sorrow, distress, sadness, unhappiness, heartache, heartbreak, despondency, despair

As Buddy Holly once said: "The weather man said blue today .... but it's raining in my heart."

Just a month ago the mood was carnival-esque.

Now it's grey, bleak, mid-winter.

But when the weather outside is frightful, the fire is so delightful....and since we've no place to go, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Sorry about that! Just trying to cheer you all up.

In fact the weather outside is smashing, the fire is well and truly off, we've got Anfield and Old Trafford to go...

There are few, if any, positives knocking around unless you look hard enough.

What started with an FA Cup exit on Merseyside, became a UEFA Cup exit in Moscow under controversial circumstances. (I'm sure you all noted with a little interest that Moscow are now out).

A home defeat to Chelsea was bad enough. A victory then would have put Villa in with a chance of third.. or better. Five points clear of Chelsea, level with Liverpool, ten clear of Arsenal.

Then came Villa's 88 minute performance against Stoke. An eight point gap over Arsenal became six, became three, became nothing.

Man City away? Worst of the season for 45 minutes then deserved a point perhaps.

Spurs at home? Very bright indeed. But leaked goals. Then poor. Gabby Agbonlahor's substitution loudly cheered.

No wins in seven. Fans fearing a loss already of the top four.

Martin O'Neill now talking of ridiculous expectations rather than the Champions League.

Fifth perhaps no longer being secure with Everton just four points away.

Booed off in two successive home games.

Then that nonesense midweek about O'Neill being top of the FA's wanted list to replace Fabio Capello. Just ridiculous. "Worse than hypothetical", as the manager put it.

I always get back to Graham Taylor's old saying: "You'll never win any arguments if you don't win football matches."

All sorts of decisions suddenly come under scrutiny.

The £12 million spent on James Milner. The £7.8 million on Carlos Cuellar. £4 million on Zat Knight. £4 million on Marlon Harewood (although it appears Mick McCarthy sees something in him- good luck Wolves), the £4 million on Nicky Shorey, the £5 million on Steve Sidwell, the £10 million on Curtis Davies and the £8 million on Nigel Reo-Coker.

That's just shy of £55 million.

Substitutions, or lack of them. Reo-Coker and Luke Young (who is a strong contender now for Player of the Season and is surely well worth the £5 million summer outlay) playing in three different positions last weekend across the back four.

As I say, all sorts of questions are asked when before all was rosey.

All of a sudden the statistic that Villa have never won a game in March in eleven attempts under O'Neill has surfaced, as if to outline inherent flaws that will always see Villa tail off with two months of a season to go.

The truth of Villa's season lies somewhere between the jubilation immediately after that seventh straight away win at Blackburn last month, and the "desperation and self- destruction" (Martin O'Neill's words today) of the current run.

You might think I'm mad but Liverpool and Manchester United away are exactly what Villa need right now.

And so too does Agbonlahor.

I'm expecting him to start at Anfield on Sunday. Not up front, but out on the wing with James Milner moved inside.

I bet Gabby gets a terrific reception from the travelling fans.

I wish he'd ditch the red or green boots.

His body language often does him little favours. Just like Luke Moore before him.

He's not played well since Blackburn away. He should have come out of the team a few games back. But he didn't and you have to respect the manager's decision.

As O'Neill pointed out earlier this week, neither Watford nor Sheffield Wednesday wanted him back three years ago.

As for those sarcastic cheers. I am appalled by the media-driven obsession with fans cheering or booing.

One rolling news channel had an interview with a psychologist on the matter on Monday, waffling about a blame culture.

Listen.... the cheers at Villa Park after 79 minutes against Tottenham only just made the Birmingham Mail's match report.

Martin O'Neill's defiant post-match reaction and criticism of the supporters turned it into a big enough story to splash across the back page.

And over the last few days everyone from Alan Hansen, John Barnes, ray Houghton... you name it... they are all offering opinions.

Were the fans wrong? Not at all. They pay blummin' good money to see Villa and Gabby did not have a good game.

Did the player deserve it? No he didn't either. Whether the argument that he is extremely well paid, drives a flash lambourghini and therefore should take it on the chin stands up to scrutiny... well, that's a difficult one.

One goal and he'll be up and running again.

As for Villa... they need a big performance from somewhere fast. Then they'll be fine.

But there are so many issues with regards to the team right now. Some players are not performing and changes need to be made.

It will be 4-5-1, or 4-3-3 - however you see it - at Anfield. I'd play Heskey as the lone man, not Carew. Carew, in my opinion, still needs to pay pennance for taking it easy for two or three months this season with an injury that now appears to have cleared up. But why did he not play in Moscow?

Milner in a strong central three would be one route. Or Nigel Reo-Coker or Craig Gardner with Milner still out wide. Carlos Cuellar probably gets the nod over Curtis Davies who was certainly struggling without Laursen.

It is worth bearing in mind that this is still Villa's best season since 1996.

If fifth place is where it ends up then fine. Criticise the manager for his decision in Moscow but don't diminish the achievement. How much did Tottenham and Manchester City spend in January? Where are they now. I mean domestically. I know City are still in Europe!

A steely point full of passion at Anfield and the mood will swing back once again.

I'm just hoping that if Agbonlahor plays he chases some lost causes early on. In black boots.

We all know that playing Real Madrid and Juventus in pre-season friendlies means little.

Three years ago even that likelihood was a million miles away.

It just may take another season to make those sort of games happen in meaningful competition.