Villa man won’t be tempted to leave

February 10, 2009 by Martin Banks
Filed under: Aston Villa 
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Stay back Abramovich, I'm not joining Chelsea, I don't care how much Vodka you offer me!

In 2006, Phil Scolari was wanted by the FA to manage the England national team, but he turned down the offer and continued to manage Portugal. Having previously won the World Cup as Brazil manager and the Gulf Cup of Nations with Kuwait, Scolari’s reputation as a good manager led Chelsea to offer him the vacant job they had, after sacking Avram Grant for reaching the Champions League final and coming within inches of winning the Premier League.

Scolari’s first mistake as Chelsea boss was to announce he had accepted the job during Euro 2008, whilst still manager of Portugal and hoping to take his team to the final. They were knocked out in the quarters by eventual runners up, Germany.

Scolari begin his Chelsea career as a very charismatic and likeable manager and seemed like he was going to be very successful, but just 6 months down the line things looked very different. His popularity dwindled and fall outs with players were made public.

Sacking

Yesterday it was announced that Scolari had been sacked by Chelsea in the 4th firing since Abramovich took over. Not the easiest job to keep it seems, if even Jose Mourinho can’t hold it down. Down on the south coast, Tony Adams was also sacked yesterday, by a Portsmouth fearing for their survival, but it’s Chelsea who interest us, because our man is likely to be one of their targets for the now-vacant position.

O’Neill to Chelsea?

If offered though, I think O’Neill would turn it down. The Irishman has took us from being one of the most boring teams in the league to one of the most exciting. When he joined us, we were struggling to raise confidence and morale but his arrival, and new owner Randy Lerner’s, turned things round.

What I love about O’Neill is that he hasn’t done it by spending £200m a season like Chelsea have been known to. He has bought young and bought English and made a team. And when I say team, I mean ‘team’, not just 11 good players. Villa still need some quality back up before we can consider ourselves long term top 4ers, but who else has broke into the elite in the last decade? We are looking more likely than anyone to remain there for longer than half a season and it’s largely thanks to Mr O’Neill.

So Chelsea will no doubt wish to steal our man.

But they can back up. Because he’s going nowhere. O’Neill isn’t stupid enough to leave behind everything he has built up, especially before he has actually won anything. And what do Chelsea have to offer him that would tempt him? A bigger cheque book? Judging by his prudence (tight-fistedness?) in January, he isn’t interested in the splash-the-cash style of management. Better wages? I doubt O’Neill is short of a penny or two and I don’t think he’d value a larger salary over the fulfilment of turning a club around the way he has with us.

O’Neill loves the Villa and the Villa love O’Neill. Our man is going nowhere. So don’t worry Villans. Onwards and upwards.

Up The Villa. Believe.


Comments

2 Comments on Villa man won’t be tempted to leave

  1. James I on Tue, 10th Feb 2009 15:20

    2. He turned down Leeds while he was at Leicester, and only left them when Celtic came calling which has untold significance for an Irish football man (look at Roy Keane fulfilling his promise to end his career there). Then he only left Celtic for genuine family reasons, so it appears he has loyalty in abundance.

  2. villarich on Tue, 10th Feb 2009 17:59

    3. Moving from Villa to Chelski would be a definate step down for MoN…Aston Villa are much bigger than the little blue club from London…If its wasn’t for Abramovic they’d be another Leeds by now, relegated and forgotten…Chelsea fc, no history, no style, old players and horrible ‘up their own arse’ fans, you deserve all you get now…Up the Villa!!!

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