Strengthening Aim

[Phil from the upper holte]

By Dan Harrison

Martin O'Neill has reiterated his desire to strengthen Villa's squad, as they look to compete with the Barclays Premier League's big guns once again.

The club have inevitably been linked with a host of players as summer transfer activity around the top flight begins to hot up.

Adding players to his ranks is a priority for O'Neill in the coming weeks, with the Villa boss admitting it is essential if they are to sustain their challenge in the upper echelons of the league.

"There is a lot of speculation, obviously, at this time of the year and it will hot up now over the next couple of weeks," he said.

"From my own viewpoint, I would like players to stay here and try and build. Sometimes that is not always possible but we have got a couple of weeks now and we will review the position.

"But for us to have even the same sort of season as last year, one, we would have to be a bit lucky and, two, we would have to try and strengthen."

O'Neill anticipates even fiercer competition in the top flight this season, with a number of teams looking to bolster their squads.

Two of Villa's main rivals for European places last season - Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur - are tipped to be among the most active clubs before the transfer window closes at the end of August.

The gaffer reckons City - who have already splashed out on Germany international Jerome Boateng, skilful Spaniard David Silva and midfield powerhouse Yaya Toure - arguably have the strongest squad in the league.

However, he insists it will not stop Villa trying to compete with them, as they did so valiantly last term.

"You look at what has happened at Manchester City - they have bought a lot of players now and they've got probably, I would say at this minute, what may well be the strongest squad in the business and they are looking to add more players to it," added O'Neill.

"From that viewpoint, it is going to be hard. Tottenham Hotspur will, because of their status in the Champions League, try and improve as well, so it won't be easy.

"Having said this, it is still worthwhile chasing it."

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/FootballNewsDetail/0,,10265~2087872,00.html

Here we go, that time of the year again!

Think there could be a wee bit of a hint Milners off in there

[PaulWinch again]

At least he admits the fact we need to add.

[Phil from the upper holte]

True

It should be blatently obvious though.

[eric woolban woolban]

I think Spurs in the Champions League will be to the detriment of their Premier League form.

And Villa being linked with a host of players?

Who, Stephen Ireland and Robbie Keane and ...

[sfx412]

sing us another one, just like the other one, sing us another Mon.

As he said its that time of year.

[Fargo Villan]

I've only been a Villa supporter since 2006 when Lerner became owner, so I'm a novice compared to most posters here.  But it seems to me that every summer transfer window starts this way.  And it all ends in disappointment.  It is just so frustrating!  How do you all maintain an interest in a club only willing to do the bare minimum each year to maintain this 6th/7th place in the table?

[flybo]

 How do you all maintain an interest in a club only willing to do the bare minimum each year to maintain this 6th/7th place in the table?

It is in the blood Villa till i die.

[Percy McCarthy]

I've only been a Villa supporter since 2006 when Lerner became owner, so I'm a novice compared to most posters here.  But it seems to me that every summer transfer window starts this way.  And it all ends in disappointment.  It is just so frustrating!  How do you all maintain an interest in a club only willing to do the bare minimum each year to maintain this 6th/7th place in the table?

An interest? Ha! Try obsession. Speaking only for myself, its because I'm in love.

[Concrete John]

I've only been a Villa supporter since 2006 when Lerner became owner, so I'm a novice compared to most posters here.  But it seems to me that every summer transfer window starts this way.  And it all ends in disappointment.  It is just so frustrating!  How do you all maintain an interest in a club only willing to do the bare minimum each year to maintain this 6th/7th place in the table?

Maybe as we think they're at least trying to do more than the bare minimum?

[Whiney MacWhineface]

I've only been a Villa supporter since 2006 when Lerner became owner, so I'm a novice compared to most posters here.  But it seems to me that every summer transfer window starts this way.  And it all ends in disappointment.  It is just so frustrating!  How do you all maintain an interest in a club only willing to do the bare minimum each year to maintain this 6th/7th place in the table?

An interest? Ha! Try obsession. Speaking only for myself, its because I'm in love.

