Villa, Villa, Villa

[Craig_H]

If Villa DID get McLeish, the Brummie fans would go absolutely ape****

[Bender]

Villa players were last night texting each other images of champagne bottles to celebrate O’Neill’s exit - just five days before the season starts.

O’Neill, boss at Villa Park since August 2006, is believed to have jumped ahead of being pushed amid mounting unrest among his squad.

Their gripes at O’Neill’s tactics, training and team selection had reached the top of the club, where Paul Faulkner was recently promoted to chief executive.


Just last week O’Neill, who had a huge bust-up with Nigel Reo-Coker last term, told a group of Villa players at training that they looked like they “hated” him.

And he recently ordered the squad to “get your trainers” to do extra running when Richard Dunne urged him to introduce more ball work.
LINK

[spud_gun]

If Villa DID get McLeish, the Brummie fans would go absolutely ape****

Not as ape**** as the Villa fans.

McLeish is vastly overrated

[Alex]

Not as ape**** as the Villa fans.

McLeish is vastly overrated

Totally agree, hes a good manager at a small club. He can sustain a team. Taking them to the next level seems beyond him. If anything this year Birmingham will go backwards.

I think Villa are a bit gutted O'Neil didn't resign 2 weeks ago. Hughes would have been perfect for them

[Shaggy]

Villa players were last night texting each other images of champagne bottles to celebrate O’Neill’s exit - just five days before the season starts.

O’Neill, boss at Villa Park since August 2006, is believed to have jumped ahead of being pushed amid mounting unrest among his squad.

Their gripes at O’Neill’s tactics, training and team selection had reached the top of the club, where Paul Faulkner was recently promoted to chief executive.


Just last week O’Neill, who had a huge bust-up with Nigel Reo-Coker last term, told a group of Villa players at training that they looked like they “hated” him.

And he recently ordered the squad to “get your trainers” to do extra running when Richard Dunne urged him to introduce more ball work.
LINK

[Reece]

Can't believe some wanted him to be our manager.

[Shaggy]

Can't believe some wanted him to be our manager.

Ridiculous huh. Hopefully all that bollocks can be put to bed for good. He will never be our manager, and thank **** for that!

[Exiled_red]

Villa players were last night texting each other images of champagne bottles to celebrate O’Neill’s exit - just five days before the season starts.

O’Neill, boss at Villa Park since August 2006, is believed to have jumped ahead of being pushed amid mounting unrest among his squad.

Their gripes at O’Neill’s tactics, training and team selection had reached the top of the club, where Paul Faulkner was recently promoted to chief executive.


Just last week O’Neill, who had a huge bust-up with Nigel Reo-Coker last term, told a group of Villa players at training that they looked like they “hated” him.

And he recently ordered the squad to “get your trainers” to do extra running when Richard Dunne urged him to introduce more ball work.
LINK

Interesting how there were no rumours of O'Neill having lost the dressing room, or being unpopular with the players.

[Mattshark]

I found figures of ~£68m for same period, which isn't an insignificant amount, people talk about them not having spent money.

more than we spent in that period.

[Exiled_red]

more than we spent in that period.

More than double what we spent in that time, in fact I read that O'Neill spent about the same (in net fees) in 4 years as Rafa spent in 6 years.

How come O'Neill has been almost immune from critisism in the press in recent years, linked with every top job and not had his spending scrutinised despite being one of the top spenders and never really achieving anything?

[dww]

More than double what we spent in that time, in fact I read that O'Neill spent about the same (in net fees) in 4 years as Rafa spent in 6 years.

How come O'Neill has been almost immune from critisism in the press in recent years, linked with every top job and not had his spending scrutinised despite being one of the top spenders and never really achieving anything?

I assume the usual combination of factors - he is willing to play the media game largely on the terms dictated by the press, Fergie had no reason to abuse him and he came through the English game.

The thing is though that the nett spend argument is only part of the story and O'Neill did tend to buy youngish English players who probably did not command huge wages. He certainly deserved criticism but I think the amount he gets on here is often too much. He is a good manager but not a top class one. The expectations of the team he was at has largely shielded him from criticism - he more or less achieved what pundits predicted Villa could do every season. You can tell by the mixed views of Villa fans though that they aren't convinced he exceeded 'their level' at any point.

[Craig_H]

Saw this shown on SSN this morning.

Net spend PER SEASON (2006-2010):
Man City - £65.8m
Spurs - £16.5m
Aston Villa - £16.5m
Sunderland - £13.6m
Liverpool - £9.4m
Chelsea - £2.6m
Man Utd - £0.6m
Arsenal - net profit of £6m


I cant believe Chelsea and Man Utd's figures.

[little dave hedgehog]

don't believe those numbers for chelsea really. and the utd figures are skewed because of the ronaldo sale.

[Chrono]

Saw this shown on SSN this morning.

Net spend PER SEASON (2006-2010):
Man City - £65.8m
Spurs - £16.5m
Aston Villa - £16.5m
Sunderland - £13.6m
Liverpool - £9.4m
Chelsea - £2.6m
Man Utd - £0.6m
Arsenal - net profit of £6m


I cant believe Chelsea and Man Utd's figures.

Based on the figures on here about our own spend that can't be right.

[Rich]

don't believe those numbers for chelsea really. and the utd figures are skewed because of the ronaldo sale.

So we ignore it?

You can argue that ours is skewed by the Alonso sale, or Arsenal's with the sale of Abebayor!