Comments on: O’Neill transfer policy is a failure

By: Deak

Deak — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:18:09 +0000

@Manny The one thing I do like about Villa is that they have a lot of English players, which is not common in the Premiership. Unfortunately, I think most of these players are mediocre; not worth their exorbitant transfer fees or wages. Milner, Reo-Coker, Luke Young, Sidwell, Harewood, Heskey, Knight, Shorey… all that money spent on what are basically Championship-level players.

Aside from Ashley Young, I think the best English player Villa have — Gabriel Agbonlahor — came through their youth system. Even if you look at Gareth Barry, I think they signed him for nothing as a trainee from Brighton.

Very good English players are so uncommon. I can’t help but think O’Neill is artificially driving up transfer fees for them by his determination to have an English squad whatever the cost. I’d rather they took some of those tens of millions and pumped them into developing English talent rather than buy it in over the odds.

I bet he signs Owen in the close season…

By: Manny

Manny — Wed, 13 May 2009 02:51:35 +0000

One thing I like about O’Neill and Villa is that they’re keeping a strong English core and still place some hope on their youth products. This is all very good when they’re competing in European competition due to the new home-grown players rule, however many argue that one main reason that O’Neill signs English or British-based players (Petrov from Celtic, Cuellar from Rangers) is because his knowledge of players outside the UK is almost non-existent. This is rather obvious with the signing of Emile Heskey, of all players.

I like that Villa maintains a good English core, it’s something you don’t see these days, especially with top-flight English teams. Yet perhaps they need to look further abroad for some cheap talent? You’re right though, O’Neill is a good coach with a pretty good record, he perhaps just needs some better scouts..money doesn’t seem to be an issue for the club considering the fees the splash out for the likes of Reo-Coker and Milner, etc.