O'Neill Quits As Villa Boss

[The Coon Dog]

Martin O'Neill has resigned as Aston Villa manager with immediate effect.

Kevin MacDonald has been appointed caretaker boss while no reason has been given for O'Neill's decision to leave after four years in the job.

MacDonald will prepare the side for their Premier League opener against West Ham on Saturday.

O'Neill, appointed in 2006, said: "I have enjoyed my time at Aston Villa immensely. It's obviously a wrench to be leaving such a magnificent club."

The 58-year-old O'Neill, who led Villa to their third successive sixth-placed finish in the Premier League last season, added: "I would like to pay tribute to the Villa players, my coaching staff and the Villa supporters for all the support and encouragement they have given both the club and me personally during my time as manager.

Article in full...

*Seems strange coming just a few days before the EPL season starts.

[Picken Knows]

Re: O'Neill Quits As Villa Boss

*Seems strange coming just a few days before the EPL season starts.

I heard a guy from UK radio say that the money that Aston Villa get from the sale of James Milner to Man City was not going to be available to O'Neill to use to buy some new players.

He wasn't happy and told them to jam it.

[LostDoggy]

Re: O'Neill Quits As Villa Boss

It does seem a bit weird timingwise but it's been in the works for a while now -- he hasn't been happy since Barry's sale last year, and the Milner one definitely added fuel to the fire.

I put some feelers out to some of my more reliable sources and the word on the vine is that there's strong speculation that Randy Lerner (Villa owner) and head office has accepted an offer for Ashley Young (not sure from whom, suspects are the usual: Chelsea and Man City), which was the final straw for him. Seriously, Man City have poached half his team, they might as well just hire him as coach as well.

[Picken Knows]

Re: O'Neill Quits As Villa Boss

Seriously, Man City have poached half his team, they might as well just hire him as coach as well.

Give it 6 weeks

[Topdog]

Re: O'Neill Quits As Villa Boss

Pretty sure its Spurs that had the bid accepted for Villa.

[Remi Moses]

Re: O'Neill Quits As Villa Boss

The game has become a joke,I heard City offered an Inter player (name escapes me) 18,000 a week and the player also wants naming rights on his brand!!
Please find some perspective and some reality FFS

[Remi Moses]

Re: O'Neill Quits As Villa Boss

Typo 180,000 pounds

[LostDoggy]

Re: O'Neill Quits As Villa Boss

Typo 180,000 pounds

Mario Balotelli.

The amount is not so much the issue (I'm not saying 180k pounds is okay, its grossly disgusting in a world where still 28,000 kids a day die from causes related to extreme poverty, but quite a few players are on that.. John Terry got his 160k pound per week contract 2 or 3 years ago, Rio Ferdinand signed a 150k per week contract 5 years ago, Beckham is on a media related massive contract around double that, and Yaya Toure recently signed on for around 225k per week, so it's not anything new).

It's just that Balotelli is, at best, an average-to-good packmule, the kind you can find 20-30 of running around in the French 1st division alone, or on any decent African national team. If you start paying this type of money for these types of players, Kaka, Messi and Ronaldo may as well form a union and complain about unfair compensation right now.

[LostDoggy]

Re: O'Neill Quits As Villa Boss

Pretty sure its Spurs that had the bid accepted for Villa.

Trade rumour update: Spurs put in an improved bid a while ago (still not Villa's asking price) and they were haggling over the final amount, but Villa have called their bluff by "accepting" an offer from one of the bigger fish. If true, I guess we'll see if Spurs blinks.

O'Neill has always maintained publicly that he doesn't want to sell Young (even through Young's representation and Spurs were apparently in quiet wage talks -- all against the rules!), all the while as head office continued privately with their transfer window hijinks, making him look like a donkey to the rest of the industry. O'Neill is a proud man with no shortage of suitors, was always going to walk at some point in this farce.

[Remi Moses]

Re: O'Neill Quits As Villa Boss

Mario Balotelli.

The amount is not so much the issue (I'm not saying 180k pounds is okay, its grossly disgusting in a world where still 28,000 kids a day die from causes related to extreme poverty, but quite a few players are on that.. John Terry got his 160k pound per week contract 2 or 3 years ago, Rio Ferdinand signed a 150k per week contract 5 years ago, Beckham is on a media related massive contract around double that, and Yaya Toure recently signed on for around 225k per week, so it's not anything new).

It's just that Balotelli is, at best, an average-to-good packmule, the kind you can find 20-30 of running around in the French 1st division alone, or on any decent African national team. If you start paying this type of money for these types of players, Kaka, Messi and Ronaldo may as well form a union and complain about unfair compensation right now.

Might just start following Bury. The game is just a sterile with pampered prima donas strutting around. I actually enjoy watching championship highlights show with the old grounds and the terraces

[anfo27]

Re: O'Neill Quits As Villa Boss

Disappointed with Martin calling it quits but agree that it has been on the cards for a while. Maradona was interested in the job, what a joke that guy is Villa would be the laughing stock of world football if they hired that clown.
Lantern I'm not sure where you have got your transfer gossip from and i'm not saying your wrong but everything I have read has spurs denying they are even interested in Young let alone put in a bid. I for one hope you are wrong Lantern cause we can't afford to lose Young as well as Milner.
Hopefully with the sale of Milner they can go out and get a decent bloody striker.

[LostDoggy]

Re: O'Neill Quits As Villa Boss

Disappointed with Martin calling it quits but agree that it has been on the cards for a while. Maradona was interested in the job, what a joke that guy is Villa would be the laughing stock of world football if they hired that clown.
Lantern I'm not sure where you have got your transfer gossip from and i'm not saying your wrong but everything I have read has spurs denying they are even interested in Young let alone put in a bid. I for one hope you are wrong Lantern cause we can't afford to lose Young as well as Milner.
Hopefully with the sale of Milner they can go out and get a decent bloody striker.

Pretty open secret: Young's reps negotiating terms with Spurs, with his 65,000 pound p/w wage at Villa the sticking point, but Young to Spurs almost definitely going ahead, with Villa looking to slash their wage bill further. Spurs/Villa still finalising transfer fee as well, Robbie Keane very likely heading to Villa in a part-exchange deal (so you'll get that decent striker you are looking for).

[Topdog]

Re: O'Neill Quits As Villa Boss

Pretty much all the same that I have been hearing Lantern. Astounding that he is on more than any player at Tottenham last year.