Bouma's Back For The Battle

Blimey another one! Freddy has already implied he has no intention of playing third fiddle to Warnock and Shorey, he wants that 'buzz' back.

I'm beginning to wonder if the official site are doing this just to see if we can keep up with the deluge of Boum Boum stories. I also really need to stop calling him Boum Boum don't I.

The Fred Meister - haven't used that one for about 2 articles - has admitted it will be emotional when he gets the chance to return to the first team, regardless of whether he's in the starting line up or on the bench, either way he knows the buzz will get to him and he knows it will spur him on to do his very best, take the chance he's given and hopefully do enough to leapfrog Shorey and Warnock.

'It will be emotional when I put that Villa shirt on again. That's my aim and ambition. It will be amazing to be back - it will give me a real buzz.'

As for the competition, he sounds positively gagging for it...

'I am relishing the competition. If you want to be a good club, you need competition for places, it's essential.

'I know what I'm capable of and I'll be fighting hard to get back in the team. I will look forward to the battle.'

There's certainly no animosity about the 'replacement' signings of Nicky Shorey and Stephen Warnock from Freddy and it clear he understands it's not just about competition.

It's quite an insightful end comment from Freddy to be fair, and it is 100% right.

'Look at what happened to me. You wouldn't wish it on anyone but it can always happen and you need people to come in if it does.'

Very rarely in football are allowances made for totally freak and unexpected accidents. you expect minor injuries, maybe a couple of months tops and suspensions when you plan for a season but you don't count on injuries that could potentially be career threatening or that will deprive you of a player for over 12 months.

What it does show though is Bouma's attitude, and the fact that despite wanting the best for himself - and while it would be easy after his spell on the sidelines to want to be selfish and think only of getting himself back on track - he realises there's a bigger picture at play and whilst he's an important part of that picture, it's not just him.

We see plenty of 'premadonna's' in football who believe themselves to be bigger than the club and more important than the fans. Using whatever trick they or their agent can come up with to secure a better deal, improve their chances of a bonus etc.

Again it's just nice to see a genuine bloke, grateful for what he's achieved acknowledging that he's not the be all and end all of the club he plays for.

Gives you a little faith back in a game that sadly is no longer our own.

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