Ian Taylor: Aston Villa boss faces his toughest test
Taylor says Villa consistently fell “a couple of players short’’ of reaching their aspirations during his playing days and is hopeful they do not come up short this time.
“People, in my day, would always say that ‘this Villa side are a good side’,’’ he said.
“We just needed one or two more additions and we could have been a really good side.
“But we never did make those additions and I just hope that this isn’t one of those times.
“We have now lost a couple of players and it reminds me of when Dwight Yorke left to go to Manchester United.
“If we had kept the likes of Dwight we could have been a really good side. We just couldn’t do it.
“It is now all about the supporters having faith in the manager and the manager earning his corn.
“This is where managers gets tested. You lose the likes of Barry, now lets see who he can replace him with.”
Taylor is clear in his own mind where the challenge to Villa’s top-six place will come.
“I said it last season that Tottenham and Manchester City had bad seasons and yet ended up in the top ten,’’ he added.
“Now they are going to be able to push on. Tottenham did that anyway towards the end of the year, getting back towards the Tottenham we know.
“Those two will be up there next season and you just hope that they don’t go past us.”
Taylor says Villa need a Cup Final to boost morale and would take it at the expense of a top four place.
“Villa fans last season would have taken a trip to Wembley or a UEFA Cup final just as an event to go to as a great day out,” he said.
“It’s been nine years. All the talk of the Champions League, I think they’d have taken a cup final.
“The Champions League is something that you have got to build up to. You cannot just jump in there after just one season.”
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