Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: J P Fear 
Date:Tuesday August 12 2008
Time: 9:15AM
UK time is: 20:14:36
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Has Martin O'Neill Taken Leave Of His Senses?!?!
Has our very own manager, Martin O'Neill taken leave of his senses?!?! Not only has he already brought in six players (and hopefully a seventh with Cuellar today) he is saying that he doesn't intend to stop buying.
Blimey, the moaning in the forums might soon grind to a halt!!!
MON told the official site
'If we're going to try and compete, even at Premier League level let alone Europe, we need a decent squad. So we need to keep adding quality if we can.'
Adding, 'What we've done is bring in a recognised right-back and a recognised left-back to help us. We didn't have the right-back last year but it wasn't for lack of trying. We've not finished. We'll still have some players coming in to give us a chance and if we're lucky enough to qualify for the group stages of the UEFA Cup that would take us right up to Christmas and we'll most definitely need the squad.'
He also admits that last season we were lucky not to pick up more injuries with such a thin squad, along with the fact we didn't enjoy the best of cup runs, which meant we were able to compete in the Premiership. 'Eight or nine players played over 30 games and we didn't have big runs in the FA or League Cup - therefore we were able to concentrate on the League. All that could change this season and the fact is that we need the squad to be bigger to cope with that. That's what we're trying to do.'
So who next, a striker maybe???!!! Add a 20-a-season goal scorer and Villa could just have a season to remember, especially now it looks like Gareth Barry will also have to stay!
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Your Comments
LOL oh happy days (romanianvillain bursts into song and does a little jig of joy). Keep 'em coming MON, if we sign a quality striker and a quality RW I'll be very very chuffed!!
romanianvillain
The trust shown by the majority of Villa fans is now being repaid, as long Cueller doesn't turn out to be as bad as the last big money Rangers centre half to join the PL.
keithlees1978
MON has totally transformed the defensive side of the team with proven quality players at full back, centre half and GK.
Given that we scored plenty of goals last season, but shipped a few too many he has addressed the more critical positions first.
It's almost as if he knows what he's doing! Shame on all you MON knockers ;)
GCR_villlan
Imagine what we could have achieved had he spent last summer!!!! Oh well, i will be happy with 4th this season.
young_jonah
This has a great chance of being the best Villa transfer window ever, if it already isn't - we'll see how the signings do. I'm already doing a song and dance with RV with what we've bought now, 2 or three more quality players and I'll be on a mission to get hold of MON's phone number to declare my love. I think it's safe to say that the last weeks activities with transfers has surprised us all, and add on top of that the links we've been having, it's happy times!
Mayo_12
Top optimism YJ, gotta love it :)
Mayo_12
He is a football manager, what do you think he is supposed to do ? he's built a nice nucleus of a squad over the last two years, got us to improve on the pitch, gradually climbing positions in the league. Nows the time to add quality IF IT'S available. Getting a good team together takes three or four years ie: Man Utd, Gunners, Chelski. Too much critiscism over the last two years from people who haven't got a clue about running a profesional football club. Good on ya MON, keep driving forward, leaving the doubters in your wake
astonmilan
This is by far the best transfer window i´ve seen as a villa fan. He has bought quality everywhere without breaking the bank. A creative midfielder, (i don´t believe Joe Cole would come to Brum), but someone similar for 15-20 million would round it off. I´m not sure we need a striker, Our 3 did wonderfully last year, and i think that the Hare should get more of a chance. Also we will be playing Delfoenso more. If we need a 20 goal man, lets wait till Jan and see where we are.
barcavilla
It looks like the Generals comments may have helped kick MON into action. Is 3 more players in being too optimistic!?
son_of_cher
Let Barry go and miss the Villa playing in the Champions League next season.
col8
Looks like Valencia want shot of Joaquin - could be the mooted under the radar Spainish player - unless that was Cuellar - and would fill that RW spot nicely. Having another Spaniard in Cuellar might help too.
Silent-Bob
Keep em coming Mart!
MattUTV
the moaning will always be there, u just wait. some of the members here will moan that their favourite player aint playing enough!!
Gruck
Happy dance, i'm doing the happy dance!!!
Totally agree, one RW and a flair striker and i will be crying with joy! Maybe cover and LB and RB but hey, if we have all we're getting i am PLEASEEEEEEEED!!! Not very often i say that!!
God bless Ya MON! and god bless Randy!
UTV
mtones
yeah col8, Barry staying at Villa is vital for us to mount a real challenge to the top 4 this season. If he stays, and I think he will, then Villa are really looking like we have a team to be serious contenders!!!
romanianvillain
i make that about £35m spent this summer already. absolutely brilliant. havent enjoyed a transfer window like this for a very long time!!!!!!
Stig
We have 3 RW's MON just does not play them that much. if the Cuellar deal goes through this will be the best transfer window i can remember as a villa fan. I still think we need another RB, a creative midfielder and a top quality striker. but this window has justified my faith in MON.
Tallaght Villan
young_jonah you have to take into account the standard of players we could attract last summer after finishing 11th and having no european football,Perhaps he didn`t fancy spending 35 million on average players,O`neill has done well it is one thing getting th enumbers in but another thing getting in 7 players of this quality.
lerneravfc
Fantastic stuff! How about Fabio Quagliarella now? Ive got a massive smile on my face now! Number 1 spot this season! Hehe
Layzee
in comparison to us having 14 senior players, and only 9 of them available for the blackburn game....
