In hiring Garde, Aston Villa have at least tried something

Over the final weeks of the Tim Sherwood reign, my ability to feel upset about Aston Villa matches was slipping away. It just felt inevitable that Villa were going to lose every match, but that didn't matter much, because that was just moving up that date on which Sherwood would be sacked.

Just sitting and waiting for my club to sack their manager is not what I want out of my football fandom. I take no joy in watching another managerial appointment fail. But at the same time, I just can't help but feel a bit rejuvenated now.

I have no real idea if Rémi Garde will be a success at Villa. Aston Villa could already be doomed to relegation. Four points in eleven games is very bad, and Villa are already in a pretty big hole.

But at the same time, I'm now actually intrigued by Villa. I'm excited to watch their next match. I have no idea what team Garde will put out. Mind you, I had no idea what team Sherwood would put out on a weekly basis, but that's mainly because he wasn't sure either. But there's an intrigue about how we'll play now.

I know there are some people out there who don't like the hire. I mean, there always will be. But there are criticisms that I can't totally dismiss. Yes, he's never really been in a relegation fight. That may very well be a problem. But is there anyone out there that would 100% no doubt get Villa out of this? Sir Alex Ferguson might not be good enough to help Villa escape relegation. The only manager people seem to think would assure us of safely is Tony Pulis, and he's busy with some inferior Midlands team.

What we have in Garde is someone who comes well-regarded for his management ability. And really that's all we can ask for right now. If we're meant to escape relegation, we will. And if not, well it's been coming, and it'll be hard to say it's not deserved.

As the losses have mounted up, I felt myself growing less and less upset about them. But that all changes now. Villa have at least done something to try and change things.

And besides, you can't quit Aston Villa. It's too late. It's already inside you.