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*Unsettled Villa broken by Glass*

David Ginola’s Premiership days may have ended yesterday on the ground where they started so memorably in 1995. Ginola, once an idol of Newcastle supporters, was substituted by Aston Villa manager John Gregory after only 42 minutes.

Asked if Ginola would be at the club for the start of next season, Gregory said: ’Who knows? August is a long way off. He’s under contract, but it’s up to David whether he wants to play for us.’

Gregory was justified in ending Ginola’s involvement, although his timing was questionable.

By then, Ginola’s lightweight contribution had offered Nolberto Solano the freedom of United’s right flank and the Peruvian capitalised by setting up a ninth-minute goal for Stephen Glass before supplying a cross which Carl Cort headed in after soaring above David James three minutes later.

By the 30th minute, both Gareth Southgate and Paul Merson had harangued Ginola for his lethargy. When Ginola did burst into life, the outcome was a yellow card after he pursued the referee to complain about a tackle.

Two minutes later, Gregory lost patience and replaced Ginola, who exchanged angry words with the manager and headed down the tunnel, surely never to appear in a Villa shirt again.

At 34, he may not find another Premiership club prepared to accommodate him. Gregory, later warned by police for swearing, said: ‘David wasn’t happy, but I wouldn’t expect anybody to do cartwheels after being substituted.’

Newcastle’s victory - sealed when Mark Delaney scored an own goal in the 74th minute - was only marred by the dismissal of Gary Speed along with Villa’s Ian Taylor after they clashed near the half-way line.

Ginola missed the action - he spent most of the second-half outside St James’s Park car park before deciding to return on the team coach.

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*The Guardian*
Sunday, 20 May, 2001

*Merson adds to Gregory’s parting woes*

Aston Villa refused to go quietly into the summer break. What should have been a low-key season’s end featured the humbling exit of David Ginola, a resounding defeat, the dismissal of the midfielder Ian Taylor and a police warning for the manager John Gregory over foul language.

Surely it could not get worse for Gregory, who was happy just to get the game out of the way and head for the beach, when up popped Paul Merson to develop further a theme that has already embarrassed the club this season.

Merson is frustrated and angry over Villa’s failure or, as he clearly perceives it, their lack of desire to take the expensive final step that will place them among genuine contenders for honours.

He puts a powerful and passionate case. “Villa are a massive club who should be up there fighting for the championship,” he said.

“The club has to take a chance and buy players. We have a great bunch of lads here but a great bunch of lads won’t win trophies.

“Newcastle have been nowhere this season and they hammered us. It shows how much needs to be changed for next season.”

Merson’s criticism is directed at the chairman Doug Ellis rather than Gregory. But the manager’s right to open the Villa cheque-book was not enhanced by the dreadful performances of Ginola and Juan Pablo Angel, two of his more recent signings.

Gregory lost patience with Ginola after 42 minutes and Newcastle fans, angry about the player’s criticism of the club and the city after he left them for Tottenham, jeered every slow step of his exit from the pitch he once graced so stylishly.

Some, too, thought Gregory’s decision so close to half-time was a needless public humiliation for the Frenchman. But Gregory’s timing was awry in only one respect. He should have ended Ginola’s involvement earlier.

Merson and Gareth Southgate angrily tried to fire up Ginola in the opening stages and there was no sympathy for him afterwards.

“Give the boss his due; he doesn’t mess about,” Merson said. “I have a lot of respect for him because it doesn’t matter who you are. If you are not performing, you’re off. David does things in training that can belittle you and he’s better than anybody on his day but you need to wind him up.”

Ginola was undeniably unwound here, his casual approach enabling Nolberto Solano to set up goals for Stephen Glass and Carl Cort in the first 12 minutes.

The Frenchman was moodily signing autographs in the car park by the time Mark Delaney added an own-goal in the 74th minute and an inconsequential scuffle between Taylor and Gary Speed brought their 83rd-minute dismissals.

Newcastle’s Bobby Robson, another manager hoping for funds from his board, said: “We must try to bring in some quality players. We will buy the best we can as soon as we can.”