O’Neill’s All-England Midfield

O’Neill’s All-England Midfield
After almost a decade of mid-table obscurity, things are finally starting to look bright for the resurgent Aston Villa under Northern Irish oddball Martin O’Neill. In recent weeks they have beaten the mighty Chelsea and then the stubborn Everton both 2-0 and find themselves in 8th place with a game in hand over their nearest rivals. The team has an even balance, combining a strong work ethic with the willingness to get bodies forward often and what’s more, it full of young English talent!

Boss O’Neill believes he has a future England midfield in the making at his disposal this season with summer signing Nigel Reo-Coker (23) and newly christened England maestro Gareth Barry (26) flanked by the tricky Ashley Young (22) and the explosive Gabriel Agbonlahor (20). Following some early season sporadic displays of genuine quality it is becoming ever more difficult to disagree with him. If O’Neill can coax a maintained consistency from his team and also keep the highly rated players at the club Villa could yet make Europe come May.

Nigel Reo-Coker had clearly gone stale at West Ham where he was largely, and unfairly, blamed for the club’s poor form last season. He has found a new lease of life at Villa Park and is showing the form that made him England u21 captain and drew serious interest from Manu Utd and Arsenal. Reo-Coker is at his best marauding forward with the ball through the centre of the pitch, where he can demonstrate the strength and power he has in abundance (with and without the ball) and is capable of a scoring tally around the double figures mark.

Alongside Barry, Reo-Coker has developed a great understanding and the pair share responsibility, covering each other when the other goes forward to join attacks. Barry proved with his recent England performances what a fine passer and midfield shield he provides and fully deserved his chance for his perseverance to get his chance at the top level and for his loyalty to Villa. He rarely gives the ball away and is vital in keeping simple possession for his side which has controlling and demoralising effect on opponents. He also takes a dangerous corner and has shown icy composure as Villa’s penalty taker for the last few seasons. Barry’s commitment to his club side has been commendable, when he showed great form for several seasons although was continually overlooked by the England selectors. He could have easily joined a top four club to enhance his reputation but stuck it out and kicked on when Martin O’Neill revitalised his self-belief. How he has seized his chance now has given hope and inspiration to many other players from the less desirable clubs that, proving if you work hard you will reach the top no matter where you are playing.

Ashley Young decided to make the step up in club size when he left Watford during the middle of last season, although he again rejected chances to join more fashionable clubs (i.e. Tottenham were said to be keen). Young felt regular football at Aston Villa would be more beneficial in the long run than fluttering in and out of the side elsewhere, and how right he was. Now, as he seems to be finally settled up north, the Villa winger has already broke into an England squad. However, Young is far from the finished article and needs to improve on his decision making with the ball at his feet. Often, he tries one too many tricks, doesn’t get the ball into the box from wide areas and plays with his head down a little. This is something that always comes with age though, and his play is reminiscent of Christiano Ronaldo in his early days at Old Trafford where the initial play was excellent but there was no end product. The pace and potential is there in spades though.

The final piece of Martin O’Neill’s all-England midfield jigsaw is also certainly not short of pace. Gabriel Agbonlahor is the brightest prospect of all at Villa Park and could go on to have a great career. At only 20 there is plenty of time for Agbonlahor to improve but his raw quality has already put paid to some of the world’s best defenders. He has a real eye for goal and is a natural finisher - the way in which he purposely deflected in his side’s second goal against Chelsea last week was very clever. His electric pace sees him outstrip most defenders and currently this is perfectly matched to Villa’s counterattack plays. However, his hold up play and first touch need work and needs to protect the ball in possession better. Agbonlahor may prove to be a difficult character too, as he showed slight attitude problems when he went AWOL from England’s U21 European Championships in the summer. He has since reconciled with u21 boss Stuart Pearce (who’d want to be on the wrong side of psycho?) and is back in the squad. He recently announced that he is targeting a call-up to the full side and is obviously not short of confidence, ambition or a bit of arrogance too, ‘Gareth, Ashley and Scott (Carson) have been rewarded for their form with an England call and that’s what I intend to do.’

It is still early days in the Premier League season but much of the credit should be directed to Martin O’Neill for putting faith in these young players and for creating an English spine to his team. The former Celtic boss is a great motivator and his enthusiasm has instilled genuine belief in the team, he can get the best out of players lost in the wilderness and transforms them into fighters willing to die for the cause. If the midfield quartet can stay together and steer clear of injuries Aston Villa may have a very good season. England may also have a very promising future too.