O’Neill Looking At Big Picture

Martin O’Neill says he isn’t just looking at the short term, despite a run of 12 games without a win, he is looking at the big picture and intends to be at Villa long term.

I still think that is music to most Villa fans ears, despite coming under some criticism of late, most seem satisfied to wait and allow the new guys to build for the future, or am I reading things wrongly?

He said: ‘My intention is actually to win some games for Aston Villa so that we start doing well. That’s really it. I have a longer term ambition, and I intend to be here. I intend to get this right, and it will be a big effort. In this day and age what I have noticed is that people feel now more than ever before in this life, that they have a right to criticise – no matter what it may be about. No longer is it an opinion, it is now a ‘critical analysis’. That really is not important to me. It is results which are important.’

Adding: ‘There is a bigger picture here. That’s what is important. The rest of it is immaterial. During the course of your time you will get criticised. If Sir Alex Ferguson can take some monumental criticism last season – for never being in the chase, knocked out of Europe against Benfica and not even qualifying from the group, well, the rest of us should just accept it. So it is not a problem. The bottom line is you have to win some games, and nobody should be above criticism in this game and I am certainly not, absolutely not. I ain’t that good to be above criticism. And if Ferguson and all those boys get criticised, then just take it.’

‘I am well aware of jobs’ trials and tribulations and everything like that. The one thing that you cannot be in this game is feel that you cannot be criticised. It does not make me not aware that I have to win games. I have said before that we are in a results business and we have to try to win some games.’

Not totally sure there has been that much criticism of him in truth? I also think that fans will always talk about games, players and managers, I’d say that is pretty much what footie is about, opinions, debates and arguments. And pies obviously, don’t forget the pies.