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Author Topic: Martin O'Neill: Ten years on  (Read 15389 times)

Offline SoccerHQ

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Re: Martin O'Neill: Ten years on
« Reply #45 on: August 13, 2020, 02:36:49 PM »
The only ones who truly know what went on in the build up to O'Neill going are him and Lerner, but I doubt either are likely to go public with their thoughts.

Again, had he left in May 2010, he'd be thought of with much more respect than he is now.  It all felt like Lerner, Faulkner and O'Neill spent that Summer playing a game of brinkmanship which - in the end - went too far.

For me, the beginning of the end was Moscow.  In one moment, he lost so much trust of the fans, and it was never fully repaired - even with the cup runs we had in 09/10.

I think that's a good point actually. First year MON had us feeding out of his hands. I can remember a time on here when a few of us were wondering what on earth we were doing trying to make top 4 by signing likes of Zat Knight and Harewood and being met by a hail of bullets by those saying they were the only players in world football we could've signed for those roles.

I wasn't against signing likes of Habib Beye and Sidwell at the time as I actually thought both would improve the first 11 as Beye had been a good RB for Newcastle for instance.

After Moscow, while it never got to downright dissent in the stands, there was much more booing off at half times/full times after yet another full time 1-1 draw at home to Boro or Sunderland so the trust started to erode and think he knew it.

It's a shame as 09/10 was very close to being another 95/96. Would've likely won the league cup if Dowd hadn't bottled the red card and who knows how the semi final v Chelsea had gone if we'd got the penalty in the first half when we played really well. In the league we were 1 up at Man. City close to half time and 4th in the league, that was the 37th game.

Mutual consent the morning after the Blackburn game would've been ideal and given us the time to rebuild. Instead we spent the summer chasing Aiden McGeady and Scott Parker while Man. City signed Yaya Toure and David Silva (and Spurs signed Van Der Vaart on last day of the window) and we also lost our heartbeat of the team and Ireland was a complete flop. The moment was lost and it certainly has taken a decade for us to get over it.

Offline BC Villain

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Re: Martin O'Neill: Ten years on
« Reply #46 on: August 13, 2020, 05:35:27 PM »
Think there was the Spurs game not long after Moscow, when we ironically cheered when Agbonlahor was substituted, with O'Neill practically eye-balling the Trinity Road end in disgust.

Two games stick in my mind from the 09/10 season, and they're the home games with West Ham and Wolves

West Ham turned up here (I think bottom of the league at the time) and held us to a goalless draw.  In fact, I don't think we had a shot on target, even with about 900 corners, yet O'Neill proclaimed that he was "delighted" with the performance.

Then we played Wolves at home.  Superb for the first ten minutes, we passed into space, moved the ball round quickly, and went one up.  Then we decided to sit back and let a poor Wolves side come back into it.  They were 2 - 1 up at half time, and then we resorted to the good old "lump it up to Heskey or Carew".  Eventually we equalise with about ten minutes to go, but yet again site back and get a 2 - 2 draw.

For a side that were chasing Champions League football, dropping four points against two crap sides like that was poor, and I think gave the impression that he'd run out of ideas.

Offline dcdavecollett

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Re: Martin O'Neill: Ten years on
« Reply #47 on: August 14, 2020, 11:32:05 PM »
A very good manager found out by his limitations. I don't go in much for the 'unfit' label that some stuck on us, as in three of his four seasons we ended the season strongly -hardly the hallmark of a knackered team.

I also didn't get the big fuss over Moscow. Easy to say when you haven't forked out for travel, grub and tickets, but to me it was just him prioritising potential Chumps League over a cup, which happens with most clubs in our 'top six'.

Sadly, it didn't work out -bloody Glenn Whelan!!

Offline AsTallAsLions

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Re: Martin O'Neill: Ten years on
« Reply #48 on: August 15, 2020, 12:00:05 AM »
A very good manager found out by his limitations. I don't go in much for the 'unfit' label that some stuck on us, as in three of his four seasons we ended the season strongly -hardly the hallmark of a knackered team.

I also didn't get the big fuss over Moscow. Easy to say when you haven't forked out for travel, grub and tickets, but to me it was just him prioritising potential Chumps League over a cup, which happens with most clubs in our 'top six'.

Sadly, it didn't work out -bloody Glenn Whelan!!

If only that was truly to blame for us not reaching the Champion's League - and not Martin O'Neill's myopic tactical deployment of the best side we've had this century. Not to mention, of course, signing Marlon Harewood and Emile Heskey for a combined £7.5m when 1 capable goalscorer for the same money might have got us over the line.

Online kippaxvilla2

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Re: Martin O'Neill: Ten years on
« Reply #49 on: August 15, 2020, 09:50:50 AM »
It says it all that in the summer he left he was trying to sign Aidan McGeady.  What a stellar career he’s had.

