Villa Impress

They used to say you never win anything with kids. These days, however, you get the distinct impression that there’s a new cliché on the block – you can’t win anything without loads of dosh, especially in the premiership.

David O’Leary wouldn’t entirely agree, for the simple reason that he hasn’t had any (not recently anyway) and in spite of that his hard working Aston Villa side have just gone up to The Riverside Stadium and thrashed Middlesbrough 4-0, though some people thought it should have been even more. Well, in a sense it was – 19 year old striker Luke Moore to be precise. He stunned ‘Boro, and Gareth Southgate in particular, with a terrific hat-trick and the experienced Kevin Phillips completed the rout with a typically clever header.

All of which might indicate that you can get some success with kids and without money. And, to use an overworked word, it makes David O’Leary rather ‘Special’. What it does not mean is that David O’Leary doesn’t want, or need, any money to spend on players. Doug, please note.