Steve Sedgley looks at the impact that Martin O'Neill has over a football club and when you take into consideration the work he did at the likes of Leicester City and Celtic, then Aston Villa are in very safe hands.

Martin O'Neill never fails to amaze people with his abilities as a football manager and how he always produces it on a relative shoestring compared to his peers. We have all marvelled in the work he has done at Wycombe, Leicester, Celtic and now of course Aston Villa. What is the secret to the man's success? How does he transform these football clubs? For me Villa is one of the country's elite and on a personal note delighted to see them back challenging at the top end of the table and it's great for football.

Anyone who has ever listened to interviews with Martin O'Neill will be aware of his great passions and desire for the game. He exhales positivity which subsequently rubs off on his players and when you have a manager like that it gives you as a player great motivation and confidence that you can achieve anything. You ask any manager in the game that once you have the players on your side and believing in your tactics then you'll always get 100% from them. O'Neill is also a fierce believer in team spirit; a real necessity to any successful side.

One thing that has certainly been evident throughout O'Neill's time as a manger is that he assembles his squad and starting XI in much the same vein. He likes his defenders to be big and strong, always chooses to play a big man upfront supported around him by pace and guile with that one holding midfielder keeping everything else in check. The system he adopts gives great balance within the team and allows them to be adaptable when need be.

Martin O'Neill has always put great emphasis on set pieces and you often wonder why other clubs don't seem to follow suit. If you actually analyse how many corners and free kicks you tend to get during a game, it is vital you utilise these opportunities. You only have to look at European games; International's and you see how many goals actually come from open play to know their significance. Aston Villa once again demonstrated this yesterday at Goodison Park as they took advantage of masterful deliveries.

Aston Villa have been in fantastic form of late and went into yesterday's game in what seemed a "winner takes all" clash, as victory would have meant that Villa went ahead of Everton on goal difference with two games to go. They fought out a tough 2-2 draw against a good Toffees side and showed their mental toughness throughout in coming back twice. It is the never say die attitude that rubs off the manager to the players psyche, which will always give Aston Villa a chance in games.

If I were an Aston Villa fan at this moment then I would be extremely optimistic for the future. In little under two seasons, O'Neill has taken a football club that was spiralling into the wilderness and brought them to the brink of European football. They are by no means the finished article and the Irishman will need to bring in a few new faces in the summer. It is vital in my opinion that they keep hold of Gareth Barry and should look to build the team around him. The ball is very much in his court and it is absolutely vital that he stays.

Whether Aston Villa qualifies for Europe or not this season, clear progress is being made. They have a manager who is a born winner and you only have to ask a Wycombe, Leicester or Celtic fan to know that Aston Villa is in very safe hands.

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