Offline SoccerHQ

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Re: Martin O'Neill: Ten years on
« Reply #50 on: August 15, 2020, 02:47:50 PM »
We never won a game in March under him did we? So our strong runs in April and May was always trying to make up for the lost ground in the month before.

Online AV82EC

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Re: Martin O'Neill: Ten years on
« Reply #51 on: August 15, 2020, 05:00:54 PM »
We never won a game in March under him did we? So our strong runs in April and May was always trying to make up for the lost ground in the month before.

Exactly. Knacker the same 11 out week after week then wonder why it all goes wrong and you’re then playing catch up.

Offline PeterWithesShin

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Re: Martin O'Neill: Ten years on
« Reply #52 on: August 15, 2020, 05:02:55 PM »
Our league record from March onwards under him

07: W4 D6 L1
08: W3 D3 L4
09: W2 D5 L5
10: W5 D4 L3

Offline PeterWithesShin

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Re: Martin O'Neill: Ten years on
« Reply #53 on: August 15, 2020, 05:06:08 PM »
Our only March league win was 2-1 at home to Wigan. The only other March win was Reading 4-2 in the FA Cup.

Offline Rudy Can't Fail

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Re: Martin O'Neill: Ten years on
« Reply #54 on: August 15, 2020, 05:20:39 PM »
Our home record under him was poor. No surprise as his tactics were never to have the ball for more than 10 seconds. Oddly, it wasn't until Bruce that we managed to take advantage of playing at Villa Park. MON benefited greatly by being the manager to replace DOL and being given a fortune to spend by Lerner.

When told he needed to sell as well as buy players he realised we would get peanuts for some of his expensive squad fillers, people may understandably judge his record and jumped. I've yet to know a manager anywhere in the world that isn't expected to sell and buy. Like most things about MON, he thinks he's the exception. He's not. He's a very limited manager. He did a job picking us up and getting us moving in the right direction but a more ruthless board would have replaced him with somebody more progressive after a couple of seasons.

Offline dcdavecollett

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Re: Martin O'Neill: Ten years on
« Reply #55 on: August 15, 2020, 11:31:18 PM »
Yes, but the board had little idea of what they were doing, sadly.

I don't recall a 2-1 win at home to Wigan. I always thought the pie-munchers had the evil eye on MO'N at B6; still, Martin's team always seemed to win at their place. Almost a flavour of his entire record, in fact.

Yet again, I point out that in three of his seasons, 'Knackererd by March' was followed by a 'Re-energised in April' spell but I think people prefer to believe what they want on this issue.

Offline rob_bridge

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Re: Martin O'Neill: Ten years on
« Reply #56 on: August 18, 2020, 10:14:10 AM »
We played Newcastle early in his reign and iirc ater the game their manager said our commitment etc was frightening.

For some reason this was a comfortable regulation win in but always remember it. Not sure it was Reoder but if you look at those 2 line ups  they had better players - Mellberg and Barry, maybe Angel would make combined team

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/5266292.stm

Online LeeB

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Re: Martin O'Neill: Ten years on
« Reply #57 on: August 18, 2020, 11:25:00 AM »
We played Newcastle early in his reign and iirc ater the game their manager said our commitment etc was frightening.

For some reason this was a comfortable regulation win in but always remember it. Not sure it was Reoder but if you look at those 2 line ups  they had better players - Mellberg and Barry, maybe Angel would make combined team

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/5266292.stm

I remember going to Blackburn who were managed by Allardyce as probably the high water mark of his reign. We'd just signed Heskey (I know, but he'd scored on his debut), were on a great run, and absolutely dismantled them in front of a full away end (the whole stand I think). I remember Allardyce saying we were frightening and they couldn't match our commitment and skill. At that point it looked like we could go for the title let alone the top 4, but it was just a few weeks before Moscow.

Offline Dave P

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Re: Martin O'Neill: Ten years on
« Reply #58 on: August 19, 2020, 10:43:54 AM »
We played Newcastle early in his reign and iirc ater the game their manager said our commitment etc was frightening.

For some reason this was a comfortable regulation win in but always remember it. Not sure it was Reoder but if you look at those 2 line ups  they had better players - Mellberg and Barry, maybe Angel would make combined team

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/5266292.stm

I remember going to Blackburn who were managed by Allardyce as probably the high water mark of his reign. We'd just signed Heskey (I know, but he'd scored on his debut), were on a great run, and absolutely dismantled them in front of a full away end (the whole stand I think). I remember Allardyce saying we were frightening and they couldn't match our commitment and skill. At that point it looked like we could go for the title let alone the top 4, but it was just a few weeks before Moscow.

Yes I was there too.  We won 2-0 with Milner and Gabby scoring.  Great away trip.

Offline Damo70

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Re: Martin O'Neill: Ten years on
« Reply #59 on: August 19, 2020, 12:59:27 PM »
Ron Saunders, Tony Barton, SGT, BFR and Brian Little achieved things. The reigns of John Gregory and MON were relatively good times but ultimately it was a case of 'close but no cigar'.

 


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