Martin O'Neill Backs Lerner

I have to agree with the Villa Blog, titles of articles can be very misleading and we all do our best to make attractive or provocative titles to get people viewing articles, but the official site using the title: Randy's Villa Vision wasn't a great one when it is in fact Martin O'Neill talking to the fans, not the chairman/owner. I was also disappointed as I thought we were getting the communication directly!

Anyhow.......!

Martin O'Neill has poured scorn on suggestions - I'm not sure from where as I've not seen any such reports - that Randy Lerner won't back his attempts to bring some fresh players in. It was my understanding from previous comments by the Villa boss that Randy is chomping at the bits to bring in new players and I have seen nothing else to contradict that!

O'Neill explained: 'I get told that certain people are saying Randy Lerner's promises have not quite happened. How can anyone possibly make any comment about that considering Mr Lerner was only involved for a day or two before transfer deadline day in August? We still signed Stiliyan Petrov and came close to getting James Milner before he was recalled by Newcastle. Then after that there has been no opportunity until this month to do anything. How can anything possibly materialise if you haven't had the opportunity to do it for four months - September, October, November, December?'

Adding: 'I am satisfied Mr Lerner has the club at heart. I do not expect to be spending money in the method that Chelsea have done but not many do. During the next couple of seasons, Mr Lerner will show himself absolutely capable of looking after this football club. He has a vision of what he wants. When there was an opportunity to provide money, in the last week before the window closed, he provided £12m for Petrov and Milner until the latter deal fell through.'

'Even if everything in January does not materialise because players are not available, that will still not mean that Randy Lerner's heart is not at the football club. Give him a bit of time.'

Be great boost for the club to get some fresh faces in this January but you have to say that if the players available aren't the ones that O'Neill wants, despite the fact we are all excited and want to see signings, it might just be that it is better to wait until the summer and tide ourselves over with some loans. Hopefully the lack of action isn't because of an inflated market though, as I can't see that situation changing no matter what time of year it is, especially when a club with a billionaire owner approaches, like it or not, a few pounds will always be added to the prices in that case!

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