I'm not in the habit of criticising Martin O'Neill and it's not going to happen today, but when he talks we should all listen.

It's mostly because of his stature in the game. There is no doubt he is an exceptional man manager and gets the best out of his players, but I will start to question his ability in the transfer market if we don't sign the number and quality of player we actually need, not just expect.

But, I don't think that's going to be necessary, as he's had enough time to show what he is capable of and enough time to line up his players - if he hasn't, he needs some help. I just can't see it happening though - I'm expecting the signings.

He was talking to the club website today and as good as confused me when he said "We're hoping to try to add to the squad."

Hoping and trying to add to the squad? Come on Martin; this transfer window hasn't just arrived - you've known it was coming since February 1st when you only signed one player in the last window.

I trust that whoever he brings in will be the player he wants but he does tend to take chances, hoping that they're his type of player, I just think it's now time to spend some of this cash we're led to believe is available and take some bigger gambles.

I don't think anyone will disagree with me that the likes of Routledge, Maloney, Harewood, Salifou and Knight were all gambles. Not gambles in the way that you're betting on red or black, but gambles in the way that they were not proven 'top class signings'.

I've probably not made myself clear but I guess what I'm saying is if the rumours of Paul Robinson, Robert Green, David Bentley, Steve Sidwell and Shaun Wright-Phillips were to all happen, we'd possibly all be a little happier with that lot - just four or five more of the same quality and it would be a great summer.

Now, onto General Charles C Krulak. He's offered himself up today as 'accountable' for this transfer window, which is all very nice, but it might as well be the tea-lady held up as accountable as he's always saying he has absolutely nothing to do with transfers, so the gesture is very noble but completely worthless.

He also goes on to say that Randy has never said no to Martin O'Neill and that the cheque book is always open. I got these snippets from VillaTalk and you can read everything he had to say, but to me it sounds like, we've got the players coming and we'll probably have seven unveiled on the same day, as Martin O'Neill intimated could happen. You never know - it could be more!

The fact that it's all PR from him passes me over now and while he says he's got nothing to do with transfers he also says 'as you can imagine, these have been two very busy days...sorry I have been off the net', which to some extent suggests he is involved in transfers. Unless of course I've missed something else that he's involved in, but I'm easily confused.

It's all good PR and great to read, but I just can't help but think, he's put his head on the block much like Richard FitzGerald did, with the 'top class signings are coming' statement, even though he has put everything on Martin O'Neill.

Anyway, only a few days to go, or maybe even today, before we are told of all these new players. Come on!

Comments (34)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

philbob88 said:

I read the article on the villa site, and i actually believe him! I reckon one might get unveiled at the Kit launch!

July 04, 2008

tinker said:

Which players sold or brought in the prem over the last couple of years, that would want to play for villa, would you have purchased? I can think of perhaps one, Defoe all the others have been so so. Have faith in MON

July 04, 2008

JonnyW said:

I would be nice to see a couple of players in the new kit on monday. Robbbo to model the keepers and Sidwell (and dare i say it one or two others) to model the outfield home and away. Wishful thinking? It will probably be Taylor, Routledge and Salifou at the launch!

July 04, 2008

Jambi said:

You've actually miss quoted the general there, or your rather taken comments out of context. He said that "he has nothing to do with transfers, but if you (people moaning about the board not being involved in the tranfers) want to hold him accountable, then fine."

July 04, 2008

Pezza said:

Damian I like your optimism. I think exactly the same. I think there may be one or two pleasant suprises in this transfer window. Up the Villa!!

July 04, 2008

Villain of the Peace said:

So do I, think it may very be a goalkeeper. Well someones got to wear the kit! Anyway on skysports news MON just said, talking how well the squad did last season, that "we had the smallest squad in the premiership and we wouldn't want that to happen this season and we are going to address it". Hold on to your hats folks we may very well be in for bumper transfer window! Well fingers crossed anyway.

July 04, 2008

kieran84 said:

Its just the way o`neill speaks he understates everything surely you have learnt that by now.Do you seriously think he is not trying his hardest to improve the squad? I think some people have to much time on their hands.

July 04, 2008

Damian said:

Jambi I may have taken his quote out of context, for that I apologise - but I'm not actually that fussed about Krulak - like I've said above - it's just PR and PR isn't going to bother me and I'm certainly not taking it that seriously. Keiran84 - I'm aware that's how he speaks, which is why I just say 'come on Martin' - because we all know he's doing it .. no need to play it down to us any more.

July 04, 2008

ak27 said:

@Tinker how about Diarra, Distan, Glen Johnson to start with? All 3 could have been signed for less then £12m total. I would have thought that they would have picked Villa over Pompy.

July 04, 2008

PaulE said:

He's probably been busy working on the club's public stance following Barry's newspaper outburst. It's taken a few days for the full story to be commented on by the Official Site.

