avfcinwales

Since then he's been out of football for nearly 2 years and out of the Premiership for 5 What's his rating today ? Remember we no longer live in the past this is a the new dawn remember

good for you TRO. I doubt some inane comment of mine is goingt o lose any sleep in the O'Neill household but its nice of you to say so. I am rather concerned that critics of my and others stance on O'Neill seem to want to tie in my comments on O'Leary to how they want to see me comment on O'Neill. Sadly I am not going to give them the chance for any sort of revenge or pay back where he is concerned. I like him, and he's shown me enough to suggest he can do well for us short term. I keep saying he has been out of the Premiership for some time though, time in which it has changed dramatically, especially for those wishing to compete in Europe each year. Not a criticism that I doubt he has the sort of experience that Wenger, sir Alex, Raffa, Mourinho, has, its fact, a few runs in the Fairs Cup amount to nothing, ask O'Leary and Gregory. As to putting O'Leary to bed, why do I need to ? Has he committed some heinous crime that stops me mentioning him ? Seems to me you are the one with the hang up, and possibly humour byepass too.

WOW thanks BOF You succinctly put many of my thoughts there very nicely. I think there is a very good chance given the proper backing he should get, that he is capable of building a team able to, shall we say, compete at the top. Where I have my doubts is whether his style of management is good enough to cope with the real top guys, even Sir Alex has a number two with 'special' European Credentials My doubts centre around his age and the age of his backroom team and the time he has spent out of the Premiership, and of course his lack of European experience, even Gregory had more, I'd guess even O'Leary comes close. The Everton match convinced me he still has enough to start us onwards, and although he's not yet had chance to show how far he can go, I do have some doubts, some of his short term decisions have been very 'old' thinking. He's doing a great job though nevertheless and for me the introduction of Sutton who, lets face it, is still limited, has shown up for me the problem of Angel. I love him to death but he's a striekr who likes to be in the thick of it and he needs chances to convert He's another square peg for me and it shows.

Its amazing what people don't read isn't it Proves a point I suppose I'd better qualify it hadn't I mods. I don't really hate O'Neill lads hence the smiley, its just that having commented on some of his mistakes as I see them, lots of people on here have taken to suggesting I do, hence the rather sarcastic start to the edict. I had hoped that the rest of the piece qualified my real thoughts, but I hadn't allowed seemingly for the level of intelligence or perhaps, being kinder, the staying power to read all through the missive Never mind :angel:

Better still imagine being able to get off a train without having to swap five times, walk calmly to the ground, and after the match is over, walk back to the nearby station to travel back without the trogs, in comfort to pick up a straight through home. Never happen of course but its nice to dream

What with the O'Neill lucky fairy, Directors who don't take salaries, pinch me someone Nice to see they will be UK based 24/7 General, great news, Give Mr Lerner a big thank you

Don't we just, someone permanently UK based too I hope. Sounds just about perfect General, here's hoping

on a more serious note, General, your comments are much appreciated by all fans I'm sure, and from the odd media report I've seen its appreciated in that area too. As you may know, running these sites is costly and dependent on the generosity of the owners, and contributors to say nothing of those like Limpid. is there a way the new site could be copyrighted for the benefit of the sites. if nothing it will help in their future longevity.

General, thanks. The vision of your father in a Villa kit made my Remembrance weekend, for personal reasons, unbelievable, well that and our first away win of the season. Brilliant a dream is never unachievable if the intent is big enough

I have to say O'Neill looked more harassed than O'Leary on the day he was sacked tonight in his post match interview, he kept rewinding what he wanted to say. I think he was disappointed for the travelling thousands more than anything else and very pissed with the performance the team put out. To suggest we are a top 5 side is a bit much but were should be in the mix come May for the top 6 we aren't that bad.

Nurse, nurse, quick, defibrillator, quick, quick :wink: :wink:

second rate ambition, if we do

I still maintain that you can't have it both ways here. Either we have the dream ticket or we don't. How many sides have better squads per se than us, out of the top four, and of the top four we are in the mix as of today with two of them. Why do we have to build the club from the ground up, that's Ellis type rhetoric, put off talk, jam tomorrow thinking. We have a squad now that should with a decent run of injuries, achieve a top 10 place. If not O'Neill is an idiot not the manager those advocating the slow approach are saying, is he. O'Leary managed 6th and 10th with much the same men minus, some interesting new talent now stars in the squad, so why shouldn't we. With the right transfers in, in January we should push on for a top 5 finish why not, what has building the club up from the ground got to do with it. Success breads success, a good cup run gets the crowds in, a good European run gets crowds and tv and revenue well in, what has what Ellis did in the past got to do with anything. I'm not talking of spending Chelsea money, never have, I am asking for the manager to meet the expectation level some have put on him. If he does and if he gets the right backing why is it so impossible to achieve a top 5 place, is it some of you deep down have fears O'Neill may not be up to it?

Thanks LancVillan and the others keen to have a go at the article and not just me. I take on board all you say about giving the board and O'Neill time but I had already pre=empted those comments in the article. I don't think for one minute what the board are saying is bullshit, or that they will not in time carry out their promises. We do differ if you don't think the basic squad O'Leary left is not good enough for Europe it is, or it would be with a few more decent additions My point is, the squad is now managed by O'Neill, if he is as good as you all say he is and I believe he once was, then it should not be beyond him to add enough cover and quality in January to achieve a top 6 finish, we just aren't that far behind the likes of Newcastle, Spurs, Blackburn, et al. Believe me O'neill knows we are, the players know we are not. Yes, we are miles behind the big 4 and getting to them will take time, but getting in Europe should not, be the backing good enough and the manager up to it. I'm not talking here of world domination, that will take time, but the start has been made, the changes to Bodymoor Heath a good example. My view is, a manager with those ambitions backed by a board with those ambitions doesn't buy stop gap measures or the sort of player he did whilst at Leicester. For all I know he might be planning along my thoughts all ready, great, I'm just saying preaching the Prozac view isn't the only viable way forward.

wow, impressed!! Enjoy Sir, it will not always be fun, it might even get contentious, but I hope the ride is both long and enjoyable, for all parties concerned, especially us fans Welcome

Good point and one I should have mentioned the fans did us proud

Of course they are overachieving compared to last season, but then you'd expect a new manager with a squad where most of the better quality members are fitter than before to so do. As other managers have shown given some decent players he will get better results compared to his predecessor. In some respects, considering the wonder that is O'Neill, some results could be said to have been underachievements, especially of late. As said already, its about perspective, and perception of fans, we are frequently advised to enjoy the ride and question not, O'Neill himself has been surprised and expects a crash soon, can't see it being tomorrow though

Thanks

No good me commenting I didn't go only saw it on sky

For future reference then please give me an idea of the substance you would have included

No

It's interesting to see how some see this as a negative article and others as criticism of my belief in O'Neill's ability. I didn't see myself as suggesting that he should buy big names in January either, far from it I hope he follows his normal methods and buy well. I am suggesting however, he buys big, and not wait to keep the money until the summer, simply because he's achieved miracles so far and with luck, even if it does go pear shaped and we lose a few matches, we will be in the mix come the january window to push on, money permitting. Then come the summer, if the takeover is as good as we all hope, he should be given the sort of funds to make the likes of Petrov a me too rather than a special one.

Very good point.

Are you sure ?

Boo!!!! I'm one of those mate...just a horrible feeling. Largely originating from 5 years of Villa frequently losing games we should win on current form. Though with my prediction history it'll just mean a sweeter victory! :nod: you are whhat predicting a loss against the team with one of the poorest records against us at VP in recent times. dear me you could be right though, especially with the manager going so negative lately