Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: villasjf on September 03, 2010, 08:51:35 AM
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Interesting article in a Midlands newspaper when Kev defends MON.
http://www.birminghampost.net/midlands-birmingham-sport/west-midlands-sports/aston-villa-fc/2010/09/02/kevin-macdonald-defends-good-friend-martin-o-neill-over-aston-villa-exit-65233-27182706/
Mods please shorten link
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Allow me!
Kevin MacDonald defends 'good friend' Martin O'Neill over Aston Villa exit
Sep 2 2010 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Post
Kevin MacDonald has jumped to the defence of ‘good friend’ Martin O’Neill and denied that the former Aston Villa manager deliberately disrupted the club with the timing of his departure.
Kevin MacDonald
MacDonald has guided Villa through the opening weeks of the season in a caretaker capacity following his predecessor’s shock resignation on August 9, five days before the campaign kicked off.
(http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/birmpost/sep2010/0/3/kevin-macdonald-300-8894636.jpg)
Villa have experienced mixed fortunes during their first three Premier League matches with two victories at home to West Ham United and Everton and a heavy defeat away to Newcastle United.
The claret and blues have also exited the Europa League at the qualifying stage after following their impressive 1-1 draw in Austria with a damaging 3-2 defeat to Rapid Vienna at Villa Park.
O’Neill’s untimely departure has also affected their movements in the transfer market with the board understandably reluctant to do business without a permanent manager in place.
The only deal conducted before the window closed on Tuesday teatime was the arrival of Stephen Ireland as a makeweight in the £26 million deal which took James Milner to Manchester City.
Martin O'Neill
Despite O’Neill’s walkout causing almost a month of uncertainty at Villa Park, MacDonald has leapt to the defence of his former colleague who has been a close confidante over the past four years.
(http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/birmpost/aug2010/5/6/martin-o-neill-851629037.jpg)
MacDonald has scoffed at suggestions that O’Neill deliberately left his decision to quit Villa after months of rumblings of discontent until the last moment in order to cause maximum disruption.
“Martin was a good friend and an educated man so I wouldn’t have anyone saying anything bad about him,” said MacDonald, who is under consideration to permanently replace O’Neill after declaring his interest in the job on Monday.
“In the last three or four years that Martin was here he was a great supporter of the things I did.
“He would also enlighten me about certain things and how he might do it – not making decisions for me, but giving me little bits of advice and an education.
“In many ways we became friends. We played golf now again – not close friends but that was the sort of relationship we built up together.
“Sometimes he would divulge things to me that he probably would not say to any of the other staff. I would be very surprised that he actually left the club in the lurch. He is a football person, he loves his football.
“From my point of view I have got to ask the question why would he deliberately do that? I can’t see it – it’s just my own thoughts.
“There must have been a frustration of some description and I haven’t actually spoken to him about it.
“But I wouldn’t decry anybody if they decide what they want to do.”
Despite his relationship with O’Neill, MacDonald is unable to explain why his predecessor’s relationship with Randy Lerner broke down at the start of this month rather than at the end of last season.
“I can’t answer that because I can’t tell whether Martin was more frustrated at the end of last season or into the pre-season,” he said.
“I just thought he’d all of a sudden had enough and decided that was it. That is the only way I can look at it because, from talking to him, there was never any indication to me.
“I don’t know what sort of talk went on about the money that might have been available or not available. If that was a frustration then he never portrayed that to myself.”
MacDonald revealed O’Neill has telephoned him to pass on his best wishes since his bombshell departure and even passed on the scouting report he had compiled ahead of Villa’s opening-day victory over West Ham.
Asked how much O’Neill’s exit had damaged the club, MacDonald replied: ““It probably hasn’t helped the football club, but the players have to help themselves.
“When we played West Ham he had done a scouting report the previous week and he phoned me up. So if you are saying he left the club in the lurch he was still showing the club he has got heart then. Whether it was trying to help me out or trying to show the club that – I think it was probably a bit of both.
“He could have quite easily walked away and not bothered phoning. That’s why I find it difficult for people to say that.”
MacDonald insists it is important the club have a clear vision over how they wish to proceed in the post-O’Neill era, regardless of whether he or an alternative candidate is given the job.
“How we see the future of the club going would be a big thing,” he added.
“If the club says it’s ‘sell to buy’ then we have to develop those young players quicker and better but also keep the club progressing to keep your senior players keen and interested in trying to win things.
