Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: J P Fear 
Date:Wednesday January 21 2009
Time: 6:39PM
UK time is: 21:26:59
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Where Are Your Villa Priorities?
Our latest poll, suggested by villa_de focuses on Martin O'Neills comments that with the size of our squad he might need to set priorities as Villa remain 4th in the league as well as in the UEFA and FA Cup.
The poll asks what would you prefer, 4th in the PL, an FA Cup win or a UEFA Cup win?
The Villa boss told the official site: 'I remember when Bolton Wanderers got through to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup. There they were with the chance of progressing to the quarter-final of the competition. But they were in a precarious position in the Barclays Premier League. Therefore, they chose to forsake the UEFA Cup to get themselves right for their top-flight battle. An awful lot of people looked at that and thought 'why bother with the competition in the first place?' That might even have been my attitude at that stage, with the chance of progressing. But I suppose, depending on the size of the squad, that is something that you do.'
Adding, or warning???!! 'Maybe in a week or two, we might have to look at prioritising.'
He does also assure fans that the FA cup will be treated 'in the right manner' and we'll be trying our best to get through.
'But there might be a point in prioritising. I don't know. A lot will depend on what happens in the transfer market in the next fortnight.'
The last quote is key, all depends on whether we can get the players in and that isn't as easy as we all think, if you were a club around and abouts us at the moment, would you sell to your competition? The best players are rarely available in January and the ones that are aren't always what is needed as can be seen with what happened to Wayne Routledge our only purchase last January!
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Your Comments
I want all three ! and yes i am greedy and unrealistic . It also would mean that I would have more games to watch !
atkinson villa
yup, would be nice atkinson! I'd love the FA Cup I must admit, the thrill of Wembley and to correct our awful record since 57, especially following the sad news about Johnny Dixon today. Maybe 4th and the FA Cup will do us this year then!
The Fear
It has to be either of the cup wins for me, if we get 4 the we may be out of the champions league before the group stage like everton did the year they got 4th. At least winning something we will all have the memories. As one of my favourite sayings states: '2nd is the 1st loser....'
Tez86
Heart says FA cup, head says 4th! Aaaarghhhh - my head hurts. What shall I vote for?
HeathfieldRoad1874
I want us to win every football match we play in. To replace one of the "big four" in the league would be nice, but so would a cup win. As others have said 4th in the league isn't winning anything, but it would be nice :D
DoLpHiNaToR
A ridiculous attitude in my book. Football is partly about rub of the green, close calls, undeserved wins, and, unlucky defeats. It does not always go to plan. On that basis I am firmly in the camp of take each game as it comes and try and win the lot. Now and again it may be better to rest the odd player - but that should be because he needs a rest and to actually increase your chances of winning. We are not good enough to pick and choose, and arguably no one is (Man Utd being the one arguable exception).
Having said that, understandably a lot of support is going for 4th place, but roll it on a bit into history - our history in particular - and actually winning something still means more. So FA Cup and 4th place please is ok for now. Come March let's go for the UEFA Cup too!
stennyvilla
I refuse to choose. I want it all and I want it now (well I guess I can wait til 'May).
Adam Deuce
While clearly winning a trophy would be nice it should not be our priority this season. The priority is to continue improving as a club, this can be achieved by either a good league position or winning the UEFA cup (rather difficult). The FA cup offers little prestige for attracting new quality players (eg pompey) and as such should not be considered important this year. I want villa to prioritise the league as winning the UEFA cup is less likely than finishing high in the prem. Why be impatient villa fans? We look set to challenge for years to come, seems to me to be little point in targeting short term objectives. If we finish fifth so be it, we will still be in a stronger position to challenge next year. AS for MONs comments I reckon he is going to continue the policy of not buying players for the sake of it. Something which I'm very happy about.
MONsCABA
"We look set to challenge for years to come, seems to me to be little point in targeting short term objectives." Here here MONsCABA
Adam Deuce
I personally think this is a no-brainer. In order to progress as a club we need better players. To attract the right calibre of players (next level up) that we are going to need to sustain a challenge to the top clubs in Engalnd and in Europe, we will have to qualify for the Champions League. Either that or we're going to have to bandy around the ridiculous sums of money in transfer fees and wages like ManCity are having to do, and Portsmouth before them (wages). I don't think we're in any position to do the latter. So 4th should see us push on as a club a hell of a lot more effectively than an FA Cup win or a UEFA Cup win....as nice as either of those would be!
YatesyVillain
4th please, and at least that the next year. Teams that are consistently challenging for the top of their league manage to do well elsewhere as well. The FA Cup would be nice too.
gwyllum18
Where is the option for 1st place in the league on this poll??? We can't go for fourth, we must aim higher.
Villan444
I agree, i think it should just be the league as the ambition, not just 4th, as unrealistic as it may be to finish any higher, the way the league is this year and the big boys dropping so many points and us being so close it would be silly to concentrate on the cups where on fluke bad result could see us out of it. I'm not saying don't give the Cups the respect they deserve, but i'd always side with caution, have the one ofbetter players on the bench as a back up plan if our second string can't do it, rather than run the risk out burning out players before potentially crucial league games... if we can steal some points of Chelski, Pool or Manure it could do us wonders.... We have Chelsea at home in the middle of the CSKA matchs, would you want to see a full side for the first leg and have Gabby, Young or whoever injuried or tired for that match? Sure 2nd leg we'd have Stoke next match so surely could afford to play them in the 2nd leg and rest them for Stoke?
Munk AVFC
To quote Little Britain "Fat Fighters", "It isnt easy, is it?"
I would prefer 4th place in the league, BUT, only if it was followed by qualification into the Group stages! Rangers gained more respect by reaching the final of the UEFA Cup than qualifying for the CL and then falling at the first hurdle! Finishing 4th is only any good if we can consolidate that position, and or, move on to at least the group stages in the CL. Obviously, consolidating our place among the top 4 (or even UEFA positions) year after year is the objective and aim of MON, but if we would just finish 4th this year, not qualify for the group stages, and or not consolidate by finishing in the top 4 or 5 next year, then it is just vanity! Then I would definitely prefer an FA Cup trophy that we can cherish for the rest of our lives! In fact, living in Europe, I would even prefer winning the UEFA Cup to finishing 4th and failing to build on it. But having said that, I believe MON and Randy will buid up this club for years to come!
villa_de
Man U will win the premier league. Chelsea 2nd, is it un reasonable to think Liverpool are playing poorly enough to overtake? especially if we beat them? I dont see why we shouldnt EXPECT to finish in 4th.....maybe we should aim for 3rd. i think we need a strong showing in the UEFA to prove we can handle the Champions league and draw in some overseas players. That said, im happy for us to pick up on our current form make some good signings and keep the good times rolling for years to come.
NewSedition
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