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

[russon]

let's hope all this bile does not come back to haunt us. At least he never looked like relegating us, unlike our current manager and the one before him.

absence does not make the heart grow fonder where H&V commentators and MON are concerned. The hatred seems to grow week by week and the very real good times enjoyed under MON are erased from history. He made a dog's breakfast of his departure from the Villa but I wish him well. I reckon he'll go on another sabatical now and return in a Championship capacity.

[charlie]

Leicester will not be promoted. They will sack Pearson. A small Northern Irishman will appear unto them. They will have long league cup runs. They will come up via play offs. MoN will resign.

[eastie]

Really good summing up here by a Sunderland fan -

Well, the gaffer we wanted for years has been and gone and we are no further forward… Here’s ALS Chief Writer, Sob’s, reaction…

I’ve seen any amount of Sunderland managers come and go, and I can safely say that this latest departure has upset me more than any other because I like Martin O’Neill. He had all the right credentials to manage us, with the added bonus that he was a Sunderland fan, so where did it all go wrong? Hard to say, although we’ve all seen some obvious examples on the field this season.

When Bruce went, it had been on the cards for a while because we could see that he’d taken us as far as he could and basically run out of ideas. When Keane went it was because he’d taken us as far as he could and was more than a little bit nuts. Howard Wilkinson, despite our belief that he was exactly what we needed to restore discipline and order, turned out to be as mad a box of frogs. Mick Mac did what he’s made a career out of, as he built a great second level team and held on in the top flight for as long as he could. I could go on, and I probably will later tonight.

This one? Well, timing is crucial, and with seven games to go, starting with Chelsea and the smellies away, this one couldn’t have been worse. Once again, Bally has been given what looks like an impossible job. Last time it did prove impossible, this time – well, at least we have a few more points, but with only that number of games nobody can impose themselves enough to make a difference.

Why did he go? It’s been obvious for a while that it’s not worked as he wanted it to. Has he missed his marra John Robertson? Has he got to the age where he’s stuck with the mindset that he’s developed over the last thirty years of managing, and is too old to change things? Probably, and being of an age not too far behind him, I can understand that. Mind, you do have to look at the players who have let him down. Johnson showed today that statistics don’t always tell the whole story, and Sess once again showed that he’s not willing to take a chance and attack the ball or pass the ball. We anticipated a bit of a clear-out in the summer, but this year’s could resemble the fire-sale that saw the end of Phillips, Craddock, and the rest. Martin’s back room staff must take a big chunk of the blame, and not just because of Steve Walford’s awful sawn-off tracky bottoms. Johnson’s previously mentioned failure to hit the heights, McClean’s second season blues, Seb’s indifferent season, Mangane’s inability to get match fit after two months – the list goes on. There have been a lot of occasions when the crowd have recognised poor tactics and weird substitutions, and while most have largely remained faithful to MoN, the mutterings increased over the last month.

Where next? Who next? How about ‘Appy ‘Arry doing it part time, a couple of days a week? I’m sure he’d be ‘appy to give it a try, as QPR look certain to go down. Pep? Jose? Hughes? McDermott?

George Graham? David O'Leary? Bally full time? No chance. Who is available? Maybe some young(ish) up and coming bloke like Poyet – unintelligible, but doing OK at Brighton - or even Di Canio – mad, bad, and dangerous to know. Maybe Moyes can be tempted with the really big challenge that is SAFC, but that’s not really on, is it?

Maybe more importantly, has Ellis got somebody lined up already, because he should have. Or will the financially prudent Texan have a good look at what he’s getting for his huge investment, and think “bugger this, Sue Ellen, I’ve had enough of this”? I wouldn’t blame him if he did, to be honest.

In summary, despite my many years’ experience of this kind of nonsense, I have no idea what or who will happen next. I’ve already heard someone touting Peter Reid as the next man in charge of the team. If that were to come to pass, it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest. What I will predict, though, is that we’ll not see Martin O’Neill managing again

[eastie]

Leicester will not be promoted. They will sack Pearson. A small Northern Irishman will appear unto them. They will have long league cup runs. They will come up via play offs. MoN will resign.

I can see mon being a tv pundit- doubt very much if he will manage again at club level.
Republic of Ireland manager - maybe?

[silhillvilla]

When is the tribunal ?

[damon loves JT]

I know it's not nice to gloat. But

*gloats*

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

When is the tribunal ?

For Sunderland, hopefully not until they get parachute payment cheque cleared.

[citizenDJ]

Sad as it is, I'm almost tempted to watch Sunday Supplement on Sky just to see the probable outrage about this.

[citizenDJ]

Sad as it is, I'm almost tempted to watch Sunday Supplement on Sky just to see the probable outrage about this.

Shaun Custis just described him as "one of this country's managerial greats".

I'm off to finish Bioshock.

[Clampy]

It'll be interesting to see who they go for next. I'd be surprised if it was Hughes after the mess he made of the QPR job. They'll need someone to go in and get them playing because they were terrible yesterday. RDM is the obvious choice I suppose but thinking outside the box, maybe Niall Quinn?

[eastie]

It'll be interesting to see who they go for next. I'd be surprised if it was Hughes after the mess he made of the QPR job. They'll need someone to go in and get them playing because they were terrible yesterday. RDM is the obvious choice I suppose but thinking outside the box, maybe Niall Quinn?

Was thinking this last night clampy - who would you go for to galvanise and unite the club , players and fans  for the fight ahead- Niall Quinn is the man .

I don't think it will be him though, I think Hughes or mclaren .

[eastie]

Sad as it is, I'm almost tempted to watch Sunday Supplement on Sky just to see the probable outrage about this.

Used to enjoy it when woolnough presented but it has never been anywhere near as good since his sad passing .

[cdbearsfan]

I've been thinking, and the only possible reason I can think for getting rid of him now, as opposed to before the international break, is that they must've been using that time to negotiate with his successor.

The whole thing suggests Ellis Short has shown O'Neill no respect whatsoever, and has acted in a diabolical manner behind his manager's back.

Buy that man a drink.

[eastie]

I've been thinking, and the only possible reason I can think for getting rid of him now, as opposed to before the international break, is that they must've been using that time to negotiate with his successor.

The whole thing suggests Ellis Short has shown O'Neill no respect whatsoever, and has acted in a diabolical manner behind his manager's back.

Buy that man a drink.

New manager expected tomorrow which suggests you are correct.

[PeterWithesShin]