‘McGeady is Premiership quality’ says Martin O’Neill
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Martin O’Neill had a lot of things on his mind when he fielded questions at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links on Thursday morning ahead of Saturday’s friendly clash with League of Ireland Champions Bohemians at Dalymount Park.
Rumours are rife that his squad will face a big change -- with the interest of Man City in star performer James Milner and Villa's own targets of Aiden McGeady, Robbie Keane and Stephen Ireland -- but O’Neill has promised spectators that Villa’s strongest available squad will feature on Saturday.
“I’ve got most of the senior players here with me and I know how infuriating it can be to be making a lot of changes, particularly in the last minutes of the game for spectators who have come to watch them. So I will make a few changes at half time. But the idea is to give the senior players a half each.”
‘You’ve got 20 players with us at the moment, including two goalkeepers. Richard Dunne obviously will start the game but I would like the senior players to get a half each,” he said.
O’Neill went on to share the view that Irish winger Aiden McGeady could perform well in the Premiership.
“Aiden McGeady, I think he has got the ability to be able to play in the Premiership – without question. I had him when he was a kid at Celtic. I played him without worrying too much about his youth at the time. He played against AC Milan one night at Celtic Park in the Champions League and he was absolutely fantastic.”
However the talk was dominated by rumours about Milner, as a move to Eastlands looks inevitable.
“Obviously there is a question mark over James Milner. I had a conversation with James before the World Cup and he intimated that he would like to go at that time. I haven’t spoken to him since. I know there are conversations between his agent and our chief executive. Man City have made an offer for the player, but our valuation has not been met.”
“I’m sure things may well get resolved. James is due back next week along with the rest of our World Cup players. I would imagine things would get resolved one way or another in the very foreseeable future.”
“Aston Villa are a top quality side and we are linked with players. When Man City are interested […] obviously they are in a different stratosphere but they are building up a squad capable of challenging for the Premiership. So this year is going to be especially difficult.”
“As the chairman mentioned, maybe it is a case of probably having to sell to buy. That is something I’m delving into at the moment,” he said.
Rumours are rife that his squad will face a big change -- with the interest of Man City in star performer James Milner and Villa's own targets of Aiden McGeady, Robbie Keane and Stephen Ireland -- but O’Neill has promised spectators that Villa’s strongest available squad will feature on Saturday.
“I’ve got most of the senior players here with me and I know how infuriating it can be to be making a lot of changes, particularly in the last minutes of the game for spectators who have come to watch them. So I will make a few changes at half time. But the idea is to give the senior players a half each.”
‘You’ve got 20 players with us at the moment, including two goalkeepers. Richard Dunne obviously will start the game but I would like the senior players to get a half each,” he said.
O’Neill went on to share the view that Irish winger Aiden McGeady could perform well in the Premiership.
“Aiden McGeady, I think he has got the ability to be able to play in the Premiership – without question. I had him when he was a kid at Celtic. I played him without worrying too much about his youth at the time. He played against AC Milan one night at Celtic Park in the Champions League and he was absolutely fantastic.”
However the talk was dominated by rumours about Milner, as a move to Eastlands looks inevitable.
“Obviously there is a question mark over James Milner. I had a conversation with James before the World Cup and he intimated that he would like to go at that time. I haven’t spoken to him since. I know there are conversations between his agent and our chief executive. Man City have made an offer for the player, but our valuation has not been met.”
“I’m sure things may well get resolved. James is due back next week along with the rest of our World Cup players. I would imagine things would get resolved one way or another in the very foreseeable future.”
“Aston Villa are a top quality side and we are linked with players. When Man City are interested […] obviously they are in a different stratosphere but they are building up a squad capable of challenging for the Premiership. So this year is going to be especially difficult.”
“As the chairman mentioned, maybe it is a case of probably having to sell to buy. That is something I’m delving into at the moment,” he said.
About Gordon Hunt
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