July 04, 2008

Josh C said:

ASTON VILLA FOOTBALL CLUB deserves europe this season, Martin O'Neill and / or Randy Learner do not. It was obscene to only buy one player in january, one "future player" at that, Martin O'Neill and / or Randy Learner dont deserve to have the club in europe for what they DIDNT do in january. Lets just hope they were saving up for now, if not it will be another season of mid-table midriff.

July 04, 2008

manilavilla said:

I agree and its MON with the time..and he doesnt know what to do..wiynes the barry debacle...and no players...enuff said

July 04, 2008

AVMark said:

I don't believe we are going to get the players we need to improve. To do so would require a monumental investment in wages particularly and I see no indication that we are prepared to speculate on that basis. I'm not saying we should do a Man C and go for flash players but the one's you mention Damien are all going to think twice because there is always a Portsmouth or Man C prepared to pay big. Isn't that exactly what happened with Defoe? MON has a massive task on his hands to emulate last years finish and I wouldn't bet on it. Let's face it this is the Villa way. Everytime we put ourselves in the shop window as a club players might want to join we don't capitalise. It happened to Ron Saunders, Ron Atkinson, John Gregory and it will happen to MON. I'm proud of the Villa now - for the first time in many years but I don't hold much hope of challenging the top four.I think the test for all Villa fans is when we start the season without the investment everyone hoped for. Will we turn on the manager and players or still get behind them the way we have the last few seasons?

July 04, 2008

jaf said:

Well do we really think there will be 7 players coming in..?? No chance at this late stage, imagine how the team would be with all these new players and the time it takes to settle..! There will be 3 0r 4 and one will be a goalkeeper, the biggest signing has to be Barry's replacement if MON trys to buy someone on the cheap a player who will get better we will have problems..! We need a gifted passer of the ball in the middle with a bit of pace and they dont come cheap..! So lets be realistic we car't play Sidwell and Coker together the forwards will never see the ball..

July 04, 2008

Damian said:

jaf i need to sprinkle some optimism over you .. this has to be the last chance they have, i'll give you that, but come on .. it feels so much better this way

July 04, 2008

mickey86 said:

what better time for them ALL to walk out than next week at brindley place, would love to be there and find out that way instead of reading it on the yellow bar across the bottom of the sky sports news channel.

July 04, 2008

pazzler said:

the frustration is building up!!

July 04, 2008

MOOCHER said:

Please allow me this Damien. I was starting to panic three weeks ago because I could see this happening. Obviously people are now catching my panic. Please let me be wrong but is MON ever going to sign the half dozen players we despatatel need?

July 04, 2008

Misterman1982 said:

Come on now, MON is not one for spending big money for the sake of it we all know that and I think he will use more youth players like Delfonso next season and becouse I think he will do that I'am only worried about a lack of goalkeepers and right backs.

July 04, 2008

craig j said:

i am not convinced that we will get 7 decent players. I have no faith in MON in the transfer market, good manager...crap in the market. we will probably end up with 2 decent players (robinson, sidwell) and a couple of squad players...like anthony gardner from spurs that type of player. Why arent we signing, Modric, Gomes(GK), SWP, Podolski...etc we have the money!

July 04, 2008

Dublin Villian said:

All the comments about MON tring to improve the squad i believe this is genuine but if you take Diarra, Defoe Distan & others weve been linked with they all have chose to sign for clubs like pompy because its not about the big club anymore its about how much they will get paid, all three above at pompy would have picked villa but for the wage demands were not met, I agree with the club for not forking out millions on wages on players who have not proven there worth to the club. In saying that we have got to get at least 4-5 player in the next 2 weeks

July 04, 2008

Dublin Villian said:

All the comments about MON tring to improve the squad i believe this is genuine but if you take Diarra, Defoe Distan & others weve been linked with they all have chose to sign for clubs like pompy because its not about the big club anymore its about how much they will get paid, all three above at pompy would have picked villa but for the wage demands were not met, I agree with the club for not forking out millions on wages on players who have not proven there worth to the club. In saying that we have got to get at least 4-5 player in the next 2 weeks

July 04, 2008

Ian Berry said:

I suspect the "two very busy days" the General has had might have related to disciplining a certain wantaway captain? I can't really see that in those comments the General has put his neck on the block in the way that Fitzgerald did. He seems far too canny for that.

July 04, 2008

TrueVillan said:

well, i like the optimism being shown here, that big signings are on the way, but unfortunately, to date MON has not been prolific in the transfer market! the best example being no specialised right back in his whole term to date! this does not leave me feeling confident in his transfer dealings! he is a proven manager and motivator, but has never had real money for transfer deals, this shows up to me. also, im not happy with all the overpriced english names, the national squad shows their shortfalls! a few quality foreign names would be nice!