Yup. Pretty much. Might get a bit frustrated, disappointed, even angry, but still in love, and that makes the highs so much higher.

[kryten_K2]

I've only been a Villa supporter since 2006 when Lerner became owner, so I'm a novice compared to most posters here.  But it seems to me that every summer transfer window starts this way.  And it all ends in disappointment.  It is just so frustrating!  How do you all maintain an interest in a club only willing to do the bare minimum each year to maintain this 6th/7th place in the table?

Like you said mate, you've only been a fan for 4 years.
You woudnt make such a daft arse statement if you had any clue about football.

[villa `cross the mersey]

I've only been a Villa supporter since 2006 when Lerner became owner, so I'm a novice compared to most posters here.  But it seems to me that every summer transfer window starts this way.  And it all ends in disappointment.  It is just so frustrating!  How do you all maintain an interest in a club only willing to do the bare minimum each year to maintain this 6th/7th place in the table?

Its like supporting the Browns...you just live in hope one day your time will come.

Its the joy of being a sports fan.

Its easy to support a winner !!!

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

I've only been a Villa supporter since 2006 when Lerner became owner, so I'm a novice compared to most posters here.  But it seems to me that every summer transfer window starts this way.  And it all ends in disappointment.  It is just so frustrating!  How do you all maintain an interest in a club only willing to do the bare minimum each year to maintain this 6th/7th place in the table?

Like you said mate, you've only been a fan for 4 years.
You woudnt make such a daft arse statement if you had any clue about football.

Not sure it's worth a daft arse statement that you've just given him. It seems a perfectly reasonable question to me.

You maintain an interest because it's your local team and you will support them wherever they go. Put simply, you just do. I'm not sure there is any full-blown explanation other than that and it's your team, so you just do.

If, however, they're not your local team, then I have no idea why you supported Villa in the first place, let alone maintaining an interest.

[sfx412]

its the way we do it Fargo Villan, fun init. Must admit its been much worse in the last 4 seasons but hey ho its been harder in past times. Welcome to the fold it gets in the blood and then you are hooked Managers,even owners, come and go but Villa fans stick with it through thick and thin.

Enjoy :)

[garyshawsknee]

By Dan Harrison

Martin O'Neill has reiterated his desire to strengthen Villa's squad, as they look to compete with the Barclays Premier League's big guns once again.

The club have inevitably been linked with a host of players as summer transfer activity around the top flight begins to hot up.

Adding players to his ranks is a priority for O'Neill in the coming weeks, with the Villa boss admitting it is essential if they are to sustain their challenge in the upper echelons of the league.

"There is a lot of speculation, obviously, at this time of the year and it will hot up now over the next couple of weeks," he said.

"From my own viewpoint, I would like players to stay here and try and build. Sometimes that is not always possible but we have got a couple of weeks now and we will review the position.

"But for us to have even the same sort of season as last year, one, we would have to be a bit lucky and, two, we would have to try and strengthen."

O'Neill anticipates even fiercer competition in the top flight this season, with a number of teams looking to bolster their squads.

Two of Villa's main rivals for European places last season - Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur - are tipped to be among the most active clubs before the transfer window closes at the end of August.

The gaffer reckons City - who have already splashed out on Germany international Jerome Boateng, skilful Spaniard David Silva and midfield powerhouse Yaya Toure - arguably have the strongest squad in the league.

However, he insists it will not stop Villa trying to compete with them, as they did so valiantly last term.

"You look at what has happened at Manchester City - they have bought a lot of players now and they've got probably, I would say at this minute, what may well be the strongest squad in the business and they are looking to add more players to it," added O'Neill.

"From that viewpoint, it is going to be hard. Tottenham Hotspur will, because of their status in the Champions League, try and improve as well, so it won't be easy.

"Having said this, it is still worthwhile chasing it."

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/FootballNewsDetail/0,,10265~2087872,00.html

Here we go, that time of the year again!

Think there could be a wee bit of a hint Milners off in there

 Were these quotes from Mon cut and pasted from last summer?