The Bill Howell Column: Why Aston Villa fans should not be blaming Gareth Barry
An excellent blog from Bill Howell last week has sparked a lively response from Aston Villa fans - if you haven't read it already - here it is!
"Although it's great to be able to look ahead to a fresh challenge, I want to stress that I will not forget the great times I had at Villa and I truly wish the club well for next season.'
Football and loyalty. That old debate.
I remember George Boateng's agent threatening strike action against Villa if he failed to secure a move to Middlesbrough.
As I have said before, fans will always boo a former player.
Cyrille Regis, now a father figure at Albion, got it big style when he went back with Coventry City. How the Baggies fans cheered when he was sent off for trading blows with Martyn Bennett.
Villa will move on. The Tom Huddlestone's and David Bentley's of this world will come in.
But the worry is that without Martin Laursen and Barry, and with the top four able to go big again, and with Manchester City and Tottenham spending monopoly money, the worry is that the only way for Villa is down.
