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A clash of the Clough proteges

Last updated : 21 March 2008 By Tom Vickers
Brian Clough is renowned as one of the greatest managers never to manage England and two of his protégés may eventually finish with the same tag. Although Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane are Northern Irish and Irish respectively, both have been touted as England managers in waiting but the probability of them taking over in the near future is probably at a level zero.
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 Nottingham Forest and it is clear that some of his style has rubbed off on the managers who meet at Villa Park on Saturday.

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 Villa Park sees the pair meet with their teams in opposite halves of the Premier League table. As expected the Mackems are fighting relegation whilst perhaps less predictably, O'Neill's Villa are fighting for Europe.
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.
Sunderland have failed to gain a solitary victory on the road this season and although they will be buoyed by their performance at home to Chelsea last time out, Keane knows they need to win away. They have gained just one point from the last twelve and will be eager to get maximum points from Villa Park.

Barrage

Villa will hope to welcome back Craig Gardner who is required to fill in for Olof Mellberg who was sent off at Fratton Park last weekend. The right back spot will be problematic if Gardner doesn't recover as the side lacks defensive cover.
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.