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

[LeeB]

This is brilliant news.

There is actually no statistical evidence that swapping managers has any effect, so chances are they've just fucked themselves royally.

[saunders_heroes]

He's the wrong religion to manage Northern Ireland. Leicester and Forest both change manager more often than most Blue Noses change underwear so he'll end up at one of them. Or possibly the Republic of Ireland.

Haven't they got a catholic manager right now?

Don't know. Off the top of my head I can't remember who their manager is and can't be arsed to Google it. I doubt they'll appoint a high-profile Catholic with Celtic links anyway, after the way they treated Neil Lennon.

It's a moot point anyway as they couldn't afford his exorbitant wages.

You're right. I think they'd just about tolerate a catholic manager but not one with such a strong connection with Celtic.

[Malandro]

I like the man. I am, however, disappointed that we don't get to see him taking Sunderland down.

[mr woo]

Well, I must admit I'm surprised at this. Results at Sunderland have been poor but we know O'Neill sides hibernate throughout March anyway. I still expected them to start picking up again especially in games where you would write them off on paper.

Historically, one things fairly sure though. When O'Neill walks,  for whatever reason - it's even been suggested players actually like playing for him - the team declines. Quickly. Celtic could be the exception but that league's just daft so it's hard to gauge.

Fingers crossed,  this could be the get out of jail card we've been hoping for.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

One things fairly sure though. When O'Neill walks,  for whatever reason .. the team declines. Quickly. 

Thats because he leaves clubs with a long list of overpaid underplayed overrated players on big long contracts.

[London Villan]

Gutted. Never got the chance to tell him what I thought as I missed the Sunderland game last year. They must have someone lined up...

[puppyfeat]

What makes me laugh is all these comments in the media and forums about John robertson as if he's some kind of tactical genius - i think O'Neills problem is he never changed his thinking with the game and remained too old school- he was stuck in the past and looked to have lost the hunger - doubt robertson would have made much difference apart from organising the bibs and cones. 

Similar things were said about Peter Taylor, but Brian Clough was never as good a manager without him. Sometimes relationships just work well. I believe Robertson took a lot of pressure off O'Neill and gave him more time and freedom to not have to be hands-on managing 24/7. At Sunderland he didn't have that back-up, and I suspect it had a direct effect on his ability to do the job. Also, maybe Robertson didn't want to go there because he could see it was going to be a much more difficult job and a poisoned chalice. It's no secret O'Neill was a Sunderland fan and maybe he let his heart rule his head when he took the job, but Robertson had no similar interest in going there. I think he was pretty shrewd.

I do agree about O'Neill being set in his ways - you could see that had set in when he was with us.

[Greg N'Ash]

Completely bizarre decision. Who will they get better than MON? Given another 200 million he could have got them upto 6th in a few seasons. And probably 6th again. And again. Not to be sniffed at IMO. I can't help feeling we're seeing history repeating itself this Easter with yet another messiah betrayed by those he trusted, but he will rise again, possibly in Div1. Until then, keep the faith....

[onje_villa]

Is this good or bad for us? I'm banking on Sunderland being the third relegated team. New man comes in galvanizes the players, could work for them, brave decision from their chairman, could see them sliding down, tried to do something about it.

[Risso]

This is brilliant news.

There is actually no statistical evidence that swapping managers has any effect, so chances are they've just fucked themselves royally.

To be fair there was quite a bit of evidence that O'Neill was doing an abysmal job there.  And people thought that Southampton had stitched themselves up by sacking Adkins.

[eastie]

Is this good or bad for us? I'm banking on Sunderland being the third relegated team. New man comes in galvanizes the players, could work for them, brave decision from their chairman, could see them sliding down, tried to do something about it.

Good for Sunderland , bad for us i feel.

[puppyfeat]

Is this good or bad for us? I'm banking on Sunderland being the third relegated team. New man comes in galvanizes the players, could work for them, brave decision from their chairman, could see them sliding down, tried to do something about it.

That's obviously what Sunderland are hoping for, but they've left it a bit late and this week they lost 2 of their most important players for the rest of the season. I thought the same thing when Redknapp joined QPR but even he hasn't been able to propel them to safety even though he's had far more time and was able to buy new players in January. Given Sunderland's run of games coming up I'd be surprised if even The Special One could stop the rot.

[olaftab]

It's a shame he has been sacked. He was doing a great job at Sunderland for us this season.

[olaftab]

Gutted. Never got the chance to tell him what I thought as I missed the Sunderland game last year. They must have someone lined up...

Peter Reid.

[avfc_1874]

Looking at a few forums of other teams & it seems there's a lot of other fans who think he is over-rated.