“It’s not a case of dropping down the standards, we want to still be trying to force ourselves into Europe and going on good cup runs because that’s the nature of the club. If the supporters that come here every week saw we weren’t doing that they wouldn’t be very happy. This football club and fans will be here a long time after I am.’’
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And MON passed on a scouting report. That's funny!
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KMAC QUOTE “He would also enlighten me about certain things and how he might do it"
Probably advising him NEVER to buy overseas players, fall out with certain ones and play some hopelessly out of position.
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And MON passed on a scouting report. That's funny!
In this context the scouting report is obviously, home work/notes compiled about the opposition.
It's a sad state of affairs that people actually think MON timed his departure to cause maximum disruption.
I wonder will MON ever give us his side of the story?
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Nail in coffin I hope.
Re. scouting, GT says that when he left the board, overseas scouting was abandoned.
He intimates that Ian Storey-Moore had not got a foreign player scouting policy and that is clearly down to M'ORunner.
Defending a man who left the club in a total mess is ridiculous.
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Defending a man who left the club in a total mess is ridiculous.
Nice you think of MacDonald that way.
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Good to see K-Mac defending a hard working and succesful manager. Perhaps some on herecould show some respect and stop sniping at someone who did his best for the club
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Defending a man who left the club in a total mess is ridiculous.
Nice you think of MacDonald that way.
You're putting a spin on what I said.
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Good to see K-Mac defending a hard working and succesful manager. Perhaps some on herecould show some respect and stop sniping at someone who did his best for the club
by walking out with no warning 5 days before kick off you mean.
I'm not sure whether KM is trying to ingratiate himself with Randy or ensure he doesn't get the job.
Doesn't look like the first with suggestions we may be a selling club though. Still we'll see
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Good to see K-Mac defending a hard working and succesful manager. Perhaps some on herecould show some respect and stop sniping at someone who did his best for the club
Well Warsza, seeing as you took the bait, i was going to but held back, i have to agree with you.
Well said that man.
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Good to see K-Mac defending a hard working and succesful manager. Perhaps some on herecould show some respect and stop sniping at someone who did his best for the club
by walking out with no warning 5 days before kick off you mean.
No, by helping us challenge for a top four spot and taking us to wembley twice.
The worrying thing in this article is K-mac's talk about sell to buy, etc. It seems we are going to struggle to stand still if this is the policy and is probably the reason why MON left. The timing of his resignation was not good but I do wonder why this was the case. MON has no previous history of doing such things and something must have snapped. However he has decided to retain a dignified silence on the matter unlike some others.
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Go away Kmac.. Thanks
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Good to see K-Mac defending a hard working and succesful manager. Perhaps some on herecould show some respect and stop sniping at someone who did his best for the club
by walking out with no warning 5 days before kick off you mean.
I'm not sure whether KM is trying to ingratiate himself with Randy or ensure he doesn't get the job.
Doesn't look like the first with suggestions we may be a selling club though. Still we'll see
Or perhaps he's just being honest. Seems that's an alien concept to some of you.
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Go away Kmac.. Thanks
Show some respect, he'll be around longer than temperamental lightweights like you.
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Defending a man who left the club in a total mess is ridiculous.
Nice you think of MacDonald that way.
You're putting a spin on what I said.
Okay then fans are ridiculous for defending MON, but Macdonald isn't?
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It's a sad state of affairs that people actually think MON timed his departure to cause maximum disruption.
If you're saying otherwise, then you're clearly taking the piss.
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'Nice you think of McDonald in this way'.
I think the headline is a bit sensational to be honest.
Kev wasn't defending MO'Runner, more so, explaining that he was phoned by him with his best wishes.
No, I am not in favour of Kev being our new permanent Manager, but I have no reason, inc that article, to dislike him.
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Go away Kmac.. Thanks
Did you once have a shirt with "Ellis 666" on the back?
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It's a sad state of affairs that people actually think MON timed his departure to cause maximum disruption.
If you're saying otherwise, then you're clearly taking the piss.
Diana was murdered by MI6 on the orders of the Duke of Edinburgh and Elvis never died having a shit.
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'Nice you think of McDonald in this way'.
I think the headline is a bit sensational to be honest.
Kev wasn't defending MO'Runner, more so, explaining that he was phoned by him with his best wishes.
No, I am not in favour of Kev being our new permanent Manager, but I have no reason, inc that article, to dislike him.
I think you're seeing what you want to see. He specifically says that he doesn't believe that it was done to casue disruption.
“From my point of view I have got to ask the question why would he deliberately do that? I can’t see it – it’s just my own thoughts.
