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

[Chris Smith]

I wonder how many pages this thread will produce before we all tire of talking about the dummy-spitting twat and move on.

Nevuh evuh while His Legend Looms Large.

When our inventive, free flowing football fills us with so much joy there is no room in our hearts for negative emotion. So that's next season.

[adrenachrome]

I wonder how many pages this thread will produce before we all tire of talking about the dummy-spitting twat and move on.

Nevuh evuh while His Legend Looms Large.

When our inventive, free flowing football fills us with so much joy there is no room in our hearts for negative emotion. So that's next season.

Even then, if His Legend Looms Large(ly) still, then it ill behooves us to let it lie. 
The Legend is the the thing.

[not3bad]

We're certainly not going to stop talking about him while we're a few weeks away from a relegation 6 pointer against his current side.

[SoccerHQ]

I don't think this thread will be going much longer.

Whatever their fate, I reckon this will be his last year in football and he'll retire at the end of the season.

[Matt C]

You underestimate his ego I suspect.

[eastie]

I don't think this thread will be going much longer.

Whatever their fate, I reckon this will be his last year in football and he'll retire at the end of the season.

I reckon you will be correct .

[eastie]

Not great finances for Mon -

Martin O’Neill is facing a fight for transfer-market cash with his Sunderland boss Ellis Short after the club revealed a £27million loss.

O'Neill retains Short's backing, but the tycoon will order a major review of the Black Cats' footballing operation at the end of the season.

US businessman Short will have to dig deep yet again if O’Neill is to get his wish to rebuild his squad quickly, after the club announced yet another massive loss - one which doesn’t even include the combined £20m spent Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson last August.

Sunderland’s turnover was £78m in the year ending July 31, 2012, but their player trading and amortisation, wage bill and match costs totalled £104m - leaving Short to decide how long he goes on subsidising the Wearsiders.

Despite Sunderland's run of seven games without a win, which has them a worrying four points off the relegation zone following last Sunday's draw at home to 10-man Norwich, Short remains “protective” of O’Neill.

However he is also unhappy that his massive investment in players is not reaping rewards in terms of league position.

The previous year’s loss was more than £30m.

Short hoped his subsidy of tens of millions in covering losses since his takeover would banish the fear of relegation forever and elevate the Wearsiders into the top 10.

 

However, Sunderland still have a squad short on numbers and more importantly quality - and Short wants a better scouting system to unearth gems from abroad.

O’Neill wants to revive Sunderland quickly, not hang around the lower reaches, and it will be a key summer for him and Short as they map out the club's future - and, more importantly, decide on a transfer budget.

“Things have not gone our way recently but we are certainly not looking for excuses,” said O'Neill. “We are simply looking to get on with the job of producing the results we want.

“When you have not won for a while pressure to win the net game gathers momentum but that is part of football. Maintaining self-belief is essential.”

SAFC chief executive Margaret Byrne said: “Our results reflect a period where we embarked on a programme of continued investment in the playing squad, choosing to retain the services of those players that the manager identified as key to the team.

“We also invested significantly in our Academy in order to secure EPPP Category One status and give us the best possible chance to develop young players for the future.

"Our net operating loss has reduced slightly and we are continuing to implement a structured financial plan to ensure sustainability for the future.”

[supertom]

That's a shame.
I notice the chairman wants to improve their foreign scouting. Perhaps he's seen the mess our club got into paying over the odds for UK based players when O Neill was here.

Incidentally, how was our annual turnover compared to Sunderland?

[Eigentor]

What? A club managed by MON has spent loads but is still short on numbers and quality? I don't believe it.

[john e]

I know this sounds a bit like a Man Utd thing to say,
but there's not many/any managers that have ever left Villa and gone on to bigger and better things elsewhere is there ?


Even SGT rein at England was an unmitigated disaster

[Legion]

Sir GT to England?

[PeterWithesShin]

I know this sounds a bit like a Man Utd thing to say,
but there's not many/any managers that have ever left Villa and gone on to bigger and better things elsewhere is there ?

Joe Mercer and SGT are the only ones I can think of.

[john e]

Sir GT to England?

Yeah sorry I modified as you posted, but the point is he was a massive failure at England, he didn't go on to have any success with them, only to get Watford up again with promotion

[Steve R]

I know this sounds a bit like a Man Utd thing to say,
but there's not many/any managers that have ever left Villa and gone on to bigger and better things elsewhere is there ?

Joe Mercer and SGT are the only ones I can think of.

Tommy Docherty.

[PeterWithesShin]

I had a dream last night where I was at an open day and Danny Graham and Pubey were there. I took the piss out of both and Pubey heard and got in a right strop with me when I pointed out he wasn't a very good manager. He questioned my record as manager, then I can't remember the next bit, and it ended with me making "waaaaaaaaah waaaaaaaaaah boo hoo" noises at him while pretending to rub tears from my eyes. He stormed off.

I really need to lay off the drugs!