opening time is here again

IF it weren't for the fact Villa were playing Manchester City this weekend, I'd be putting my house on a home win.

But Darius Vassell and co. and waiting in the wings to perhaps give Villa another whiff of the heebie jeebies.

Even with them having been beaten by a bunch of Danish pastries in midweek I'm not overly confident.

City just love coming to Villa Park and they will be smarting from a verbal bashing from Mark Hughes.

But everything points to a big Villa win on the opening day of a new season- and there haven't been too many of those over the years.

I remember a comfortable win over Southampton three years back.But not much else. In fact that is the only time I've seen Villa win on the opening day as I was not at Newcastle nine years back.

Bolton, Arsenal, Liverpool, twice, Portsmouth and Tottenham have all got a least a share of the spoils.

Villa have struggled first game all the way to my first match covering the club on the Mail-in in August 2000 at Leicester City, a goalless draw.

It's not just my jinx. Villa have enjoyed little success beforehand with Everton, Leicester, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich all holding them in the Premier League era.

But two sweet victories spring from the record books: QPR 4-1 in August 1993 eclipsed by that sensational "you'll never win anything with kids" victory over Manchester United in August 1995.

Three wins in the Prem on opening day- so, you'll forgive me for being a little cautious.

Elsewhere it has been an incredible few weeks for Villa.

Less than three weeks ago there hadn't been a single signing and the pressures were seemingly getting to manager. There was an extraordinary rant aimed at the press during one particular briefing (I was not there but have heard snippets from a dictaphone).

Whilst the board too were feelingthe strain, as seen in some postings from one keyboard friendly ex-Vietnam veteran.

(at this point I should react to some postings on this blog which seem to have missed the point about my remarks about the infamous "£30million" quote. I didn't spin those quotes against the club or the General because I completely disregarded them and never wrote a word in the paper .
Nothing appeared in the Mail until 24 hours later- after all the national papers had had their fill. Our sports editor needed to fill a space due to an Albion story from Chris Lepkowski not having trickled through the electric ethers due to technical problems. We used the story off the wires to fill a space.
I later called the General's remarks "unnecessary" which I stand by and I think the General agreed- didn't he?)

Anyway, back to my point..... it has been a phenemonal few weeks for Villa: Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan, Curtis Davies' return, Nicky Shorey, Luke Young, Carlos Cuellar, John Carew signing for another year (when, of course, the issue will have to be revisited), and today Gabby Agbonlahor signing a new long-term deal for the fourth successive summer- now that's progress for you!!!

Next on the agenda will be Ashley Young and I'm sure that will be done fairly soon.

Then Stiliyan Petrov, another who appears to have grasped the mantle of what the Premier League is all about and who will be looking for some stabilty.

Gareth Barry is still here. And that is remarkable, although judging by Rafa Benitez' comments today that situation is still very much up in the air.

Barry could still go before the end of August, or perhaps he could move in January. Either way Villa do not appear to want to reduce the asking price- even though he is now Cup-tied- and why should they?

If Barry is prepared to knuckle down up to and beyond the end of the transfer window then Villa's squad looks a top six outfit at the very least.

Three weeks ago it looked top 12. All the talk was of Tottenham's spending and Portsmouth's.

Now Everton, particularly, and Pompey and Man City seem to have their work cut-out to stay up with Villa and Spurs in the pursuit of the top four.

A right-sided player and that elusive striker to put the ball away (are you listening Marlon?) are all that are needed. And the signs are that Villa's board are prepared to push the boat out to get them. And if they do, won't that just do a little more to convince the former skipper to give it one last shot?

It's the most eagerly anticipated opening game since John Gregory's summer spend almost a decade ago.

My worry, is that so much is going right for Villa that a pin (of the sky-blue shirted variety) might just be around the corner to burst the bubble.