Fabian Delph’s recent departure to Manchester City confirmed the end of Martin O’Neill’s era. Delph was the last player that was signed by Martin O’Neill to leave the club. Delph arrived to Aston Villa from Leeds United for the 2009-10 season for an undisclosed fee. In the same transfer window, Aston Villa brought in Stewart Downing, Beye, Richard Dunne, Stephen Warnock and James Collins. Other transfer highlights from MON era included the arrival of Stiliyan Petrov, James Carew, Ashley Young, Reo-Coker and James Milner. MON was known for splashing the cash with Aston Villa frequently being high spenders in the Premier League. Unfortunately that did not necessarily translate into success.
Villa finished in 11th place, and 6th three times. MON era also included a trip to Wembley for the League Cup final and a very close top 4 finish in 2009-10 where Villa just ran of steam towards the end of March where consecutive poor results saw Villa fall to 6th place. Despite these disappointments, this was the time period in which I became a Villa fan and in hindsight, had been the most exciting.
MON signed some really exciting players, most were British and some were given ridiculous contracts and wages, but it did bring some degree of success. Because since then, Villa have mostly been fighting relegation and expectations have also changed for many Villa fans. Regardless, MON’s win ratio was 42.11%. This is far better than Gerard Houllier’s (35.29%), McLeish (21.43%) and Paul Lambert (29.57%). Perhaps it is finally time for Tim Sherwood to emerge as our next best manager.
Delph has now departed Aston Villa and with his departure also comes to departure of Martin O’Neill’s influence. There are still a few players who have worked with the former Villa manager, Clark and Agbonlahor come to mind. But MON’s spending and players brought in, no longer affect the club.
Comments
43 responses to “Delph’s Departure Marks the End of Martin O’Neill’s Era”
Fabian Delph played 18 mins then was stretched off…… Now I don’t like to see anyone hurt or injured…… But maybe there is such a thing as Karma.
Just read on bbc website delph left the pitch on a stretcher on his debut lol
What goes around comes around the tosser!!
instant karma . only took 16mins on his debut . you have to laugh 🙂
makes you think maybe God loves the villa. vlarr leaves and gets crocked again , delph leaves and gets crocked again. if benteke gets injured soon i will be convinced lol.
They say it runs in threes lol
lol – brilliant
And we all shine on!
Like the moon, and the stars, and the sun!
On and on and on and on…!!!
We dodged another bullet then
Don’t wish Delph I’ll ( other than perhaps splinters in his backside) but it is sort of poetic justice!
*ill
Let’s be honest, MON’s transfer policy was ridiculous, and we couldn’t get rid of any of them.
Some of the players brought in on huge fees and wages and released for free were frightening. No wonder Lerner got cold feet.
Curtis Davies & Nigel Reo-Coker were nigh on £20m between them, and both went for sweet FA.
True but now we are looking at putting another mercenary on the books if Adebeyor comes
Off topic (or re the last post!) – having read a few reports my guess is we offered €12m or about £9m for Ayew which sounds more realistic. Two Jordan’s – will that make us a very quick team – bet we’ll have the quickest boot change team in the PL 🙂
Off-topic again, but I see WBA’s ‘sale’ to their mysterious Chinese conglomerate has just collapsed; wonder whether Jeremy Peace discovered the same as Lerner that some of these so-called rich buyers just don’t have the readies?
Incidentally, same BBC report says that Pulis is ‘closing in on’ Ciaran Clarke??
Perhaps the Glazer’s lucky stunt of buying a club with its own money has inspired copycat approaches. You can call China the Wild East, such are the number and variety of outrageous scams – it really is a throwback to snake-oil salesmen in the goldfields.
A V that delph you RRRRAATTT.
Off topic (again!) – one report has Baggies offering £2m for Clark – Hope springs eternal! Also that Burnley are interested in Baker. If we work it right could start the season with just 2CB’s, one of which would be Sendeross.
Remember those 2 are injured most the time anyway so won’t make any difference. Sendross is utter shite
so west brom offer us £2m for Clark . cheeky bastards .
we should offer £5m for SAIDO BERAHINO see how they like that.
If we get Ayew then we’ll have signed 4 so far with Richards, Gueye and Amavi. You could almost consider Gil and Kozak new signings too.
Even without any further signings that’s more or less two thirds of a new team.
Still think we need at least 2 more though.
UTV
Interesting rumour; being suggested Villa have offered Vlaar a revised contract of lower basic weekly sum plus appearance bonuses and that Vlaar may well take it as no top club interested given injury problems. That would be controversial amongst Villa fans – wouldn’t surprise me one bit!
oh no – not the cart horse, other clubs don’t want him for one reason….. he is a clumsy, slow, error prone cart horse………. Ooh Ah would have a seizure if this happens.
I’m already having a seizure Saddened. The thought alone makes me feel ill. That also sends a clear message of what our ambition is for next season. Go for Shawcross. Anyone but Vlaar
Bloody hope not
I hope it stays as a rumour & doesn’t become fact,imo that’s not improving the team.
Just had an idea. Does anyone think Bacuna could play centre midfield in the Delph / Cleverly role? He’s got the ‘engine’, he’s a better finisher than both the aforementioned, he’s got an eye for a forward pass, and, having played right back ‘Cafu’ style, he can tackle and challenge for the ball. What do you think guys? I know I’m biased but I think it’s a damn good idea! Could be another Milner…
don’t think he’s disciplined enough, it’s the most important position on the pitch delph had the engine but not the dedication the second you switch off it’s a goal don’t know if we have any body yet that can determine in a few touches whether we are in attack of defence and switch with purpose if you look in recent history who we have had in that position Mortimer, Houghton,Barry, milner petrov and probably more i may have forgotten,its a massive position to fill and i don’t think whoever Tim is looking for has been mentioned yet
Where does Gueye play?
Very good points Billy. In Sherwood and Wilkins, there are two guys who could coach him into that position. Don’t forget he’s not a right back either…Gueye is one replacement, but don’t forget we’ve lost Delph and Cleverly from the ‘diamond’, so even with Gueye, we need one more. With Sanchez or Westwood holding, I think it wouldn’t hurt to give Bacuna a chance. He’s young and can learn. I think he’s an intelligent player, although agree it’s a risk. If you don’t try, you’ll never know…
Nice outlook DAD…
No
Bacuna is shit open your eyes!!!
Gueye looks a find, amavi looks good at left back, worry about the right side though with bacuna and Hutton!!!
I thought bacuna and Sinclair could have done better today. Robinson was good first half.
I couldnt agree more both are hopeless!
Still lots of rumours flying around – mostly around Ntep and Borini.
Never heard of Ntep but, from the glimpses we’ve had of our two new French signings, I’d be open to it.
As for Borini I’ve always thought he was potentially a much better player than he’s been given credit for. A TS team that plays the ball more on the ground might suit him.
What’s this though with all of these French players? You don’t suppose Gerard Houllier is providing us with some hints do you?
Anyway very exciting times and still looking forward to the new season.
UTV
Nice clip from the Walsall game. Some of our players seem to have their heart in the right place –
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villas-jores-okore-shows-9729525
It seems Austins £85k a week requirement might be a load of rubbish;
https://twitter.com/chazaustin9/status/625339654775177216/photo/1
Sky sports saying we have signed Jose Angel Crespo – a Full Back from Cordoba
just seen that . he has a beard always a good sign 🙂
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_%C3%81ngel_Crespo
Domingo….lol, yes a man with a beard is always a good sign!
Ayew signs…official
Oh Ayew, Ayew
He’s bigger than me and you
He’s going to score one or two
In the the claret and blue
Welcome to VP Jordan