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

[Rip Van We Go Again]

This is very interesting, and the chap who starts talking on 1.30 or so is spot on. This is almost the first time I've ever seen him discussed like this.

[ Invalid YouTube link ]

Posting here as it has relevance to us looking back, too.

This is very interesting, and the chap who starts talking on 1.30 or so is spot on. This is almost the first time I've ever seen him discussed like this.

[ Invalid YouTube link ]

Posting here as it has relevance to us looking back, too.

I'm assuming the chap who said that is being sued as we speak.

[damon loves JT]

When O'Neill was our manager, I enjoyed the fact that it was hard to take a dig at Villa. He tended to protect the club from unwarranted - and well-warranted criticism.

It's been one of the more frustrating aspects of the last couple of seasons, the fact that every Tom, Dick and Sullivan has felt entitled to slag us off with impunity.

[cheltenhamlion]

MON in microcosm. We are playing like a drain at home to some no marks and are a goal down.

We are crying out for a change and, finally, some subs start to warm up to ironic cheers.

Really going through his paces is Delfouneso and obviously being prepared to come on. "We want Delfouneso on" chant the crowd.

He is immediately sent back to the bench in favour of Sidwell.

[Dave Clark Five]

Remember his exact words about Moscow: 'They made a decision'. It was only said once.

What did he mean/do you interpret that to mean?

It meant that the decision to throw the Moscow game, or not send a full strength team, was not entirely his own. The previous sentence referred to the owners or the board. Without a copy of it in front of me I can't say which it was, but the words that I have quoted were definitely said on one occasion.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

You've all forgot another journo who gargles his spunk on a regular basis - Patrick Barclay from The Times.

Anyway, to my mind i've always seen him as a Brian Clough - Without the talent or charisma.

He hasn't got a fraction of Clough's footballing knowledge and his attempts at wit in interviews are toe curlingly embarrasing.

[QBVILLA]

I've been watching Villa since around '88 and Ron's Villa aside MoN gave me the longest run of enjoying the Villa i've had in that period. Yes he made some howlers in the transfer market but he also made big profits on Young,Milner and Downing as well as getting the best out of Barry before flogging him for £12m. Also when Liverpool came sniffing he kept Barry, something I can't recall Villa doing too often when a bid comes in for a star player. He raised the club's profile and gave us belief that we could take on anybody without fear. The way he left soured things somewhat but for the majority of his time at the club I thoroughly enjoyed, rather than endured watching the Villa. For me the positives outweigh the negatives.

[Brend'Watkins]

So at last some journos are starting to see the MON we have been chatting about for the last few seasons. 

Maybe it's just me but haven't they missed the most important bit out?

[Risso]

So at last some journos are starting to see the MON we have been chatting about for the last few seasons. 

Maybe it's just me but haven't they missed the most important bit out?

That he's a pubeheaded arse?

[TonyD]

So at last some journos are starting to see the MON we have been chatting about for the last few seasons. 

Maybe it's just me but haven't they missed the most important bit out?

That he's a pubeheaded arse?

Why didn't Barry take the penalty?

[Brend'Watkins]

So at last some journos are starting to see the MON we have been chatting about for the last few seasons. 

Maybe it's just me but haven't they missed the most important bit out?

That he's a pubeheaded arse?

Yes, that as well.

I'm referring to his walking out on the job 5 days before the start of the season. 

[Sexual Ealing]

Remember his exact words about Moscow: 'They made a decision'. It was only said once.

What did he mean/do you interpret that to mean?

It meant that the decision to throw the Moscow game, or not send a full strength team, was not entirely his own. The previous sentence referred to the owners or the board. Without a copy of it in front of me I can't say which it was, but the words that I have quoted were definitely said on one occasion.

Thanks.

[not3bad]

£3.5m on Marlon Harewood.  That is all.

Carew for Baros.

What, that was a bad deal?  What did Baros ever do for Villa?  On the other hand, Carew, despite the fact that he blew hot and cold has been shown to be one of Villa's most successful recent aquisitions as far as strikers go.  I'd definitetely put Carew for Baros in the plus column for MON.

[cheltenhamlion]

But the interesting thing about that deal is it came about by accident. Houllier called us said he wanted Baros for Lyon and did we want to swap him for Carew who wasn't getting a game there.

[DB]

I was chatting to a Sunderland fan last night in the pub, who says they are awful and a lot of them are not impressed with him.
Good point in that clip - we are still counting the cost of his tenure. Look at Spurz, started below us, old Harry took them passed us on a lower wage bill - got them into the CL and now they are still in good position. Us on the other hand....

[rob_bridge]

But the interesting thing about that deal is it came about by accident. Houllier called us said he wanted Baros for Lyon and did we want to swap him for Carew who wasn't getting a game there.

And yet we still chose Houllier to manage Villa having had previous apparent disagreements with Carew, Friedel and Warnock who were integral part of the team when he took over. Someone wasn't too clever on the research - wonder if he was asked about any of it at the interview.

And Yes Carew was 10 times more effective for Villa than Baros