Given that he's far, far closer to the situation than anyone on here I think it should be taken notice of.
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Go away Kmac.. Thanks
Show some respect, he'll be around longer than temperamental lightweights like you.
i dont show respect for managers who throw tournaments....
....and he'll be long gone and i'll be still a villa fan, its your comment that is disrespectful to a villa fan.
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Go away Kmac.. Thanks
Did you once have a shirt with "Ellis 666" on the back?
yeah, loved that shirt.
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'Nice you think of McDonald in this way'.
I think the headline is a bit sensational to be honest.
Kev wasn't defending MO'Runner, more so, explaining that he was phoned by him with his best wishes.
No, I am not in favour of Kev being our new permanent Manager, but I have no reason, inc that article, to dislike him.
I think you're seeing what you want to see. He specifically says that he doesn't believe that it was done to casue disruption.
“From my point of view I have got to ask the question why would he deliberately do that? I can’t see it – it’s just my own thoughts.
Given that he's far, far closer to the situation than anyone on here I think it should be taken notice of.
He should. And so should others closer to the situation than we are.
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'Nice you think of McDonald in this way'.
I think the headline is a bit sensational to be honest.
Kev wasn't defending MO'Runner, more so, explaining that he was phoned by him with his best wishes.
No, I am not in favour of Kev being our new permanent Manager, but I have no reason, inc that article, to dislike him.
See what you mean now. Sorry.
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One thing O'Neill wasn't was politically naive.
Leaving Villa 5 days before kickoff was not the act of a man who had the slightest interest in the good will of the club. Whether KM thinks that or not, whether he's suddenly become an authority and close bosom friend of O'Neill matters not. Leaving the club when he did has left us in disarray, leaving at the end of May would have made the selection of his successor far more profitable to the club.
Secondly, why I should give any more respect to a friend of Mon than a past admirer of Mon, or Mon, I have no idea, especially when all he is doing is passing via the media a well thought out and preplanned statement.
Its only slightly more reliable than ITK revelations 'leaked' to gullible parties, I'd suggest.
In time Randy will reveal his choice amidst much explanation and spin. Until then all speculation is pointless as is the continued lame attempts to take some of the shame off the manner of the previous managers exit.
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I think people have to remember, that by leaving when he did, MON did himself no favours. He would be entitled to zero pay-off. No jobs around at the moment. Most likely wont be until next summer.
Now I'm sure he is not short a few bob, but this idea of his grand master plan to f*** up Villa is ridiculous.
Rightly or wrongly, he left because he didnt feel he could work with the board/owner/Faulkner, the reasons for which obviously came to a head around that weekend.
Sure, be angry/disappointed for not sticking out the season with the squad he had built...but the conspiracy theories are laughable and based on nothing.
Moon landing in a Hollywood basement...now we're talking!
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Go away Kmac.. Thanks
Show some respect, he'll be around longer than temperamental lightweights like you.
i dont show respect for managers who throw tournaments....
....and he'll be long gone and i'll be still a villa fan, its your comment that is disrespectful to a villa fan.
Why do you think it is you get so little respect?
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Pack it in please.
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Pack it in please.
no probs! :0)
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I think people have to remember, that by leaving when he did, MON did himself no favours. He would be entitled to zero pay-off. No jobs around at the moment. Most likely wont be until next summer.
Now I'm sure he is not short a few bob, but this idea of his grand master plan to f*** up Villa is ridiculous.
Rightly or wrongly, he left because he didnt feel he could work with the board/owner/Faulkner, the reasons for which obviously came to a head around that weekend.
Sure, be angry/disappointed for not sticking out the season with the squad he had built...but the conspiracy theories are laughable and based on nothing.
Moon landing in a Hollywood basement...now we're talking!
There's plenty of work for Martin O'Neill between now and next May, and I'm not laughing at any supposed 'conspiracy theory'.
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I think people have to remember, that by leaving when he did, MON did himself no favours. He would be entitled to zero pay-off. No jobs around at the moment. Most likely wont be until next summer.
Now I'm sure he is not short a few bob, but this idea of his grand master plan to f*** up Villa is ridiculous.
Rightly or wrongly, he left because he didnt feel he could work with the board/owner/Faulkner, the reasons for which obviously came to a head around that weekend.
Sure, be angry/disappointed for not sticking out the season with the squad he had built...but the conspiracy theories are laughable and based on nothing.
Moon landing in a Hollywood basement...now we're talking!
There's plenty of work for Martin O'Neill between now and next May, and I'm not laughing at any supposed 'conspiracy theory'.
