Paul Parker Article

Paul Parker

Villa not ready for title challenge

Wed Jan 21 12:10PM

Aston Villa have been on a great run and are just three points off the top of the Premier League table, but I don't think they can be considered title contenders just yet.

The best they can hope for is a place in the Champions League, probably at the expense of Arsenal.

They may need to add to their squad to be a force in Europe's top competition, although it is worth noting that much of their success has been built on consistent team selection and they have dealt with a UEFA Cup campaign this season without too much drama.

But as for the title - not yet. Martin O'Neill is a realist and I think he knows Villa do not have the best squad in the division.

His strategy has been to make steady but significant progress each season, and he will be aware of what can happen if you overachieve.

Look at Everton when they pipped Liverpool to fourth place a few seasons ago - the next season they were nearly relegated.

In the 90s Blackburn went down soon after winning the Premier League, and Ipswich were relegated the season after qualifying for the UEFA Cup.

O'Neill is putting the foundations in place for sustained success and I think that once Villa do break into the top four, they could be there for a while.

While the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City have splurged on established stars, O'Neill has focussed his buys on talented youngsters like Ashley Young, along with more experienced players such as John Carew.

He has spent a relatively large amount, but has done so in a measured, methodical fashion - in contrast to a few other clubs I could mention.

You can't build a house on top of a swamp, and Villa's future looks bright with a united squad that has plenty of English players and a nice balance of youth and experience.

The best thing about getting into the Champions League would be the boost to their revenue and their reputation, which would allow them to add the kind of quality which could see them mount a strong title challenge.

But for all the pats on the back he is getting, O'Neill knows his job is only half done and Villa need to sustain their form over the second half of the season to stay in front of the Gunners.

O'Neill has been mentioned as a possible successor to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, but I don't think there is any point talking about that yet.

It all depends on when Sir Alex decides to call it a day - and it will be his decision alone.

We know that he wants to overtake Liverpool's record of 18 league titles - which means a minimum of two more years at Old Trafford. He also wants to win a third Champions League.

And if he manages to reach those milestones, he will not want to stop there and leave a side that is competing for silverware every season.

So O'Neill should not bother thinking about United and just focus on Villa - and as a pragmatic man I'm sure that is what he is doing.

  1. First B-)

    ti_flo_69From ti_flo_69 on Wed Jan 21 01:08PM

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  2. twoze :D

    pierredemontreuilFrom pierredemontreuil on Wed Jan 21 01:19PM

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  3. trees ;)

    ti_flo_69From ti_flo_69 on Wed Jan 21 01:50PM

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  4. i thought it was going to be parker's first ever article with no mention of united, but alas, the last 4 paragraphs spoiled my dream.

    good article otherwise though, villa have been more consistent than chelsea, maintaining the same form throughout the season and grinding out good performances against the big teams. however, i still think arsenal will finish above them, but a point or 2

    carlsberg_kahunaFrom carlsberg_kahuna on Wed Jan 21 02:21PM

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  5. Even as a Villa fan I can say too soon for the league. End of march away at Anfield, Old Trafford & home to Everton in succession. We'll see after that if were still in with a shout. MO'N is top manager!

    aidenphippsFrom aidenphipps on Wed Jan 21 02:52PM

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  6. villa are pretenders

    louisabel2006From louisabel2006 on Wed Jan 21 02:54PM

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  7. I'm claret and blue from head to toe and have been going to Villa Park since 1966 and only sickness stops me going there. This season has been tremendous for AVFC, but I know of NO ONE in our ranks who talks about winning the title....so why does Mr Parker publish an article like this? Much of what he say's is quite right, but it makes other supporters think Villa fans are getting carried away with things when 99.999% of us ARE NOT. Martin O'Neil and Randy Lerner are doing a quite superb job at VP and given time and the fans' patience there can be some rewards.
    Getting into the top four would be a great finish this season.
    Suppose at leasy it's not an article that isn't boring us about Man City.

    pongo9waringFrom pongo9waring on Wed Jan 21 02:55PM

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  8. Paul Parker you are so BORING!!!!

    prkirkpatrickFrom prkirkpatrick on Wed Jan 21 02:55PM

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  9. If he makes Villa successful, why the hell would he run of to Man Utd ? Nobody has a God given right to be permanently at the top, otherwise why is Accrington Stanley not the current premiership team to beat ?

    pete_lenartFrom pete_lenart on Wed Jan 21 02:58PM

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  10. carlsberg_kahuna, y are u not foures

    kolasocoFrom kolasoco on Wed Jan 21 03:01PM

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  11. exactly

    kolasocoFrom kolasoco on Wed Jan 21 03:03PM

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  12. "O'Neill has focussed his buys on talented youngsters like Ashley Young, along with bargains such as Martin Laursen" For your information, MON did not buy Laursen. "So O'Neill should not bother thinking about United and just focus on Villa" What makes you think he is dreaming of the Man U job? Very presumptuous, unless you can supply where this has been quoted of course?

    steffav63From steffav63 on Wed Jan 21 03:07PM

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  13. paul you are deluded......villa are the champs!!bet you a tenner!!

    seandoherty1969From seandoherty1969 on Wed Jan 21 03:14PM

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  14. JUST THINK HOW THE BRITISH PLAYERS MUST FEEL AT VILLA THEY MUST SIT BACK AND THINK ONEILS A DECENT COACH THE SUPPORTERS MUST AS WELL GOOD LUCK TO M AND TEAM SOME PRETTY GOOD SIGNINS BY ONEIL BUT HE MUST BE FRUSTRATED AS WELL LETS HOPE HE USES HIS HEAD AND TAKES HIS TIME HE WILL BUILD A TEAM FOR YOU LETS HOPE HE CAN KEEP BARRY AND THE LIKE HAIL HAIL

    clunievarFrom clunievar on Wed Jan 21 03:17PM

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  15. Martin Laursen was at Villa before Martin O'Neill even arrived at the club so you have that one wrong, David O'leary brought Martin Laursen from AC Milan for about 2.5m and he was so cheap because he was so injury prone, he was out for about 3 seasons for Villa.

