Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Kevin MacDonald on his Villa gamble
Friday 20th August 2010, 9:02AM BST.
Caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald felt his “calculated gamble” was vindicated after seeing his inexperienced Villa team avoid a Moscow-style fiasco.
Barry Bannan’s precious away goal in last night’s 1-1 draw with Rapid Vienna ensured Villa are now favourites to progress into the Europa League group stages going into next Thursday’s play-off second leg.
The result was achieved without 10 first-team players with MacDonald resting three of them – Ashley Young, captain Stiliyan Petrov and Luke Young – in scenes reminiscent of former manager Martin O’Neill’s decision to leave a string of stars at home for the defeat to CSKA Moscow 18 months ago.
MacDonald, who included debutants Eric Lichaj and Jonathan Hogg from the start, admitted it had been a risk but was delighted it paid off.
He said: “I thought it was a calculated gamble.
“The youngsters now getting to the age of 19, 20, 21 where they need to start picking up their education and development if they want to make it into the first team.
“I’m very proud indeed. It was an education for the boys, who played in patches, but I was pleased with all of them because it’s not an easy place to come.
“But it was gratifying to score a goal away from home, with Bannan and Marc Albrighton doing very well.
“It was a good finish, a good goal, and I’m sure you could see the elation in all the young boys’ faces when we did score.
“There’s a strong camaraderie among that group of players.”
O’Neill was criticised for leaving players at home and even arranged a dinner for disgruntled supporters, but MacDonald felt the result justified his decision.
He added: “You’ll have to ask the fans if they were happy with me doing that.”
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