What are you basing it on then.....besides this hatred that you have had for from well before he left?
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Go away Kmac.. Thanks
Thats a bit unfair mate. Kmac has been a good servant to our club.
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Go away Kmac.. Thanks
Thats a bit unfair mate. Kmac has been a good servant to our club.
an employee who's team selection sees out of europe again, playing people out of position again and still insists Heskey is a good player.
He may be a good coach but he's no manager.
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Go away Kmac.. Thanks
Thats a bit unfair mate. Kmac has been a good servant to our club.
an employee who's team selection sees out of europe again, playing people out of position again and still insists Heskey is a good player.
He may be a good coach but he's no manager.
Has there been a time when you were happy with the board/manager/players at the club? When you didn't define your support in terms of opposition to someone at Villa?
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To be fair to O'Neill he has kept a dignified silence after dropping us in the shit 5 days before the start of the season and three weeks before the transfer deadline day.
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Go away Kmac.. Thanks
Thats a bit unfair mate. Kmac has been a good servant to our club.
an employee who's team selection sees out of europe again, playing people out of position again and still insists Heskey is a good player.
He may be a good coach but he's no manager.
Has there been a time when you were happy with the board/manager/players at the club? When you didn't define your support in terms of opposition to someone at Villa?
Back in the mid 90's id guess, but even then you knew doug was well doug... Early in MONS appointment before it became obvious he was tactically inept as well.
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Go away Kmac.. Thanks
Thats a bit unfair mate. Kmac has been a good servant to our club.
an employee who's team selection sees out of europe again, playing people out of position again and still insists Heskey is a good player.
He may be a good coach but he's no manager.
Has there been a time when you were happy with the board/manager/players at the club? When you didn't define your support in terms of opposition to someone at Villa?
Back in the mid 90's id guess, but even then you knew doug was well doug... Early in MONS appointment before it became obvious he was tactically inept as well.
Have you ever been wrong?
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It's a sad state of affairs that people actually think MON timed his departure to cause maximum disruption.
If you're saying otherwise, then you're clearly taking the piss.
That's your opinion mate, your entitled to it.
My opinion is the same as K Mac, i don't believe MON walked away with the intention of maximising the amount of disruption caused to the club, and as K Mac has added, if that was the case then MON would not have passed on the "scouting" report would he.
So you believe what you want, but i would suggest you are having the piss taken out of you, if you believe the conspiracy theory.
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Has there been a time when you were happy with the board/manager/players at the club? When you didn't define your support in terms of opposition to someone at Villa?
Back in the mid 90's id guess, but even then you knew doug was well doug... Early in MONS appointment before it became obvious he was tactically inept as well.
Well after 15 years of that, wouldn't you be happier to think I'll let the board appoint the manager, the manager pick the players and for the next 12 months I'll just define my relationship with the club as someone who just supports?
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Has there been a time when you were happy with the board/manager/players at the club? When you didn't define your support in terms of opposition to someone at Villa?
Back in the mid 90's id guess, but even then you knew doug was well doug... Early in MONS appointment before it became obvious he was tactically inept as well.
Well after 15 years of that, wouldn't you be happier to think I'll let the board appoint the manager, the manager pick the players and for the next 12 months I'll just define my relationship with the club as someone who just supports?
unfortunately I can see these faults that most claret tinted spectacle wearers seem unable to, and if i dont like them i dont have to like them, infact i say its detrimental and timewasting to just "accept" things and support blindly.
How can you cheer on a team with habib beye been done all night at left back and the manager has decided not to put warnock on the bench? how can you roar when your playing a striker who doesnt score. how can you get excited by "qualifying for europe" when you know the manager doesnt give a damn and will play kids when we should get as many away goals as possible? I want ambition in my team and with Mon and Mon mk2 (kmac) you dont get this, hell... kmac didnt have the ambition to go try for full time for 2+weeks.
I support by wanting the best and voicing my opinions on how to change these as soon as possible. Other people Support by paying hundreds of pounds a year to cheer the team on. Ultimately myself and person who goes have no say whatsoever in what goes on. Me on here saying i dislike MON2 backing up his mate, will make no difference, it will just get it off my chest. Joe Bloggs coming on here and saying "cheer the team for 90 minutes" will make no difference, it will just get it off his chest. We are but fans, its the paid employees who make the difference. It money that drives 99% of players and managers on, not stevenjos's opinion on a internet forum.
im just getting it off my chest, just like you are by asking for blind support.
