Brian Little exclusive: O'Neill is the right man for Aston Villa
VILLA legend Brian Little believes Martin O’Neill will set his stall out to once again defy the odds and produce a top-six finish for the club this season.
The manager who last took Villa to silverware 13 years ago believes the Irishman is well equipped to deliver.
But he says O’Neill will be only too aware he faces an ultra-competitive Premier League next season.
Little, now 55, is still revered by the supporters for his exploits on the field in scoring 82 goals in 302 appearances, 60 of them in 247 league games.
“Each year you say it’s getting tougher but a top-six finish again would have to be the target, obviously. I am sure that is how Martin is thinking,’’ said Little.
“But I think the competition will be even harder again.
“One or two clubs would be smarting from last season – Tottenham certainly. You look at them and Manchester City and you would not imagine they would get off to bad starts.
“Tottenham showed they had enough about them in the second half of last season, and then there is the spending power of Manchester City next season. They’ll be an obvious threat.
“So a top-six target, I would imagine, would be the club’s aim and I wish them well, like everybody. I just hope it works out well for them.
“We all know Villa are a decent side and on quite a few occasions earlier on last season they caught quite a few teams on the hop a bit with their counter-attacking.
