Expectations, January, 2008 and maybe madness all in one

I read something somewhere tonight which got me thinking about Martin O'Neill and our expectations for Aston Villa. The post I read on a forum was about rating Martin O'Neill so far this season.

I didn't want to answer as I think it's too early to rate him but I did as it was anonymous. However, the success of Martin O'Neill as manager of Aston Villa isn't just down to Martin O'Neill but we should be able to set our expectations somewhere, but where?

Mr Lerner: Setting Expectations

Expectations change in football all the time; look at our neighbours as a prime example. Their expectations this season are to get promoted; next season, if they make it, it will be to beat us and stay up. They'll never have the chance to compete for the league title and will have to get very lucky if they are to ever win silverware.

My expectations are very different but we've still to find a realistic one we can all agree on.

First off for me has to be playing in Europe again. Once we're playing in Europe we'll generate more money and by generating more money we'll get better players. Getting better players will increase our expectations and ultimately, I hope, take us closer to my expectation for Aston Villa and win us the league.

Now, you might think I'm crazy but I truly believe it is possible under Martin O'Neill. There are only so many great players Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool can buy and the biggest single factor in any successful team is the manager. Okay, Chelsea might be the exception to the rule in that example but that isn't going to last forever or atleast I hope it doesn't.

Am I wrong to have these expectations or to think that it's possible? Am I wrong to think we should be playing in the Champions League? I don't think I am and like I've said I believe it's all possible. Aston Villa are one of the big clubs.

We can start to question these expectations only if and when we don't go out and spend in the transfer market when it is necessary. As I've said, I believe the biggest single factor is the manager but the manager also has to have the players to do the job and that is where Mr Lerner comes in.

We won't be able to judge in February and I don't think we'll be able to judge at the start of next season. I think we should be in a position to judge if our expectations are the same as Mr Lerner at the start of the 2008-09 season and I'm not going to mind waiting as I think the journey is going to be an enjoyable one.

Martin O'Neill is the right man and we shouldn't question him, rate him or think anything else right now. I believe he will be given funds and also believe he knows how much he's got to spend and is already planning for the summer. I don't expect the club or Mr Lerner to tell us how much that is but we'll find out soon enough.

For now, I'm happy with everything I'm seeing from all the new people at Aston Villa and I'll probably be happy at the start of next season. For this season though I'd be ecstatic at European football but won't hold it against Messrs O'Neill or Lerner as I think we can all agree that it will be expected the season after this one.

In case you were wondering, I rated Martin O'Neill as highly as the poll allowed and I will continue to do so. Great work fella!