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

[damon loves JT]

I just love the idea of Everton fans, drooling.

[fbriai]

The thing I find most laughable in this is the Sunderland statement the other day saying that it was ridiculous to suggest Di Canio is a fascist or a racist.

This is a man who has actually said, several times, that he's a fascist, engaged in fascist salues with the Lazio fans, and has DUX tattooed on his thigh.

I'd say they might have thought to check with Paolo before saying he's no fascist.

I found that difficult to believe as well. How Margaret Byrne, Sunderland Chief Executive, could say the following is beyond me:

"To accuse him now, as some have done, of being a racist or having fascist sympathies is insulting not only to him but to the integrity of this football club."

It really looks as though they had no idea. I think they've been very naïve.

[Mister E]

Personally, I think Milliband should be applauded for what he's done. People complain about politicians not being principled and not standing for anything anymore, well, in the past, Di Canio has declared himself to be a fascist. In Britain, given our history and given the number of people who gave their lives to defeat fascism, that should be unacceptable and I think standing up and saying I don't hold truck with someone who holds those beliefs is quite right.

I'm sure Milliband was being sincere but it's interesting that this event coincided with his decision  to go to the States to work; perhaps it was easier for him to resign because of that earlier decision.

[fbriai]

Personally, I think Milliband should be applauded for what he's done. People complain about politicians not being principled and not standing for anything anymore, well, in the past, Di Canio has declared himself to be a fascist. In Britain, given our history and given the number of people who gave their lives to defeat fascism, that should be unacceptable and I think standing up and saying I don't hold truck with someone who holds those beliefs is quite right.

I'm sure Milliband was being sincere but it's interesting that this event coincided with his decision  to go to the States to work; perhaps it was easier for him to resign because of that earlier decision.

I wouldn't be surprised if that did make it easier for him, but I think that, regardless of whether that had an impact or not, it was the right thing to do.

[Colhint]

Personally, I think Milliband should be applauded for what he's done. People complain about politicians not being principled and not standing for anything anymore, well, in the past, Di Canio has declared himself to be a fascist. In Britain, given our history and given the number of people who gave their lives to defeat fascism, that should be unacceptable and I think standing up and saying I don't hold truck with someone who holds those beliefs is quite right.

I think Milliband should be applauded, too. Too often we criticise politicians for not really having principles beyond what serves them best, but I'd imagine Millibamd would have been thinking about the effect fascism had on his own family when they made that appointment.

The thing I find most laughable in this is the Sunderland statement the other day saying that it was ridiculous to suggest Di Canio is a fascist or a racist.

This is a man who has actually said, several times, that he's a fascist, engaged in fascist salues with the Lazio fans, and has DUX tattooed on his thigh.

I'd say they might have thought to check with Paolo before saying he's no fascist.

I have read a couple of Sunderland forums on Milliband and they can't stand him. There take was that as a Director, he would have known that PDC was being considered. He would also have known that MON  was being sacked. What they are saying is the game the week before, Norwich I think was the last straw and thats when the decision was made and they were speaking to PDC after that.  He could have resigned then
They all say he could never had fulfilled his role as Director from New York and has used PDC to gain public capital out of the situation

[Walmley_Villa]

The thing I find most laughable in this is the Sunderland statement the other day saying that it was ridiculous to suggest Di Canio is a fascist or a racist.

This is a man who has actually said, several times, that he's a fascist, engaged in fascist salues with the Lazio fans, and has DUX tattooed on his thigh.

I'd say they might have thought to check with Paolo before saying he's no fascist.

I found that difficult to believe as well. How Margaret Byrne, Sunderland Chief Executive, could say the following is beyond me:

"To accuse him now, as some have done, of being a racist or having fascist sympathies is insulting not only to him but to the integrity of this football club."

It really looks as though they had no idea. I think they've been very naïve.

Seems naivety in management appointments is not exclusive to Villa then (TSM).

[fbriai]

Seems naivety in management appointments is not exclusive to Villa then (TSM).

Ha ha! Very good!

In their defence, I think they were being more wilfully obtuse than naive.

[damon loves JT]

Well clearly if a couple of people on Sunderland forums can't stand Miliband, then he must be wrong then.

