Can Aston Villa Break the Big Four? By Steven Yates At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Many people outside of Birmingham might struggle to come up with a full list of names of English clubs that have won the European Cup (or Champions League as it has ironically been called since they started allowing non-champion teams in it). People will always come up with Manchester United and Liverpool and then remember Brian Clough's double titles with Nottingham Forest.

Aston Villa, though, is the name that might well catch many people out. And yet, they're forever up there with the great names of European football. It's not as if the Villa won the trophy when the competition was in its infancy or anything like that – 1982, it was. And the Birmingham team defeated the German giants Bayern Munich, thanks to a goal from that archetypal English centre forward, Peter Withe; giving him permanent legendary status.

Apart from a couple of League Cup victories in the 1990s and an InterToto Cup in 2001, that was the last time Aston Villa were one of Europe's finest teams. However, for a large part of last season, 2008/09, it looked as if the team, now managed by the experienced Martin O'Neill, might make that elite group again.

English football followers spend a long time as each season approaches contemplating about who could, given the requisite amount of luck with injuries and new signings, break into the so-called 'Big Four' of the Premier League. Every year, Everton and Tottenham supporters always claim that, this time, their club will prove that they deserve to be thought of in the same bracket as Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea. And each year they fall short. But last year it really did look, for long periods of time, as if the claret and blue shirted 'Villans' might make that breakthrough.

In the end, of course, we now know that they 'failed'. A combination of an overlong season – Aston Villa started way before most teams because of their European qualifying matches - and a comparatively small squad of players meant that the high energy football seen at the beginning of the season simply ran out of steam in the last few weeks.

So, the big question is can the team that came so close last year go just that little bit further this coming season? Well, it will be difficult, that's for sure. Manchester City's millions are sure to see them improving; Everton are only a few players away from having a squad ready to challenge and Tottenham, as usual, believe that this year will surely be the time for them to achieve their rightful position.

Undoubtedly, though, Villa have the potential. With some exciting young attacking players – Young, Milner, Agbonlahor – coupled with a great work ethic, it would be great fun for neutrals to see this vibrant Villa outfit putting the league's 'Establishment' to even more discomfort. As long as Martin O'Neill's American paymaster resists the temptation to cash in on his young talent and the much-admired manager can invest his transfer budget wisely, it's easy to see Villa being able to improve on their high standards of last season.

Villa Park is always a good ground to watch football in; it has a lively atmosphere and spectators still feel close to the action. The Villa supporters have got themselves a side that shows signs of perhaps being the nearest that they've had since 1982 to rekindle that magic night in Rotterdam.

It would be really good to see that Top Four clique messed up a little. Come on, the Villa.

Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=391046&ca=Sports

Important Notice DISCLAIMER: All information, content, and data in this article are sole opinions and/or findings of the individual user or organization that registered and submitted this article at Isnare.com without any fee. The article is strictly for educational or entertainment purposes only and should not be used in any way, implemented or applied without consultation from a professional. We at Isnare.com do not, in anyway, contribute or include our own findings, facts and opinions in any articles presented in this site. Publishing this article does not constitute Isnare.com's support or sponsorship for this article. Isnare.com is an article publishing service. Please read our Terms of Service for more information.