Legend O'Neill named Aston Villa manager

[Mac 10 †]

O'Neill named Aston Villa manager


 
Martin O'Neill has been named as the new manager of Aston Villa.
 
The 54-year-old takes over from David O'Leary, who was sacked by the Midlands club last month.

O'Neill had been away from football for over a year after quitting his position at Celtic in May 2005 to look after his ill wife Geraldine.

The former Northern Ireland midfielder has previously managed Wycombe, Leicester and Celtic - where he won the Scottish Premier League three times.

John Robertson and Steve Walford will also join the club as assistant manager and coach.

O'Neill takes the reigns at Villa Park in time for the club's pre-season tour of Germany and Holland, which begins on Saturday.

He was met by over 1,000 fans when he arrived at Villa Park and said he was "overwhelmed" by his reception.

"This is a fantastic challenge," O'Neill said. "I am willing and ready to go.

"I am well aware of the history of this football club. Trying to restore it to its days of former glory seems a long way away - but why not try?

"It is nearly 25 years since they won the European Cup but that is the dream."

O'Neill has just over two weeks to prepare for his side's first game of the new Premiership season - against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on 19 August.

"There are some funds available to strengthen the squad and I am going to use them," O'Neill added.

"I will have to look quickly at how the players are shaping up. I have seen quite a few players from a distance but you don't get to know them properly until you work with them yourself."

Villa chairman Doug Ellis was delighted to have secured O'Neill as the club's new manager.

Ellis said: "To me, Martin's passion and ability to motivate players is unsurpassed.

"We had three meetings at my home and I've not spoken to anyone else.

"We had a dozen applicants but Martin was my choice at the start and here he is today."
 

[KURUPTION-81]

I like O Neil especially as a pundit, he isnt afraid to say what he thinks and he has a lot of knoledge of the game.

[Mac 10 †]

I like O Neil especially as a pundit, he isnt afraid to say what he thinks and he has a lot of knoledge of the game.

He sure does. Tho his best quality is getting the best out of troubled players/players who have lost their confidence.

I think he will do very well at Villa.

[KURUPTION-81]

I like O Neil especially as a pundit, he isnt afraid to say what he thinks and he has a lot of knoledge of the game.

He sure does. Tho his best quality is getting the best out of troubled players/players who have lost their confidence.

I think he will do very well at Villa.

He will def have to work hard as O leary has left Villa in a bit of mess, they have a few good players but in no way r they a team. Morale seems low, no leadership on or off the pitch .

The main problem O Neil wil have only have about 3 weeks to get players in before the transfer window closes, so he may have to work with what he has got.

I hope he gives Djemba Djemba some games, the media try and make him out to be a terrible player but he always did ok for united.

[Mac 10 †]

                   Sorensen
De La Cruz  Mellberg  Bouma  Samuel
Hendrie  Davis  Djemba-Djemba  Barry
           Baros  Angel/Moore


this is not a team that should be finishing 16th in the EPL

[Jip]

i hope he takes over from fergie when fergie steps down

[Mac 10 †]

i hope he takes over from fergie when fergie steps down

Martin O'Neill would get Man Utd back amongst the trophies

[Sweet & Tender Hooligan]

Noooo!! I fuckin hate Aston Villa, anyone but them Martin! I think he will take Petrov to villa.

i hope he takes over from fergie when fergie steps down

[Lil White Azz]

                   Sorensen
De La Cruz  Mellberg  Bouma  Samuel
Hendrie  Davis  Djemba-Djemba  Barry
           Baros  Angel/Moore


this is not a team that should be finishing 16th in the EPL

hell no, they should be in the top ten....

[On The Edge of Insanity]

                   Sorensen
De La Cruz  Mellberg  Bouma  Samuel
Hendrie  Davis  Djemba-Djemba  Barry
           Baros  Angel/Moore


this is not a team that should be finishing 16th in the EPL

hell no, they should be in the top ten....

Not really with that team,

Sorensen - an ok goalkeeper but very prone to making stupid mistakes, especially from crosses
De La Cruz - did well in Scotland but has been pretty useless in the Premiership. Losing his pace as he gets older too.
Mellberg - solid defender, needs someone with pace alongside him
Bouma - see Mellberg, just a little faster
Samuel - a good prospect
Hendrie - has scored some great goals, but isn't at all consistant and lacks any real creativity or pace
Davis - good young box to box midfielder, will thrive under O'Neill
Djemba Djemba - had a habit of passing the ball to the opposition whilst at Man U, doesn't seem to have much drive for a midfielder
Barry - would work as a wing back, or in a team with pace elsewhere in their side, but as a left winger he has no pace
Baros - very erratic, would probably be better with a target man alongside him as he does have pace, if not a good touch
Angel - would also probably be better with a target man alongside him

If Martin O'Neill wants to get them into the top ten hes going to have to bring in a lot of much better players than what they currently have.

[Sweet & Tender Hooligan]

Martin O'Neill likes to opt for a target man, so im thinking either Baros or Angel will be out and a player in the Chris Sutton mould will come in....

[TheDeli]

Won't be shocked if Stan Petrov is an Aston Villa player in the next week or so, and perhaps even another player from Celtic

Will be an interesting time for Aston Villa but IMO they still won't finish in the top 10 in the league

[IzUwitIt]

lol at De La Cruz in the starting XI. Aaron Hughes will be the first choice RB as he was last season, unless O'Neill choses otherwise, but the man can identify talent so there shouldnt be no change there. And Djemba is terrible, a panic buy from O'Leary. There;s a reason he never plays for us.

we just need this takeover to go down within the next week or so and the money will be there to attract some big names and more importantly, pay their wages.

Very pleased with O'Neill's appointment, but theres alot of work to be done at Villa Park. But no-one better to lead the way.

[Sweet & Tender Hooligan]

to be honest Villa will struggle to attract top european names because of where they are situated.....Birmingham is a fucking horrible horrible place and i cant imagine anyone wanting to live there.

[Woozie]

to be honest Villa will struggle to attract top european names because of where they are situated.....Birmingham is a fucking horrible horrible place and i cant imagine anyone wanting to live there.

you would be surprised how many players choose money over ambition, just look at sol campbell going to pompey for his last big pay day as recently as this week.

villa can offer as big a wage as any in the premiership (with the exception of chelsea obviously)

and who says any new villa players need to stay in brum?