You, or most of you, will know from my posts that I am optimistic for the new season. But I should tell you, I am not an optimist. This may be a little far fetched for some but give it a moment.

For you to understand why I am optimistic you need to read on, but you need to do so with an open mind. For a few minutes, put aside your own views and just read my mine, without prejudice. I am sure by the end most will disagree with me, but that is the why the blog is here.

I will say from the start also, that I am under no illusions; we have lost two big players and they need replacing. As the sixth best team in the league we also need to improve to be in with a chance of reaching the dizzy heights of the Champions League. But the new players will come. I have no doubt!

Champions League football is the Holy Grail for any team outside the top four and I believe the desire is greater for us, as we tasted top four football for a few weeks last season and it didn't feel out of place. We were treated to some majestic football last season, no more so than the two Arsenal games, that some might say confirmed suspicions that we are not a million miles off the quality required for top four football, as some had suggested. But we fell away.

The fall from the top four had a devastating impact on the players (especially the younger ones), the fans, the manager and the chairman. The players will have gone away and realised that they want that top four feeling back and will have renewed determination.

This determination will be backed and nurtured by our manager, a manager that feels every tackle, makes every header and joins in with the players celebrating a goal. A manager that cares and wants to see us move up in the league.

The fans also took a little bit of a beating. Some dared to believe that we could defy the odds and storm the pearly gates of the Champions League Castle. It hurt us, which ever way you look at it. It took its toll.

The fallout has seen some fans early season optimism of last year diminish. The world is against us and we have lost direction, we need a new manager, the squad needs overhauling. Our two captains have gone, we are doomed.

As I said before, even I started to believe this as it seemed so conclusive. But it is a lie. I took a step back and started to realise that it isn’t all that bad.

And there was a trigger. It clicked when, back in June, I logged on to a fantasy football site. I started filling out my best team, as you do and found that I ran out of players I could pick from Villa because the limit was four.

I found myself thinking the best right back was Luke Young, the best right mid was Jimmy Milner, left was Ashley Young and striker was Big John Carew. But I wanted Gabby Agbonlahor, Stan the Man Petrov and DJ Stewey in my squad too.

The nucleus of our team is very impressive. I harbour absolutely no doubt that Martin O'Neill will sign at least two top defenders, two top midfielders and a top striker. I will even go as far as to say net spend will be £30mn. plus.

You know why? Because he is a proven top rate manager with huge ambition, massive drive and the kind of enthusiasm that you just cannot contain.

Martin O'Neill is a winner in every sense. He can’t stand the thought of not winning, it drives him crazy. His infectious personality rubs off on Lerner to the point where Lerner shares this excitement that, maybe, just maybe we can challenge and achieve something quite remarkable.

They are both incredibly intelligent professionals. One has a reputation as an outstanding manager the other outstanding with money, but they share a common trait. They are both successful and someone who is successful will never settle for anything less than first place.

So the new signings will come. Not European superstars but top quality, hard working enthusiastic winners. Hailed as saviours by some as the realisation sets in that we are in it to win it.

We can push on and achieve greatness. Martin O'Neill will stand there next to his new captain and new players in the team photo, punctuated by our current star players and you as fans will take stock and realise we have a proper squad brimming with quality.

As supporters, we need to embrace this moment, remember this moment, treasure this moment for this could be our greatest hour. Villa are ambitious again, we are vibrant, enthusiastic, ultra determined. We are marshalled by a leader that can’t stand losing.

And you know what, I will be sitting there with a smile on my face, beer in hand telling everyone that will listen that ‘this year its top four, next year its the league'.

Comments (28)

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Damian said:

... Not wanting to state the obvious, but that is a fairly optimistic look at next season.

Comment 1, made on July 25, 2009 at 8.29 am

nath888 said:

... Great post Rob. Put me in a postive mood today! Can't find any rumours today as of yet. The Jenas one still won't go away. But I doubt very much this will happen.

Comment 2, made on July 25, 2009 at 8.46 am

Dboy said:

... I agree with your post. Martin will ensure whoever pulls on our shirt gives nothing less than 110% effort. This is the reason we did so well last season and the reason why we will challenge again this season. I am not worried about transfer dealings as i trust our manager and if any football fan is true to themselves..............would you prefer an arab billionare to bankroll your club for short term gain.............or would you prefer to be a fan of a club with good history, good footings and established policies and the potential to be successful in the right manner?? I know what i'd choose!! Bring on anyone who dares to underestimate our young, vibrant and exciting team!!!

