Martin O’Neill Vs Rafa Benitez (Tale Of The Tape)

I have been really disappointed in the last few weeks with how Rafa Benitez has conducted himself during the so-called Gareth Barry saga.

Rafa has come out with some really unprofessional things since it became apparent that he would be making a move for our captain Barry. I have grown up like so many with the utmost respect for Liverpool, unlike Manchester United they were perhaps the likeable successful team, they have achieved so much in their time and are one of the world`s finest clubs. However I have watched the developments at the club over the past season, there is in-fighting at board level, their manager seems to have lost the plot, making stupid decisions on and off the field and I reckon it is only a matter of time before Liverpool are going to be in serious turmoil.

Benitez has single handily made the whole of the football world, including many Aston Villa fans believe that Gareth Barry would actually consider joining his club. Villa finished just 16 points behind Liverpool in the league as the reds managed to surprisingly finish fourth again, a real shock to all the neutrals, not!! Had it not been for some poor performances from Scott Carson (who we loaned from Liverpool coincidently), who it would appear is incapable of keeping a clean sheet, who knows were we may have finished in relation to Liverpool. Aston Villa have made huge strides under the leadership of both Randy Lerner and Martin O`Neill, and although many would disagree on here, I believe with the right signings, Villa could realistically push Liverpool for 4th place next season, cause I mean lets face it, that will undoubtedly be the position that Liverpool will be after just like every other season, yawn!!

With all that has gone on this week, Rafa has come out today and said that Peter Crouch is worth £15million and Scott Carson is worth £10million, he is obviously not aware that both of these individuals have played at Villa Park and that all us Villa fans are aware of how much these two are worth, £10million between them, if that, certainly nowhere near the £25million mark. He then refuses to pay £16million for Gareth Barry? Barry is twice the player Crouch is, and maybe as much as five times better than Carson is, probably a better keeper in fact!!

I urge Martin O`Neill and the club to avoid doing any business with Rafa Benitez, be that Carson, Crouch, John Arne Riise or Barry. If Barry hands in the transfer request we should refuse him a move to Liverpool just for how unprofessional Benitez has been.

We say Proud History, Bright Future at Villa Park. I believe that, but I reckon there are a few Liverpool fans disillusioned at life under the Hicks/Gillette regime and must be wondering how long Rafa will remain in the job. As this story rolls on, the more and more convinced I become that Barry will remain at Villa Park, I believe he is a professional lad with a huge amount of intelligence and that he must be able to recognise that Villa are about to overtake Liverpool who will inevitably be battling for 4th next season, as usual.

The difference next season is, so will we!!