If the board appoint someone who comes in and plays attractive football and people in position then of course i'll give them a chance*
Have you ever been wrong?
yeah i thought MON was a good manager for 2 years!
* = unless they like Heskey and then they are obviously insane.
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I think people have to remember, that by leaving when he did, MON did himself no favours. He would be entitled to zero pay-off. No jobs around at the moment. Most likely wont be until next summer.
Now I'm sure he is not short a few bob, but this idea of his grand master plan to f*** up Villa is ridiculous.
Rightly or wrongly, he left because he didnt feel he could work with the board/owner/Faulkner, the reasons for which obviously came to a head around that weekend.
Sure, be angry/disappointed for not sticking out the season with the squad he had built...but the conspiracy theories are laughable and based on nothing.
Moon landing in a Hollywood basement...now we're talking!
Hahahaha! Ace!
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To be fair to O'Neill he has kept a dignified silence after dropping us in the shit 5 days before the start of the season and three weeks before the transfer deadline day.
Could that be because he has good reason too.
Keep quiet that is. To maintain what credibility he has left it would hardly be sound practice to go mouthing off about your previous employer who seemingly gave you complete control, plenty of money to spend and had no idea you were about to walk out and leave him and his club in the shit.
I'd love to see his reference from Randy
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Has there been a time when you were happy with the board/manager/players at the club? When you didn't define your support in terms of opposition to someone at Villa?
Back in the mid 90's id guess, but even then you knew doug was well doug... Early in MONS appointment before it became obvious he was tactically inept as well.
Well after 15 years of that, wouldn't you be happier to think I'll let the board appoint the manager, the manager pick the players and for the next 12 months I'll just define my relationship with the club as someone who just supports?
unfortunately I can see these faults that most claret tinted spectacle wearers seem unable to, and if i dont like them i dont have to like them, infact i say its detrimental and timewasting to just "accept" things and support blindly.
How can you cheer on a team with habib beye been done all night at left back and the manager has decided not to put warnock on the bench? how can you roar when your playing a striker who doesnt score. how can you get excited by "qualifying for europe" when you know the manager doesnt give a damn and will play kids when we should get as many away goals as possible? I want ambition in my team and with Mon and Mon mk2 (kmac) you dont get this, hell... kmac didnt have the ambition to go try for full time for 2+weeks.
I support by wanting the best and voicing my opinions on how to change these as soon as possible. Other people Support by paying hundreds of pounds a year to cheer the team on. Ultimately myself and person who goes have no say whatsoever in what goes on. Me on here saying i dislike MON2 backing up his mate, will make no difference, it will just get it off my chest. Joe Bloggs coming on here and saying "cheer the team for 90 minutes" will make no difference, it will just get it off his chest. We are but fans, its the paid employees who make the difference. It money that drives 99% of players and managers on, not stevenjos's opinion on a internet forum.
im just getting it off my chest, just like you are by asking for blind support.
If the board appoint someone who comes in and plays attractive football and people in position then of course i'll give them a chance*
Have you ever been wrong?
yeah i thought MON was a good manager for 2 years!
* = unless they like Heskey and then they are obviously insane.
"I support by wanting the best and voicing my opinions on how to change these as soon as possible"
Are you sure you're not simply a critic of Aston Villa FC, rather than a supporter of the club?
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To be fair to O'Neill he has kept a dignified silence after dropping us in the shit 5 days before the start of the season and three weeks before the transfer deadline day.
On this point I am not sure if there is anything dignified, more likely contractual.
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Has there been a time when you were happy with the board/manager/players at the club? When you didn't define your support in terms of opposition to someone at Villa?
Back in the mid 90's id guess, but even then you knew doug was well doug... Early in MONS appointment before it became obvious he was tactically inept as well.
Well after 15 years of that, wouldn't you be happier to think I'll let the board appoint the manager, the manager pick the players and for the next 12 months I'll just define my relationship with the club as someone who just supports?
unfortunately I can see these faults that most claret tinted spectacle wearers seem unable to, and if i dont like them i dont have to like them, infact i say its detrimental and timewasting to just "accept" things and support blindly.
How can you cheer on a team with habib beye been done all night at left back and the manager has decided not to put warnock on the bench? how can you roar when your playing a striker who doesnt score. how can you get excited by "qualifying for europe" when you know the manager doesnt give a damn and will play kids when we should get as many away goals as possible? I want ambition in my team and with Mon and Mon mk2 (kmac) you dont get this, hell... kmac didnt have the ambition to go try for full time for 2+weeks.
