Yes and no.
1981, 82, 84 etc were all fantastic experiences, where winning a trophy really did mean something. Even the League Cups in 71 and 73 (which I just about remember) were special even though the victories in the finals were against 'lower-rated' teams - Villa were in the 3rd tier of football at the time. Football was much more black and white back then - you either won something or you didn't, and it was easier to do so - football was more of a level playing field (although you still had the haves and have-nots). Nowadays, 4th position is classed as 'winning' something. I'm not particular proud of finishing 4th but the field is, of course, nowhere near as level as it once was.
However, more recently, and it's maybe because we have had 14 year+ drought of silverware, individual occasions and games have had just a big an impact on me - Crouch at Man City in 2011, Man City full stop in 2019, Ajax 2019, the 2017 season as an entirety (easily the best season of football I've seen from us since I started supporting the club) - I even look at the 2-2 at Chelsea, even though that cemented the title for Leicester, and think that's was a turning point for the club. I rewatch/review part or all of these (and other) occasions, and I'm immensely proud and happy (there are of course occasions where we have been an embarrassment - a tiny sample being Woolwich away 2-5 twice, Chelsea away almost exclusively (although how much pleasure do I get from watching Dele's goals in the League Cup at the Emirates and in the 3-1 at Stamford Bridge).
Do I want us to win things? Of course I do. But tempered within the hope, desire and expectation (we all have expectations, no matter what the reality is), I know, at the moment, we can't compete over the course of a season with Manchester City and Liverpool. Chelsea I think we can get close to but our league goal at the moment, as I see it, is keeping ahead of Manchester United (who will at some point in the next few seasons come good again as the simply have the resources to do so) and the Gooners.
I don't expect us to win the league in the near future. Cups yes, and we now maybe have a squad capable of us being serious contenders, and a coach who demands the best from everyone and won't keep the dead wood for the sake of it (I know Mourinho wanted to win every cup but he didn't have the squad that Conte has, and was past it too, of course). Bottom line is as long as we remain properly competitive, and do it with a degree of style (as important as any of the above), I'll accept that, but of course I want us to win things.