Comment 3, made on July 25, 2009 at 8.48 am

Doc said:

... you're right in saying the core of the team is there - it just needs the icing on the cake type of players which don't come cheap either in transfer fees or wages.

Comment 4, made on July 25, 2009 at 8.48 am

Altan Kargaci said:

... I like pieces like this one , they really get me going and remind me of just how far we have come . Your dead right about the nuclous of our team being very strong. I totally agree players will arrive but it 's a question of what sort of quality they will be . If we sign shite and don't build on what we have acheived in the last three years I will be more than disapointed. Off subject , but this shorely cant be true...... http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/...-21546188/ Zat Knight in Holland with his new Bolton team mates...!!!

Comment 5, made on July 25, 2009 at 8.52 am

andy lochead in the air said:

... Rob, Hope you are right - I remember bad times and know in the scheme of things this one of the better times to be a Villa fan. That said I am tired of waiting each transfer window for Villa to take decisive action, buy the 4-5 players they are targeting in the first weeks of the transfer window, get the squad together for a full pre-season to bond, then make a real go of it when the season starts. To be honest, I can see why our best players down the years get frustrated and go. Just when we seem on the brink of a major breakthrough our lack of decisiveness means we lose key players and take a step backwards. Sorry to sound so gloomy. Come on Villa, make those signings and make me eat my words.

Comment 6, made on July 25, 2009 at 8.58 am

JohnnyMcLeod said:

... Nice post although as Damian says a touch on the optimistic side. Back to reality for a moment, we finished last season as a very average premiership side, some might even say we'd been rumbled and without Carew looked like a relegation outfit. Its gonna take a mighty effort to stay where we are and I think our best hope is a decent cup run, something we haven't enjoyed for a few years. Still desperately need a good six yard box poacher and a dominant centre half, also ned to offload the usual suspects Heskey, Marlon, Salifou, and Osbourne.

Comment 7, made on July 25, 2009 at 9.04 am

Fatkevs said:

... your not an optimist i must be one then in your eyes as you do not have a clue about what the word means or the current state of our club. "As supporters, we need to embrace this moment, remember this moment, treasure this moment for this could be our greatest hour. Villa are ambitious again, we are vibrant, enthusiastic, ultra determined. We are marshalled by a leader that can’t stand losing" "Treated to some majestic football last season" Ambitious our only signing will not play until next year Utter bollocks Stick to your playstation

Comment 8, made on July 25, 2009 at 9.07 am

Eoin Greene said:

... Rob - I admire your optimism I really do - if you did the lotto you would probably high five everyone walking out the shop, have a smile on your face all day and check out which Ferrari you were going to buy. Then there would be the lotto draw and you would have to face reality. I have 2 issues and the first is the unwavering faith in MoN. You make a good point regarding MoN and how he 'makes every tackle......celebrates every goal etc' You know what he does! It gives him a huge likeability factor - it makes me smile every time I see him fist pumping and doing his funny jumps. However, does this make him a good manager? Does this mean that he has more passion than other managers? Does it mean more to him than say Ferguson or Wenger because he jumps in the air? I know I will get shot down for this but why is MoN better than Redknapp, Moyes, Hughes, Strachan? Sure you may not like them as much as MoN - but what has he really achieved that the others have not? MoN has been in charge for three years now and the squad is in desperate need of strengthening. Thats 'desperate'! How can he have led us into this state? How come we dont have a decent center back at the club? We have a tiny squad - again this is his fault - 100%. Here is another point - if Villa results and performances from christmas to the end of the season had been for the first half of the season - MoN would be out of a job! I know its a big IF and maybe an irrelevant point. But our second half of the season was SHOCKING. And thats the squad as it currently stands. Furthermore, Man City and Spurs will be hugely improved this season. If we are not significantly better than we were last season we will be mid-table. Rob - despite my negative sounding comments - you have no idea how much I would love you to be correct. I do believe that we will sign 5-6 players, but going on MoN's previous signings I have huge doubts if they will be of the quality that we need.

