Loyal Martinez

Alone in the car yesterday returning from Cambridge, I found myself loudly cheering the news that Roberto Martinez has turned down the opportunity to manage Aston Villa in preference to honouring his contract at Wigan. So, Aston Villa may not be one of the Big Six and unlikely to be threatening any time soon, but they may as well when considered to tiny Wigan. 


Martinez's decision comes at a time when it is fast becoming the norm for managers to resign their posts the minute a better job becomes vacant and they are "linked." These people are all well-off and many are multi-millionaires already from their playing days but greed and an overwhelming inability to delay personal gratification is shaming the game. If you look at the connection between success and managerial tenure, it's amazing that so many of these blokes are so fickle, but then all they want is more now. Mark Hughes, I am thinking of you. You are fast becoming the younger Steve Bruce or Mark McGhee when they swallowed all the publicity about how good they were and reneged on contract after contract as they attempted to shun the greasy pole.


So, three cheers for Martinez and what a great example to set for Hughes who left Fulham in the lurch so that he would be easily available for the massive Villa. I am sure Martinez will get his big chance and when it comes he will have earned it and will likely do a better job of it. Good on you Roberto.