In one tweet, Dr Tony Xia’s openness has again shone a light on the owner’s frustrations for the season so far. Xia is looking for an improvement to achieve “targets” that are not currently being met by Aston Villa.
The tweet in question was in response to a Birmingham Mail article regarding Barry Fry. Fry, Director of Football at Peterborough, had questioned Xia’s commitment to the club. The article was an apology from Fry in response to Steve Bruce’s intervention prior to Saturday’s disastrous result in the FA Cup.
It’s fine that everyone made mistakes. However I agreed we still need to work harder to improve, step by step closer to our targets. Right now I have to admit it’s still a piece of business far away to my expectations, if it’s not the worst among RECON’s different segments. https://t.co/QzaJegrKhd
— Dr. Tony Xia (@Dr_TonyXia) January 8, 2018
It is difficult, on the face of it, to read too much into the tweet. However, there are some interesting points that do require scrutiny. Dr Xia’s Twitter account has been dichotomous amongst Aston Villa fans. Many appreciate the approachable nature of the owner vis-à-vis Randy Lerner’s ‘splendid isolation’ approach. Others believe that too much ‘dirty laundry is washed in public’ and a level of circumspection should be applied.
“Mistakes”
What mistakes is Xia referring to? Is it just Barry Fry’s soundbite in the run-up to the cup game? Or is the owner referring to internal mistakes? If so, Steve Bruce must be the source of this. Bruce’s tactics and team selection was poor in December. Perhaps Xia was as frustrated as many fans by the errors. Saturday’s team selection was the latest error in managerial judgement.
“Work Harder to Improve”
Undoubtedly, Aston Villa’s performances in December were below expectations. Even the result at Middlesborough wasn’t backed up by an excellent performance. Compare that to the Bristol City game and it’s like Aston Villa were different teams. However, Saturday’s performance has shed unwelcome attention back on Bruce. Clearly, the inconsistency is frustrating for Xia as much as it is for the fans.
“Step by Step Closer to our Targets”
Target number one will be promotion back to the Premier League. With Aston Villa currently sitting in fifth place, this is not guaranteed. Finishing first or second would have been the aim at the start of the season. Unless they implode massively, Wolves will take one of those automatic places. The revised target must be achieving second place. Currently, we are five points off this with twenty games to go.
Target number two could well be securing Financial Fair Play compliance. A massive trigger for this would be promotion. If this is not secured, Aston Villa’s cost base will need a massive overhaul to ensure that any financial losses are within the parameters of FFP. That then impinges on the club’s ability to seek promotion due to the level of playing personnel that are affordable.
Target number three is probably linked to Tony Xia’s outlining of his strategy when taking over Aston Villa. “My ambition is to bring Villa to the top six in less than five years and I hope it can be the top three in the world – even the best well known in the world – in less than 10 years.” We are a long way from that goal – which appeared to be a huge stretch target at the time it was uttered.
In some ways, Xia is verbalising what many Aston Villa fans are thinking. We want, and need, promotion back to the Premier League. Performances have been inconsistent of late and we need some additions to bolster the squad. However, financial barriers are preventing a “throw some money at it” approach that may well be available in other commercial settings.
Dr Tony, your problems are our problems…