Comment 9, made on July 25, 2009 at 9.11 am

Frenchy said:

... I think Fatkev disagrees

Comment 10, made on July 25, 2009 at 9.20 am

Frenchy said:

... On a personal level I totally agree with Rob and I also happen to think that the Downing signing is one of the best transfers of the summer.

Comment 11, made on July 25, 2009 at 9.23 am

David Tyler said:

... I broadly agree, Rob, though I don't see us strengthening as much as you say this summer. Mind you, if Altan's link on Knight is correct then I assume a new defender is pretty much done and dusted. Is it too much to link that with Fulham's move for Turner is related and Hangeland is on the way? More likely Distin. But I am certain that Knight wouldn't go before action on our part.

Comment 12, made on July 25, 2009 at 9.29 am

Dboy said:

... Fatkev, are you any relation to fat b*****d from Austin Powers? I can't understand why you think this post is utter bollocks!?! We are fans of Aston Villa and should be optimistic about our future until we have good reason not to be! Last two seasons we finished 6th under MON, we have played some pretty exciting football during this time, therefore forget about players we've lost and focus on the players we have got and what they can achieve.................Sidwell could become integral to the team if he gets some regular football and reaches the level we have all seen at Reading (in the prem)! Fatkev ................be optimistic you miserable git!

Comment 13, made on July 25, 2009 at 9.32 am

Matt said:

... Nice post today Rob, i hope that it ring true when thhe season kicks off. Keep the faith!

Comment 14, made on July 25, 2009 at 9.34 am

Frenchy said:

... Nothing on the Official Bolton Site about Knight

Comment 15, made on July 25, 2009 at 9.35 am

ronsview said:

... when mon came to villa park i hailed it as 1 of the best signings ive seen down at the hallowed ground,the last few days or so ive read these pages with people questioning mon and weather he or mr leaner should still be there,ive woken up today and read robs article and hes restored my faith in my fellow villa fans,im sorry guys but weve been through the dark days of ellis and its a horrible place which i dont want to go back to lets all embrace the mon era and go with him i have my views on this player that player we should be here we should be there by now but im atoolmaker with an opinion and mon is a football manager and in my opinion a very good one which we should all be very proud of so today im with rob and im mr posotive up the villa

Comment 16, made on July 25, 2009 at 9.41 am

jerry said:

... Rob Superb Post. Absolutely top notch. Not because it says nice things about the Villa or is optimistic about the coming season, which it is, but because you have gone to the heart of the strength at this club. O’Neill - and his drive, ambition, knowledge, experience and man-management skills - is the heartbeat that is our hope for the future. In the end, at any club, it’s about the manager; the team is a reflection of the manager’s character. I like also, your sober reflection on the collapse at the end. We can learn lessons from that. We can also remember the great games – as you say, the two Arsenal games – and the tangy, cordite smell of glory that drifted round Villa Park for a while. Damo, we’re ganging up on you - Doc Bowles, Rob and Churchill. If the Villa don’t deliver you’ll rip us to pieces and I would expect nothing less. You’ll point an accusatory finger at our sheep-like trust and at our naiveté. Maybe you’ll be right, but think of the Villa as a work-in-progress, an unpolished jewel. The pleasure, for me, is watching O’Neill go about his business producing the gem.

Comment 17, made on July 25, 2009 at 9.43 am

jerry said:

... Utter bollocks Fatman Your post saddened me. No anger or irritation, just sadness. I know from your posts how you love this club. I know you also feel betrayed by carpet-bagging newcomers from the US. Look me in the eye, fatman, and tell me you didn’t feel lifted by some of Villa’s performances before the collapse. If you say you didn’t, I won’t believe you. Take it easy mate.

Comment 18, made on July 25, 2009 at 9.51 am

TrueVillan said:

... all very optimistic, and like every fan i would like to believe it, but im not sure, without several top notch signings, which aston villa we will see, the start of the season villa or the end! i tried to watch as much of last season as i could, but must have missed the 'majetic football' when playing 4-5-1we were solid and workman like, when 4-4-2 totally crap! but god forbid him droppin heskey! my point is, we were never majestic! wish we were, but the simple truth is teams like everton, fulham and even spurs at the end, played better football

Comment 19, made on July 25, 2009 at 9.52 am

robbo said:

... eoin, I enjoyed your lotto analogy but think you overstate your case against MoN. It's too soon to say we have no decent centre back. The loss of Laursen was a blow and we need a replacement, but we already have two others who may well 'do a Petrov' and step up to the mark this season.

