While we wait to see if Mr. Houllier is allowed, by the French football Federation or his wife, to take the job as manager of Aston Villa, I would like to point all Villa fans to a game that could well be one of Villa’s most important matches of the season.
The game in question, that I really urge all Villa fans to try and go to is the game on Wednesday 22nd September. Yes, the League Cup 3rd Round tie at home to Blackburn.
With us already putting our passports away after another Europa League embarrassing exit and with Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City looking likely to finish in the top four positions, our only hope is the domestic cup competitions.
The fans and the club have to take this game seriously or our season will be over before it begins. Last season we were very unlucky not to have won the League Cup and the very least we want this season is a return Wembley visit.
So I am encouraging all Villa fans to buy their tickets now and pack Villa Park out. We can’t afford another disappointing and quiet crowd like we had against Vienna. We also have to finally learn the lessons of recent years, that fringe players like Salifou, Davies, Beye and Guzan are not good enough and cannot be risked as this game is far too important for Villa.
I know it is trendy for big teams to treat the League Cup with no respect but it is part of Villa’s history and I for one want to win it again in 2011.
So forget squad rotation; let’s play our very best team and start our journey to Wembley. To my fellow Villa fans, don’t wait this season until the semi-final to get excited, the team need you on Wednesday 22nd or there will be no semi-final.