Megson - Villa deserve credit

24 April 2009 13:35
Gary Megson has heaped praise on opponents Aston Villa, as the two teams prepare to face-off this Saturday.[LNB] Megson believes Villa should be given the credit they deserve for their assault on the top four this season, despite their threat petering out in recent weeks.[LNB]"To even get up there with a suggestion that they might finish in the top four is an achievement in itself, given the strength of Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal," said Megson.[LNB]Bolton fans will look on in envy at their Midlands counterparts, as they once had aspirations of breaking into the UEFA Champions League places under Sam Allardyce.[LNB]However, they have spent the last two seasons fighting relegation and Megson now believes there are three mini-leagues within the Premier League.[LNB]"The top four who qualify for the Champions League every year and then the likes of Villa, Manchester City and Tottenham have spent a lot of money and have got the resources to go and do it again.[LNB]"There is the third group who just want to stay in the Premier League.[LNB]"To be perfectly frank we don't look at the top four and I don't think anyone looks at us as being able to break into that."[LNB]Megson believes Villa's new-found financial input can help to progress further, but he can only dream of such funds with the Trotters.[LNB]"I think Mr Lerner coming in has changed everything for Aston Villa and their financial resources.[LNB]"They've been able to spend but the money still needs to be spent in the right way and they've got some terrific players and a fantastic squad.[LNB]"All the teams that came up this year spent more money than us in the transfer market; they had to in order to give themselves an opportunity to survive. [LNB]"We are in a position whereby we are looking to do the best with the resources that we've got, everybody is aware of that and everybody has to accept that."[LNB]Megson thinks that the current nucleus of his squad can help them survive, but realises he must keep hold of them if Bolton are to have a better campaign next season.[LNB]"We've got some terrific players, we've got some players who I'm sure are the envy of other clubs but we've got to try and keep them and add to them - hopefully we can do that as a Premier League club in the summer.[LNB]"It makes life difficult but it's interesting. As you've seen with the games we've had in the past fortnight, including our 4-3 defeat at Chelsea, it shows what a great product the Premier League is."[LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports