Darren Bent’s recent transfer from Sunderland to Aston Villa has certainly raised a few eyebrows. Not only does it seem slightly unusual for one of the Premier League’s in-form strikers to leave a club on the rise for a side who seem to have taken a step-back this season, but does it not make a mockery out of Martin O’Neill’s tenure at Villa Park?

The former boss left acrimoniously weeks before the start of the season for one reason – ambition. Or so we are led to believe. He claimed the club couldn’t match his desire to sign the right players and take the next step. Admittedly, it’s a gamble any owner would have to give some real thought, especially in current times, and it would seem Villa’s owner Randy Lerner decided to err on the side of caution and not give O’Neill the backing he required.

So he left. To be fair to him, many managers put in the same situation would have done. After all, it wasn’t as though he had done a bad job. In his four years at Villa Park, he guided Villa to three straight 6th place finishes and a Carling Cup final. Any manager must have wondered what he could achieve on top of that if he was given some money.

So, now they have a new manager and they are struggling. Gerard Houllier is trying to rebuild but it is going to take time. Labouring in 17th place, is the signing more of a panic buy to make sure of Premier League safety or are we really starting to see Lerner finally match his manager’s ambition?

If it is the latter, O’Neill has every right to feel aggrieved. What could he have done with the club if he was given £18 million plus to spend on a striker? They have been crying out for a goal-scorer for years. Let’s not forget either, Bent isn’t their only signing. Jean Makoun has arrived for £6 million from Lyon and reports are linking Houllier with a move for want-away Blackburn Rovers defender Chris Samba.

These may not be the type of players O’Neill would have brought to the club, but you can guarantee he had players in mind. The Ulsterman has his critics for building teams who can only bully their way to success instead of playing football, but after so long without a trophy, I’m sure Villa fans would have taken that style of football if it brought silverware. Everything about his tenure at Villa suggested he was a few big signings away from winning something. If you look at where Tottenham are now, that is where O’Neill expected his side to be, given a couple of quality signings. All he asked for was the backing of an owner

Albeit too late for the former manager, Lerner looks as though he is starting to show some ambition. Better late than never I suppose, but you have to feel for O’Neill. Mind you, all will be forgotten if Bent fires Houllier’s men to instant success.

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