Failure to appoint Martin O'Neill as coach leaves FAI and English FA cursing what may be a huge error of judgement.

(From Irish Independent)

In all the disarray invading the hearts and minds of the Irish and English football associations this week there could not be much doubt about the source of chief regret.

Its name was Martin O'Neill, who with one significant signing has transformed the Aston Villa team which David O'Leary spent last season assigning to a place among the halt and the lame.

O'Leary asked what he could possibly do without powerful new playing assets. O'Neill posed another kind of question. What can't you do if you apply the right sense of a team and its potential for motivation?

Today Villa play Spurs in the most intriguing Premiership match of the weekend. The expectation must be that it will be still another phase of the crash course O'Neill is offering in the art of renovating a dishevelled football team. After the traumas of the last few …