Oh Dear - It's That Time Of The Year Again!

Oh Dear! It is That Time of The Year, Again.

I have no doubt that I am speaking for many, many football fans throughout the country who find themselves in exactly the same position as I am. Suddenly the computer in the corner has developed an irresistible attraction. I cannot even enter the room without rushing over to that one eyed monster, hit the 'favourites' button and pick any one from a list of six options to try and find out what our illustrious leader, one Martin O'Neill, is up to in the transfer market.

Yes, I know he keeps his cards very close to his chest, and, if past transfer windows are anything to go by, everyone that the so called pundits have suggested as likely MON targets will go elsewhere or not move at all.

Yet, we all hope, or is it know, that somehow this clever, knowledgeable yet sometimes secretive man will find the necessary reinforcements that we need, to aid and support the effort to force our way into the ranks of the 'elite' top four in the Premiership. Surely, the man who managed to produce Ashley and Big John without many of the experts knowing it was going to happen will do it again. One thing I am sure of, he will not allow himself to be held to ransom by the likes of Portsmouth and West Ham, to name but two 'selling' clubs, because, good as they are Messrs Defoe and Bellamy are not £20m footballers.

The trouble is that when there is one maverick club with literally money to throw away and another not that far behind the whole transfer market becomes distorted and unreal; which coupled with the need to stay in the Premiership, pushes prices through the roof.

However, much these clubs would like to think otherwise the Villa leadership have clearly demonstrated that success is built on others virtues than just throwing money at the problem. Football is after all a
team game and real success comes to those clubs which develop a good team spirit. Much as I hate to say this, besides buying talented players, Sir Chewalot has always had a strong team spirit operating at Manure. And, if anyone ever threatened that spirit or thought they were more important than the rest Ferguson soon got rid of them.

Footballers, overall, are a funny lot, they live pampered unreal lives and many are not intellectually gifted. In their youth they develop a style of play that suits their inherent talents, but often they find it extremely difficult to adapt their style to the demands of a new team. One sees it time and time again; a good player is bought in then suddenly struggles to fit into the pattern of the new team. For some time hold the key, for others, no amount of patience will see them fit into their new team.

So who will Villa buy? I wish I knew the answer to that one, but I don't. So, like so many others I find I cannot keep away from that screen and I keep flicking through the list to find the news as quickly as I can. One consolation, I know I am not alone. I wonder how many people have clicked onto a Villa site since I started writing this missive.

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