Or something

[eastie]

Personally, I think Milliband should be applauded for what he's done. People complain about politicians not being principled and not standing for anything anymore, well, in the past, Di Canio has declared himself to be a fascist. In Britain, given our history and given the number of people who gave their lives to defeat fascism, that should be unacceptable and I think standing up and saying I don't hold truck with someone who holds those beliefs is quite right.

I think Milliband should be applauded, too. Too often we criticise politicians for not really having principles beyond what serves them best, but I'd imagine Millibamd would have been thinking about the effect fascism had on his own family when they made that appointment.

The thing I find most laughable in this is the Sunderland statement the other day saying that it was ridiculous to suggest Di Canio is a fascist or a racist.

This is a man who has actually said, several times, that he's a fascist, engaged in fascist salues with the Lazio fans, and has DUX tattooed on his thigh.

I'd say they might have thought to check with Paolo before saying he's no fascist.

I have read a couple of Sunderland forums on Milliband and they can't stand him. There take was that as a Director, he would have known that PDC was being considered. He would also have known that MON  was being sacked. What they are saying is the game the week before, Norwich I think was the last straw and thats when the decision was made and they were speaking to PDC after that.  He could have resigned then
They all say he could never had fulfilled his role as Director from New York and has used PDC to gain public capital out of the situation

Why should miliband have resigned earlier - he may have advised sunderland that di canio had  fascist baggage and once the decision to appoint him was made he resigned - i don't think miliband deserves criticism for that .

[Colhint]

Well clearly if a couple of people on Sunderland forums can't stand Miliband, then he must be wrong then.

Or something

Or we have 5 or 6 pages on the debate and we're right and they have about 50 pages between them and they are wrong

[Concrete John]

He resigned due to Di Canio's facist leanings and he's accused of doing so for publicity.  Bit what would have his detractors said if he had stayed on the Sunderland board?  Ever heard the phrase "Can't do right for doing wrong?"

[eastie]

PDC may find his slapping tactics work on young lower league lads but premiership players may not respond too well to his management style-

Paolo Di Canio pledged to kick his players, “slap faces” and avoid “anarchy” in a bid to save Sunderland from relegation.

The new Black Cats coach warned he would not be afraid to substitute players after 20 minutes if there were bickering, and insisted he was the man to revive the club.

Di Canio will boss his first game on Saturday at Chelsea, and admitted his unconventional style in the dug out may be a surprise to the top flight.

He said: “It can happen that I can kick my players bottoms, but hopefully it will only be when we are celebrating.

“You ask about one time at Swindon. Which occasion? It happened two or three times!

“I did see one picture of an incident where I kicked Matt Ritchie’s bottom. They said it had happened after I changed him and was angry. No, it was after a game and we were celebrating.

“Sometimes I give a little slap on his face and a kick on the bottom - but it was a celebratory moment. I kicked his bottom... if it is necessary to win the game then why not.

[Chris Smith]

I know it's become slightly clichéd these days but the Edmund Burke line about 'all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing' seems appropriate here. If we start accepting that it's ok for people to espouse fascist views unopposed, then what's next? 

[WarszaVillan]

Why is it when he was at Swindon we hardly ever heard anything about it, now he's at Sunderland I'm bloody sick of hearing it, He's entitled to his own opinions in my view.

When he took over at Swindon a couple of years ago, the GMB withdrew their sponsorship of the club.

Thing is, if it aint the premier league, it aint news.

True. But good to see the local National Union of Mineworkers branch protesting against this appointment and removing their banner from the ground. Latest revelations are that Di Canio had attended the funderal a couple of years back of a convicted fascist terrorist (but hey, lets not bring politics into it).

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4870918/Paolo-Di-Canio-at-bomb-fascists-funeral.html

[Mister E]

He resigned due to Di Canio's facist leanings and he's accused of doing so for publicity.  Bit what would have his detractors said if he had stayed on the Sunderland board?  Ever heard the phrase "Can't do right for doing wrong?"

Agreed - although is it not "Can't do right for doing right"? Either way, he'd have been applauded / criticised in equal measure, regardless.