O'Neill did want the job but is now happy at Villa even though the F.A. vultures were circling when Steve McClaren was dismissed, whilst Roy Keane is widely acknowledged as too raw at the present time.
Clough managed both at
Vicious
O'Neill is quiet but has an underlying temperament that threatens to boil over at any moment. Surprisingly the same can be said of Keane who is nothing like the vocal and sometimes vicious character that he was in his playing days. Keane is now more reserved and both have drawn huge plaudits for their efforts in management.
The clash at
Both sides need a morale boost as Villa have seen their challenge stutter after a draw at home to Middlesbrough was followed by a disastrous defeat at Portsmouth.
Barrage
Villa will hope to welcome back Craig Gardner who is required to fill in for Olof Mellberg who was sent off at
O'Neill and Keane will look to the Clough mentality to pull them through a difficult time. Their players will know that although they're calm in front of the cameras, they are likely to unleash a harsh verbal barrage if the tide doesn't turn soon.