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

[Ian.]

I'm gutted he's gone, we have been a very good team at times under Martin. I wish he gambled a bit more at times but saying that he brought a lot of stability to the team. We have had some great moments under him.
I remember waking up during a holiday with the mrs and my baby daughter in Scotland to hear Martin was our new boss. I couldn't believe it, the excitement was back!
Iv'e had 2 more children during his reign at Villa so I have been unable to come up to the Villa and not witnessed his team in the flesh.
He has left us in good state, very bad timing which could have been avoided but I'm sure Randy will bring someone in to do a good job and progress can still be made. Hopefully as my kids get older I can get up to the Villa more and more and be a part of it again.

[Quiet Lion]

I think there are a lot of things to remember him fondly by - the derbies, the win at Old Trafford, getting so many Villa players into or on the fringes of the England team, starting the job of extremely well (the first 6th was excellent, the second a tad unlucky, the third somewhat negligent), being someone I could be proud to call the Villa manager.

On the other hand I can't help feeling that this period will be looked back on as the best chance we'll have had to break into the top echelon, and we've failed. Not all O'Neill's fault (see Man City) but as he's had what seems like total control over what he spent and how he's used those resources then that's where I feel most of the accountability lies (though a case can be sketched in for the owner appointing more football-savvy board members to keep an oversight on these matters).

Edit: And ultimately leaving us in a totally unacceptable way.

Amen

[TonyD]

5-1 against the blues was fab but for me the win at Old Trafford was priceless.

Pity that the memories of the last 4 years will be all about MON and not the Villa.

I hope the next era will be more about the Villa and less about one man.

[Chico Hamilton III]

blf

Don't know why but that Everton game, when Ashley scored in the last minute is still one of my favourite Villa memories

.

I watched that at home on telly and I've still got the red wine stain on the ceiling from when I chucked the glass in the air when the winner went in. And I screamed that loud that my daughter cried.

Fantastic!

 

[Irish villain]

blf

Don't know why but that Everton game, when Ashley scored in the last minute is still one of my favourite Villa memories

.

I watched that at home on telly and I've still got the red wine stain on the ceiling from when I chucked the glass in the air when the winner went in. And I screamed that loud that my daughter cried.

Fantastic!

 

I will never forget that day. Was in a bad way over breaking up with my first proper girlfriend, was really down in the dumps and that win just lifted my spirits. Watched with in my parents house which makes it all the more special. One of the best memories I have.

[Percy McCarthy]

Yeah it was fantastic. Me and the missus were jumping round the living room like we'd won the lottery.

[pauliewalnuts]

blf

Don't know why but that Everton game, when Ashley scored in the last minute is still one of my favourite Villa memories

.

I watched that at home on telly and I've still got the red wine stain on the ceiling from when I chucked the glass in the air when the winner went in. And I screamed that loud that my daughter cried.

Fantastic!

 

I remember not even cheering, i was just pointing at the screen, laughing and saying "fucking hell fucking hell fucking hell!" over and over again.

[Concrete John]

Last season's 0-1 win at the Sty sticks in my memory as I watched it with 2 year old nephew.  He got really excited when we were jumping up and down at the goal and he joined in.  His Dad's a Bluenose.

[stevenjos]

I remember last season when Luke Young came on as a sub! ohhhh memories.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

More than anything, his teams never stopped trying, (forever chasing after the ball) until the final whistle. Say what you want about a divided dressing room/unhappy players but out on the pitch they gave their all.

Sheff Utd at home, Everton away, Arsenal at home (2-2), Liverpool away (3-1) were the stand out games for me. I missed the OT win.

His support and encouragement for Gabby deserves a mention too.

Beating the Rags. Always nice.

[Dave Cooper please]

blf

Don't know why but that Everton game, when Ashley scored in the last minute is still one of my favourite Villa memories

.

I watched that at home on telly and I've still got the red wine stain on the ceiling from when I chucked the glass in the air when the winner went in. And I screamed that loud that my daughter cried.

Fantastic!

 

I remember not even cheering, i was just pointing at the screen, laughing and saying "fucking hell fucking hell fucking hell!" over and over again.

Close to my reaction that. I had been saying to my son for about ten minutes before that Everton were going to equalise, and of course they did, I was still going through the repertoire of "Fucking typicals" when Ash popped in the winner, all I could say was "Fuck me" it was that unexpected.

[luke95]

his first home game against Reading tho not soley down to O'neill, but O'niell & Learner .

but that night there was a buzz about Villa Park that had been missing for years. 

[KevinGage]

Last season's 0-1 win at the Sty sticks in my memory as I watched it with 2 year old nephew.  He got really excited when we were jumping up and down at the goal and he joined in.  His Dad's a Bluenose.

Was just quietly seething when their second went in. All so, so predictable.
Then violently shaking the laptop, shouting at it and generally acting like a Highcroft job in front of my missus when the third went in.

[villasjf]

Being at Wembley, needing a goal and bringing on..........Heskey

[pauliewalnuts]

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.