You've Never Had It So Good

As British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan told a Conservative rally in Bedford 52 years ago: "You've never had it so good."

And who'd gave thought it?

I sat down with a collection of record books infront of me, just trying to figure out exactly when Villa had last managed to collect as many points from the opening 21 games of a season.

I expected the answer to be ten years. Well, much was made at the time of the record start made under John Gregory. Surely most fans will remember the side posing for pictures on the pitch at The Dell after a convincing win over Southampton?

I didn't expect the answer to be never.

Not since Villa's Championship season of 1980-81, the last season of two points for a win, have they managed 41 points from 21 games.

Ron Saunders' side would have held the equivalent having won 12 and drawn five of their first 21 games to sit level with Liverpool on 29 points in the days of two points for a win.

It was 40-points under Graham Taylor when they finished runners-up to Liverpool in the old First Division in 1989-90.

Ron Atkinson's runners-up of 1992-93 had taken 35 points from their opening 21 matches.

John Gregory's side of 1998-99 had taken 40 points from their opening 21 games to sit level with Chelsea at the top of the Premier League, while Brian Little's fourth-placed team of 1995-96 had taken only 36 points from their opening 21 matches.

Imagine that. Not even the title winning side had made as good a start to their season as Martin O'Neill's are currently enjoying.

That is an incredible statistic and puts a whole new gloss on the season, for me.

Ask yourself the question: If it was Villa '81 v Villa '09 -who would win? A non-starter, surely?

How many of the current side would get into Saunders' outfit? Gareth Barry definitely, Martin Laursen alongside Allan Evans, probably, Ashley Young on the opposite flank to Tony Morley? Yes, I like it. Imagine that pair laying on balls for Peter Withe? Frightening.

I have been criticised in some quarters - you needn't look any further than a glance at the respondents to my last blog - for being too harsh on Villa following the derby win over Albion.

My point is this: if you stand fourth in the league then everything you do comes under far more scrutiny. Expectatations rise and simply winning matches, or not losing them, does not quite seem enough.

That should not be the case, but it is.

Liverpool were booed off the field at home to Fulham and West Ham. They were top of the league.

The flip of the coin is that Hull City - everyone's tips for the drop in August- are now being judged as a mid-table club. And Phil Brown can't handle it.

Now to the argument about counter-attacking football. Should Villa be happy winning matches but not being adventurous? Should their one man up front approach cast them open to criticism when they are so close to the top of the table?

I'm not talking about the Albion game, because there was a long period before half-time where Villa could have been out of sight.

But, like at Hull City in a terrible spectacle of a match, is it just ok to win? Well, yes it is for Villa for now... but that won't always be the case.

Villa are now judged as a top four side. A draw at Sunderland will probably be seen as a failure. Is that right? Will a 1-0 win when they have played poorly not open them up to criticism?

It's all about pressure and so far Villa have coped admirably well.

But one defeat and the complexion changes. That just goes with the territory.

It has been a really superb season so far, but just as the manager and players seem to be saying, now is not the time to be jumping through hoops and twirling banners proclaming a side of world-beaters.

Villa have weaknesses. They are massively reliant on Ashley Young and Gabby Agbonlahor. When either or both have an off-day, as they have even in this nine game unbeaten league run, then Villa struggle for outlets.

The switch of a midfielder to full-back and a right-back to left-back hasn't affected them at all, although Nigel Reo-Coker offers little down the flanks.

Zat Knight is a poor replacement for Laursen, although he did well as it happens, at Gillingham in his last match and was unlucky to be dropped.

You can go through the first eleven and heap credit on Villa: Laursen has been outstanding, Davies excellent but for a couple of blips at Hull and Gillingham, that central midfield three of Sidwell, Barry and Petrov has worked magnificently.

All three have dovetailed well in a system which suits Villa to a tee. Luke Young looks as if he has played on the left all his career, James Milner has worked tirelessly although does, in my opinion, need to improve his final ball and Young and Agbonlahor have been the icing on the cake.

Their improvement under O'Neill over the last two years have been staggering.

I saw Agbonlahor down at the training ground this morning and kept a straight face when I asked: "Is all the praise you are getting this season down to the solid groundwork put in two years ago by David O'Leary?"

His face was a picture. Eventually when I started to smile, so did he. "No comment", is all that actually came back.

Young isn't just potentially one of the best players in the country, he already is. And he is English.

But when you know someone can play so well, then you have a duty to ask for them to achieve it consistently. That is the whole point.

Anyone who saw Cristiano Ronaldo - the world's number one player - at Villa Park in November will struggle to believe which one played for Watford two years ago and which one is on the back or front pages every day either with a new girlfriend or because he has crashed his Ferrari.

With a record of 41 points from 21 matches it is mighty difficult to find fault with anything. Villa deserve all the credit that is coming their way and there is little doubt a squad of 18 players has helped create a unity.

Now if Villa want to make a move to the next step then they must have areas of criticism come their way.

They must tackle the issue as to whether they are good enough to break down the defensive teams at Villa Park, or whether they will ultimately be good enough to see off Chelsea at Villa Park next month, or go to Anfield and Old Trafford and win.

One look at Villa's bench, and bear in mind the fact that four players are on yellow cards, tells its own story: Harewood, Shorey, Cuellar, Delfouneso, Knight and Gardner.

All decent players (although some of you may beg to differ on one or two names there) but capable of allowing Villa to turn a game that has slipped away, or hang onto three points in the latter stages?

I like Gardner though. Just like Martin Jol who kept mentioning him over in Hamburg.

As good as the season has been there remains so much to win and so much to throw away.

The club's desperate need for a top quality striker is there for all to see, although it would appear you'll get little change out of £25 million for one target, Roque Santa Cruz, whilst another- Kenwyne Jones - would appear to be priced around £15million.

Ridiculous sums. But that is what selling clubs can ask when Manchester City enter the market.

One injury to Agbonlahor or Young and the quest for success in one or more of the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and top four of the Premier League would become difficult, if well nigh impossible for O'Neill.

In conclusion: great season, much to shout about, but much work to be done.

Fifth place now would be unbearable for Villa fans to stomach right now when of course they would have taken it in August.

That is the new level of expectation. That is the level to which they aspire.