O’Neill: January the crucial month for Aston Villa’s big-four hopes
Dec 28 2009 by Lisa Smith, Birmingham Mail
MARTIN O’Neill believes everyone will have a better picture of just where his side lie in terms of the top four come the end of January after one of the heaviest fixture schedules of the season.
Villa go into the new year with Premier League, Carling Cup and FA Cup commitments, and the manager insists that only then should his side be judged on their achievements so far this season.
‘‘By the end of January we will have a better idea of where we stand and if we are good enough to be in this company,” O’Neill said.
“I haven’t changed the side in the last few weeks and we will see now if we can sustain it.
“We have Liverpool up next and then the FA Cup game against Blackburn as well as the two League Cup semi-finals against them.
‘‘Once we get through those games and come the end of January we will probably have a better indication of where we are at.”
O’Neill agreed with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger that the Premier League title was still very much up for grabs with Chelsea dropping points this weekend and the Gunners and Manchester United gaining ground.
“I think the league table at the moment would suggest Arsene is right,’’ said O’Neill.
“It is wide open. For Villa we have gained 35 points in 19 matches but we would have to go in the same way again to be in contention at all.
“I take his point, definitely. The title race is very close.
“We played Chelsea some weeks ago and won, and I said after that game anyone who finished above them will probably win the league.
“I probably wouldn’t change my mind.
“Arsenal are going strongly again despite the loss of Robin van Persie and I am sure they have other players coming back to full fitness.
“Why can’t they go again? I am sure they can. Manchester City may well strengthen again in January and Tottenham are playing pretty strongly, too.
“We are enjoying it immensely just being in there but it is a major effort to go again.
“We got in a decent position last year but didn’t have the wherewithal to sustain it. I hope we have this year.”
