Was the General right to comment on O'Neill

[BannedUserIAT]

Two wrongs don't make a right.

You've just reminded me Chris.
According to SSN, McLeish is trying to sign Zat Knight from Bolton but Carson Yueng insists that he signs two Chinese trialists instead.

McLeish was quoted as saying
'Two Wongs don't make a Knight.'

Looks like Martyn's got your login password, Fletch.

[Chris Smith]

oh it needed to be said alright the change in the media after it was proof enough.
Yes it tarnished your idol Chris but the bias needed to be addressed as I'm sure it will again.
Mon is too vindictive for it not to be

Why can't we have a debate about this without people having to use wanky words like 'idol' and 'messiah'. It's pathetic.

[pauliewalnuts]

Snide digs add nothing to the debate.

[Risso]

How is it "undignified" for the General to have a mild pop at O'Neill, yet last season when O'Neill whined on about the fans after the Wigan game like a hormonal teenager, that was fair comment and just him defending his players?

[dave.woodhall]

How is it "undignified" for the General to have a mild pop at O'Neill, yet last season when O'Neill whined on about the fans after the Wigan game like a hormonal teenager, that was fair comment and just him defending his players?

That reminds me of something a Wolves fan said to me many aeons ago. How many managers remain in a job for long after they start criticising their own supporters?

[sfx412]

Snide digs add nothing to the debate.

True, but since when has it stopped people making them especially those who favoured regular criticism of those criticising Mon ?

[ktvillan]

I think the majority of Villa supporters are behind the manager and team at every game. The minority who found that difficult to do because of their antipathy towards the previous manager joined in is all.

Yes, welcome back lads. May you be solidly behind the club forever, or until you find another excuse at least.

Percy it's a bit cheap to suggest O'Neill's critics were not behind the club. Some of us can see the difference between giving unequivocal support to the club whilst reserving the right to withhold such support from individuals employed to serve the club if we feel they are not up to the job,  or not acting in the best interests of the club.  There really is no contradiction or disloyalty in that.  In fact, how are you getting behind your club by backing a manager that wanted to ignore the signs of financial suicide?  Thus it turns out that, just maybe, Mr O'Neill was not always acting in the best interests of the club.  More of a "very naughty boy" than a "messiah" I'd say. 

I believe the General was responding to the fans request for  a statement on why O'Neill had left, not the media bullshit.  He was right to provide such a comment to clarify the club's and O'Neill's stances,  but I also think he could have made the case without the dig at O'Neill, which was kind of asking for trouble from Martin's media chums.

[Chris Smith]

I believe the General was responding to the fans request for  a statement on why O'Neill had left, not the media bullshit.  He was right to provide such a statement to clarify the club's and O'Neill's stances,

He didn't give an explanation, though. After his post on a fans forum (not a statement) do you now what happened last Monday and why MON left?

[ktvillan]

First off I didn't say he made a statement , I said he responded to fans request for a statement. My point being that he was attempting to address the fans desire for information rather than responding to the media outcry. 

Secondly, as I recall I thought the general said O'Neill didn't or wouldn't agree to the cuts in the wage bill that Randy, Faulkner and the General all thought were necessary before any further spending could take place.  With the implication that O'Neill left because of that disagreemnt.  Sounds like an explanation of sorts to me. 

[Michel Sibble]

Thought it was incredibly naive to think the General's comment wouldn't end up in the media.

He's said it now.

[Percy McCarthy]

I think the majority of Villa supporters are behind the manager and team at every game. The minority who found that difficult to do because of their antipathy towards the previous manager joined in is all.

Yes, welcome back lads. May you be solidly behind the club forever, or until you find another excuse at least.

Percy it's a bit cheap to suggest O'Neill's critics were not behind the club. Some of us can see the difference between giving unequivocal support to the club whilst reserving the right to withhold such support from individuals employed to serve the club if we feel they are not up to the job,  or not acting in the best interests of the club. 

If only you could think of a catchy tune to fit the words "The only reason we are booing, or  not joining in with the vocal support of the team from other fans is because we believe that certain individuals are not up to the job, and indeed, not acting in the best interest of the club", then perhaps the players would understand and be suitably encouraged by your 'support'.

[Chris Smith]

First off I didn't say he made a statement , I said he responded to fans request for a statement. My point being that he was attempting to address the fans desire for information rather than responding to the media outcry. 

Secondly, as I recall I thought the general said O'Neill didn't or wouldn't agree to the cuts in the wage bill that Randy, Faulkner and the General all thought were necessary before any further spending could take place.  With the implication that O'Neill left because of that disagreemnt.  Sounds like an explanation of sorts to me. 

No he didn't, he said that some of the rumours were untrue and that MON quit, but he didn't tell us why. You even use the word 'implication' yourself, people have read into it what they want to see but that's all it is.

[Concrete John]

How is it "undignified" for the General to have a mild pop at O'Neill, yet last season when O'Neill whined on about the fans after the Wigan game like a hormonal teenager, that was fair comment and just him defending his players?

With the booing think I think it genuinely hurt him and he thought it was unfair.  Given the season we then had he may have had a point.  However, it did drag on too long to the point where we're now talking about it a year later and after he's left.

As for the General's comments, I suppose he was 'shooting from the hip' and may not have fully thought things through.  In the uncertain and emotionally charged position we were in so soon after MON's departure, I think that can be understood.  However, I do not think it was the right way to go about things.  Had Martin made a similar statement in a similar forum, how would we be viewing that?

[ktvillan]

First off I didn't say he made a statement , I said he responded to fans request for a statement. My point being that he was attempting to address the fans desire for information rather than responding to the media outcry. 

Secondly, as I recall I thought the general said O'Neill didn't or wouldn't agree to the cuts in the wage bill that Randy, Faulkner and the General all thought were necessary before any further spending could take place.  With the implication that O'Neill left because of that disagreemnt.  Sounds like an explanation of sorts to me. 

No he didn't, he said that some of the rumours were untrue and that MON quit, but he didn't tell us why. You even use the word 'implication' yourself, people have read into it what they want to see but that's all it is.

Fair enough, the fact that the General said O'Neill didn't agree with the requirement to cut the wage bill, and that he
seemed to think that his requirements were more important than those of the financial stability of the club, clearly had no bearing at all on O'Neill's decision to resign. 

[ktvillan]

I think the majority of Villa supporters are behind the manager and team at every game. The minority who found that difficult to do because of their antipathy towards the previous manager joined in is all.

Yes, welcome back lads. May you be solidly behind the club forever, or until you find another excuse at least.

Percy it's a bit cheap to suggest O'Neill's critics were not behind the club. Some of us can see the difference between giving unequivocal support to the club whilst reserving the right to withhold such support from individuals employed to serve the club if we feel they are not up to the job,  or not acting in the best interests of the club. 

If only you could think of a catchy tune to fit the words "The only reason we are booing, or  not joining in with the vocal support of the team from other fans is because we believe that certain individuals are not up to the job, and indeed, not acting in the best interest of the club", then perhaps the players would understand and be suitably encouraged by your 'support'.

Doesn't need a catchy tune Percy, it's blatantly obvious to most people.  Butthen they live in a world where expressing disapproval
of the Manager's tactics and team selection or a particular team/player performance does not = "I hate Aston Vill F.C."