July 04, 2008

satch said:

Hoping and trying to add to the squad? Come on Martin; this transfer window hasn't just arrived - you've known it was coming since February 1st when you only signed one player in the last window. Sorry to go back to the Barry saga when this is nothing to do with the bloke. But I feel it just shows the sort of things certain players at the club will be thinking. Clubs around us are making deals all we hear is "rumours". So far the only confirmed transfer have been transfers out! This time last year we was expecting a day of "signings" which never really materialised. Theres too much PR and not enough action. I'm fed up of hearing excuses and poor links. I don't know about others but I feel I was led to believe theres no limit in the kitty and having a charity on our shirt forgoing the 45 million we get for that must surely prove this point. So why aren't we getting the players? It's simple its MON and his morals he won't play the game and meet clubs and players demands and quiet frankly he will loose. If I'm honest if we don't see 8 of which 6 are good quality we will be 6/7th again end of next season. Thats realistic. I like MON, I love Villa. I just can't see what the problem is, sell Barry and buy the several players we have been linked with from Bentley to Sidwell and do it sooner than later! Ahem I'm off to the pub.

July 04, 2008

Mick70 said:

I worry because this "political" talk has been a MON prerogative since he arrived at the Villa 2 years ago. And I worry because the club as a whole seem to be hell bent to keep as much as possible from just about anyone, so much so it may as well be run by a Russian mafioso rather than by a friendly-faced Yank: witness the information disclosed by the official website which is as useful as a Labour immigration policy. I have blind faith in MON, the man is a genius in my book: however, one thing is over achieving with a small club like he did at Leicester or winning a few titles in a league where only 1 other club can challenge you as he did in Scotland, another is to remain consistently competitive in the Premiership with a club with history and - allegedly - ambition. Even DOL managed to fool us for a season, let's not forget that. So, once again, we shall see what happens.

July 04, 2008

GonzoAvfc said:

I've said this before and now i think its more likely i think that we ahve players coming we just can't show them off untill the new kit is out its a great way to show off the new kit and bring more attention towards the kit. its all about making money.

July 04, 2008

Mick70 said:

Didn't we talk about this "new players - new kit" business last summer? I'm not gonna get myself too hyped up over it, not after last summer.

July 04, 2008

andy5759 said:

Ha, my glass is half drunk. In fact my cup runneth over. The General added that he thinks this will be a good transfer season. So I'm not just in the optimist camp, I'm captain of the Villa formation optimists team.

July 04, 2008

Al said:

I firmly believe for MON to openly suggest his intent on getting players he must have a few things up his sleave like accepted offers. As we all know he is not one to conduct his business in the media and keeps his cards close to his chest. The squad, although we would like more quality is still one of the best we have had for a while as he has cleared out the dead wood and the good but not quite good enough to go to the next level. MON is as passionate as all of us and I am sure he will do as good a job as anybody in the prem over the next few weeks with calculated investments like reo-coker and young. He must have at least 50m without the sale of Barry proved by his stubborness on the transfer and although our spine is decent it is now ridiculously thin. Saying that there is quite a bit of space on our wage bill. The new kit with new players sounds like a good shout! The criticism of Salifou is a bit unfair as he hasn't been given a chance, I watched clips of him on youtube and there is definately some potential so I can see why he was worth the gamble.

July 04, 2008

jeremiaswodo said:

I think after last season I'll reserve judgment until we see how the team performs on the field. Everyone wants new players in, but I think some fans have the tendency to wish for some flashy signings from exotic locales. There have been teams with lots of success who haven't had to massively overpay for players, Arsenal being a perfect example. Though I want the team to finish in a CL spot, I'd certainly prefer another sixth place finish over overspending for underperforming players - remember last year when everyone was talking up us signing Barton? - and finishing 13th.

July 05, 2008

dolalu said:

what makes anybody think we wont strenghten heavily....we have progressed over the last two seasons to sixth, this is the point now when in order to make a sustained bid to improve we need players. MON knows that and has always known that but he also knew he had the ability to get the current crop of players (albeit with a few new signings) to where we are now. MON is not stupid, he WILL improve the squad, i truely believe the summer will exceed the expectations of most

July 05, 2008

stevievillaa said:

i tink villa will bring in da players needed,lets b honest they have no choice...mon knows villa wil b mid-table unless he does. ya id love 2 have seen a few players signed already but i like it dat mon doesnt just go out nd panic buy nd waste millions on fees nd wages..he said himself last season dat he cud have signed diarra but his wage demands were crazy.gud player but hed only have joined villa 4 da money lik he did wit pompey..i trust mon 2 buy lots of quality dis yr..in o neill we trust

July 05, 2008

FatKev said:

I really have lost all faith in the clubs ability to build a team, the Five year plan is a joke like they normally are. We needed players for to be drip fed into the team over the last few seasons, even if we are active in the transfer market this summer it is no way to take on the challenge of European football. No Signings! the club will be in a major cup in a few weeks. I think there is some truth in what Gareth has said, Martin was on TV when he should have been courting players (Was it his daughter doing some link work). What steps did the club really make to make GB believe there was a future at Villa Park. They made no effort in previous transfer windows & he has heard all of false promises in the past. I saw the light when the Club moved the Trinity 400, prices are being hiked up all round the ground, the PR machine does it job praying on fans optimism, the cold truth is we will stand still at best & that means mid table.

July 06, 2008

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

Add Comment