Diary of a Fan

The slow motion implosion which this club seems determined to subject itself to continues. Having started off in the worst way with a goal against in five minutes, we actually found ourselves leading at half time. We couldn't cling on to that lead though---not by a long way.

This is just another bizarre game in what is becoming an impossible to comprehend season. Shearer (rightly I think) left on the bench for Kluivert's first start. But Bowyer back on the right, where he played so badly last season and a position about which we'd assumed the management had seen sense. Carr, made captain (why not the more obvious choice of Butt, who's leadership skills in midfield have at least been evident, or even Given the seasoned professional). The much maligned Dyer, so protected by the management despite his ridiculous refusal to play and inept performances when he does get the chance, was (thankfully) no where to be seen within the 16 who could take part. Meanwhile off field we still engage in a bidding war with Manchester United over a talented (but still relatively unproven) striker while it is plain to everyone that we desperately need some defence.

We could once again bemoan our luck. A goalkeeper deliberately handles the ball outside the area to prevent Bellamy going through to have an empty goal to put the ball in, yet that is deemed not a clear goal scoring chance. Only the referee can understand why he dislikes us that much. Villa's fourth goal was deflected in but hey, so what, they could easily have been more up by then anyway. If good teams make their own luck then one can't help believing that we're making our own appalling fortune.

If the ball found its way to our box then panic met it. We were singularly unable to perform a simple clearance, let alone defend the attentions of a striker. Yes, we did on occasion play some pretty stuff of our own and Kluivert justified his inclusion. Villa must be berating their defence as much as we ours for the second goal though, O'Brien wandering around the box totally unmarked (judging from his actions at the other end he doesn't like to be too near opposition players). In the end we shipped four goals against. All the good (and it's only good at times and very rarely brilliant) attacking in the world won't save you if the opposition can out score you with that ease.

Will somebody tell me if Ameobi has supposedly turned into a winger. He keeps coming on to play in strange positions. Are we trying to do an inverse Henry?

There is a lot of rhetoric about how far the club has come. We've got precisely nowhere. Turn on the floodlights and the rain, and replace Villa with some red and white striped shirts, and it's all too familiar. Capitulating to a team we should beat, with nothing but an air of frustration that we're not as good as we think. Belief is a good thing to have but you can't run around a football pitch thinking you're good; you've got to show it too. Once you've gone forty-some unbeaten games then you are excused the arrogance some of our players exhibit but not till then (and how remarkably humble and quiet Arsenal are with that achievement---their supporters may gloat but the team just gets on with winning).

We have time off now, though obviously not for good behavior. The transfer deadline looms in front of us. There is still time to fix things. There is still time to deal with whatever cancer it is which seems to be devouring this club. But if things continue much longer in this rich vein of relegation form then that time may be running rapidly out.

(@11:08)