Same old Geordies…

Geordie Phil says O’Neil will not last very long at Villa Park…
Thanks for your efforts, Phil but I still believe that your thoughts on an early demise for O’Neill at Villa Park were way off target. He was never going to sign if Ellis was going to stay. Thus when Ellis had made his commitment to leave, whether this year or next, the all-clear was there for O’Neill to move in and stay for some time…
As for your comments regarding the “honeymoon period” ending at Villa Park, this is of no surprise to reality-based Villa fans of some standing. Apart from Petrov we have the same squad as O’Leary “managed” last year and our record is not much better than then (three points more at this stage). However, O’Neil has introduced a few youngsters from our excellent youth programme and we have had many games in which four or more players in the starting line-up are under twenty-two (Ridgewell, Cahill, Agbonlahor, Davis, Osbourne, and Gardner) and yet, despite/because of this, we are playing much better football in terms of creativity, possession, tackling, and teamwork; our finishing remains woeful however…Overall Villa fans are quite happy (well as happy as Brummies can be, you understand) with the developments at Villa Park and O’Neil has their unconditional (almost) backing at this point…
Whilst not getting the results of the early days of the season, a mid-table position is realistic, regardless of whether we buy in January or not – who is available?; who will come?; who is not playing well enough somewhere else to be wanted by O’Neil? – all questions that may mean not a lot is done and we will have to settle for 8th – 12th…along with Newcastle…
As for your comment on O’Neil as “this media-inspired legend” – that is more than a little ironic coming from someone who is a true fan yet stuck amongst the pretenders who make up the media-inspired “legendary supporters of Newcastle United who show up huge numbers in all kinds of weather to fanatically support their team”. Gimme a break!…Has everyone forgotten the pre-Keegan days of 13,000 fans in the stands? Newcastle’s fans are fickle too. They are the same as everyone else’s apart from the fact that they wear short-sleeved Newcastle shirts on freezing afternoons in February – and I would suggest that is not because they are fanatical supporters…
Finally, your comment on the injuries suffered by your team this year and “what might have been” if they had not occurred. I would venture to say that what would have been is the same as has been at Newcastle every season since winning the Texaco Cup (??) in 1975 – nothing…Forgive me if I fail to sympathise but bringing that topic up is as pitiful as a Titus Bramble own goal…
Happy New Year to you and yours…
Best wishes, Claret & Light Blue and not too happy with being as good as Newcastle…