Source: Telegraph
Aston Villa must keep the faith with Martin O'Neill
They love the European experience, the trips into the unknown, the camaraderie on the road, the strange sights and cuisines. Many more Holte Enders will tune into the Europa League on Thursday evenings, thinking ruefully "that could have been us''.
It happens with clubs whose history boasts moments when Europe belonged to them. Fans get bitten by the travel bug and the taste of glory.
When autumn comes around, a Pavlovian reaction kicks in and the passports come out. Nottingham Forest supporters are often encountered at Champions League games and their club are currently as close to visiting Marseille as Mars.
Involvement in Europe is a major issue for Villa fans, so last week's embarrassment to Rapid Vienna has insinuated tension into their season.
Denied entry to the madness of the re-jigged Europa League, Villa's workload has been eased, allowing Martin O'Neill to keep youngsters like Ashley Young, James Milner and Gabby Agbonlahor fit and fresh for Premier League tests, yet the dream of reaching the top four, and access to the Champions League, has actually become harder this season.
Improving on consecutive sixth-placed finishes will not be straightforward. Manchester City are trying to barge their way to the front of the queue outside the VIP club. As well as a superior defence, Spurs boast more central attacking options than Villa.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are not going to be budged from the top four and those writing Liverpool's obituaries are straying into Mark Twain territory.
Although the Kop's 20 years of title hurt is likely to continue, reports of Liverpool's demise are grossly exaggerated. Given the quality and expenditure of those ahead of them, Villa could end up seventh. The Holte End might accept that with a good run in the cups, but they have now lost one outlet with Europe.
Just as O'Neill must understand the supporters' annoyance at missing European treks, so fans must trust their unique manager.
This is a manager so highly regarded within football that when Sir Alex Ferguson and Fabio Capello vacate the most high-profile jobs in the country, with United and England respectively, then O'Neill's name will inevitably be in the frame.
Why? Because he can outwit the very best opposing managers. Rafa Benítez and Liverpool had no answer to O'Neill's contain-and-counter tactics at Anfield last Monday. What else? Because he makes good players better. Young, Milner and Agbonlahor have earned full England caps after coming under O'Neill's tutelage.
When Capello announces his squad this evening for the forthcoming internationals against Slovenia and Croatia, the Holte End will take pride and pleasure from the presence of Milner and co.
Another English youngster, Fabian Delph, looks a real prospect and a smart buy. Often used out wide by Leeds United, O'Neill intends unleashing him through the centre. "He can play there,'' says Leeds chairman Ken Bates, "he's a tough tackler.''
O'Neill's impact is also witnessed in the form of more established individuals like Stiliyan Petrov. "When I brought him down from Celtic, people questioned him,'' said O'Neill, "but now he's the club player of the year.''
The 30-year-old Bulgarian is the brains of the side, sitting in deep midfield and masterminding defensive and offensive operations. Anfield highlighted that. When fit, Stewart Downing will also bring direction to the centre (where O'Neill plans to deploy him).
Sure to be scrutinised during Sunday's game with Fulham, O'Neill's relationship with the fans remains fascinating and concerning. Implored to "give us a wave'' at Anfield, O'Neill did not react.
In the heat of sporting battle, he may not have heard but it was pretty loud. No stranger to being dramatic, O'Neill was maybe seeking to make a point about supporters' castigation of the side after the opening-day defeat to Wigan Athletic.
Consider this testimony from one Villa diehard in the wake of the Rapid exit. "O'Neill had a pop at the fans for booing against Wigan saying it was only the first game of the season and a one-off, and then used the Liverpool game to back up his claims,'' observed the Villa Park season-ticket holder.
"I'm of the opinion that the Liverpool game was the one-off and the Wigan game and last night was more representative of our performance over the last 20-odd games.
"I'm still behind O'Neill but I also think he deserves some of the criticism coming his way. He needs to make sure the Liverpool performance becomes the norm rather than the exception. I admit to tiring of watching a team that can't defend. At some point you have to stop pointing the finger at individuals and start questioning the tactics and the defensive coaching.''
Part of the defensive problem may be addressed by Milner and Young protecting their full-backs more. Stephen Warnock's arrival at left-back should improve matters.
In the centre they have never properly replaced Martin Laursen, although Richard Dunne should help the raw Curtis Davies in learning his craft. But in seeking to challenge the established order, what Villa need most is a bit of calm and a lot of consistency.
