The Martin O'Neill thread (with added sacking #2188)

[N'ZMAV]

Petrov used to be fucked after an hour.

[Steve R]

He just doesn't seem as 'up for it' as he used to be, both in interviews and on the touchline. He appears tired and jaded.

It seems to me that he realises the game is up, and amongst other things he's not going to get one of the PL's coveted jobs.

I suspect that was what his last two seasons at VP were about. Sod the long term just polish the CV.

[PeterWithesShin]

Nor mine. I'm starting to think that Pubey is a busted flush.

Better late than never.

What I mean is that even his main strength as a manager seems to have gone. Wasn't it a Newcastle player or official who said our work rate and dedication under him was frightening? I just don't see that with Sunderland. So if his one big asset as a manager isn't working he's got nothing else to offer as we all know his limitations elsewhere.

I remember the loveable JT saying that he knew Villa would tire after about 70 minutes and therefore he knew Chelsea would win if they were still in the game at that point.  Possibly after the semi final.  I hated the perceived arrogance at the time but in hindsight he was probably right.

It was the first season under him that i'm on about. It's also worth remembering how many late goals we scored in the first 2 or 3 years under him.

[Nev]

Along his side his intransigence he made two critical errors that have been fatal to his managerial career. The team selection in Moscow and the nature of his departure from us.

[eamonn]

Did he not tell people at the Moscow-surrender-dinner to shup the fup up about it?

[Legion]

Words to that effect, yes.

[Rigadon]

A good / great manager in his heyday (2007/8?).

That he is outdated is almost beyond question and I hope he takes Sunderland down but mainly because that will probably mean we stay up.   

But I do remember a lot of good times when he was at Villa.     

[silhillvilla]

Did he not tell people at the Moscow-surrender-dinner to shup the fup up about it?

Well he certainly didn't apologise and effectively tried to justify his decision.

[Damo70]

I am pretty sure I can recall a comment along the lines of 'I felt we would have lost with a full strength team anyway'.

[paul_e]

I personally think too many fans are hung up on the team he took away to Moscow, his mistakes in that tournament came earlier (as far as I'm concerned).

A weak team in the group vs Hamburg and zilina meant we got a tougher draw than we should have, and even then picking a weakened team at home to cska and only getting a draw meant we were on a hiding to nothing going away.  Away on an artificial pitch in the middle of winter in one of the coldest cities in europe and needing to score at least once was a big ask.

If we'd beaten Stoke at the weekend it'd have been the correct decision.  I personally think the biggest problem with the selection was that it turned the fans against him, which was very noticeable in the next few games.

[N'ZMAV]

Moscow was the beginning of the end.

[Brend'Watkins]

I personally think too many fans are hung up on the team he took away to Moscow, his mistakes in that tournament came earlier (as far as I'm concerned).

I agree with this.  I thought it the right decision at the time and still do.  Yes, a bit of a pig if you were one of those going out there and hoping for better but in all truth that competition is a curse and one we were better off out of.  Had we got the win against Stoke would his decision have been justified, would we still be banging on about it as a defining moment?  I doubt it.

There's plenty to beat MON with a stick over but Moscow isn't the main one as far as I'm concerned.

[N'ZMAV]

It's mad to try and quality for the Europa League and then want out - it seems to happen every season these days for at least one club.

[not3bad]

Moscow was the beginning of the end.

Been through this before a few times but personally I thought Stoke at home following Moscow was the bigger turning point.  If we'd have held on for the win in this match then Moscow would have been vindicated IMO.

[Lee]

Moscow was the beginning of the end.

Been through this before a few times but personally I thought Stoke at home following Moscow was the bigger turning point.  If we'd have held on for the win in this match then Moscow would have been vindicated IMO.

That's my take on it too.