Tuesday 16 September 2008

The futures Bright, the futures full of Villians


Buy safe buy English was a motto profoundly used for the ‘cow’ crisis not so long ago and this motto has certainly kept Martin O’Neil going.
When other managers fading away and searching high and low into the deepest forest of Chile or the dusty buildings in China, O’Neil has decided to keep English and buy young. He has more or less have brought the England B side and more promptly this team could, arguably, play better than the current national team.
Aston Villa’s 2-1 win over a woeful Tottenham Hotspur side looked the most impressive so far. Spurs credentials look rather bleak as the next ‘big’ challengers to the big four looked anything but a football team guided of ill-advised players whom cannot communicate with each like Ramos to any English-speaking person.
Villa on the other hand, seem to be playing with class and, more importantly, with confidence. Organised, adventurous, their movement of the ball was dazzling and they show real determination to work for each other.
O’Neil public spat with Gareth Barry was a huge talking point for the club and the way he seemed to have handled it was nothing short of excellent. Stripped him of his captaincy and fined him, now he has to look those teammates in the eye, knowing he has to make an impression. He has a lot of kissing up to do.
For the English side, O’Neill has drafted in Luke Young, Nicky Shorey, Steve Sidwell, Ashley Young, Nigel Reo-Coker, James Milner, Zat Knight, and Claude Davies. With all of these you cannot say you are not impressed. They all have moved to another level and he has managed to get good out players like Nicky Shorey and use him more evidently than his playing days at Reading. (Where he still remains a hero of mine.)
Reo-Coker left West Ham in a big money move and has not looked back since. Ashley Young impressed at Watford, the manager took a calculated risk with him, and he looks a dead cert to be a permanent fixture in the squad, pushing very close to the starting eleven.
He saved Sidwell from the Chelsea mediocre reserve team and going to try to arouse his football career once again, when recovers from injury. (Another superstar back at Reading)
Knight again, was lost at Fulham and what a fine centre half he is, slowly, turning out to be. Luckily, for Milner, Newcastle are suffering a crisis and O’Neill pounced and finally got his man after years of trying.
Add to this other England internationals Gareth Barry and Gabriel Agbonlahor to have an incredible line up. Do not forget to add experienced foreigners (the way it should be) John Carew, Brad Freidal, Petrov and Martin Laursen to the squad and it looks rather promising.
The owner Andy Lerner has been pinnacle to this success and he lets O’Neill do his job and carry the football side the way he wants. Unbroken trust seems the massive link in any good professional relationship. When situations arrive like the Americans at Manchester United and Liverpool or Mike Ashley commercial circus act at Newcastle, Villa must be glad they probably, albeit Arsenal, have the strongest business model in the Premiership.
The future looks bright and successful and they are closer to catching the ‘big four’, more so than Manchester City presently. Good luck they will need it.

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