Martin O'Neill says the expectation at Manchester City because they
have spent large amounts of money "wouldn't happen in any other
business".
The Aston Villa boss feels the dramatic events at Eastlands
during the last 72 hours highlight the fickle nature of the game.
Blues manager Mark Hughes was sacked and immediately replaced
by Roberto Mancini despite having lost less games than any other
Premier League club and having reached the Carling Cup semi-finals.
O'Neill, whose side face Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on
Sunday, said: "Manchester City had lost less games in the Premier
League than anyone else.
"I can accept the fact that they may well have drawn some
games they should have won.
"But this idea that you step in and be given some money to
spend and you turn things round immediately, just wouldn't happen
in any other business.
"It wouldn't be accepted in any other business.
"There should be some sort of parallel drawn with football
but we accept now there is isn't and there is no such thing
anymore.
"I've heard there was talk the manager (Mancini) had been
speaking to City some weeks before.
"Mark Hughes had taken the team into the Carling Cup
semi-final, the first visit they had made there for 20 odd years,
and so it (football) can be pretty fickle."
O'Neill is optimistic striker Emile Heskey could be fit to
play some part in the festive programme after fears he faced a long
lay-off with a groin problem have been allayed.
Heskey limped out of the weekend home win over Stoke midway
through the first half but concerns he could be side-lined for five
to six weeks have proved unfounded.
O'Neill said: "Emile went for a scan. It shows a little bit
of something but he is feeling much better and I think it is going
to be a short-term injury.
"He may be available for one of the two games against Arsenal
and Liverpool over Christmas. That in itself is half decent news
for us.
"There were suggestions that he may be out for five or six
weeks, and it was kind of worrying when he came off, but I would be
confident enough to say that is not the case."
