Comments on: What Would Martin O’Neill Do?

By: Auslander

Auslander — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:14:59 +0000

I'm just addressing your comments about Benitez and Liverpool. Benitez has made many shrewd signings besides the ones you mention. Peter Crouch, Craig Bellamy and Momo Sissoko were all sold for Profit. Pepe Reina, Alvaro Arbeloa, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel and Javier Mascherano would all walk into the First 11 at Villa and could all be sold for profit.

By: Ian

Ian — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 05:07:28 +0000

Spot on jm. That is exactly the format that this article uses and it is a weak argument. Another issue here is that the expectations at a big club are entirely different. A part of the reason that big clubs have "flops" more often is that they have the spending power to actually sign high cost players. If Villa had the option to sign Shevchenko when Chelsea signed him, it's entirely possible they would have done the same.

Now I can't specifically address the comments regarding Arsenal and Chelsea because I feel less qualified to do so, but as for the Liverpool comments. I would like to point out that right now we are still at the top of the league, and we only have two players in our starting eleven that were not purchased by Rafa Benitez (Our own Gerrard and Carragher) and you can even go further than that. The only player in the squad at all other than those two that was around when Rafa Benitez arrived was Sami Hyypia.

I think it's silly to suggest say with any certainty that Martin O'Neill would have done any better considering that that is a COMPLETE overhaul of the club from top to bottom while maintaining excellence. Granted, he hasn't won the league (yet) but two champions league finals (one win) an FA cup and a community shield isn't so bad for a period of time when the man rebuilt the squad.

By: Raatzie

Raatzie — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:38:21 +0000

Well put. And while we're at it, aren't David Moyes and Steve Bruce, like MON, doing more with less this year? Everton doesn't even have a striker.

By: David

David — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:31:39 +0000

I think one of O'Neill's shrewdest signings has to be Carew – a straight swap for the average Baros. He's enjoying the best goalscoring period of his career and is heavily involved in the creation of goals, just like his strike partner Agbonlahor.

By: Ross

Ross — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:09:48 +0000

I don't really understand the obsession w/ Martin O'Neill. Yes, he's obviously good, evidenced by the fact that his club has experienced great success (and some timely luck) in this first half of the season, but let's not go overboard. I used to think that EPL Talk was a good source of unbiased information, but I'm starting to believe that's not the case.

I also don't understand your part about Arsenal. Yes, its true, Arsenal could use a couple of big money signings, but this would run completely contrary to the club's business model, and probably would not be tolerated in the board room. Arsenal's executives have made it clear that while Champions League and EPL success are at the top of their list, the #1 priority is to be in the black at the end of every campaign, and they have been able to do both, up until this season, and still there are a lot of games left and they only trail AV by three points in the standings.

I think that this posting is a little over the top.