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Success at Aston Villa could spell trouble for English Football

Nobody can deny that this could be one of Aston Villa’s best years. Manager Martin O’Neill has motivated his young team and lifted them into the ranks of the Top Four in the English league. Although Villa dropped out of the Uefa Cup last night after losing to CSKA Moscow they are still in the FA Cup and in a very strong position to hold onto their four place in the league which would give them a crack at the Champions League competition next season.

All sounds good, but should we be reading something else into last nights exit from the Uefa Cup. Most clubs involved in European competitions enjoy the prestige and excitement of playing in these tournaments. It usually means so much to the fans with every home game a sell out and the away games attract a number of loyal travelling supporters who spend a lot of money following the team’s progress. However before last night’s game Martin O’Neill had already made it known that success in the Uefa Cup was not a priority and that his attention would be targeted at the domestic efforts. Throughout the season Villa have struggled with a small squad so it was no wonder that O’Neill did not even take eight of his regular squad members to Moscow. With no Gareth Barry, Brad Friedel, Emile Heskey, James Milner, Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Carlos Cuellar and Stiliyan Petrov, there was every danger Villa would be like sitting ducks in a shooting gallery. Sending a team of reserves to a game of this importance was an insult to the spirit of the Uefa Cup.

So now lets assume that Villa do finish in the top four and do get their place in the Champions league, questions have to be asked if they actually have the squad to compete and go the distance? Unless Villa spend a lot of money building their squad their involvement in the Champions Cup could be short lived. This would be a disaster especially when Villa would be replacing a club like Arsenal whose achievements in this tournament have been impressive.

Villa fans: If Martin O’Neill is going to make the European competitions a secondary priority then do you think it fair that Villa bother to take any place in any European tournament let alone the Champions Cup?

by 4sportsake Editor | Friday 27 February 2009 9:28am
Editor, Football | 21 comments

Comments

Aston Villa were the first person to field a weakened side as they rested players? Hopefully the writer will learn more about football and writing when he leaves school.

by Wholearse on 2009-03-01 12:45:41

what a fucking prick...
hope your slitting your wrists right about now cos dear me... your a joke.
just because the team you support is playing shit doesnt mean you can have a whinge at a team who is playing so much better than you..
and arsenal entertaining?
I\\\'d much rather watch west brom tbh.
glory supporting foreign loving wanker..

by Ben on 2009-03-01 09:54:27

Villa are still developing and building, they have come a long way in the last couple of years. The progression is controlled and long term and will be lasting, not instant success bought out of wasting billions on big name big ego players. Mr O\\\'Neil is working with limited resources yes and it takes a strong man and guts not to bow to media pressure and do the best thing for the club.

by mick on 2009-03-01 08:22:33

You are an absolute twat, how the f**k did you get this job?

by Richard Butler on 2009-03-01 07:35:47

Cunt

by Paul Duggan on 2009-03-01 07:22:47

"Although Villa dropped out of the Uefa Cup last night after losing to CSKA Moscow they are still in the FA Cup"
You are clueless.

by Bob Villa on 2009-03-01 06:59:01

Absolute turd. Who gave this moron the administrator rights to this website? It's obvious he has no journalism skills.... what an unprofessional approach.....Typical from a Gooner! No trophies in 4 seasons - living in the past!!

by Lee Lindsay on 2009-03-01 06:46:31

WHY ARE ALL ARSENAL FANS FUCKING WANKERS. I MEAN HAVE YOU MET ONE? THEY ARE SO FUCKING GAY IT'S UNREAL. THIS DRIVEL JUST SUMS UP THE FUCKING BLINKERED SOUTHERN FUCKING GAY ARSENAL TWATS. BRING BACK HOOLIGANISM & LETS FUCKING KILL THE BASTARDS.

by Jinksy on 2009-03-01 06:23:55

this writer is terrible. he obviously doesnt know anytj=hing about Aston Villa. He says we are still in the FA cup for Gods sake!

Writer, never write again you twat!

by Aaron-Vill-Fan on 2009-02-28 08:43:16

This article doesn't even deserve to be commented on it is so ill-informed and biased against Villa.

by Martin Banks on 2009-02-28 03:41:55

This article doesn't even deserve to be commented on it is so ill-informed and biased against Villa.

by Martin Banks on 2009-02-28 03:40:42

The point is the amount of games in the Uefa Cup! We played 12 games - with 8 more left to win it!

Man U won the CL in 13 games.

I think our squad would have managed ONE more game - ie the CL final!

by madladdy on 2009-02-27 12:49:20

If we get into the Champs League O'Neill will play the strongest 11 all the time, the Uefa cup was acting as a distraction for our ultimate goal, to qualify for the champions league

by Chris on 2009-02-27 12:35:31

You are obviously out of touch because Villa are not still in the FA cup. If Villa got into the champions league they would set it alight. Martin knows exactly what he is doing. In the next five years, Villa will win the European cup. Fact.

by Lopedogg on 2009-02-27 11:31:49

There really is an anti-Villa feeling building up isnt there! If we get 4th place it will be on merit, nothing else, why can't people be happy for us? The writer is obviously like the rest of the London obsessed media in thinking that no-one other than the current top 4 should get the top 4 places. Would like to see what your opinions were if it were West Ham or Tottenham in our position???

by Steve on 2009-02-27 11:02:14

villa are not in the fa cup and whats the champions cup?

while we are at it how many times have arsenal won it?

by james edwards on 2009-02-27 10:53:23

MR ARSENAL YOU FUCKING GAY CUNT! PLEASE REFRAIN FROM WRITING ABOUT VILLA AND STICK TO WRITING ABOUT THOSE FRENCH FAGGOTS WHO HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF ENGLISH PLAYERS AS THE MEXICAN NATIONAL TEAM.

by Sean on 2009-02-27 10:19:14

The writer of this article is so anti villa its unreal. You are full of negative comments which have no substance. Should we qualify for the champions league O'neill is smart enough to know we would need to strengthen considerably with quality! O'neill has clearly shown he will only spend on the right players instead of strenghtening for the sake of it and rather than try and win the uefa and struggle finish fourth we would rather finish top four meaning we will attract top talent and arsenal will lose a lot of there stars meaning we can sustain our position! UTV

by Alex on 2009-02-27 10:14:25

Only the Sky four may be permitted to play in the Champions League. Long live the status quo! Idiot.

by Chris on 2009-02-27 09:54:39

We are not still in the FA cup, think everton are, what an idiot and what a idiotic article.If Arsenal finish 5 th they should take the champions league because they have done well in it before?!?!!? They ain't won it though have they? Wonder who has?

by tinker on 2009-02-27 09:50:28

The whole point is that with champions league secured villa will be able to attract champions league calibre players and will have the financial certainty to bring them in. Sending a reserve team to moscow was far from ideal but finishing fourth will be colossal for villa. I have no doubt we will see a strong and competitive villa side in the group stages of the champions league next year.

by Andy L on 2009-02-27 09:44:01

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Success at Aston Villa could spell trouble for English Football

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