Martin O'Neill hits back at his critics
Villa manager Martin O'Neill has defiantly hit back at criticisms of his transfer policy.
Villa manager Martin O'Neill has defiantly hit back at criticisms of his transfer policy.
O'Neill is yet to make a signing this summer despite the new Premier League campaign being just 11 days away and in previous seasons has tended to do the majority of his business late on in the window.
That has drawn condemnation from some sections of supporters, but the Villa boss has pointed to the success of key defensive trio Stephen Warnock, Richard Dunne and James Collins, who all arrived late on in last season's window, as evidence it's not when you buy, but who you buy.
He said: "Really, I am not remotely interested. Honestly, I couldn't care less whether I get unfairly criticised. I really could not care less.
"If you are tagged with that, then too bad. What I will say is the business we did in the last few days of August really made our season.
"Those three players coming in, Stephen Warnock and the two centre-backs, were absolutely supreme for us.
"It was so, so important to get those three players in, so personally, if I had to wait until the last couple of days because of circumstances then I would.
"This idea that you think because you fancy a player a minute later you have him in, sorry, I think that has been proved wrong up and down the country for the last two decades, never mind anything else.
"I'm not worried, genuinely I couldn't care less and if that's the reputation I have I'm not remotely concerned about it."
O'Neill also revealed he is against the transfer window shutting on August 31.
He said: "Do I agree with the transfer system and window? No I don't, I never have.
"I think it puts incredible pressure on clubs to try to do business in a certain length of time.
"If they tell me the reason is it's because of European football and you don't want some club who is in the semi-final of the Champions League to sign about 18 players the day before I can understand that.
"But I think there could be an extension of the January window.
"There's no reason why it couldn't be right through to the middle of February."
