and the midfield dynamo opted for the ambitious, money-wrapped Manchester City, and it is City which looks the likely destination for his former partner Milner.

City have become villains in the Premier League over recent years, does that make the Birmingham club, the more famous owners of that particularly nickname, the victims?

The Eastland’s side have already lost respect from Everton and specifically David Moyes over their pursuit of Joleon Lescott, who took the short drive to switch for £25million in a very public debacle. Also Carlos Tevez’s switch to the club from Manchester United, despite the Argentine stating he ‘wouldn’t join a rival’ when he opted against switching to Liverpool. And Arsene Wenger was less than flattered when Emmanuel Adebayor joined the cast of stars which is still yet to break into a Champions League place.

Back to the Midlands it looks as though Milner has a £30million asking price, surely an overrated place for a midfielder who has only been known as an England regular since the last World Cup, when his nation famously flopped on the largest stage.

I’m not suggesting players are wrong to switch to the team, now managed by Roberto Mancini, but the club are clearly unprofessional in their transfer movements to land their big names to the club.

And it looks like this might have been the cause for perhaps the biggest twist of the Milner saga, the departure of manager Martin O’Neill. A instrumental part of Nottingham Forest’s dominance at the top during his playing career, it looks like the former Celtic boss finally lost his rag on the situation. Randy Lerner, who announced his ambitions to make Villa a force in the top flight during his takeover, thoughts echoed by O’Neill in his first press conference. But O’Neill sighted a change in ambitions with his boss, and it is believed that Milner was sold below the valuation set by O’Neill.

It wasn’t the build up to the season that Villa were on the lookout for. Their manager gone, and most influential player on the exit path. Surely it was inevitable that the their match against West Ham, aided by Graham MacDonald as caretaker manager was destined for defeat?

No such story. An unlikely ending to Villa’s gloomy week as the Midlander’s sailed to a convincing victory, perhaps making neutrals thinking the problems were at opposition West Ham rather than for the hosts.

The goalscorer of the third goal? The ‘unsettled’ midfielder Milner, booed onto the field because of the actions of the last days and weeks, exited to a standing ovation. The jeerers were silenced by a splendid display, Milner now may leave for Lancashire with the backing of his current club’s fans, although the general complexity of his switch will leave a sour taste in their fan’s mouthes.

It could yet turn to be an inspired move for all parties, City could have found money well spent with a switch that could lead them to Premiership glories, the Villa become a lot richer and can maybe smile at the move providing they find an adequate replacement, James Milner arguably has a greater oppitunity to win trophies and also finds his pocket increased with more money, and Martin O’Neill may find himself a better club, with his successful CV still intact, before it turned sour in the first place.

But it is severely risky. Villa lost a manager who took them from the lower reaches of the Premier League into Europe. They also are destined to lose a fantastic player. And it also gives those in this world who have a dislike to the beautiful game yet another opportunity to slam the game which continues to fail to fund itself. Is it in disrepute? Or is it not football at fault? Is it more a case of the ‘ruiners’ of the modern game are Manchester City!?

Dream On, Doncaster

Written on July 27th

The summer rain has begun to poor in South Yorkshire today, after a mostly bright last few weeks. Glum clouds hover in the skies, and there’s a cold breeze that echoes from the trees. Maybe today is the day that Doncaster Rovers realise that this season will be the hardest in the Championship to date, as the new found optimism from the record signing of Billy Sharp begins to wear off, and Rovers fans start to realise still how very little strength in depth they have and begin to doubt their promotion credentials.

As someone who always looks at the bigger picture, and therefore sees the glass as half full more than half empty more the most, I possess a dream. A dream similar to that of Doncaster Rovers’ famous chairman, John Ryan, who has tipped the club for Premier League football. Ryan wishes Rovers to complete the final hurdle of his mammoth dream, which thus far has seen the club win three promotions during his tenure; reach the quarter finals of the Carling Cup and win the Football League Trophy- but is this dream nearing its completion? Or are we still far adrift from the ‘Promised Land’? I’m going to review the facts, but even the most optimistic of fan should be able to spot the difference between impossible, unlikely and believable. Which one does Rovers’ dream fit into this season?

Last summer Doncaster sold midfielder Richie Wellens to Leicester City. Richie was a huge player in our team that claimed promotion from League One via the Play-offs in 2007-08 and also helped us achieve the ‘great escape’ following being bottom at Christmas in the Championship in 2008. At his sale Rovers fans contemplated the worse, the former Blackpool and Oldham midfielder may have said that his time at the Keepmoat Stadium was the ‘best of his career’ but many saw Leicester as a step down, as they had just won promotion from League One themselves in 2008-09, and there were fears amidst that Rovers had become a sinking ship. Fans dreams were put on hold even further when Matthew Mills left for Reading FC, the Englishman is regarded in many people’s eyes to be the best centre back in the division, so this switch undoubtedly should have proved a huge blow to Sean O’Driscoll’s men.


