Fans and critics alike of the English Premiership often bemoan the lack of competition; ‘big four’ syndrome strikes top divisions all over Europe but none more so, it seems, that the top flight of the home of football. The gulf in class and success between the top four teams in England (namely Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal) and the rest of the league is plain for all to see and no team has breached this elite group for some time now.Martin O’Neill’s Aston Villa, however, seem well placed to do so this season. They go into the halfway point of the season sitting in fourth place, above Arsenal, and only just behind Man Utd in third. Talk of a title charge is premature and unrealistic but the whispers around Villa Park of Champions League qualification appear to be much more forthcoming. O’Neill’s side have been quite superb this season, their nucleus of young English players forming a strong team atmosphere that has seen them propel themselves to such heights to which they now find themselves.
How long can it last? O’Neill is thought of by many as a seriously classy manager and he’ll know not to get ahead of himself. He’ll know that the team he has been building over the last three or so years is probably at it’s peak and this will please him no end. Still, a season is not made on where you are in December. Villa have plenty more to prove to themselves and to the rest of the division if they are serious about breaking the elite this year.
Nevertheless, they have been extremely easy on the eye this season. The 2-2 draw on Boxing Day with Arsenal perfectly illustrated their never say die attitude and belief they've had so far this year. They comprehensively outplayed their illustrious opponents in the first half, striking the woodwork on no less than three occasions. Naturally (apologies for the cynicism), Arsenal then took a two goal lead. Most teams would see that as the crippling blow; Dominate the game and then go two down - can anything be more disheartening in this fair game? Apparently, no-one informed Villa of the usual script as they fought back through a Gareth Barry penalty and then, in the dying moments, grabbed a dramatic late equaliser through defender Zat Knight.
A thrilling performance that encapsulated Villa's undoubted technical ability, even if they couldn't get the win they deserved. Nonetheless, Villa had been proverbially throwing down their credentials nearly all season. A draw with Liverpool, a win away at Tottenham, a point with Manchester United and a fantastic victory at Everton, where they conceded an equaliser in the last thirty seconds of play before shocking everyone and scoring almost immediately from kick off with the last kick of the match. Their players are good, very good, and encouragingly, the majority of them are English. Driven from the middle by Gareth Barry, their attacking might revolves around the pace and genius of Ashley Young, the skill and craft of James Milner and the raw goal-scoring talent of Gabriel Agbonlahor. Surely these four players should be England squad regulars by the time the 2010 World Cup arrives?
For fans up and down, the land it is refreshing to see Villa’s challenge upset the big four. Such an occasion is seldom, probably last seen by Martin Jol’s Tottenham in 2006. They occupied the fourth place most of the season before a final day defeat saw them give up that prized space to fierce rivals Arsenal. Tottenham failed to kick on and achieve subsequently and their challenge has since died out. Now it is Villa’s turn and fans all over the country must be hoping for claret and blue success.
It is hard to dislike Villa at present moment (Birmingham fans aside). They’re easy on the eye with their slick football, they have promising, young English players and they pose a genuine threat to the annoying supremacy of the top four. For fans who have long loathed all the preferential treatment from referee’s, the protection from the FA on disciplinary matters and the general boredom of having only four authentic title contenders, Villa’s challenge is a sharp relief and should be supported by neutrals and all fans across the land.
As for Martin O’Neill, next time the FA are looking for an England manager, surely it must be him.
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