A tale of two Czechs

The effect of Martin O'Neills impact on Villa's first team squad is nowhere more symmetrically encapsulated than in the cases of Milan Baros and Patrik Berger.

O'Neill used his magic to make the fragile Baros disappear off in a sulking huff to the weak French Ligue 1. And, mid-season temper tantrums aside, the alchemist in O'Neill has slowly turned Patrik Berger from an ageing, unfit and largely surplus-to-requirements squad player into a genuine playmaker, and without doubt Villa's most in-form player.

This really is management and coaching of the highest quality. First of all showing the steel to leave Berger in no doubt whatsoever who was the boss at Bodymoor Heath. Then, allowing Berger to play increasingly inspiring cameo roles to boost his confidence, and the confidence of the squad in him.

A half against Everton which won him - unaminmously - the bloggers "man of the match" award and, quite possibly, the individual performance of the season against Blackburn yesterday.

Let's admit it: there are not many of us self-appointed experts who - at the beginning of the season - would have tipped Berger rather than Baros to be the Czech behind a Villa revival so late in the season.

That, you see, is why we are amateur bloggers and Martin O'Neill manages a Premiership football outfit. Hats off.