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

[paul_e]

... 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.

We picked our strongest side in the home leg as I recall. Presumably the plan was to be in a commanding position after the first game meaning we could have the option of bringing some senior players to see out the second leg in Moscow.

Having just checked we did indeed, I was certain we'd picked a weaker side.  The main point still stands though that we lost 2 games in the group by playing a reserve team, had we won them we'd have had a much better draw than having to go away to Moscow in winter.

[rob_bridge]

SGT was a bit unfortunate that he was very much an old school manager, just as English football started to make the transition to a more technically and tactically sophisticated game. I just remembered Gary Pallister at left back to counter Tore Andre Flo (who promptly switched wings).  Not pretty.

Yes thankfully subsequent to his reign - which was pretty rubbish when it came to the crunch - we have had much more clueless muppets who did worse - Keegan and Brollyman

[paul_e]

SGT was a bit unfortunate that he was very much an old school manager, just as English football started to make the transition to a more technically and tactically sophisticated game. I just remembered Gary Pallister at left back to counter Tore Andre Flo (who promptly switched wings).  Not pretty.

Yes thankfully subsequent to his reign - which was pretty rubbish when it came to the crunch - we have had much more clueless muppets who did worse - Keegan and Brollyman

It's not just that though, He also had a dreadfully unlucky time with injuries and had a lot of players retire who would've been in his side and the replacements just weren't ready.  Shearer is a interesting one as he caleld him up at least twice only to see him withdraw with a niggle.  He was also in a terrible position of having a striker who was a national hero but was clearly not up to it at the highest level by the end of his time as manager.

[PeterWithesShin]

Hadn't Lineker retired from international football before the 1994 qualifiers started? I thought his last game was that Sweden game at the Euros.

[Exeter 77]

Hadn't Lineker retired from international football before the 1994 qualifiers started? I thought his last game was that Sweden game at the Euros.

It was. That was why SGT was vilified for substituting him.

[Fred]

I am sure SGT, BFR, BL & JG would have loved the working conditions that MON enjoyed. A chairman who did not intefere and money to spend, add  a fan base who were 100% behind him and that was ideal for him.

I think they would have all spent the money better than MON and two of them did bring silverware in the the club.

[eamonn]

Do Lineker and SGT's paths cross much now that both work for the BBC? Is there still bitterness present from Dumbo the crisp thief?

[paul_e]

Hadn't Lineker retired from international football before the 1994 qualifiers started? I thought his last game was that Sweden game at the Euros.

Yeah, I got the competitions wrong, I remember 1 of the qualifying campaigns where Lineker was useless, just couldn't remember which it was, to save face a little I was 13 when he retired from internationals, that feels like a hell of a long time ago to me!

[Brend'Watkins]

Do Lineker and SGT's paths cross much now that both work for the BBC? Is there still bitterness present from Dumbo the crisp thief?

Don't really know but do know...

You will find many people say good things when speaking about SGT, rarely if ever do you hear a bad thing.

You hear many people who say bad things when speaking about Linaker, rarely if ever do you hear a good thing. 

[JUAN PABLO]

It goes from bad to worse for MONderland - Stephen Fletcher is out for the rest of the season.

Poor old Martin.

He will still play him , knowing MON   

[Damo70]

Do Lineker and SGT's paths cross much now that both work for the BBC? Is there still bitterness present from Dumbo the crisp thief?

Don't really know but do know...

You will find many people say good things when speaking about SGT, rarely if ever do you hear a bad thing.

You hear many people who say bad things when speaking about Linaker, rarely if ever do you hear a good thing.

You will struggle to look back and find any negative quotes about SGT from Lineker. That is because he hides behind his agent and mouthpiece John Holmes when it comes to that sort of thing. You will find plenty of digs at SGT from him over the years.

[pauliewalnuts]

It goes from bad to worse for MONderland - Stephen Fletcher is out for the rest of the season.

Poor old Martin.

He will still play him , knowing MON   

At right back.

[Pat McMahon]

... 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.

We picked our strongest side in the home leg as I recall. Presumably the plan was to be in a commanding position after the first game meaning we could have the option of bringing some senior players to see out the second leg in Moscow.

Eamon, that is my recollection too, though I don't have access to the team and squad details for that game.

We picked a full team, gave it a go and played really poorly - IIRC it was Moscow's first game after their winter break and we should have been sharper than them. The seeds of elimination were sewn at home, though the tie was still winnable - albeit with a lot of hurdles on a plastic pitch in arctic conditions.

[eastie]

Fletcher and cattermole both confirmed as ruled out for the rest of the season - what a shame .

[N'ZMAV]

Good.