Thank you Mr O'Neill

[not3bad]

It should be pointed out that virtually the same squad of players got knocked out by the same team at the same point in the season last year so if MON had been here it might not have made a blind bit of difference!!

[jonzy85]

Almost three weeks in I think we need to stop looking at the timing on MON's departure and more to the lack of a new man being appointed as our biggest problem right now.

Which ignores the fact that had he not left when he did, we wouldn't be trying to appoint a new manager at the worst time possible in the first place

The longer we are without a new manager, the weaker the timing argument becomes.  5 days before the season starts means it's difficult, but three weeks later you've had time to make up for that difficulty.

Can't agree more John...

Especially when it doesn't seem as if there are any managers presently in jobs who we are looking to take over.
If it was someone like, Jol, who was the first choice and there was bargaining to be done with the employers, then you could understand.
But it is most likely someon that is out of work....how many rounds of interview are they planning???

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I cant help feeling that MON knew we were that player or 2 short to take us to the next level and when he was not allowed get them he walked.

Like a spoilt children wanting new toys but there's no room left in his cupboard, he refused to get rid of the ones he no longer used and insisted his parents move to a bigger house with a bigger cupboard to store his old toys.

[Chris Smith]

I've seen plenty of managers come and go. They've gone before, during and after the season. It's a fact of life for football clubs and they just have to deal with it. Wallowing in self pity doesn't help and threads like this are just making excuses. We need some leadership and we're not getting it. Not from Lerner, not from Faulkner and not from MacDonald or the senior players.

Do something about it.

[Chris Smith]

I cant help feeling that MON knew we were that player or 2 short to take us to the next level and when he was not allowed get them he walked.

Like a spoilt children wanting new toys but there's no room left in his cupboard, he refused to get rid of the ones he no longer used and insisted his parents move to a bigger house with a bigger cupboard to store his old toys.

There's no evidence that he refused to get rid of them, it's just the salesman we employed to do it wasn't up to it.

[jonzy85]

I cant help feeling that MON knew we were that player or 2 short to take us to the next level and when he was not allowed get them he walked.

Like a spoilt children wanting new toys but there's no room left in his cupboard, he refused to get rid of the ones he no longer used and insisted his parents move to a bigger house with a bigger cupboard to store his old toys.

Or a pragmatic man who thought I can't bring this team any further, time to hand it over to someone else?

The ideal time to do this was May of course. Why didn't he? Only thing that adds up is that he was given assurances and these were reneged on.

Anyway, this debate of whether MON is at fault doesnt do much for our current plight. However, if there is a grain of truth to my theory (and I freely admit that's all it is) it has major implications for the future of the club.

[Concrete John]

 but why not get someone like Staunton (previously worked with K-Mac) or Dean Saunders to come in on say a 1 month contract to ease the short term problem?

Please tell me your joking or under the influence of some seriously strong drugs!

I wish!

Just throwing a name out there to illustrate the lack of coaches is an issue they could have addressed short term.

[pauliewalnuts]

I cant help feeling that MON knew we were that player or 2 short to take us to the next level and when he was not allowed get them he walked.

Like a spoilt children wanting new toys but there's no room left in his cupboard, he refused to get rid of the ones he no longer used and insisted his parents move to a bigger house with a bigger cupboard to store his old toys.

Or a pragmatic man who thought I can't bring this team any further, time to hand it over to someone else?

The ideal time to do this was May of course. Why didn't he? Only thing that adds up is that he was given assurances and these were reneged on.

Anyway, this debate of whether MON is at fault doesnt do much for our current plight. However, if there is a grain of truth to my theory (and I freely admit that's all it is) it has major implications for the future of the club.

The General said that on the Saturday, MON and Randy spoke, everything was fine, Randy then flew back to the US, only to be told on the Monday that MON had bailed.

If he had his reasons for going - can't take us further / whatever - then let alone wonder what happened between May and August, you've got to wonder what happened between Saturday and Monday.

[Small Rodent]

People walk out of jobs at the most innopportune moments all the time. Unfortunate but it happens.