    Anyway Before Villa even consider the top 4 this season MON will need to bring in a new LB or hope to god Bouma picks up where he left off 6months ago before he got injuried.

    Then there's the striker problem, Villa need someone to partner Agbonlahor and i think Bent would be the ideal partner for him, unless we can attract Adriano :) So unless we bring in players for them two positions then Villa are likely to finish 5th, I'm Villa through and through but our first 11 is good enough for the top 4 but our squad isn't and when we are being hit with injuries we cannot rely on players like Osbourne, Harewood, Defonuso, Knight, Shorely.

    ryan_daniel_whiteFrom ryan_daniel_white on Wed Jan 21 03:20PM

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  16. Paul Parker you muppet, anyone agree

    kmc_cannFrom kmc_cann on Wed Jan 21 03:21PM

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  17. BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING BORING

    theshowman2002ukFrom theshowman2002uk on Wed Jan 21 03:35PM

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  18. I agree PP is a muppet. For the league it would be fantastic if Aston Villa get into the top 4 or even won the league and hopefully other teams go for it in 2009/2010!!!

    csarsfieldFrom csarsfield on Wed Jan 21 03:36PM

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  19. MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET

    theshowman2002ukFrom theshowman2002uk on Wed Jan 21 03:40PM

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  20. MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET MUPPET

    theshowman2002ukFrom theshowman2002uk on Wed Jan 21 03:40PM

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  21. what a stupid article! "i dont think they are ready for the title" is tripe, if they get more points than anyone else mr Parker then they are ready. And this is coming from a Liverpool fan.

    joehobdayFrom joehobday on Wed Jan 21 03:40PM

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  22. jeeeeeesus ... next he'll be telling us that West Brom won't make it in to the Champions League next season ...

    paulgreen12345From paulgreen12345 on Wed Jan 21 03:46PM

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  23. Its hardly top reporting and expert opinion is it! Villa won't win the league, no disrespect villa fans but probably one of the most obvious statements i have ever seen in my life. Now if Villa are in the same position nest season NOW THAT WOULD BE WORTH WRITING ABOUT!

    ryan_sullivan.t21From ryan_sullivan.t21 on Wed Jan 21 03:46PM

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  24. Can someone find Paul Parker a job, like sweeping floors?
    Pongo is bang-on, I hear no title talk amongst my VP ranks, so why write this article in the first place?
    Fourth would be a great achievement this season and a further platform for MON and RL to build upon.
    I'm ultra-proud of AVFC's shirts carrying the Acorns logo, so how about this for a subject Mr Parker....AIG to stop their deal at Old Trafford, so how about the biggest club in the world doing a similar thing as Villa?
    Sadly, not being a true journalist I don't think he could cope with the concept.

    jonboy196027From jonboy196027 on Wed Jan 21 03:51PM

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  25. GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL!
    GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL!
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    GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL!
    GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL!
    GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL!
    GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL!
    GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL!
    GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL!
    GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL!
    GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL!
    GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL!
    GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL!
    GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL!
    GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL!
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    GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL! GIVE UP PAUL!

    theshowman2002ukFrom theshowman2002uk on Wed Jan 21 03:52PM

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  26. I think the second half of the season is going to be very hard for us to keep are foot on the gas. We've had some luck recently and with the FA cup and UFEA cup to deal with as well its going to be a real stretch in the squad.

    If Bouma and Carew make it back this month as well as a couple more additions to the squad it will be a major boost and hopefully we can stay close to the top.

    davewhitt_2002From davewhitt_2002 on Wed Jan 21 03:55PM

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  27. Why on earth would MON be thinking about Man Utd? As a Villa fan, I may have a flutter on them to win the league, but do I expect them to? Of course not. We simply don't have the strength in the squad to do it. Perhaps if our luck stays and other results go our way, but I doubt it.

    But hey, top 4 is still better than scraping 7th last year!

    But over the next few years - watch out!

    mg_steveFrom mg_steve on Wed Jan 21 03:57PM

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  28. Why can't Villa win the league? I'm a Liverpool fan, but if Villa keep getting results they will go top - easy as that. You don't win a league based on the strength of the bench.

    ostryzniuk_designFrom ostryzniuk_design on Wed Jan 21 03:59PM

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  29. hell no aston villa will never win prem leauge.not in our lifetime anyways

    ibanez777vbkFrom ibanez777vbk on Wed Jan 21 03:59PM

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  30. We need to signsome players to have a bit of depth and then I would say that winning the title is acheivable. I don't hold out much hope of us doing it but you never know... it is 100% not happening unless we buy some players this month though.

    I am more than happy with the progress the club has been making though and the foundations are definately being laid.

    Yes, we have been lucky in some of our results but what team doesn't get a bit of luck sometimes??

    deejaydominoFrom deejaydomino on Wed Jan 21 04:17PM

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