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

[neo_Villan]

I think Oliver has got better in recent years. Could never watch him in the past due to the unbearable mockney overload. But when I watched his 15/30 minute meals show, I thought he had calmed down a tad. Some useful tips picked up too!

[Damo70]

I think both sides of the MON/Sunderland story are exaggerated. Basically he took over a side in danger of relegation, spent a couple of years there, spent some money and left a side in danger of relegation. He took over a very average squad and left a very average squad where his biggest signings may or may not turn out to have been good value in the longer term. Pat Murphy is in spin heaven whatever happens. If they go down it is because they sacked him and if they stay up it is because it is his team. Personally I thought they looked the most likely to go down with Reading and QPR when MON was in charge and I haven't changed my mind now Di Canio is there.

[neo_Villan]

Disagree to an extent Damo. He inherited a decent side. In fact, Bruce was sacked because it was thought the squad were underacheiving. Not to mention he has spent 30m+ on players this season, yet they are arguably in a worse state then when he took over. The myth has finally been exposed in the minds of many. Although as you point out, his media chums are doing their best to salvage his reputation. If they go down, it is Short's fault for sacking him. If they stay up, they will claim nothing has been gained as MON would've kept them up anyway.

[Damo70]

I think he took over a very average side. Where he went wrong was by trying to put that right with two or three big signings when whatever money available needed to be spread over more positions in my opinion.

[PeterWithesShin]

He took over a Sunderland side that had played 13 games and was 16th, 1 point off the bottom 3. 56 games later he leaves them in 16th place and 1 point off the bottom 3.

How can anyone doubt the myth, the man, the MON?

[eastie]

I think both sides of the MON/Sunderland story are exaggerated. Basically he took over a side in danger of relegation, spent a couple of years there, spent some money and left a side in danger of relegation. He took over a very average squad and left a very average squad where his biggest signings may or may not turn out to have been good value in the longer term. Pat Murphy is in spin heaven whatever happens. If they go down it is because they sacked him and if they stay up it is because it is his team. Personally I thought they looked the most likely to go down with Reading and QPR when MON was in charge and I haven't changed my mind now Di Canio is there.

He spent 15 months on wearside and in all honesty left a team behind thats just as bad as the side he took over - spending the best part of £30m in the process.

[russon]

Pat Murphy / Colin Murray love in, I wanna puke. About to hear the 22 mins of MON, let's see what he has to say....

[john e]

I think Oliver has got better in recent years. Could never watch him in the past due to the unbearable mockney overload. But when I watched his 15/30 minute meals show, I thought he had calmed down a tad. Some useful tips picked up too!

I remember the first computer me and my first wife ever had back in 1996 ( we were late starters)

Anyway she loved Jamie Oliver and so we put in 'the naked chef ' only to be greeted by all the Percy filth the Internet had to offer, great days

[russon]

a summary of MON's fireside chat with Murphy on Radio 5 -

- deserved the chance to keep SAFC up again, never been relegated in 20 yrs
- should have won 3 more games
- turned Villa into a brilliant side having kept us up in first season
- intends to manage again, age not a barrier
- Adam Johnson should've done better
- appeared to have little respect for Di Canio, never met him
- angry that Murphy perceived him as a good starter at a club and then allows club to drift
- bragged about success at Celtic
- bragged about time at Villa (top 6 for 3 seasons etc etc, you know the script)
- Sunderland tense and tentative, flat
- bigged up bringing in SAFC forward coach Steve Guppy! I kid you not.

came across as defensive, subdued, bit like a defeated politician having just been ousted by the Lib Dems in a safe Tory seat. The bloke lost his mojo a long time ago and is yesterday's news now.

[Michel Sibble]

Did Brian McDermott or Nigel Adkins run to the nearest TV station a week after getting the tin tack? Don't think so.

MON - a has-been 80s relic, with the shiny gloss and plaster all crumbing to the floor exposing the dry rot underneath.

"I didn't deserve the sack?" Oh, diddums...

[olaftab]

a summary of MON's fireside chat with Murphy on Radio 5 -

- deserved the chance to keep SAFC up again, never been relegated in 20 yrs

He left Villa in a state where we have been fighting relegation for 3 seasons and Sunderland will probably end up being relegated. Well done Martin for preserving your personal record!

[Greg N'Ash]

Well you can't keep a good delusional ego-maniac down for long. Good to see he's feeling better.

[Trinitymiddle]

Its about now that MON will realise that you should be nice to people on your way up, because you will pass them on your way back down.

[Des Little]

Yesterday's Man

[Fasth56]

I've been driving 20 years and never had an accident, seen loads in the rear view mirror though!