ozleicester Posted 1 April 2010 Posted 1 April 2010 I cannot fathom how ANY fan could be dispaointed with MON and the results he has achieved with Villa. They are genuinely pushing for a top 4 spot, Europe, regular challenger for cups and play a reasonable game. All with far far less money than "the Big 4 (5)" Its time that the Premier league was acknowledged in much the way we see the Scottish PL, we all know that Rangers or Celtic will win the league, everyone else can just fight over the scraps... same applies for the EPL except there are 4 teams that can win it. If any manager came to City and gave me the same results that Villa have had for the last few years.. i would not be complaining.
Ford Super Sunday Posted 1 April 2010 Posted 1 April 2010 Didn't mention any of his achievements before Celtic, which included two promotions from non-league to Division 2 with Wycombe and two trophies and two (admittedly brief) European campaigns with Leicester, and neglected to mention that Celtic were by a long way the second team in Scotland when he took over. One european campaign, not two Red Star was Sir PT's campaign.
Alexikokopops Posted 1 April 2010 Posted 1 April 2010 I did point out that it glosses over those. But how long are you going to let him dine out on that. It was a decade ago. Celtic wasn't ten years ago. The article makes some good points, but some comparisons just don't work. Comparing Strachan's record to his is misleading, because of the differing situations when they started the job. When MON took over Celtic, Rangers had won about a billion titles in a row, where as Strachan came in on the back of the success O'Neill had. Also, looking at Villa's finishes in the 90s and comparing them to Villa finishes under O'Neill negates the fact that the Premiership has changed a lot since then. The "big four" is a lot more entrenched then it was. You wouldn't get Blackburn anywhere near a league title nowadays. I'm not saying MON is some kind of demi-god, but that article does a poor job of proving otherwise. I do agree about his recent transfer policy though, it's far from when he used to pluck players out of obscurity from us.
The Doctor Posted 1 April 2010 Posted 1 April 2010 I do agree about his recent transfer policy though, it's far from when he used to pluck players out of obscurity from us. I'd say thats more down to the amount of coverage lower-league football gets now compared to when he was with us. Now days it's pretty hard to find players that no-ones ever heard of in this country because the moment any lower/non league player does anything outstanding it's shown over and over again on SSN, Highlight shows etc.
Fosse Fox Posted 2 April 2010 Posted 2 April 2010 I cannot fathom how ANY fan could be dispaointed with MON and the results he has achieved with Villa. They are genuinely pushing for a top 4 spot, Europe, regular challenger for cups and play a reasonable game. All with far far less money than "the Big 4 (5)" Its time that the Premier league was acknowledged in much the way we see the Scottish PL, we all know that Rangers or Celtic will win the league, everyone else can just fight over the scraps... same applies for the EPL except there are 4 teams that can win it. If any manager came to City and gave me the same results that Villa have had for the last few years.. i would not be complaining. Whatever chance they ever had of a top four finish vanished last season when they blew it spectacularly. Their only realistic chance of honours this season was in the League Cup - which is about the only thing MON seems to be capable of winning south of the border. MON has been given a big budget at Villa and has spent over the odds on England B listers (£32 million on Milner, Downing and 'World Class' Ashley). Wenger was bang on when he described Villa as a long ball team. That remark touched one of MON's many raw nerves but it doesn't make it any less true. Contrary to popular belief MON cannot make silk purses out of sows' ears or pull rabbits out of hats. He can just about turn a mediocre team into a moderately good one - no more than that. MON's ideas belong to the 1970's - big Brits huffing,puffing and hoofing for 99 minutes.
Koke Posted 2 April 2010 Posted 2 April 2010 If there's one thing that annoys me about O'Neill currently is his eagerness to buy English. You can find a Stewart Downing in South America or Eastern Europe for £3-4 millions. Wigan are a small club with a tiny small budget with a small productive scouting network, and yet they have discovered some real gems.I really dislike O'Neill's current transfer policy, and he needs to bulk up his ideas on that. I can't see Villa finishing in the top 4 in the foreseeable future.
C-man Posted 2 April 2010 Posted 2 April 2010 Do we really need more foreign players in the Premiership though Karim? There are many English players who are being forced to benchwarm or play in the reserves whilst being kept out by Spaniards or Frenchmen who are barely an improvement, if any. The one thing I expect from our 'best league in the world' is to produce a successful national side, not have 3 teams in the Champions League Semi-Finals. Look at the change Walcott made on Wednesday night. But he's only played 90 minutes twice this season. For someone who I think will be a vital part of our WC ambitions, that's shameful. Fair play to MON and his mainly British transfer policy. As for the style of football they play, I can see why it may get boring for their fans who watch it every week. But whenever I watch them I always enjoy it because there's no faffing around in midfield, they just get the ball forward and get it wide. Love goals from crosses, me. You don't have to play like Arsenal to entertain.
Tevez Posted 2 April 2010 Posted 2 April 2010 Villa fans want the world and have a divine right to be in the top 4 every season. O Neill is the best thing that will ever happen to them. Top class manager who would be much loved somewhere else.
Fosse Fox Posted 2 April 2010 Posted 2 April 2010 Villa fans want the world and have a divine right to be in the top 4 every season. O Neill is the best thing that will ever happen to them. Top class manager who would be much loved somewhere else. I think that he's out of his depth at Villa - a big club with a pedigree and high expectations. He's had money and time is running out. MON's natural level is mid Prem, no higher than that. He has proved himself to be a dull and unimaginative coach with no savvy in the transfer market (it's a moot point whether a first string England team could get fourth spot let alone England squad players). Worse still, he is very thin skinned and bears grudges (his feet started itching here after the infamous rebellion which, ironically, was the spark which ignited his career). I have little doubt that his current wobbler has more to do with the Holte End than Randy Lerner.
purpleronnie Posted 2 April 2010 Posted 2 April 2010 Villa fans want the world and have a divine right to be in the top 4 every season. O Neill is the best thing that will ever happen to them. Top class manager who would be much loved somewhere else. Nah, he has spent plenty, villa fans dont like the style of play, no chance of CL footy, may well win nothing in the cups either.
jonthefox Posted 2 April 2010 Posted 2 April 2010 One european campaign, not two Red Star was Sir PT's campaign. True, but o`neill got us there,only for taylor to feck it up at the first hurdle.
