Source: Team_Talk
O'Neill rues great expectations
Villa were in strong contention for a Champions League spot until a run of nine games without a win handed the initiative back to Arsenal in the battle to finish fourth in the Premier League.
But they are still on course to automatically qualify for the revamped and renamed Europa League for the first time in 11 years.
O'Neill said: "I think almost having qualified again for Europe has been overlooked. Because we flirted with the top four for a couple of weeks, people have had a bit of false expectation.
"You realise the calibre of team we are up against when you see them contesting the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Champions League each year - and you see the calibre of player those top four clubs possess.
"It is not just the individual player, because we have a number here that would grace any team, but it is the size of the squad. "But we are going to qualify for Europe this season again and, in terms of development, I think the players have done brilliantly.
"I think if you had asked the Villa fans at the start of the season, that if we could finish fifth and qualify for Europe, they would have accepted that.
"But the fact is, because we have been hovering around the top four for a while, maybe there is a bit of disappointment."
O'Neill is conscious of the need to strengthen his squad in terms of quantity and quality and has given his midfield players extra time off this week because he felt they looked jaded in last weekend's 1-1 draw at Bolton.
He said: "Ourselves and Fulham have used the least number of players this season.
"We have been on the go for a long time, since mid July with the Intertoto Cup. It sounds as if I am trotting out the same old things but they are major factors.
"In the last 15 minutes against Bolton, when we had to go again and try and win, we looked a wee bit tired, hence the midfield players in particular being given an extra day off this week.
"This is a very important time of the season and Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal find ways in which to be competing at this stage and competing regularly.
"That is something we could learn. We haven't reached that stage and, from that viewpoint, the last few weeks have been disappointing in terms of results."
Villa right-back Luke Young will have to play through the pain barrier if he is to participate in the final four games of the campaign - starting with Monday's home clash with Hull.
Young missed the 1-1 draw at Bolton with a foot injury which has dogged him for several weeks but O'Neill is hopeful he can return to training on Saturday.
Striker Gabriel Agbonlahor and midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker could also come into contention after recent hamstring and knee setbacks.