Aston Villa blogger Matthew Turvey can remember in the not-so-distant past when his club were the ‘Tottenham of their day ‘ ahead of the trip to White Hart Lane.

WithVilla not playing until Monday, Alex McLeish’s men have the weekend as extra time to prepare for their game at Tottenham.

Following what has been termed as an ‘easy’ set of fixtures, the next set, barring the Swansea match, are likely to provide a far sterner test for the Midlands club.

Whilst Tottenham will be thinking of boss Harry Redknapp following his recent heart surgery, it is unlikely that the North London side will be extending any such sympathy to the team from B6.

Villa, only a few seasons ago, were considered on a par to Tottenham during the time where Martin O’Neill was in charge.

Whether one wants to suggest the disparity is due to Tottenham’s apparent increase in fortunes under Redknapp, a subsequent decrease in fortunes and finances at Villa Park, or a combination of the two, it is fair to say that modern-day Tottenham are operating on a different level to Villa.

The retort from many Villa fans will be “We’re a bigger club, we’ve won more stuff.” To which I must politely say, even as a Villa fan, shut up and forget it.

Speaking as someone who obviously comes across a lot of Villa fans due to my attendance at matches and having been born and raised in Aston, the retorts are getting old rather quickly.

Speak to a fan of most other clubs in the Premier League and the view of our club is not one of celebration, but rather that of a perception of a bunch of whiners who go on about the past.

Away from football, I am sure you have come across at least one of these kinds of figures. You know the type, often painting pretty pictures through rose tinted spectacles of a time when things were so much better, compared to the situation as it is now.

Well, barring some kind of new innovation that has us turning battered DeLoreans into time machines, suffice to say the only time where one can live as a person is now.

If you don’t like now, then do something different, because moaning about the comparative is going to do nothing at all. Not for you, and certainly not for the club.

Looking back at the football and, at present, I ask you if you were offered a full squad change between us and Tottenham, just how many players would you keep that belong to Villa’s team?

Agbonlahor? Bent? N’Zogbia? Given? However many players you would choose to pick, I would hazard a guess it wouldn’t be an abundance.

It wouldn’t because Modric and van der Vaart are better than anything in our midfield and Gareth Bale? Well, suffice to say, he’s better than Stephen Warnock to say the least.

Beyond that – and by far the most frustrating of all rational comparisons – is the fact that Spurs built the wage bill at a lower rate than Martin O’Neill did with players.

All things being equal, one would imagine that a higher investment enerally means a better quality, but this concept seems to have been waylaid at B6.

So, looking back at the fact that Villa were on par with Tottenham during this investment, what exactly does it tell us?

That Villa need to keep spending like they did then, second on most seasons in spending only to Manchester City? That Villa invested badly?

That Tottenham, for whatever reason, whether regarding their geographical placement or character were then, and are now, a perceived better place for work than Villa?

Whatever the reason for the change, the only time Villa can change their standing nowadays is the present. The time for comparatives has gone.

Forget the glory of the past, and get on with where we are now. If we finish 10th this season, that is where we finish. If we finish higher, then we finish higher. If we finish lower, then we finish lower.

Either way and in the words of a famous song – “Que sera, sera, whatever will be, will be, the future’s not ours to see, que sera, sera”

For Villa, the future starts again on Monday. For McLeish’s men, whatever the opposition, Villa should be looking to improve and play well.

Monday night may not bring three points, but it should definitely bring better application and pride in the shirt.

Otherwise, if we are only going to get by living on past glories, then we may as well give up now.

You can also follow Villa blogger Matthew Turvey at his own site, http://www.astonvillalife.com.