Neither star was replaced by a big money purchase. John Oster, himself formerly at Reading, arrived from Crystal Palace on a free transfer in midfield. And Jason Shackell, transfer listed at Wolverhampton Wanderers and relegated with Norwich City in 08-09 arrived on loan in the centre of defence. What was our manager playing at? Particularly with Rovers still owning no recognised striker, as Steve Brooker remained on the sidelines with injury, where he was to stay for the rest of the season. Along with doubts over the striking ability of Paul Heffernan, James Hayter and Lewis Guy as Rovers had been the lowest scorers in the country for much of the previous campaign.

It was difficult to believe back then that our magnificent manager, who had been at the helm since 2006 was completely capable of keeping us in the division. The squad looked a weak shadow of its former self, and somehow we had to keep our status in the second tier of English football. O’Driscoll, not only kept us up, but did it in such style that the football world sat up and took notice, and Premier League side Burnley even made an audacious attempt to steal our beloved messiah. We must have done something right!

After an inconsistent start, Rovers solved their problematic striker crisis, by taking Billy Sharp on a seasons long loan from Sheffield United. Billy was an unpopular choice at the Blades, failing to live up to high expectations placed upon him from his amazing tally at Scunthorpe United previously in his career, neither had he shown any signs of adapting to Kevin Blackwell’s much more direct tactics. The 11th hour move, as the loan window neared closure, looked a shrewd move for all parties; Rovers found a prolific goalscorer capable of fitting the final piece of the jigsaw, Sharp found another chance to prove he can find the net at this level rather than in the lower depths of gloomy 3rd and 4th tiers of the English game, and Sheffield United remove an unwanted squad member from the wage bill? Everyone was happy and Rovers, with Sharp netting 15 goals before he picked up an injury near the end of the campaign, not only starved off relegation but also came within a whisker from the Play-off places.

Its strange how things can change in twelve months. The credit must go to the manager for his inspired, shrewd, bargain purchases. Rovers had finished in the top half of the Championship table without spending more than £500,000 on any one player. Its no wonder Burnley came knocking, but due to the financial stability Rovers had installed, the Lancashire side backed away and Rovers went on to continue their to-be-unsuccessful promotion push, as Burnley were relegated with Brian Laws at the helm.

Its not just the manager which makes my club so special. The dreams of the chairman and the fans, who often get realism and optimism confused within one another have to be given credit. And so the club’s rise shows no signs of slowing.

Rovers were so confident enough in their ability to maintain a challenge for promotion to the next level in the coming season that the club broke their transfer record to make Billy Sharp the highest paid player in the clubs history, fighting off Leeds United and Burley to do this. Who are both arguably bigger clubs. Sharp is no doubt confident in Rovers ambitions, and the club believe they can continue their drive on their quest for even greater glories.

But not everyone is an optimist in Donny, and it’s easy to see exactly why. Despite Rovers proving their squad last season had the ability to battle with the majority of the division, the club has noted an absence of some key players.

These began towards the end of last season. Rovers had a mini crisis in the centre of defence. Jason Shackell sustained an injury, which was to rule him out of the rest of the campaign, coupled with Sam Hird’s inexperience, and Adam Lockwood’s inconsistency resulted in James O’Connor being forced to deputise outside of his regular right back position, partnering Sheldon Martis.

With the end of Shackell’s loan spell, and him subsequently departing the Midlands for Barnsley, Rovers still have to endure the same problem that was created back then. O’Connor, despite providing excellent cover, is not being used to the best of his ability if he is in the wrong position.

Fans have also expressed concern that one of the clubs three summer signings this summer was a defensive midfielder. Rovers already have Wales international Brian Stock and ex-Manchester United and Middlesborough midfielder Mark Wilson occupying this position, so why have the club bothered to purchase Simon Gillett from Southampton, a man very highly rated on the south coast, who will no doubt demand first team football.

Rovers still have a striker crisis of sorts too. Steve Brooker’s fitness continues to be a major talking point from the Viking faithful. Added to this release of strikers Paul Heffernan and Lewis Guy, leaving just Sharp, James Hayter and Waide Fairhurst at the club. Fairhurst has just nine Rovers appearances to his name having graduated from the youth setup, meanwhile Hayter looks a depleted, old version of the prolific goalscorer once seen at Bournemouth early on in his career, and whether he can still cut the mustard in the Championship remains in doubt. O’Driscoll also sees Hayter as more of a midfielder.

So it looks like Rovers’ strength in depth could prove a stumbling block. You cannot have a promotion fight which is relying on the club’s season being injury free. At this point because of this, even I think promotion is beyond the club. But with the right individuals added it could provide the talent to really kick on this season, and not just finish in the top half again next season. But it could see us matching or bettering many people’s predictions that Doncaster Rovers could be the Championship’s dark horses in 2010-2011. ‘Dream On, Doncaster’ I say!