AoWW Posted 2 April 2010 Posted 2 April 2010 He always has a bit of a pre-madonna sorry AOWW primadonna.
Koke Posted 4 April 2010 Posted 4 April 2010 Do we really need more foreign players in the Premiership though Karim? There are many English players who are being forced to benchwarm or play in the reserves whilst being kept out by Spaniards or Frenchmen who are barely an improvement, if any. The one thing I expect from our 'best league in the world' is to produce a successful national side, not have 3 teams in the Champions League Semi-Finals. Look at the change Walcott made on Wednesday night. But he's only played 90 minutes twice this season. For someone who I think will be a vital part of our WC ambitions, that's shameful. Fair play to MON and his mainly British transfer policy. As for the style of football they play, I can see why it may get boring for their fans who watch it every week. But whenever I watch them I always enjoy it because there's no faffing around in midfield, they just get the ball forward and get it wide. Love goals from crosses, me. You don't have to play like Arsenal to entertain. I know it's a cliché, but the crème always rises to the top. I don't think O'Neill realises there is a market outside the borders of United Kingdom and Ireland. British players are being bought & sold for vastly over-inflated prices, and for that reason I advocate going abroad. His method of buying English has worked and has done well for his side - but if Villa wants to go to that next level, O'Neill needs to change his transfer ideology. There are great talents out there, but he's too stubborn to go for them. And all that whilst Spuds and Everton are buying the Kranjcars and Artetas of this world for peanuts. From our perspective, I wouldn't care if we had 11 donkeys on our pitch if it meant we achieved success.
MissCeltFox Posted 11 April 2010 Posted 11 April 2010 Celtic wasn't ten years ago. The article makes some good points, but some comparisons just don't work. Comparing Strachan's record to his is misleading, because of the differing situations when they started the job. When MON took over Celtic, Rangers had won about a billion titles in a row, where as Strachan came in on the back of the success O'Neill had. Also, looking at Villa's finishes in the 90s and comparing them to Villa finishes under O'Neill negates the fact that the Premiership has changed a lot since then. The "big four" is a lot more entrenched then it was. You wouldn't get Blackburn anywhere near a league title nowadays. I'm not saying MON is some kind of demi-god, but that article does a poor job of proving otherwise. I do agree about his recent transfer policy though, it's far from when he used to pluck players out of obscurity from us. Actually it was 10 years ago and Rangers had at that point won 2 League Titles in a row not billions as you suggest
Jay Posted 11 April 2010 Posted 11 April 2010 Actually it was 10 years ago and Rangers had at that point won 2 League Titles in a row not billions as you suggest ok 2 titles in a row but what about the 9 in a row before that or the fact that Celtic had only won the league twice since 1986 whatever way you look at Rangers wee the dominant side in scottish football for well over a decade
Matt Posted 11 April 2010 Posted 11 April 2010 Was talking to a Villa fan last night, he reckons O'Neill's off to Liverpool in the summer and Villa will get Hodgson. Can't see it myself, think Rafa would be gone already.
MissCeltFox Posted 11 April 2010 Posted 11 April 2010 ok 2 titles in a row but what about the 9 in a row before that or the fact that Celtic had only won the league twice since 1986 whatever way you look at Rangers wee the dominant side in scottish football for well over a decade Celtic won the League in 1986, 1988 and 1998 Its true though we were in a bad way when MON came along and he is still hailed as as the greatest manager we have had since Jock Stein nowadays Celtic and Rangers are very poor sides equally
Alexikokopops Posted 12 April 2010 Posted 12 April 2010 Actually it was 10 years ago and Rangers had at that point won 2 League Titles in a row not billions as you suggest We first went ten years ago, but he won his last title six years ago. I was making the point that not everything he achieved was over a decade ago. Celtic's 1998 win was their first league victory in ten years, and the only one before MON took the job since 1988. I may not have been correct with the assertion that Rangers had won "billions in a row", but my point still remains that they were by far the dominant team in Scottish football at the time (11 out of the 12 previous titles), which wasn't the case when Strachan took charge.
Tony Pine Posted 12 April 2010 Posted 12 April 2010 They haven't won anything in 5 years so that doesn't make sense for starters. Not that I should have to explain my reasons for supporting or following a club to you but anyway, the whole of my Dad's side of the family were born in Islington. people from islington support spurs
Alexikokopops Posted 12 April 2010 Posted 12 April 2010 people from islington support spurs Maybe Tilley's family decided to support their local team instead...
Tony Pine Posted 13 April 2010 Posted 13 April 2010 haha i was making a joke. glad it riled you enough to load a google map into paint and upload it.
Alexikokopops Posted 13 April 2010 Posted 13 April 2010 haha i was making a joke. glad it riled you enough to load a google map into paint and upload it. I wouldn't say "riled". More "gave me something to do other than work".
sdb Posted 13 April 2010 Posted 13 April 2010 Villa fans are a pain in the arse, miserable sods. Hope O'Neill leaves, doubt he will (yet, anyway).
Tony Pine Posted 14 April 2010 Posted 14 April 2010 I wouldn't say "riled". More "gave me something to do other than work". i'm in your head!!
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