[pauliewalnuts]

I cant help feeling that MON knew we were that player or 2 short to take us to the next level and when he was not allowed get them he walked.

Like a spoilt children wanting new toys but there's no room left in his cupboard, he refused to get rid of the ones he no longer used and insisted his parents move to a bigger house with a bigger cupboard to store his old toys.

There's no evidence that he refused to get rid of them, it's just the salesman we employed to do it wasn't up to it.

You say there's no evidence he refused to get rid of them, but then say it is the fault of the "salesman" - something else for which - by the same measure - there is no evidence.

Maybe they're so rubbish that nobody wanted to buy them? Evidence of last night certainly seems to back that up for some of them.

[Simon Ward]

People walk out of jobs at the most innopportune moments all the time. Unfortunate but it happens.

You expect that those left will take charge of the rudder though and not leave the ship drifting for three or four weeks.

[jonzy85]

Perhaps it's time for certain people to put their unadulterated hatred for MON, which was there well before he left, aside and have a look at the bigger picture.

Who is that referring to?

Not me, I hope, as you're miles from the truth.

Not specifically you, even though you are one of the more voiciferous ones in putting the blame 100% at MON's door and from memory you were not a particularly big fan of his when he was at the club.

I didn't like his football, but said hundreds of times I didn't want him sacked (in fact, I argued that sacking him would be madness), I wanted him to sort it out.

I am one of the more vociferous ones in pointing out the shit he's left us in, you're right there.

Unadulterated hatred, though? That's ridiculous.

Fair enough Paulie...dont like getting into individual duels with posters..especially when you are but a name on a screen to me (albiet one with ridiculous white sideburns!)

But you know yourself there were a number of posters who hated MON when he was here and most of them now have leapt on his departure to blame him for everything since and will for a long time to come, I reckon.

I'm not happy with the timing of his departure, but without knowing the full story I don't think we can come down too hard on either side.

What we can expect is for the people at the helm to be decisive and unless there is someone very special named on Monday, with a few new glossy signings I wont be happy with how they have reacted.

[jonzy85]

I cant help feeling that MON knew we were that player or 2 short to take us to the next level and when he was not allowed get them he walked.

Like a spoilt children wanting new toys but there's no room left in his cupboard, he refused to get rid of the ones he no longer used and insisted his parents move to a bigger house with a bigger cupboard to store his old toys.

Or a pragmatic man who thought I can't bring this team any further, time to hand it over to someone else?

The ideal time to do this was May of course. Why didn't he? Only thing that adds up is that he was given assurances and these were reneged on.

Anyway, this debate of whether MON is at fault doesnt do much for our current plight. However, if there is a grain of truth to my theory (and I freely admit that's all it is) it has major implications for the future of the club.

The General said that on the Saturday, MON and Randy spoke, everything was fine, Randy then flew back to the US, only to be told on the Monday that MON had bailed.

If he had his reasons for going - can't take us further / whatever - then let alone wonder what happened between May and August, you've got to wonder what happened between Saturday and Monday.

Again, I do wonder....and unless we hear MON's side to the story we may never know. I'm not doubting the General or Randy's integrity but there are 2 sides to every story.

[pauliewalnuts]

I've seen plenty of managers come and go. They've gone before, during and after the season. It's a fact of life for football clubs and they just have to deal with it. Wallowing in self pity doesn't help and threads like this are just making excuses. We need some leadership and we're not getting it. Not from Lerner, not from Faulkner and not from MacDonald or the senior players.

Do something about it.

This I do agree with - the need to show strong leadership and sort it out at the earliest possible opportunity.

The story yesterday re KM getting first dibs and first interview but not till after Everton, after which they would look at interviewing other people .... that, I found quite worrying, as it looks like they think they've got all the time in the world.

This is Randy's first real test. He needs to not let us down.

[sfx412]

RL did address the problem short term Km the one remaining coach got the job.
I also thought General K had suggested mon didn't seem keen to unload several players in one of his comments post Mon's departure.
Strange how criticising Mon and in time being proved nearly 100% right gets you branded as hating him, which I most certainly don't, yet still trying to shift blame off him now he's been found out doesn't make you one of his idolisers.