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Posted by: ChrisVillan
on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - 10:19 PM
Martin O'Neill has a unique relationship with his employers and his supporters. But could the goodwill come to an abrupt end?
Today, Aston Villa Football Club is worlds away from the dying days of the Doug Ellis era.
As fans, we are finally being actively engaged with by the club and we've been spoiled by little Villa miracles since Randy Lerner swaggered into town and started setting the claret and blue world to rights. We're 'sponsored' by a local children's hospice, and we're on the brink of Europe.
It's a far cry from the almost guaranteed relegation had the inept duo of Ellis and David O'Leary continued to watch the club spiral downwards. The Irishman almost seemed to be smirking about it at times.
But the mood is a-stirring among Villa fans this summer, and I'm sure I'm not the only one to notice it.
Inevitably, opinions are dividing as we reach our first real crossroads of the new era. From here, it seems that we either succeed - that means a UEFA Cup run and/or a consolidation in fifth or sixth place this season - or we fall back. The third road is the one straight ahead of us, and Cristiano Ronaldo is sitting on the pavement watching Frank Lampard blocking the way. Top two is a mere pipe dream.
Martin O'Neill must take huge credit for getting us where we are today. He is, it seems, almost unsackable. Mr Lerner appears to have endless faith in O'Neill, the kind of faith on which he thrives. O'Neill can work unhindered, and the results on the pitch have been mighty impressive.
He is also subject to (recently) unprecedented supporter popularity. This is because of great performances, some excellent results and, probably most tellingly, unswerving passion for the Villa.
In other words, it looks unlikely that Martin O'Neill is going anywhere in a hurry. And yet I just have the creeping suspicion that this summer is make or break for the Villa boss. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that going into the season with a weak squad, coupled with a bad start, could see the Irishman skating around on ever-thinning ice.
Starter for ten: we have a wonderful opportunity to return to European football. At this point, we're level at 2-2 following the away leg at Danish side Odense. We were, to my eyes, seriously lacking in quality on Saturday and we failed to impose ourselves on the match after the first 15 minutes. We can debate why that is, but the fact remains that if we fail to negotiate our way through the Intertoto Cup, failure's roots lay in Denmark.
Another reason that O'Neill must succeed this summer is that it is glaringly obvious to all and sundry that we need both quality and numbers, and exactly where they are needed. We need quality in midfield, in goal and in the centre of defence. A right winger would be desirable, as would a prolific goalscorer.
The real bone of contention? The notorious right back position, vacated by Aaron Hughes and Mark Delaney once upon a time and covered variously by Gary Cahill, Craig Gardner and, impressively, Olof Mellberg. Mellberg's ability and professionalism did little to mask O'Neill's failure to replace Hughes and Delaney, though, and it is frankly staggering that we still have not signed a right back - of any standard - this summer.
Going into this season with no right full back would surely erode a good deal of the fondness O'Neill currently enjoys.
Let's not forget that O'Neill also spent three weeks at Euro 2008 earlier in the summer. At the time I didn't think this problematic, and I still don't necessarily believe that to be the case. But if we face Manchester City without significant improvements to the team, questions will be rightly asked.
Then, of course, there's the question of numbers. We seem to forever have the smallest squad in the league, and we were very lucky with injuries last season. Suffice to say that I doubt we would achieve sixth position next year unless the squad is bulked up considerably.
So I think we've reached the end of Martin O'Neill's honeymoon period, and he will come in for some serious criticism come the end of August if things aren't going well on and off the pitch. We simply must consolidate or improve this season, and right now I don't believe us to be in a position to do so. The fans are bound to get irritated if they perceive a lack of improvement to have resulted from another lumbering transfer window.
What of Mr Lerner? Well, I don't know him at all, but what I will say is this: if I'd saved a football club from beginning a doom-laden slide, forked out for mosaics, stuck a mate on the fansites, turned down sponsorship money, paid for Stiliyan Petrov, Ashley Young and Nigel Reo-Coker, and a fair bit for some others too, I wouldn't be too pleased to find myself, my wallet and my commitment being questioned by nonplussed football fans.
I'm sure that's not how Mr Lerner would see it, as I suspect he and O'Neill are kindred spirits in many ways. But what happens when the flags and banners start to come out?
I'll end on this point, and it worries me, because I thought these days were over. Are we as Villa fans now programmed in such a way that we start getting itchy feet as the infamous three-year cycle nears its end? Maybe it's just me. Scary.
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