Then the internationals return and Pau Torres is training, which is better than expected although bound to be balanced out by an outbreak of bubonic plague or similar at Bodymoor.

Nassef Sawiris goes public on why we’re supporting Manchester City in their ongoing battle with decency, which seems to centre on how it’s time for all the clubs to stop arguing and work together on making even more money. We’ve also had another £50 million of shares bought by Comcst. I wish I knew what they were up to. On a more practical note you can pay £80 for a plaque on the Villa Park heritage wall. Then probably another ten quid so it doesn’t get taken down for Champions League matches.

Agreeing with Manchester City doesn’t make any odds, because the vote to change the rules is defeated. There was a time when every other chairman in the league would disagree with the Villa chairman then do exactly what he told them. Those days are gone, sadly.

November 21st is notable for being the anniversary of many things. The assassination of John F Kennedy in 1963, the burning down of the US embassy in Pakistan sixteen years later. Closer to home there was the Digbeth Civic Hall meeting in 1968 and, sadly, the pub bombings fifty years ago. But what has never happened on any November 21st in history has been the founding of Aston Villa FC. Luckily the club took the hint this time and there was no public announcement. Let’s hope it stays that way.

Back to Villa Park and a three o’clock kick-off for a change. What wasn’t much of a change was Villa’s injury list, which despite having a couple of players back meant we approached the visit of Crystal Palace with a bit of trepidation rather than the confidence that should be there when a team with Champions League aspirations is at home to one in the bottom three and looking likely to stay there.

And we duly went a goal down after four minutes. We did get better after that and Ollie Watkins equalised half an hour later. Then should have gone ahead before half-time but Youri Tielemans’ penalty was saved and within a minute we were two-one down. I’m still trying to work out how exactly that happened. Still, Ross Barkley got our second equaliser but the grandstand finish never happened and that was definitely two more points dropped. On a nostalgic note, the wind, rain and general horribleness of the weather brought a rueful smile to the lips of retired fanzine sellers everywhere.