That is all it was today.
The three City goalscorers cost that much to buy (70% of MON’s total spend) and their wages are astronomical if press reports are to be believed. The difference today was marginal an clinical finishing, one moment Carew should have scored but he never and they took the chance at the other end.
That as we have seen all season is the major difference between us and the 4th spot, the missed chances and the lack for want of a better player, Bellamy. He has something that our main players like Milner, Young, Downing and Gabby do not have, that devil instinct, the one Rooney has, the one all teams have. We are too bloody nice, look at Carew, 6ft 5 and should be terrorising people, we don’t.
Look at today we played well, we contained Man City and caused their defence serious problems but Warnock made a serious mistake and Freidel for the first time showed his age with the penalty by being too slow, Guzan would have saved that for sure. The second half, City sat back we attacked but the final ball quality was not there and it cost us obviously. It cost us more seriously though against Wolves and Sunderland though and is the area MON has to address and he should, MON should stay.
2006-7 10th
2007-8 6th
2008-9 6th
2009-10 6th
yes we could finish 7th this season but we have never been closer to 4th and the days of Brian Little’s two 4th are totally different to now, 4th place for CL has changed that.
the big question when you look at the annual report is whether we have the resources to try for that special player, which means a wage of £100k a week and £20m transfer.
That is the major question this summer.
Aston Villa News 24/7
You can say what you like. But it all boils down to MON
being one dimensional. On comes Hesky for Carew, Same every game You can see by his body language. He looks like a frightened chicken on the sidelines. especially when Villa are behind
Choppy DeVille – that is absolute nosense about O’Neill. Dont get me wrong he has his negative points and is frustrating however remember just avoiding relegation under O’Leary? O’Neill has turned this club around. To put it into perspective, we have reached a final, a semi final and nearly finished 4th! I cannot understand the negative attitude towards him!! It’s people like you who will force him out of the club and we will end up with someone like Mark Hughes or someone else. I can think of a lot of clubs who would swap managers within a snap so maybe instead of always looking for the bad points and criticising him – we should be positive and thank him for the amazing things he has done at Villa over the last few years!
choppy DE ville you talk total garbage i been going down the villa for 38 years . and under o,neil we have made huge strides in a very difficult enviroment ( theres a recession out there ) so cut the crap about mon as your brainless
I’d tend to agree with most of what the article says, but the truth is o’neill has looked lost at times this year, if he hasn’t got the players to change games it’s his fault cos he’s had the money to buy over the last couple of years. But finding a top top striker who’ll score goals in this league won’t be easy even if the money is there. I’m personnally happy with the season and think this squad will get better, but we will need to spend some on a couple of players, a right back for one.
totally agree Pete, no one is saying MON is perfect, no manager is but he is miles better tha any likely replacement.
We need that forward and it does seem that MON has a blind spot on forwards. the fact is the real top class will not come to us with CL and without oe we will fall short on CL
that is the conundrum of course
I dont agree with the statement that weve never been closer to 4th…….. last season we were 13points clear and threw it away……
Ian we have been closer we were several points? clear of Arsenal last season and bottled it .
This season we have been 7th since xmas? and never looked like getting 4th
Adam and Mart, we are closer, at the end of the season we were 10 points behind, will be max 6 this time but I suspect closer
we are closer in many ways we were not last season, BTW we were never actually 13 points clear.
We are a million miles from being a top 4 side, that’s not negative, it’s realistic, we don’t have the manpower, and quality in depth, to get there.
I’m unsure about what MON wants to do to get up there anyway, he’s complained about having a small squad for the last couple of years, who’s fault is that?
He’s made some excellent signings, and some that would be at home giving kids rides on their backs, at Blackpool.
His man management is supposedly famous, but there are cracks in the squad, with veiled criticism of his selections, and tactics, from some players, NRC can certainly feel hard done too, and will inevitably go on to another club, and revive his career, which at the moment, is being ruined.
I sincerely hope, his much publicised sit down chat with Randy Lerner, next week, brings them together to make a decision on where they are going, on the pitch, a realistic challenge on the top 4, will mean big signings, and paying big wages, the alternative, is to proceed as we are, and settle for being a 6th or 7th side on a regular basis.
Just my personal opinion, as a life long Villa supporter, through good, and some very bad times
People should stop the rather spurious comparisons between MON and O’Leary. O’Leary did not have £100.000.0000 to spend.. He has wasted a hell of a lot of money on some real donkeys. True he’s also bought some quality. But we still don’t play particularly good football. He is not nor ever has been a “Messiah”. His next few signings need to be spot on. We cannot afford any more expensive misfits like Harewood, Salifou, Sidwell. Beye , Shorey, Knight, etc. A top striker and midfield playmaker should be our priority. Get it right Martin.
Bill, every manager waste money, do ye have to list the amount Fergie wasted on Veron or Anderson or many more ?
but your right the next signings are vital and lets face on the big money money ones no failures there and that includes Downing
Ian, the difference is Fergie has won 20+ domestic trophies and two european cups, so you can hardly say hes wasted much money……..
Adam, true but he was questioned at the start with rubbish like Ralph Milne and Danny Wallace brought for then mega money
how much as Arse wasted and now what 5 years and no trophies ?
[...] £75m and £400k a week is the difference That is all it was today. The three City goalscorers cost that much to buy (70% of MON’s total spend) and their [...] [...]
Well i see it like this. If MON has the funds available in the summer or near future for that matter villa will go places without a doubt. Myself im a leicester fan and the talent he bought to that club with let me add not alot of money at all was quite fantastic. Personaly i think you have one of the best managers in the world. Like him or hate the guy. He’s honest and if he hasnt got what he needs available to him he will walk!