O'Neill Likes The Local Derbies

Martin O'Neill is looking forward to a derby match or two next season.

The Villa boss, once the scourge of Villa Park when visiting as Leicester City's boss, said of the prospect of our match against the Blue noses:

'I personally don't think it is any bad thing having local rivalries. I might be speaking well out of turn and Villa fans might say: 'Not at all, we don't like Birmingham full stop!' But I think renewed interest in the area is exactly what we need.'

'I think that it was a great achievement by them. The manager (potato head) has done terrifically well; it was a really big achievement to get back in the top division again at the first time of asking. Obviously we will look forward to the big derby games. I have never experienced them before.'

Should be a nice culture shock for Randy and the new board, that is for sure!

O'Neill added the dingles or yim yams might also get back into the Prem - for a season at least!

'At this minute you would say that there is a reasonable chance of either WBA or Wolves making it with Preston having had such a monumentally bad run. Southampton's goal difference is better than Wolves and they should beat Southend. But you never know what could happen on Sunday.'

He also knows that anything goes with derbies so it could cause problems as well!

'That is exactly right. Arsene Wenger said that he thought there were far too many London derbies to be played, because boys are 'up' for games. So I have to say with consideration that there is that element to it - every single time that there is a derby, does it become a non-predictable result? Derby matches can go either way. So what we want is to galvanise interest in the area- but not too much!'

COME ON THE VILLA!

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