We were top of the table as late as mid-January that season after a 3-0 win over Everton on a Monday night at VP. Five days later Kevin Keegan's Fulham knocked us out of the Cup at home which seemed to knock our confidence for six (that and Collymore going missing before his depression announcement) and Ugo nearly lost his eye another week or two on at Newcastle.
We had gone unbeaten for the first 12 league games leading to a team photo on the pitch after winning 4-1 at Southampton in November. Between late Jan and March we lost 8 games and drew 1. A stunning, awful turn-around in fortunes that saw the careers peak of a bright young manager, John Gregory and young player, Lee Hendrie. Neither of them had the same swagger again after those torrid few months.
It was probably my favourite few months as a Build supporter, the UEFA Cup run the season before, then going up to December (?) with Villa looking completely unbeatable. Can remember thinking "so this is what it feels like when you support a team that's going to win the league".
I do wonder if we've got it very lucky as football supporters. We can dream of winning the League, FA Cup or European Cup, but don't ruin it by actually winning the damn thing.
I see it that, firstly, the anticipation of something is always far better than the thing itself, kind of like how the weeks running up to Christmas Eve always end up being more exciting than anything after about midday on Christmas Day. But also that part of you enjoys the misery. Not being shit, but being able to moan about things and, more importantly, imagine how they'd be better.
I also wonder if that world view is entirely shaped by being convinced that Aston Villa are the only club worth supporting, and therefore any experiences you have as a to Villa supporter are automatically 'the ideal' in my mind. Maybe if I supported Rochdale I'd revel in how League 1/2 football is the ultimate in football experience.
