Oliver Holt on Sunday Supplement 23/1/2011

[pauliewalnuts]

That's the thing though, isn't it - our views of the reasoning behind his departure our naturally tempered by our views og him as our manager.  I saw very little argument about his character while our manager, although we did have many a heated debate over his abilities, yet now he's the reincarnation of Benedict Arnold to some.  So if you liked him you have a few such as Chris Smith's, which I share, but if you didn't it was all Martin's fault and he delibrately sabotaged the club.

No. You are falling into the same trap that you are trying to lure the supposed 'MON Haters' into.
I do not, in any way, think that O'Neill deliberately went out of his way to fuck our club up. That his actions did exactly that is just a consequence of his stubborn, belligerent nature.
 He couldn't get his way, he walked. I don't think the long term prospects of Aston Villa were even in his mind as he went his merry way, making sure that his reputation was intact amongst those that matter (mainly the press) as he went.

I wonder how much thought he gave us, the supporters, when deciding to leave when he did?

One thing which is the case throughout football, is that the supporters and their feelings count for absolutely fuck all.

[Dave Cooper please]

I wonder how much thought he gave us, the supporters, when deciding to leave when he did?

Nothing, absolutely no thought at all, if he had thought about us, even for a minute, he might not have dropped us so spectacularly into the shit.
O'Neill's thoughts were entirely about O'Neill, and how he could maintain his reputation as the New Brian Clough.

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

Holt is to journalism what Steve Bruce is to beauty competitions.

[Sexual Ealing]

I wonder how much thought he gave us, the supporters, when deciding to leave when he did?

Nothing, absolutely no thought at all, if he had thought about us, even for a minute, he might not have dropped us so spectacularly into the shit.
O'Neill's thoughts were entirely about O'Neill, and how he could maintain his reputation as the New Brian Clough.

Can you point me in the direction of any managerial changes or transfers where the protagonists put the feelings of the supporters before their own interests/emotions?

[joe_c]

but did they leave of their own accord or did the board want them to go? I seem to recall reading that they officially left a couple of days later after negotiating a pay-off.

They all left together. 

That's a shame, Robbo could have stoically prolonged the regime, Doenitz-like.

Dangerously close to contravening Godwin's Law there paulie.

"Having sold Milner, Lerner will grant me the necessary funds to swoop for Kenny Miller and Aiden McGeady and we can commence our assault on 5th spot in the coming season."
*nervous glances exchanged by top brass*
"Martin... Lerner..."
"Lerner won't permit any more signings. Not until some of the deadwood in the squad is cleared out anyway."
*haltingly removes spectacles*
"I want everyone to leave the room except Robertson, Walford, Petrov and Doogan."
etc etc

[Dave Cooper please]

I wonder how much thought he gave us, the supporters, when deciding to leave when he did?

Nothing, absolutely no thought at all, if he had thought about us, even for a minute, he might not have dropped us so spectacularly into the shit.
O'Neill's thoughts were entirely about O'Neill, and how he could maintain his reputation as the New Brian Clough.

Can you point me in the direction of any managerial changes or transfers where the protagonists put the feelings of the supporters before their own interests/emotions?

Nope, but then again can you point me in the direction of a managerial walkout that left a club so totally buggered as O'Neill's?

[The Situation]

Time to boycott Oliver Holt?

[Mazrim]

I hope by "Boycott" him you mean smash the clueless, ignorant minge in his fat mug with a beautifully timed square cut.

[Chris Smith]

I don't even think the other journos are too keen on Holt, a couple of times I've seen them get annoyed by his general aresyness. He'd love it though if he knew we had a thread dedicated to him, better just to ignore the twat.

[Merv]

Quick thoughts...

1. Holt used to be quite good, a few years ago. I don't know what's happened to him recently, he seems to have lost it.

2. This group of journalists, who all seem to share one opinion - not surprising, given that I have an insight in to how they work on the big nationals - are overlooking not only the funds MON was given, but how he spent those funds; signing a new back four one year, then signing a whole new back four a year afterwards. He was wasteful, in many ways. We saw that. It's no shocker that the board did, too.

3. It's incredible that so many are overlooking simple mathematics here. There hasn't been a huge new transfer 'war chest' made available. We've simply re-invested the Milner money in Bent. There has been no massive change in policy.

[Concrete John]

Nope, but then again can you point me in the direction of a managerial walkout that left a club so totally buggered as O'Neill's?

Owen Coyle going to Bolton?

[VillaZogmariner]

Nope, but then again can you point me in the direction of a managerial walkout that left a club so totally buggered as O'Neill's?

Owen Coyle going to Bolton?

That wasn't 5 days before the season started though. Nowhere near as bad as what that ****** done to us.

[Concrete John]

Nope, but then again can you point me in the direction of a managerial walkout that left a club so totally buggered as O'Neill's?

Owen Coyle going to Bolton?

That wasn't 5 days before the season started though. Nowhere near as bad as what that c*** done to us.

It lead to them getting relegated, so yes it was.

[Brend'Watkins]

The only way we are going to see an end to this MON love in by the media and pundits alike is if and when he gets the Liverpool job. 

If he's not the roaring success that the same would have us believe then the tide might begin to turn.  However, in Holt's case, he'd more than likely blame the Villa and Randy for turning him into a bad manager.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I've a sneaking feeling if the Rags lose to West Ham in the cup, MON could be replacing McLeish on the toilet at the Sty. Stranger things have happened.