O’Neill open to Villa fan anger
Thursday 26th February 2009, 11:32AM GMT.
Villa manager Martin O’Neill has pledged to listen to the grievances of fans furious at his decision to leave his stars at home for the match in Moscow.
His decision to rest eight first-teamers behind for this evening’s UEFA Cup round of 32 second leg with CSKA Moscow, with Sunday’s Premier League clash against Stoke in mind, has sparked a furious response from the 300 supporters out in the Russian capital and those at home.
Claret and blue fans have vented their anger in the Express & Star, with the club accused of showing both themselves and the competition – Villa’s best chance of silverware this season – a lack of respect.
But O’Neill insists he is doing what he believes is in the club’s best interests and hopes his critics will see the bigger picture, with the potential for a fourth-place Premier League finish and Champions League football next season currently on the cards.
He said: “We’ve about 300 travelling fans who have spent very good money in coming to support us. I don’t know their viewpoint, but I’d like to find out, because it’s those people I’ve thought about, having spent their money.
“But who is to say the players in the side won’t be able to turn this around? We have a real fighting chance of doing it and that would be fantastic for us. That would maybe placate those travelling fans.
“If you had given them the opportunity to press on to get into the Champions League, with the squad we possess at the moment, they would say, ‘you do what you think is the right thing for the club’.
“That’s what I’m doing. Whether in time it proves to be correct is in the lap of the gods.”
The boss admitted he is surprised by the extent of the supporters’ rage.
He said: “Other football clubs flout these things, and they get a bit of criticism for a minute or two – it seems as if it (resting players) is sacrilegious.
“This is the first time we’ve done it and it (the criticism) seems to be lasting forever, yet we’ve gone as strongly as we can every single time before.
“I’ve played by the rulebook, such as in FA Cup matches this season with Gillingham and Doncaster.
“For me, this competition is important. Perhaps if we were further down the line, if this was a quarter-final here, it might be a different issue.”
The tie is delicately poised at 1-1 ahead of tonight’s second leg at the Luzhniki Stadium in the Russian capital.
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I’m not angry Martin
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It might seem like a foolish thing to do in trying everything humanly possible to qualify for the Euefa cup only to want out as soon as possible when fourth place in the Premiership looks achievable but we as Villa fans have to be realistic, We have one of the smallest squads in the league and are starting to look very tired. If we do end up qualifying for the big one then everything will be rosy and Martin O’Neill will be walking on water and almost certainly be the best thing since sliced bread. The point I’m trying to make is this: Martin O’Neill is probably one of the best managers that we’ve had or ever likely to have so let’s give him our full backing and keep faith in the man that most of us hailed as the messiah not too many months ago. May I also add that I for one think he’s right up there with any manager in the world. A genius and a gent and i don’t use those terms lightly.
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The real point is that Martin apparently had money to spend during the Jan transfer window and didn’t spend it. We all know MON doesn’t like to overpay BUT he knew in January how many games were on the schedule.
That being said we still have a real shot today.
And no, I’m not mad either.
UTV!
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If clubs dont want to field their strongest available team then they shouldnt be in the competitio at all. Its time for a return to the regulation that stated you must play your strongest available team or be fined. It is not fair to paying supporters and Managers should NOT be allowed to act in this manner. Unprofessional!!!!
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martins had four opportunitys to buy in the transfer windows and has not saying he wont pay over the odds well these prices are the norn now, or is it the great randy lerner will not give him any more big money , you never hear from him at all at least the golds at birmingham do make statements to the press you get nothing from the villa not even a local bbc radio interview or sports phone in the villa press relations have gon down in my estimation, dissalusioned villa fan
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Martin o neil is a fantastic manager, and it has always been said in recent times that villa want to break the top four thats there aim and with such a small squad i cant blame him for not sending all first teamers. Its ok fans keep up the negativity because lets face it, its not going to affect the teams morale in any way. (obvious sarcasm there)
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Im disgusted, I think with a full strenghth team we could have won this cup and I would much rather win some silverwhere than finish 4th.We could still go out in the qualifying round of the Champions League as Everton did.Why bother to enter the inter toto in July if your not gonna take the competition seriously.Its also an insult to the 300 or so fans who have paid hundreds of pounds to go to Moscow to seee the reserves.I still think MON is a great manager but he is walking on thin ice.
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Having visited alot of Villa fans site, it appears that MON can do no wrong. But this is yet another season where the trophy cabinet is empty and supporters want cup finals and trophies to shout about. Fatigue has now become a joke amongst supporters watching football athletes paid thousands of pounds a week for doing a part-time job. They would have the shock of their lives and fatigue a plenty if they had to work a labour intensive 40+ hours a week. What is going on here?
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First of all I would like to give the reserve team players some credit for the effort they put in. However all I can say is that Martin O’neill was totally wrong to even think that his stupid priortising tactics could even work. Here didnt care about the fans and how would they feel about the situation. I can understand that games come thick and fast, players get tired but leaving 8 star players was insane. Last year players worked there socks off to enter the competition and just giving it away like that so cheaply was very painfull to take in.
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When is MON going to get the message that there is no alternative to attracting top quality players to compete at this level.
January was the perfect opportunity with money available and offering the prospect of European involvement.If we don’t finish in the top 4 our chances will be greatly reduced.
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Had Gabby, Milner, and Ashley made the trip it could have been a very different result. They are all very young and would have been ready to play on Sunday with two days rest (in my opinion.)
God forbid we slip to 5th-where are we next year?….UEFA. I wonder if he’ll try to win then?
3 points on Sunday will go a very long way.
UTV!
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Some of you seem new to being a Villa fan – This season we have been amazing. We are still in a position to extend the away winning streak in the Prem & unfortunatly 4th place in the Prem is the golden ticket to better Finances, better players, more fans & Villa on TV on a Wednesday & Thursday Evening.
PS. I was walking the dog yesterday & saw 5 lads playing football – 4 had Villa shirts on!! That hasn’t happened in years.
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Rennie – If you are tired you can work at 95% & no one will notice – If you try that playing football against Chelsea you’d be slughtered. The margins are so fine at the top level. MON is fantastic. He can & will do wrong but he plays the percentages well.
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