EvertonMike
son_of_cher - MON bought 3 players in between now and deadline day last year. Why not do it again ? MON likes deadline day signings ( Davies, Salifou, Maloney ) so it's looking really good right now!! UTV
Randy-Villain3293
According to the AVFC Blog (yeah i know iused another site!!) the mystery under the radar player is Ruben De La Red.
nottinghamvillain
If we could keep Barry, get De La Red (will also help Cuellar settle in) and Ashton I am very confident of us getting very close to the top 4, if not breaking up!
In MON we trust!
I reckon Barry would want to stay, the club are finally showing the sort of ambition he was promised from day one, MON has taken 2 years to bring in the signings he promised Barry he would, and hopefully there are 2 or 3 more surprises to come!!!
young_jonah
Dont know enough about this De La Red guy but he must be half decent to play for Real Madrid and Spain.........I think Ashton is overpriced at 15m+. But if were going to suceed in the UEFA we'll need quality strikers as Gabby will be shut out........ Joe Cole would be a great signing and have a feeling he'd fancy joining us?
son_of_cher
SWP or Cole for the RM role and we have a chance providing we again stay reasonably clear of injury. My concern would still be cover/competition for Big John. He is integral to the way we play and there is no way he will play 50+ games. I would also now look at identifying young, lower league players with promise to cover as many roles as possible. I am certain there must be young players who would rather be understudy to the main players at VP, rather than playing in the lower leagues. Especially if they realise they will get a chance to prove themselves in League Cup games or when injuries and suspensions happen.
voiceoftheholte
young_jonah It has taken o`neill 2 years to get these signings in because two years ago when he took over we were ***** and couldn`t attract them,Now thanks to o`neill we can.What is all this talk about gareth barry now wanting to stay?***** him we were not good enough for him before so he can do one now.We do not need him if we get de la red,Maybe he can sit on the bench as cover for left back.
lerneravfc
Nobodies soft touch anymore.
We will lie down for no opposition anymore.
We will be be a handful for everyone. We will cause everyone problems. We're gonna upset a few so called 'big' teams this season. Dismiss AVFC at your peril. Villa are back.
JeffBeck-TheLeftSide
Well said lerneravfc...
gappy65
MON has done a remarkable job with the limited squad to date. With this new crop of players we can push on. My only concern is if we try to bed all the players in at once. This could pose a problem but MON is an master at fitting players into excisting squads. It could have been a case of not wanting to rock the boat for the first couple of years. Maybe letting the squad get used to the MON way.
gappy65
WE was told to be patient. How right MON was!!! The man is GOD!
gappy65
Christ! What are we going to moan about now!?
greggaiger
@ greggaiger - we could moan about not signing Kaka!! LOLOL
DoLpHiNaToR
Well I'm disappointed, its been half an hour since I last checked and no new signings in that time. Whats going on? Is MON on a tea break? Pull your finger out man! :) And i agree lerneravfc, Barry with his versatility will make a make a great utility player, sitting on the bench.
tonybrum
The truth is that all along MON waited to spend £millions until we had what quality players wanted: European football. If he'd have spent it before that we'd have ended up with toss. Look at the ****e newcastle bought last season, and they spent a right wedge. It is beautiful to see though. We could well have quite the squad come August 31st!
The Usual Suspect
that big nose red tw**t tompson just on SSN saying thinks we need to sell barry to pay for our transfers wants to stop thinking were like his club broke weve got money mate and were going after your leage place........
B6_COMPANY
F u c k Thommo, you seen the grease on his chin? It' obviously dribble from that oversized hooter! Tithead. We have enough money from A) Sales of players. B) Saved wages in player sales. C) Improved league placings and D) there is no D but I'm enjoying making these lists!!! ;-)
koolbill
The Usual Suspect: Too right. Lookat WHAM and Newcastle, they bought sicknote, mercenaries - no offence Owen, you're not included in that apart from being a sicknote. And look at what happened, sackings, resignations from top to bottom. Disgraceful. MON has played a blinder, he's accepted that we weren't a good proposition till now, he's took on LFC and won - my GOD they look stupid now. My worry is that he's that good at beating the likes of LFC that once Fergie goes there's really only him and Mourinho with the astutness and temperament to annihilate the fat spaniard and Wenger. Right now we are close to matching the profile of Spurs and one more season should do it...remember that players will always want to go to London so MON has to work twice as hard as anyone to get them to Brum. I love Brum and the Bullring, sign me up!!!
koolbill
We've managed a net spend of over £30 million without seriously increasing the wage bill. (Sorensen, Berger, Mellberg, were all big earners), I remember reading a Randy interview a while back where he suggested that he would fund the transfer fees as long as the club could afford the wage bill. So in essence, unlike Chelsea, we are able to spend big on players without seriously damaging the clubs financial stability.
Its also likely that Randy's invetsment in players has been covered by the increase in value of Villa since he bought us for 63 million in 2006. If Newcastle are rumoured to be for sale for £420 million we must be worth at least half that!
Everyone wins.
Hip hip...
keithlees1978
Bring on more quality signings SWP or cole and need a striker worth 20 goals a season
pksandell
Break your leg Cuellar.
The poke
Never known the club spend so much cash during the closed season, bodes well for an exciting campaign ahead.
glensider
Certainly I think that the summer expenditure will prove to one and all that this club, particularly its owner, and the manager, really mean business.
glensider
Well he has certainly made me STFU!! I really think we can challenge the top 4 this season as we'll take a lot more points due to our ROCK SOLID defence.
TuBBz
Yes, that defence of ours is looking good TuBBz. Give them time to gel properly, and we'll be fine, in fact, more than fine. We'll be smoking.
glensider
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