Aston Villa have had a tough enough time as it is, what with the dreadful performances last season leading to the relegation (and very nearly a heavy-weight bout between Joleon Lescott and Stan Collymore) of one of footballs most traditional clubs.
Yet there was no mercy when the midlands club announced a pre-season friendly with a team that has effectively taken their place in the Premier League having achieved promotion as runners up of the Championship.
Middlesbrough are scheduled to meet Aston Villa on June 30th this summer, as they prepare for life in the top flight for the first time in seven years and fans of the north east club were very quick to point out that the two teams fortunes have been reversed. A series of tweets poured in and were hardly sympathetic of the Villains plight. Some would say there was a considerable amount of gloating going on.
This joker kicked off proceedings with the predictable ‘small club’ jibe..
why do we only play small clubs in friendlies
— George (@GeorgeTM98) June 1, 2016
Another twisted the knife in whilst alluding to the fact that once European cup winners Villa will not be top dogs any longer.
@MikeBirch1 how the mighty have fallen!!!
— Jamie Thompson (@JamieThompson36) June 1, 2016
This Boro fan has clearly seen enough of both teams to predict an easy afternoons work.
great fixture, always nice to play an opposition you're guaranteed to beat, confidence booster
— Josh Worton (@joshworton92) June 1, 2016
This Villa fan was clearly irked to have not attracted a glamourous enough opponent to Villa park (I wonder if he watched them last season?).
I always dreamed a big Premier League team like Middlesbrough would come and grace Villa Park.
— Jon (@frontwards) June 1, 2016
As you might have guessed it was met with a quick retort by these guys..
Least you've got a big game against Burton to look forward to
— YOUAREMYBORO 🏴🏴🇺🇦 🇺🇦 (@THEREALBORO) June 1, 2016
https://twitter.com/ExecutionersAim/status/738010715181715456
Middlesbrough are on the up following a remarkable job from Aitor Karanka, who in a couple of years has transformed the club from floating aimlessly to looking to secure a place in the top division and looking to secure the services of top players in Europe, whilst Villa are tasked with clearing one of English football’s biggest hurdles in escaping the Championship. At least they now have a takeover and a new management team in Roberto Di Matteo and Steve Clarke to look forward to.
All eyes will be on both managers to see if the recruitment matches up to the expectations of the fans who, for different reasons will be looking for more strength in the squad.
