O’Neill still hoping to add
Thursday 29th January 2009, 11:30AM GMT.
Villa manager Martin O’Neill has confirmed he still hopes to make further additions before Monday’s transfer deadline.
O’Neill is on the lookout for defensive cover for injured skipper Martin Laursen, who is expected to out for another seven weeks, although reports linking Villa with Paul Scharner are understood to be wide of the mark.
The Villa chief is working around the clock to try to add to last week’s signing of Emile Heskey, but admits his plans to strengthen could yet be scuppered.
O’Neill said: “We have only got a few days left, after Monday that is it. We hope things will all work out. We are without Martin Laursen and that’s a major loss.”
Business Awards
Book a Business Awards table
Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Its not as if we are working on a shoestring budget, we need at least a couple of quality players, lets get some money spent.
If we dont do something soon, it wont be a matter of trying to keep up with the Jones’s, we’ll have trouble keeping up with anybody.
Report abuse
Oldburyite – if we beat Wigan on Sat, we’ll be 2nd in the league. Two points clear of 3rd and 4th who play each other on Sunday. To read your post, you’d think we were fighting for survival.
A couple of players would be nice if MON thinks they’ll improve the team, not just for the sake of it though.
Report abuse
We have 3 recognised centre halfs who are fit, four full backs if you count Gardner and NRC, Freddie Bouma is coming back.
Yes Laursen is a big loss but if we are lucky and dont pick up too many further injuries we definately have the team there to crack 4th spot. MON and JR know their stuff, Emile is a good team addition.
Keep it up Villa, not only are all us Villa fans behind you but I think about every neutral in the country.
Sam
Report abuse
Hi Stu.
The fact is, we have not beaten Wigan yet and I dont count chickens.
Ok we are winning games, but only just, we are sitting 4th as I write, but a couple of games can soon change that.
It was Pompey we played on Tues and they were all over us for 80% of the game, do you think we would have got away with it, had it been say Everton.
No I do not think we are fighting for survival, I think we are fighting for a place in the Champions league, but the truth is, to do that we need to improve a hell of a lot, surely you cant think that we are playing well enough to achieve that.
Report abuse
Villa dont have the luxuries Man City have to go out and just buy someone for the sake of it.
Lerner maybe a Billionaire but i imagine it’s mainly tied up in assets. Lerner and MON intend to run Villa as a business not some Arabian play thing!
We are going along fine, if we can add players like Sharner (MOTM against Pool last night)and N’zogbia,(undeniable technique and ability) to the signing of Heskey i think MON will have had a very good January indeed!
Report abuse
Oldburyite..
Pompy may have been ontop for long periods of the game the other night but thats what you need to do sometimes.
Villa were away from home (against a side that beat us twice last season comfortably)We defended superbly and scored a great goal which should have been added to.
Only three season ago we were fighting for survival. The team has to prove itself before the players start walking through the door!
Report abuse
We need a goalscorer, a proper out and out striker. Saviola fits the mold in my eyes but he’s not a MON type of player…
Report abuse
MON has proven he won’t buy a player that doesn’t fit his profile. So far he’s fone a great job. I think we’ll see one or two more additions (Michael Owen & N’Zogbia)….or maybe not. Would love to get Freddie back.
Report abuse
I agree Great Bear,Saviola is a class act but in MON I trust.I hope MON is here to build his own dynasty,just as Sir Alex has at Man Utd and look how long that took.We are further on a lot more quickly,so there is aways the hope that things will not take as long before people are speaking of the Villa in the same breath as Utd,Chelsea,Liverpool and Arsenal.
Report abuse