Villa’s game at Swansea yesterday was a sombre affair. Dave Woodhall comments.
Sometimes you realise football just doesn’t matter very much. Earlier this week Stan Collymore revealed that he’s been suffering with depression again lately, and from what I could see received a large wave of public sympathy. Some of this is because Stan, for all his faults, is essentially a likeable character. In the past he’s done some inexcusable things and he’d admit to that, but he deserves credit for the way in which he is attempting to cope with his illness.
Another reason why Stan gets more sympathy now is that we’ve fortunately moved on from the time when a lot of the reaction as his problems were first made public was along the lines of “With his money, what does he have to worry about?” I’ll admit that was my response for a long time as well, and I’m ashamed of the fact now. Fame and fortune can no more insulate against mental illness than it can against being run over crossing the road.
Stan’s illness was brought into focus by the tragic news that broke on Sunday morning of the death of Wales manager Gary Speed. After some debate Villa’s game at Swansea went ahead, although there was understandably a sombre atmosphere over proceedings – Shay Given, Speed’s former team-mate at Newcastle, was particularly upset before the kick-off. Both teams deserve praise for the way in which they got on with the game; it can’t be easy to go to work in such circumstances, particularly with millions watching your every move. I don’t know whether the match should have taken place, although it did provide the opportunity for both sets of supporters to pay proper tribute to a justifiably popular player and manager.
Villa’s performance was better than the Surrender on White Hart Lane, which is just as well, but the problems are still there. I honestly don’t know why Alex McLeish is doing what he does – we’re not Birmingham City, we have quality players and it’s about time they were used properly. Alex isn’t daft, he knew when he arrived that he wasn’t the popular choice. The first few games could be excused as in the circumstances he didn’t dare lose but he now seems determined to alienate even those of us who weren’t manning the barricades in an attempt to prevent his arrival at Villa Park.
Villa got better as the game went on but it took until eleven minutes from the end to bring Barry Bannan into the proceedings and even in that limited time he did more than Emile Heskey managed.
Sort it out Alex, please. This was always going to be a difficult season and some decent football, with a few more of our youngsters breaking into the side, will make it easier to take.
