When Deadly Doug first sold the club to Randy Lerner, it was like a breath of fresh air for most supporters of the club, but how things have changed.

Doug Ellis was always known for his no-nonsense approach but a very good business man. You could never ever question the man’s dedication to the club but as I have stated before sometimes you need more than just love for a football club.

Under ‘Deadly’, Villa were known as an established Premiership side that were never really going to brake the top four, due to finances – but the upside to that was we were one of a very few clubs in professional football who were making a operating profit.

The 88-year old was controversial and many fans blame him for the decline of the club following the the greatest hour in the clubs history – winning the European Cup in 1982.

The destruction of the old Trinity Road Stand was something else that upset fans, with many believing it should have been a listed building.

I could go on about the negatives about the man, just as much as I could list the positives but the important factor about the man who still watches Villa week in – week out was he lived Aston Villa and always put the club first. We was always number one in the Midlands, and always financially secure.

Then we look at our current owner Randy Lerner who purchased the club for a very good price of just £62.6million and the American Entrepreneur immediately started to make all the right noises.

He invested money into completing the redevelopment of the clubs state-of-the-art training facility – Bodymoor Heath, as well as the famous Holte Pub.

The 49 year old also splashed the money out like it grew on trees and had a 5 year plan to get the club back amongst Europe’s elite.

However six years on, we are currently a club in decline. There are reports that the club has debt (to the owner), despite selling off all the clubs big assets (James Milner, Ashley Young and Gareth Barry), and on top of that the controversial appointment of former Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish.

Yesterday I asked you if you would be renewing your season ticket in my article ‘Season Tickets – Value for money?‘ and today I am asking you which of our modern day chairman did you prefer?

I am personally undecided – Under Sir Doug we may not of got anywhere but we always knew were we stood, while Randy Lerner have brought some of the best days being a supporter in my life time but I haven’t got a clue what the future holds for my club.

So what do you think? Deadly Doug or Mr Lerner?

It has been a quiet week with us being knocked out of the FA Cup and the first team on their holly bobs so I have found it hard to find anything to talk about, well until tonight.

Every so often I will browse the internet to see if there is anything I have missed in terms of Aston Villa – and although there isn’t I have noticed a very similar theme occurring on many communities and social networking websites. Season tickets!

It is coming to that time of the year where many people will look at this season, and the future in deciding whether to renew their season ticket at the end of the current campaign. There will always be those who argue for and against the case but what route will you be taking?

Without doubt the club will probably make a massive deal about freezing prices (despite the fact we already pay over the odds), and will offer us some stupid coupons and maybe even AVTV free again.

But as a season ticket holder myself, I am sure I am not the only one who gets questioned by ‘stay away fans’ as to why I insist on paying over the odds for something that doesn’t satisfy my Saturday afternoon needs. In fact I tend to walk away from Villa Park these days more stressed than I was before I entered the ground. After all if you was to buy a ticket for a show or a concert you wouldn’t pay to see it again if you wasn’t happy with the first display would you?

Another point that has been brought to my attention, and on more than one occasion this season is whether or not it is actually cheaper to buy tickets on an individual game by game basis?

If you were to contact the club they would no doubt deny that this is the case, but those who have done their research will tell you a different story all together.

And then you could argue the fact that you are guaranteed the same seat each and every week, and you get to know those who are around you.

But is this really what you want when you depart with your hard earned cash? Do you want to pay over the odds to become more stressed?

My answer to that is Yes! And those who are probably reading this will either agree with me or think I am a complete and utter idiot. The simple fact is to a devoted football fan, their football team becomes much more than a hobby – Its a way of life.

The devoted fan will be checking any news source they can get their hands on for any kind of hope relating to their beloved football team. They will defend them even when deep down they know what the other person is saying is probably true.

And lastly and probably most important – They miss it when it is not available to them. I guess you could say it is a bit like losing a loved one!

I normally only like to see and seek the positives in Aston Villa performances of late, to let’s say hide the cracks that are starting to appear. You may not agree with some things that I write but I’ve tried to be as balanced as possible.

Wasting chances, leaving attacking to the last ten minutes and playing with hardly any passion for the badge; I can’t seem to think of anything McLeish could do more other than drop the negative tactics he seems to possess.

Let’s take the most recent game as an example; Manchester City. Defensively it was well organised for the majority of the match. Every player had another man to mark, which in the first half worked extremely well to shut down the opponents. Yet, perhaps after a half time team talk, gaps started to appear as marking seemed to have been forgotten. However, we offered hardly anything going forward. That may have been down to City’s back line or Villa’s tactics. Most would probably agree with the latter. Even in the last ten minutes, when we left it too late, wasted opportunities cost us a point at least. Although, I’d like to point out that the four clear-cut chances we had, three of those were from defenders. What does that say?

A spat with Stephen Ireland and Charles N’Zogbia at Newcastle perhaps cost us that game Sunday night, as possibly our two creative midfielders weren’t on the pitch. Once N’Zogbia came on, the game and tempo from Villa livened up.