Comment 20, made on July 25, 2009 at 10.00 am

robbo said:

... I loved reading the post Rob, but I worry that it's too early for optimists to be sure that right signings will come...in the same way that it's too early for the pessimists to be sure that they won't. This transfer window is more unpredictable than most and we now know that MoN has had plans for previous windows (Downing and Zaki from January for example)that he was unable to fulfil. It's unquestionable that he will be doing his utmost to fulfil his plans but there is no gaurantee that he'll succeed. Unlike some other managers though, if he can't get the players he wants, he is strong enough to resist going for second best players just to appease the fans. One good bit of news is that if MoN can't get the players he wants, then other managers will have similar problems and with progression from some of our existing squad ([plus Downing later in the year)things could still look bright for us.

Comment 21, made on July 25, 2009 at 10.22 am

Mike Carter said:

... What a load of rubbish. They let any old fool write an article these days.

Comment 22, made on July 25, 2009 at 10.33 am

Mike Carter said:

... Just kidding Rob. That is just about as upbeat as it gets. I admire the fact that you genuinely believe what your write, and I only hope that this season doesn't go on to disappoint you and other people like you. Like me!

Comment 23, made on July 25, 2009 at 10.34 am

gregdavillain said:

... nice one rob h, good grammar, good use of punctuation, and great speelling!!! Good optimism and all this is backed up this morning witht the sale of knigt so it gives me no reason to not believe!

Comment 24, made on July 25, 2009 at 10.47 am

Vas said:

... I'm an Aston Villa fan from Greece. Maybe not as loyal as you guys and have to admit I feel a little lonely supporting Villa over here! But on the other hand, when you guys are at Villa Park moaning about MON and his jumps at the sideline, I am in front of the telly with my newborn Villa son enjoying Knight's passion, Ashley's runs and big John goals. And in the last two years, when I go out for a coffee, I do not have to explain to anyone the names on my Villa shirts. Whether it is Ashley, Gabby or Petrov people seem to know them well. In the MON we trust.

Comment 25, made on July 25, 2009 at 10.56 am

Michael panizza said:

... Nice sentiments but I've read similar things before and it's basically wishful thinking..hopefully justified.

Comment 26, made on July 25, 2009 at 11.26 am

PAUL WARREN said:

... Great debut post Rob. Makes me realise that there are worst clubs to support than the mighty V. If a couple of those proposed signings come in then I will share your high levels of optimism, if not, then I hope the youngster will stand up and be counted this season and stop us from at least going backwards.

Comment 27, made on July 25, 2009 at 12.53 pm

Martin Clabon said:

... Rob H, cheered me up but consider this: - Your claret and blue specs are truly over powering if looking for fantasy football central midfielders you can't see past Petrov. He's a decent player but have you ever heard of lampard and Gerrard? - You have set yourself up as a hostage of fortune. Realistically Villa can finish 6th/7th or 8th and still had a decent season if the squad is continuing to develop, Moyes has had his set backs, development is very rarely in straight line. - By setting high expecttions, when we are not in top 4 the moaners will have something concrete to beat you up with (and they will be right because you will have been proven wrong). Your obviously sunny disposition will hopefully preclude you becoming the next Simeon (extremely high expectations not met so go the other way in disappointment) - MON is extremely obstinate, a winner etc but unfortunately so is Wenger, Moyes, Rafa, SAF, Hughes etc and most of these also have better squads (in my opinion) and more resources at disposal, more attractive propositions Having sold Zat Knight I can only think that MON has some big moves well advanced because otherwise this is a suicidal move unless he is being forced down this route. Not that Knight is a world beater but we really are short on numbers in defence now. If MON is going to have a squad to meet any where near your expectations he is going to have to work some magic very quickly All in all, good to read but provide more downside opportunity than upside and invites massive disappointment. A more sensible but still optimistic view, in my opinion, is that we are building for success in the medium or long term, not that we are about to gatecrash top 4 this season. I hope, however, that you are right. We will see

Comment 28, made on July 26, 2009 at 7.39 pm

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