It’s been a slow news week for Villa fans. With the transfer window shut and no game at the weekend due to our early exit from the FA Cup, most of the talk has been about where we think we’ll finish in the league, and all the possible permutations of European qualification, writes Villa blogger Gregg Williams.

It seems like a good idea for the players to have had a training camp in Spain, I for one would have liked to have taken my work out there for a few days to escape this cold weather, and I work indoors.

There is even a rumour that the players were told at half time in the game against Newcastle that the trip would be cancelled if they didn’t turn things around. I guess if that’s true then its just another example of the man management skills of Martin O’Neill.

Speaking of which, I hear Stan Collymore has been singing the great man’s praises and has said that he wishes he could have played under O’Neill for Villa.

Stan was a wasted talent who shone in a Villa shirt far too little, capable of moments of magic including one of my all time Villa highlights, that goal against Athletico Madrid, but also moments of sulking and disappearing before games.

I’ll give him credit though, he is turning into a very inciteful pundit and is always singing our praises in the national media, which counts for something at least. If anyone knows what sort of manager it takes to keep a talented young footballer motivated and focussed on their career then I guess its Stan, and if he feels Martin O’Neill is the best, then who are we to argue.

Whenever I see Collymore I think of the atmosphere after he scored that goal against Madrid. It was something really special to behold that night, and it always gets me thinking about what it could be like to be in Villa Park for a Champions League fixture against one of the European giants.

It might still be a few seasons away but that dream seems a lot closer under Randy and Martin than in the dark days of O’Leary and Ellis.