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

[eastie]

Within very recent memory (ie any football person who grew up in the 90s should remember), Brian Little, Big Ron, John Gregory and even DO'L either took us to sixth or above yet the media never bang on about it.

The narrative we continue to be subjected to of 'plucky little Aston Villa finishing sixth under MON three seasons in a row' is what really bugs me about MON's time at villa. We were never out of the top eight between 1996 and 2002 and managed to finish 4th and 5th in that time not to mention finishing second twice in the early 1990s.

So sixth under MON was a reasonable achievement for villa and nothing more. He brought dynamism, a feel-good factor, positive media coverage and a sense that we were the next big thing. However, he achieved nothing of note. By that I mean his tenure was, on balance, pretty unremarkable when viewed alongside the club's achievements in say the mid 1970s, the early 1980s or the mid 1990s.

Excellent post.

[damon loves JT]

Today he killed Madeleine McCann

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Never have I known a Manager have such a large gaggle of journalists on his side.

[Percy McCarthy]

Today? How did he hide her for so long?

Was she a non-playing squad member?

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Today he killed Madeleine McCann

Sue him Martin!

[damon loves JT]

Killed her and ate her. Then went out and left the light on

[damon loves JT]

That will always be remembered as his legacy. That and Harewood

[kipeye]

He ate Harewood and Maddie?

[Irish villain]

Cheers Dave and Eastie.

[Damo70]

Never have I known a Manager have such a large gaggle of journalists on his side.

Which is strange because he talks a lot and says nothing. He doesn't actually give them anything decent unlike their other favourites like Redknapp or Holloway. I think it's their 'closest thing to Clough' fixation, which as far as quotes and headlines goes doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

[dave.woodhall]

Never have I known a Manager have such a large gaggle of journalists on his side.

It's interesting that while the nationals remained in thrall to himself, the local writers couldn't stand him. 

[ktvillan]

Blimey I only just saw the video and can only say those guys have O'Neill totally sussed, which surprised me as they are journalists.  Practically word for word the criticisms aimed at him by myself and many other non-believers on here for many months even before he left us. 

Still I wouldn't have complained too much if he'd left us with a league championship trophy in the cabinet, a European Cup final within reach and a team containing players like Spink, Williams, Gibson, Cowans, Evans and Shaw with many years of service ahead of them.

[hilts_coolerking]

Never have I known a Manager have such a large gaggle of journalists on his side.

It's interesting that while the nationals remained in thrall to himself, the local writers couldn't stand him.

I think the latter is a symptom of the former though.  O'Neill was (and still is, just) a national story, over and above a local one.  This is why the Villa briefly became media favourites but also why the local journos had their noses put out of joint because it wasn't "their" club any more.  Now that O'Neill has gone, and our fortunes have declined, they've got their club back again and probably prefer it that way.

[dave.woodhall]

Never have I known a Manager have such a large gaggle of journalists on his side.

It's interesting that while the nationals remained in thrall to himself, the local writers couldn't stand him.

I think the latter is a symptom of the former though.  O'Neill was (and still is, just) a national story, over and above a local one.  This is why the Villa briefly became media favourites but also why the local journos had their noses put out of joint because it wasn't "their" club any more.  Now that O'Neill has gone, and our fortunes have declined, they've got their club back again and probably prefer it that way.

Even the local writers for the nationals didn't like him, though. 

[damon loves JT]

I don't have any first-hand experience, but I gather that some hacks regard PL as `hard work'.