I support by wanting the best and voicing my opinions on how to change these as soon as possible. Other people Support by paying hundreds of pounds a year to cheer the team on. Ultimately myself and person who goes have no say whatsoever in what goes on. Me on here saying i dislike MON2 backing up his mate, will make no difference, it will just get it off my chest. Joe Bloggs coming on here and saying "cheer the team for 90 minutes" will make no difference, it will just get it off his chest. We are but fans, its the paid employees who make the difference. It money that drives 99% of players and managers on, not stevenjos's opinion on a internet forum.
im just getting it off my chest, just like you are by asking for blind support.
If the board appoint someone who comes in and plays attractive football and people in position then of course i'll give them a chance*
Have you ever been wrong?
yeah i thought MON was a good manager for 2 years!
* = unless they like Heskey and then they are obviously insane.
"I support by wanting the best and voicing my opinions on how to change these as soon as possible"
Are you sure you're not simply a critic of Aston Villa FC, rather than a supporter of the club?
Im not.
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In this day and age it's hard to believe that the details of MON's "abandonment" hasn't found their way into today's 24/7 media. I think that KMac is trying to be diplomatic here, but he is not experienced in media matters. IMHO he may lack a bit of the "killer instinct" that needs to be passed on to our squad. I support the Houllier/ KMac set-up for the time being and revisit the concept at the end of the year. If not Hitzfeld or Moyes then IMO this is our best option under the present strange circustances.
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I think people have to remember, that by leaving when he did, MON did himself no favours. He would be entitled to zero pay-off. No jobs around at the moment. Most likely wont be until next summer.
Now I'm sure he is not short a few bob, but this idea of his grand master plan to f*** up Villa is ridiculous.
Rightly or wrongly, he left because he didnt feel he could work with the board/owner/Faulkner, the reasons for which obviously came to a head around that weekend.
Sure, be angry/disappointed for not sticking out the season with the squad he had built...but the conspiracy theories are laughable and based on nothing.
Moon landing in a Hollywood basement...now we're talking!
There's plenty of work for Martin O'Neill between now and next May, and I'm not laughing at any supposed 'conspiracy theory'.
What are you basing it on then.....besides this hatred that you have had for from well before he left?
I hated him before he left, did I? That's news to me.
I'm basing it on what I've been told.
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I don't think O'Neill deliberately timed his departure to cause maximum disruption, of course not.
I do however feel that if he had an ounce of respect for our club he would either have left when he first felt he could no longer continue, or if that really did only occur five days before the season, he should have at least had enough respect for us to stay on until the end of the transfer window to give us some sort of chance of going into the season with some stability.
By doing what he did, he lost all respect I had for him, and I had a huge amount of respect for him as well.
I note with respect that I've used the word respect a lot in this post!
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I don't think he timed it as well, but still 5 days before the season is disgusting. He has a habit of ditching clubs when he doesn't get his own way.
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You can't expect Kevin MacDonald to attack his friend in the media. We don't know the full facts or what Martin O'Neill feeling is. He had enough and walked out. If Martin ONeill want to talk he will, but he doesn't want to damage his reputation.
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There was a massive rumour doing the rounds on 30th March that MON had resigned.
It had to be denied by the club on Pravda.
I think there's a possibilty that he may have 'walked' and then talked into staying only to do a runner 5 days before this season began.
Just my thoughts on the matter.
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The interview is fair enough.
Any managers record is a combination of the good and the bads, the sum totlaof which in MONs case was the best three consecutive post WW2 finishes in our history.
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Good to see K-Mac defending a hard working and succesful manager. Perhaps some on herecould show some respect and stop sniping at someone who did his best for the club
I agree with the sentiments, but he was a complete tosser for walking out.
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My opinion is the same as K Mac, i don't believe MON walked away with the intention of maximising the amount of disruption caused to the club, and as K Mac has added, if that was the case then MON would not have passed on the "scouting" report would he.
I'd imagine in legal terms, the report was the property of the club. He's done us no favours other than leaving.
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I cannot see why Kevin MacDonald should not be allowed to give his opinion. If it is different to some of ours then so be it. He did work with O'Neill and is a friend of his. Personally, I am delighted that he has gone but don't expect everyone at the club to suddenly despise him, even though many of the staff already did, allegedly.
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I also think the theory of purposefully timing it for maximum damage is way off base. If it were true, then why not do it the morning of the first game?
I can belief the dummies thrown thing, although we still haven't heard the full story there IMO, but that just means he's a stubborn man, not a vindictive one.