The Big Issue (4)

The Big Issue (4)

I like finding inspiration for my articles, I read and absorb a lot of different other forums and websites to find that thing which sets my mind racing. It`s been a difficult one this week, I`ve been busy with my job and I`m in France as well, which has been quite nice considering how the UEFA Cup white flag has ushered in an epoch of disappointment.

One particular article I love to read is the Something for the Weekend article on this very page, I love the writing style, the flow and the personal touches. Unfortunately because I generally write my article on a Monday after the weekend`s swell of activity, I`ve been a bit down hearted recently - certainly not having the pre game optimism and the buoyant mood I`ve seen from Steve Wade. Mind you, generally speaking I`m a happy go lucky type and my glass is always half full. Even after the Liverpool game I found myself wondering how good Liverpool must have been to beat us 5-0, and certainly their recent form backed up my assumptions.

After a severe ripping from a Liverpool fan colleague (who is also Scottish, which irritates me immensely), I got myself online and thought I`d punish myself following an unproductive office day by watching the goals. I guess I was kind of expecting what happened next...when you go online to see the 5 goals put past your side earlier that day, it`s never going to end well.

But there was one positive to come out of that perplexing situation; it made me get back to work. I bucked up my ideas, cracked open Microsoft excel and made things happen! I can only hope that it has the same effect on the Villa team, starting with a Manchester United team who might similarly be questioning themselves on the back of some poor results, and those kind of reasons are why every game has an element of opportunity, no matter who the opposition.
"But there is suffering in life, and there are defeats. No one can avoid them. But it's better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you're fighting for."- Paulo Cuelho

I seem to have reverted recently to spouting poetic nonsense in a bid to convince myself that everything is for the best. Obviously it isn`t...it would be much better if we thumped Liverpool 5-0 and went home talking about Agbonlahor`s delicious 30 yarder and Martin Laursen`s miraculous recovery from his seemingly every present knee injury - coming in at the 11th hour and powering in two towering headers. Sadly that wasn`t to be, and now we move onto the next game...an easy encounter against that lesser known team in Manchester.

Onwards we go, and while frustrated people will rack their brains for more people to blame, I`m going to chat to my Scottish Liverpool fan colleague, who will continue to discuss how despite Liverpool winning the Champions League, Liverpool fans still question Benitez` as a manager and his rotation policy. Then I`ll be pleasantly reminded that even someone who can bring glory at the highest level still has their doubters. So my message to Mart is as follows: You may be a little eccentric, I may struggle to fathom your substitution policy at times, but no one is perfect, and I have faith in you to continue your good work for this football club.

So while I continue to work away out in mainland Europe, I`ll continue to hope and pray for better Villa days, well, at least it can`t get much worse than a 5-0 drubbing!