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O’Neill Warns Villa Youngsters

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Martin O’Neill has brought the Villa youngsters back down to earth saying just because they have played a lot of Premiership games, it doesn’t mean anything!

He told the official site: ‘I think that playing 20-30, even 50 Premiership games does not make you a class Premiership player. It should help you, but nothing more. Sometimes I think players get recognition because of TV cameras and other influences. I think reputations can be won too easily in this game and I want our younger players to avoid that here. A bit of recognition is no guarantee of anything.’

Adding: ‘It means you’re doing something half reasonable, but it does not make you the complete player. I’ve seen it so often. It would be interesting to see and England Under-18 or Under-21 team from six years ago and see how many have fallen by the wayside. You never know, I might be proved wrong. I wouldn’t want any players here to get carried away with anything.’

‘I think that the young lads are making progress. I think the experience here will stand them in good stead. That’s not saying that their games are mistake-free. Whose are? They’re gaining in experience, but there will be a time when they will have to stand up and be counted.’

In other words, I’m the boss, you are the kids, don’t get too big for your boots, the hard work starts now!

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