Despite his slow start to his Aston Villa career, he has now hit the ground running. Our most attacking intent last weekend and the quick feet in Sunday’s game, McLeish should have shaken off last week’s arguments and wiped the slate clean.

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McLeish’s tactics have held back Villa’s attacking players in my honest opinion. The Tottenham Hotspur game optimised it. Alan Hutton as a right-winger instead of a natural attacking player.

Obviously we can’t just blame it all on the manager. He plays a huge part in the running of the club and how the team are set out yet he can’t influence how the team plays. He can’t go onto the pitch and score goals for them, defend for them and become the next Shay Given.

He can only do so much, let’s face it.

Players earning an enormous amount of money each week only seem to be bothered about the money. Except a few; Gabby Agbonlahor, Marc Albrighton for example. As a fan, to pass the test you have to sweat blood, tears and claret and blue to be an Aston Villa player that can be accepted by the faithful. My view is that there aren’t enough off these guys playing for the badge, giving the crowd something to cheer about and just play football to their greatest ability.

Fans have said in the past that they’d rather lose three or four nil and play with heart and passion than lose one nil and give nothing what-so-ever. I accept that point because after all if they all did then it shows that they care.

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I have personally be a season ticket holder at Villa Park for as long as I can remember and never have I felt the way I did yesterday as an Aston Villa supporter.

When I was growing up many rival supporters used to refer to my beloved football club as ‘boring Villa’ and I used to defend them just like any supporter would there own club. However, yesterday for the first time I watched the game and actually thought, we are quite possibly the most boring side in the Premiership at this moment in time – a tag I used to associate with Stoke City.

Yes, we did play Manchester City and the odds were always against us to beat the table toppers who have scored more and conceded less than any other side in the league. However, as an Aston Villa supporter, am I being harsh by demanding that those who wear the famous Claret and Blue colours give it a dam good go?

After all I would have been disappointed if we had lost 3 or 4-0, but I would have been able to walk away knowing full well that we gave it our all. Instead I walked away following a 1-0 home defeat against a City side who in my opinion also looked just as poor as us on the day – for whatever reason.

The away side scored the only goal of the game through former Everton defender Joleon Lescott after 63 minutes.

Former Villans James Milner and Gareth Barry linked up from a corner before the big defender scored from inside the six yard box.

I wont kid myself, and I will except Manchester City did deserve all three points after dominating the game from start to finish – but never really looked like scoring – if that makes sense?

Villa’s only chance worth talking about come in the final minute when Joe Hart proved just why I believe he is currently the best keeper on the planet with a fantastic one handed save from Darren Bent’s close range shot.

Not only is that the worst home run from Aston Villa in Premiership history, it increases the pressure on Alex McLeish, who was subject to a small protest before the game.

Villa now have a run of games they will need to be winning if they don’t want to be dragged into a relegation battle.

Injury Problems

Richard Dunne was today ruled out for up to 8 weeks following an aerial challenge late on in the game against his former club.

The Ireland international will have tests but the club fear the defender has dislocated his shoulder.

The club also confirmed today that Dunne’s international team mate Ciaran Clark will also be out of action for up to a month with a knee ligament damage he picked up during training.

Most teams used to dread coming to Villa Park, as it was a difficult place for all away teams, but it has been a very different story this season, with our last home win coming back on bonfire night.

Remember, remember the 5th of November, so they rhyme goes. Well it is quite a significant date for both sides going into tomorrows encounter.

As I already mentioned, it was the last time Villa managed a win in front of there own fans, with a 3-2 victory over Paul Lamberts Norwich City side. And for Manchester City, a statistic that surprises me, it was the last time they scored more than one goal away from home, in a 3-2 victory over Queens Park Rangers.

I find it hard to see anything but an away win tomorrow, but I wonder what the odds are on a 3-2 Aston Villa victory, with Villa securing a win, and City scoring more than one on the road, for the first time since November 5th. Worth a cheeky bet maybe?

There are planned protests before tomorrows game, some say they are needed, while others are saying they will be embarrassing, but as Ian Taylor stated on his twitter ‘Entitled to voice there opinion, but still support the team’.

Teamnews

Aston Villa: Local lads Gabriel Agbonlahor (back and hamstring), Marc Albrighton (thigh) and defender James Collins (calf) have all took part in training this week so could play some part.

With Gary Gardner being in the media this week quite a lot, I have a feeling he could start as McLeish will tinker with the side to try and change Villa’s home form.

Robbie Keane will play his last home game for Villa before returning to LA Galaxy following a successful loan spell.

Manchester City: Mario Ballotelli will complete his four match suspension, with the Toure brothers are still away at the African Cup of Nations.

Stefen Savic should make way for Captain Vincent Kompany following a knee injury.

Quick Statistics

Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
Ticket Availability: £23-£43 (Buy Now)
Kick Off: 16:00 GMT
TV: Sky Sports Live

Possible Starting XI

Aston Villa: Given, Hutton, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Agbonlahor, Petrov, Gardner, N’Zogbia, Keane, Bent.
Manchester City: Hart, Richards, Lescott, Kompany, Clichy, Milner, Barry, Johnson, Silva, Aguero, Dzeko.